Elle Mannion

From top to (cheeky) bottom, CMAT’s Tiny Desk has it all: captivating stage presence, sharp songwriting, vocal range, a great band and comedic timing.

Not many bands can pull off an eight-minute rocker at the Tiny Desk. Chicago’s finest lean into its excellent guitar playing, poignant lyrics and a sturdy, Midwestern sensibility.

Audrey Hobert’s catchy pop songs put words to the embarrassing thoughts rolling around in our heads. That funny, yet vulnerable exploration of desire turns out to be a perfect fit for the Desk.

Perseverance, plus a whole lot of talent, is what got the Dallas hip-hop collective to our space after submitting to the Tiny Desk Contest four years in a row.

Annahstasia’s voice is soothing and strong. Her music feels like taking a deep breath, exhaling and landing in a gentle place.

For the Sudanese Canadian artist, tenderness is a radical act. Mustafa, along with a choir of Sudanese women, performs heart-wrenchingly beautiful songs about his community.

Community and culture are two guiding forces in Ruby Ibarra’s music. The Filipina American rapper — and 2025 Tiny Desk Contest winner — is joined by rock legend June Millington and an all-Filipino band.

Katie Gavin is the kind of performer whose dynamism knows no bounds. Whether she’s performing with her pop band MUNA or solo, Gavin is a captivating presence.

Featuring her longtime band and a string quartet, Webster guides us through a swooning and sweeping set.

MJ Lenderman’s music is a little sad, sometimes funny and almost always comforting.