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Bonneville's songs are full of characters who stumble their way through a rough-and-tumble world of violence, hope, and despair. In four videos from Folk Alley, Bonneville stomps his cowboy boots on a piece of wood and tells his stories.

Nichols' quiet and unassuming folk tunes convey astonishing warmth, whisking listeners away to his home in the rural farmland of Northern Wales. In a session on World Cafe, the singer-songwriter plays music from his latest CD, Days Are Mighty.

Texan Ryan Bingham embraces his country roots by telling vivid, lyrical stories supported by harmonica, simplistic guitar riffs, and mandolin. The 26 year-old crooner stops by the World Cafe with host David Dye to discuss his work.

Listen to the new album from the rock group, Derby and you'd swear they hail from Britain. The Portland, Ore.-based band draws heavily on BritPop and classic sounds of past British invasions on their latest CD — their second — Posters Fade. The influence of bands like The Beatles is impossible to miss, but the group leans more towards homage than imitation. The album stands as a catalog of Brit Rock stylings from the last forty years, all filtered through an American band looking back in awe.

The Canadian folk band Le Vent du Nord is a champion of traditional francophone music in North America. Their recordings and performances are getting plenty of attention, especially during the yearlong celebration of Quebec City's 400th anniversary.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Like Before, Somewhat After, the new recording from drummer George Schuller and his quintet Circle Wide. The disc salutes the music of pianist Keith Jarrett's '70s-era quartet.

Three discs into his career, James Hunter released his 2006 album People Gonna Talk to an international audience, earning a Grammy nomination in the process. Hunter has come a long way from his beginnings on a London street corner two decades ago. Hear Hunter perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live.

Home Before Dark, the 46th album from singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, is No. 1 on the pop charts. It's the first time Diamond has claimed that spot in a career that's spanned nearly five decades. He talked to Terry Gross in 2005.

Bingham's songs are gritty and dense, reflecting an overall mood of loneliness and hardship, while opener Hayes Carll is a dryly witty 28-year-old whose humble, melodic folk tunes are often infused with humorous anecdotes. Hear both perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live.

Lizzie Goodman of Blender magazine reviews music from Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Wolf Parade.