Every single year, we see so many potential winning entries that the final decision can be a bittersweet one. While there can only be one winner, we want to continue to bring even more entrants to the Desk. This week, to kick off the 2026 Contest season, we celebrate the Tiny Desk Contest community with concerts by some of our favorites over the years — it’s a Tiny Desk Contest takeover! Each of these three artists were our runners-ups and forever earworms. Of course, these are just three of many; hopefully, this can kick off a tradition here at the Tiny Desk.
Sally Baby's Silver Dollars
To start us off, two-time Top Shelf feature — and almost winner — Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars fill the office with its warm New Orleans sound. In 2024, on the last Top Shelf episode of the season, Contest judge and KCRW host Novena Carmel recounted wandering New Orleans and stumbling into a bar, when she heard frontperson Sally Baby’s raspy and captivating voice. She loved the performance so much that she bought a CD and played it on her show, Morning Becomes Eclectic, even before the band submitted “I Got No More Tears Left to Cry” to the Contest. Last year, Sally Baby returned with “Goodnight Miss Lulu White,” a ballad that Contest judge Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff called a “[New Orleans] classic.”
“This is dedicated to all those who have dwelled in New Orleans,” says Sally Baby, “may their spirit and memory live through this music that is our American music.” It really is a full circle moment to see Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars embody the soul of it city behind the Desk performing some Contest familiars.
We’ll be celebrating the Contest community all week with entrants from the past, bringing their sound to the Desk and talking about what submitting to the Contest means to them.
The 2026 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by Rivian.
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In the past, we've housed our Tiny Desk Contest community on Facebook as a private group where Contest entrants can connect, swap tips and come together to discuss all things Contest and music related. Entrants have used this group to organize showcases, interviews, collaborations, social media campaigns and more outside of the regular Contest programming.
Over the past decade, as virtual gathering spaces have evolved, so has our community and we'd love to figure out the best platform for everyone to collaborate. We want to hear from you: Please fill out this form and let us know where you’d like to connect with others in this community.
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