Music News: New music from J.S. Ondara, Ladytron, Chaka Khan, Tourist, and Lizzo February 15, 2019 Jay and Jade dig into new albums from Ladytron, J.S. Ondara, Chaka Khan, and Tourist. Plus: 'Cuz I Love You,' a new single from Lizzo. Read More ›
Sunflower Bean perform in The Current studio February 15, 2019 Less than a year after the release of their most recent full-length album, New York band Sunflower Bean dropped an EP, 'King of the Dudes.' The new release exudes a sense of fun. 'We ended up really experimenting with a different side of ourselves,' explains Sunflower Bean's Julia Cummings when the band stopped in for a session hosted by Mac Wilson. Read More ›
Listen: The story of the Hopefuls in 15 songs February 15, 2019 On Feb. 8, author Paul Allen joined Jay Gabler on the Local Current stream to discuss his new book 'The Hopefuls: Chasing a Rock 'n' Roll Dream in the Minnesota Music Scene.' Listen to their conversation, along with 15 songs from the band and related projects. Read More ›
The Greatest Love Songs of all-time for Valentine's Day January 31, 2019 Every year Mark Wheat hosts your Valentine's Day evening soundtrack with requests and dedications for the greatest love songs of all-time. Read More ›
Friday Five: The Cactus Blossoms, jeremy messersmith, and more new Minnesota music videos February 15, 2019 The Cactus Blossoms – “Got A Lotta Love” This month, the Cactus Blossoms set up shop in Minneapolis’s Bockley Gallery and performed “Got A Lotta Love,” a tender song co-written with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, from their upcoming album Easy Way (out March 1). WXPN has more info here. Inside Voice – “Do You Remember When Your… Read More ›
After touring with ska legends, the Prizefighters debut new album at Turf Club February 15, 2019 Ska music in the Twin Cities has long had a passionate — if underappreciated — community. Tonight at the Turf Club, ska veterans the Prizefighters will perform in celebration of the band’s second full-length album, Firewalk, alongside other mainstays in the network of local ska bands including Umbrella Bed and Down ‘N’ Dirty Dancehall. In an e-mail,… Read More ›
Music News: Jessica Hopper on Ryan Adams, exploitation, and how to create safer spaces in music February 14, 2019 In a widely-discussed New York Times report, women including Mandy Moore and Phoebe Bridgers describe a long-term pattern of emotional abuse and sexual manipulation by singer-songwriter Ryan Adams. We spoke with music writer Jessica Hopper about the history of such behavior in the music industry, and about how to create safer spaces for everybody. Read More ›
Celebrate Black History Month with music January 31, 2019 The Current is honoring the music and contributions of Black musicians in February, and we're starting off by dedicating Friday, Feb. 1, exclusively to music made by Black musicians. Read More ›
Sheila E. honors Prince with stunning set at Timberwolves halftime February 14, 2019 Sheila E. lit up Target Center last night with a high-energy halftime performance during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ close victory over the Houston Rockets. The long-time Prince collaborator and friend was enlisted by the Timberwolves to perform as part of the NBA’s 2018-19 City Edition initiative, which highlights each team’s hometown history. Naturally, the Minneapolis team… Read More ›
Remembering William ‘Hollywood’ Doughty, who played in Grand Central with a young Prince February 14, 2019 In high school, he was known as Doughty. In adulthood, he went by Hollywood. And from now until eternity, he will be known as an underappreciated architect of the Minneapolis Sound and one of the members of the legendary Grand Central band, who ruled the North Side of Minneapolis in the mid-1970s with members that… Read More ›
Music News: New music from J.S. Ondara, Ladytron, Chaka Khan, Tourist, and Lizzo February 15, 2019 Jay and Jade dig into new albums from Ladytron, J.S. Ondara, Chaka Khan, and Tourist. Plus: 'Cuz I Love You,' a new single from Lizzo. 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 ›
Sunflower Bean perform in The Current studio February 15, 2019 Less than a year after the release of their most recent full-length album, New York band Sunflower Bean dropped an EP, 'King of the Dudes.' The new release exudes a sense of fun. 'We ended up really experimenting with a different side of ourselves,' explains Sunflower Bean's Julia Cummings when the band stopped in for a session hosted by Mac Wilson. Read More ›
Dorothy perform in The Current studio February 14, 2019 The band Dorothy's latest album, '28 Days in the Valley,' was produced by none other than Linda Perry, the extraordinary producer and songwriter (and former 4 Non Blondes frontperson) behind massive hits for artists like Pink and Christina Aguilera. Dorothy recently visited The Current for a session hosted by Jill Riley. Read More ›
Abby Jeanne performs in The Current studio January 29, 2019 A rising musician out of Milwaukee, Abby Jeanne recently released a new album, 'Music Box Dancer.' Although Jeanne is a multi-instrumentalist, she says her primary instrument is her voice -- and on hearing these soulful songs, that becomes abundantly clear. Before Abby Jeanne performs at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 30, she and her band stopped at The Current studio for a session hosted by Mark Wheat. Read More ›
Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles perform in The Current studio January 27, 2019 Two masterful musicians, Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles - whom Chet Atkins deemed Certified Guitar Players - visited The Current studio to perform in two-part guitar and to chat with Bill DeVille. Read More ›
Watch Pedro the Lion's #Microshow performance, featuring new songs from 'Phoenix' January 11, 2019 Pedro the Lion's new album 'Phoenix' is out January 18 on Polyvinyl Records, but we're giving you a special live performance preview of their new material. Watch live January 11 at 4 p.m. CST. Read More ›
Coffee Break: Sad and angry February 15, 2019 A new academic study from Michigan's Lawrence Technical University claims that pop music is getting sadder and angrier. Read More ›
Today in Music History: Remembering Vanity February 15, 2019 Nat King Cole passed away, Sid Vicious joined the Sex Pistols, "Everyday People" hit a chord with the nation, and Vanity passed away at the age of 57, 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 ›