Set for release on Feb. 9, 2018, 'Always Ascending' is the next album from Franz Ferdinand. Well ahead of the release date, The Current's David Safar connected with front man Alex Kapranos, who talked about the forthcoming record and about what he loves about coming to Minneapolis to perform.

Artists heard on The Current are frequently featured on TV programs, and we've gathered the listings in one convenient place for you. Many shows are taking a holiday hiatus, but among the encore highlights is the Avett Brothers' cover of a George Harrison song. See the complete listings, and find performance videos as the week progresses.

The Brooklyn based chamber ensemble and the trio from the UK (who have more or less become Minnesotans in the past year) met at last summer's Eaux Claires festival and had such a lovely time collaborating that they made an entire album together.

It's the title track from Gallo's new EP, coming Jan. 19, 2018. The new release follows fairly quickly on Gallo's 2017 album, 'Heavy Meta,' which featured the track, 'Young Lady, You're Scaring Me.'

The video for JD McPherson's single, 'Style (Is a Losing Game)' was shot during business hours at a barbershop in Los Angeles. 'All the barbers were really cool having us there,' says the video's director, Sean Dejecacion, who told McPherson, 'We've got to get you in a smock!' Watch the video and go inside its production.

As Jill Riley was prepping for an interview with Amy Shark, suddenly, it clicked. She felt so connected to the music that she became absolutely smitten with Shark's songwriting.

No release date, yet, but the teaser video for Jack White's new album is bizarre.

Artists heard on The Current are frequently featured on TV programs, and we've gathered the listings in one convenient place for you. This week's highlights include SZA, Foo Fighters, Gary Clark Jr, Ryan Adams and more. See the complete listings, and find performance videos as the week progresses.

With the New Year around the corner, contributor Jeffrey Bissoy-Mattis offers up another collection of local hip-hop artists he's discovered, who've been putting on for Minnesota hip hop, or who are showing tremendous potential.

Mark Olson (the Jayhawks) and his musical partner/wife Ingunn Ringvold share stories and insight before visiting the Cedar Cultural Center and Red Herring Lounge on Dec. 9 and 13, respectively.