Started in 2015, NPR has annually held a contest giving musicians across America a chance to be featured on their wildly popular web series, Tiny Desk Concerts. Started in 2008, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts are a web series where musicians record an intimate performance at the desk of All Thing Considered’s host Bob Boilen. Since the inception of the Tiny Desk Concerts, the web series has featured more than 800 performances and reached over 2 billion views on youtube. With the chance for widespread recognition on the line many artists, including several from the Dayton area, entered this year’s contest.

This year the artists from the Dayton area included many great submissions. Folk duo The Nautical Theme not only entered with their original “Not Really Sure”, but also took the opportunity to record an entire playlist in front of their tiny desk set up.

Nautical Theme’s Submission

Among other great submissions was local Paige Beller, who’s submission highlighted her many musical talents. In her submission “Failed Attempts and Cigarettes,” Paige Beller displayed her many musical talents by not just providing excellent vocals but by also playing the keyboard with one hand and the drums with the other.

Paige Beller’s Submission

Yet another great submission came from Wilmington’s Steven Gregory. For his submission, “Duet (Why Won’t You Stay With Me), the singer-songwriter recorded an excellent song about two people ending a relationship.

Steve Gregory’s Submission

In addition to the artists whose submissions included more traditional instruments was the ukulele singer-songwriter Kevin O. Collaborating on his performance was local poet Dave Chesar who’s poem was adapted to the song “About Tonight.”

Kevin O’s Submission

NPR plans on announcing the winner of the Tiny Desk Contest on May 14th. In the meantime please share these submissions and give these local musicians recognition for their hard work. If you are from the Dayton area and also entered please leave your video in the comments so we can share!