It's a Block-Rockin' Weekend! May 24, 2019 The Current has your soundtrack to summer! And with the Memorial Day weekend (May 25 to 27) being the unofficial start of summer, we're kicking things off with a Block-Rockin' Weekend. Listen starting Friday, May 24, at 10 a.m. Central as we launch into three-song sets by your favorite artists all weekend long. Read More ›
The Current Rewind: Soundset, Rhymesayers, and the power of going for it May 22, 2019 In this episode of 'The Current Rewind,' we find out how Soundset grew from a warehouse rave to, at one point, the biggest hip-hop festival in the country. Read More ›
Rock the Garden tickets on sale! May 08, 2019 Tickets to this year's Rock the Garden featuring The National, Courtney Barnett, X, Heart Bones, deM atlaS, Bad Bad Hats, Adia Victoria and The Beths are now on sale to everyone! Read More ›
The Current Rewind: The evolution of Soundset, through photos May 22, 2019 Over the past two decades, Soundset has gone from a Lake Street warehouse party to one of the largest hip-hop festivals in the country. Now, we're revisiting some of Soundset's most iconic moments in photos. Read More ›
Lizzo On Feminism, Self-Love And Bringing 'Hallelujah Moments' To Stage May 24, 2019 The flute-playing pop star celebrates self-acceptance on her latest album, Cuz I Love You. "About 10 years ago, I made the decision that I just wanted to be happy with my body," she says. Read More ›
Lizzo performs rare acoustic set in The Current studio May 07, 2019 Before playing a sold-out show at the Palace Theatre, Lizzo stopped by The Current studio to talk about her new album, how she's grown as an artist, and what it's been like to take a more positive spin on her music. Lizzo also performs two songs from the album -- accompanied only by acoustic guitar -- showcasing her stunning vocals. Read More ›
893 Essential Songs Since the Year 2000 May 20, 2019 We hope you had as much fun listening as we did putting the countdown together. View the final tally and nerd-out with playlists, spreadsheets and more. Read More ›
‘I’m just glad I’m alive and not in jail’: Punk poet Paul Dickinson shares mobile memories in ‘Junker Dreams’ May 24, 2019 Paul Dickinson is Minnesota’s premier punk poet, frontman of Frances Gumm, co-founder of Dead Media, and former proprietor of the Speedboat Gallery — a St. Paul art space with a literally underground music venue where Green Day once played for $100. He certainly puts the “auto” into his new autobiography, Junker Dreams. The memoir brings… Read More ›
Friday Five: Velvet Negroni, Jillian Rae, and more new Minnesota music videos May 24, 2019 Velvet Negroni – “Confetti” You’d think someone who’d just announced a new album would feel pretty amped, but Velvet Negroni looks unfazed in this hibachi-centered video. Welcome to the nighttime, cold-as-ice, gorgeous vibes of NEON BROWN, out August 30 via 4AD. Jillian Rae – “Medication” Jillian Rae released “Medication” as a single almost a year ago,… Read More ›
Coffee Break: Happy (hour) May 24, 2019 As we head into this 3-day weekend, we are excited to announce our next set of Oake & Riley in the Afternoon happy hour events. In the meantime, what songs do you want to hear for today's 9:30 Coffee Break that mention happy, joy, glee, etc? Read More ›
Giveaway: Prince special edition copy of Newsweek May 22, 2019 Off the stands for over six months, we have extra copies of this very special, 100-page commemorative issue and we're giving them away to lucky Purple Current listeners. Read More ›
Music News: Rolling Stones give 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' songwriting credit back to the Verve May 23, 2019 Two decades after suing the Verve for songwriting credit on 'Bitter Sweet Symphony,' the Rolling Stones have given it back. Also in the news today: the Netherlands win Eurovision, a synth repairman accidentally trips on vintage LSD, 'Bongo Rock' drummer Preston Epps dies, Natalie Portman criticizes Moby's portrayal of their relationship, and Aretha Franklin's three maybe-wills. Plus, music history highlights and new LPs from Cate Le Bon, Justin Townes Earle, Sebadoh, and Sting, as well as a 'Runaway Train' remake. Read More ›
Download The Current app January 29, 2018 Download The Current's app to hear a crisp, high-fidelity stream of our station (and our additional streams) wherever you go! Read More ›
Listen to The Current via Smart Speakers July 23, 2018 Listen to The Current on Google Home and Amazon's Echo devices, and get enhanced functionality -- song names, requests, song of the day -- with our Alexa Skill. Read More ›
Local Natives perform in The Current studio May 21, 2019 Los Angeles five-piece Local Natives' latest album, 'Violet Street,' was recorded with the band members playing together in the same room. 'We wanted the core of this album to be the five of us playing off each other,' says guitarist Taylor Rice. 'That was really integral to the album.' You can hear that collaborative sound in Local Natives' in-studio session here at The Current. Read More ›
Weyes Blood performs in The Current studio May 21, 2019 Ahead of her sold-out show at the Turf Club in St. Paul, Natalie Mering - aka Weyes Blood - performed a set of songs from her album, 'Titanic Rising,' live in The Current studio. Read More ›
Julia Jacklin performs a solo set in The Current studio May 18, 2019 Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin visits The Current studio to perform songs from her second album, 'Crushing.' Read More ›
The Japanese House performs in The Current studio May 17, 2019 As the Japanese House, Amber Bain has been crafting ethereal-sounding songs that unabashedly plumb the depths of human emotion. Her new album, 'Good At Falling,' released on March 1 of this year, was recorded at Justin Vernon's April Base studios in Wisconsin. Bain recently stopped at The Current for a session hosted by Jade. Read More ›
Lady Lark gives 'Permission' to dance in The Current studio May 09, 2019 Lady Lark is debuting her latest album, Permission, at the Fine Line, backed by Purple Funk Metropolis. Ahead of the show, Lady Lark stopped into The Current Studio to perform songs from Permission and talk with Local Show host Andrea Swensson. Read More ›
Coffee Break: Happy (hour) May 24, 2019 As we head into this 3-day weekend, we are excited to announce our next set of Oake & Riley in the Afternoon happy hour events. In the meantime, what songs do you want to hear for today's 9:30 Coffee Break that mention happy, joy, glee, etc? Read More ›
Today in Music History: Freddie Mercury gets a stamp May 24, 2019 Jazz great Duke Ellington passed away, Rosanne Cash and Bob Dylan were born, and Freddie Mercury was honored via stamps, Today in Music History. Read More ›
Coffee Break Suggestions and Archive November 08, 2016 Got an idea for a Coffee Break? Want to see what we did a while back? Read More ›