Quote:In 2008, NPR producers Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson were attending a South by Southwest festival performance by Portland folk artist Laura Gibson. Frustrated by how loud the audience was, the two joked that Gibson should just play at Boilen's desk at their Washington, D.C. offices. That joke quickly turned into a reality, as Boilen soon booked Gibson to play a 15-minute, stripped-down set for him and his colleagues, tucked in a corner with shelves of books, CDs and records behind her.

More than 1,000 performances later, NPR's Tiny Desk concert series has become one of the most important stages for live music, albeit one of the smallest. It has introduced music fans to incredible emerging artists and hosted some of the world's biggest stars in equal measure. It has also welcomed many Canadian artists over the years, from Grammy-winning stars to the cast of a popular Broadway musical.

Below, CBC Music has selected 20 of the most memorable Tiny Desk performances by Canadian artists.