Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
US

Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On World Cafe

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry perform live at the 2016 Non-COMMvention in Philadelphia.
Michelle Montgomery
/
WXPN
Billy Bragg and Joe Henry perform live at the 2016 Non-COMMvention in Philadelphia.

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry recorded much of their new album, Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad, during a four-day rail trip, stopping to use the natural acoustics at train stations across the country.

In this session, the two outspoken and articulate musicians explain the origins of the project, which includes "train songs" both familiar and obscure. Bragg says that he considers railroads the most revolutionary method of transportation and that, as a Brit, he's amazed that trains aren't used as much in the U.S. as in Europe. You'll also hear performances recorded at the 2016 Non-COMMvention in Philadelphia.

Copyright 2016 XPN

US