- 2025-11-25
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MUSIC
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Robert Plant Performs at NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
British singer-songwriter Robert Plant appeared on NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert to perform “Gospel Plough”, “Higher Rock”, “Everybody's Song”, “It's a Beautiful Day Today”, and “Gallows Pole”.
This marks his musical guest debut on Tiny Desk Concert.
He performed with his band Saving Grace, including Suzi Dian on vocals and accordion, Matt Worley on guitar and banjo, Tony Kelsey on guitar, Barney Morse-Brown on cello, and Oli Jefferson on drums.
He said, “We all kind of live and operate in an area which is on the borders of England and Wales. And that in itself doesn't seem to be a big deal, but for me, it's always been so inspiring to be attached to another culture, the Celtic culture. And the Celtic culture, with its music and with its similarities to North African music, has always been a great intrigue. So we are Saving Grace. This is our very first adventure here in America, even though I've been here before, this is a really big time for all of us. So we hope you will enjoy us.”
Four songs, excluding “Gallows Pole,” are featured on his latest album “Saving Grace”, which was released back in September.
The new album features ten cover versions of songs by a variety of artists and was recorded between April 2019 and January 2025, making it six years in the making.- “Gospel Plough" is a traditional African American spiritual. Track was released back in August as the second single off of the new album.
“Higher Rock” is a cover of American singer Martha Scanlan.
“Everybody's Song” is a cove of American indie rock band Low. The original version was released in 2005.
Robert Plant said, “Over the years, back about 15 years ago, I was working with with Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller, and we formed a band called The Band of Joy, not the 1960s one. But this other one there. And we sang a lot of other people's songs, and we took two songs from the spectacular album by Low, called 'The Great Destroyer'. So we did two songs there with Patty and Buddy. And here's another song from that same record. It's called everybody's song, and it was the opening track of a brand new assault on American culture.” -
“It's a Beautiful Day Today” is a cover of American rock band Moby Grape. Robert Plant released it as the lead single of the album in July 2025.
“Gallows Pole” was featured on Led Zeppelin third studio album “Led Zeppelin III”. This time, Robert Plant performed it with a new arrangement.
Robert Plant paid tribute to American blues singer Lead Belly, who first introduced him to the song, “His memory has lived on through all of the music that I've ever been near and been touched by, and a treasure the collections of songs that he picked both from black and white culture. It was phenomenal.”
Photo by Tom Oldham - source : NPR
