The Parkway Theater in the Field neighborhood of South Minneapolis has been sold, and its new owners promise to "rejuvenate the 87-year-old venue and expand its offerings," reports City Pages. The theater will continue to host both movies and live music.

"We'd like to get the room looking and sounding great," said new co-owner Ward Johnson, "and create a seated, performer-centric venue where the focus is on the music. Because we're also a movie theater, we hope the ability to incorporate mixed-media and video will attract creative uses of the stage and screen by performers."

The purchase came with the adjoining Pepito's Restaurant, which will now be run by El Burrito Mercado.

Run the Jewels named Record Store Day ambassadors

"I was told I can park anywhere now," says El-P of Run the Jewels on his hip-hop duo's being named this year's Record Store Day ambassadors. "Bring me my scepter and ceremonial robe!"

In addition to celebrating vinyl sales generally, Run the Jewels plan to mark the day by releasing "a golden deluxe collectors edition box set and a 12-inch featuring remixes and new material," reports Consequence of Sound.

Semi-reunited Smashing Pumpkins to play St. Paul

As expected, on Thursday the Smashing Pumpkins announced a reunion tour featuring three-quarters of their original lineup. Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin will spotlight their band's prime-era '90s material in a tour that hits the Xcel Energy Center on Aug. 19. Bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, as also expected, will not be part of the reunion.

As the Star Tribune notes, the Smashing Pumpkins hold the record for biggest concert crowd in Minnesota history: they attracted 100,000 people to a free Aquatennial Block Party in 1998.

Peter Buck + Joseph Arthur = Arthur Buck

They could just as well have been Joseph Peter, but Peter Buck and Joseph Arthur have decided to name their new band Arthur Buck.

The R.E.M. guitarist and the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter connected after Arthur went to Mexico to pick up a dobro he'd left behind at a music festival, and ran into part-time Baja resident Buck. They spontaneously co-wrote a batch of new songs, and they now have a record deal and touring plans.

"The music has a questing kind of feel," says Buck. "We were making it up as we went along." (Rolling Stone)

Man flies to Belfast to see Red Hot Chili Peppers, gets bagpipe band instead

Duncan Robb, an English fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, thought he'd scored a fantastic deal when he paid the equivalent $42 each for two tickets to see his favorite band in Belfast. He and his girlfriend flew to Ireland for a Valentine's weekend date...and then she realized they didn't actually have tickets to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Her confused boyfriend had actually scored seats to the Red Hot Chili Pipers, "the most famous bagpipe band on the planet."

They went anyway, and Robb reported it was "an experience haha. Couldn't believe the variety of songs they could play!" (NME)