This Friday, First Avenue’s annual Best New Bands show will return to the Mainroom for the first time since Jan. 2020! We’re longtime fans of all of this year’s featured artists. Explore the line-up and our past coverage below.

Durry

After debuting just this past July, Durry found TikTok stardom with the catchy song “Who’s Laughing Now.” In December, siblings Austin and Taryn Durry told Jay Gabler all about their meteoric rise.

EVV

EVV is a huge fan of Arctic Monkeys. If you are, too, we recommend 1) listening to EVV’s single “Submissive” and 2) reading about their love for rock and riffs. Oh, and 3) catching EVV’s ter-riff-ic set at First Avenue on Friday. This former Allergen guitarist also discussed their “Dead To Me” video with The Current in March 2021.

Honeybutter

Honeybutter's sound is sweet and rich, fueled by bossa nova, folk, and languid trumpet. After releasing the latest of their four singles, "Songbird," vocalist/bassist Clara Wicklund told The Current: “‘Songbird’ is definitely a celebration song. I think we were all getting to the point where a lot of us in quarantine realized what we really value about life. We were ready for a happy dancing song celebrating being yourself and being with people.”

Kokou Kah

Innovator Kokou Kah describes his hip-hop sound as “true fusion,” and that spirit of coming together extends to his outlook on life. “The differences that we think are there, let's celebrate. Celebrate looking good. Let’s celebrate being in love with someone of the same sex. Let’s celebrate being Muslim, let's celebrate being Hindu, celebrate all of it. If we're celebrating it, let's keep on doing it. If we're not celebrating it, then [let’s try] to find a reason why we're not celebrating it and deal with that. That’s kind of my vibe: casually lit.” Find out a lot more about him in The Current’s first-person story.

Lanue

Sarah Krueger has been a respected musician for many seasons in Minnesota, but her Lanue project signaled a new day for her creative output. “What I Love the Most” (and its dreamy video) became a favorite for Current listeners in 2021. She recently spoke in depth with The Local Show host Diane about taking part in the Best New Bands show, and her upcoming EP.

Papa Mbye

Papa Mbye (pronounced “ehm-bay”) released his first EP, Mang Fi, last year. Around that time, he spoke to The Current for a story charting his emergence and many creative friends in the Twin Cities. He performed with many of them at a show also featuring Miloe and bugsy last year. Check out photos and a recap here.

VIAL

Minneapolis quartet VIAL are vital voices and skilled artists in a new local punk rock movement, but they also know their history. On the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind, The Current caught up with the band and discovered that “Territorial Pissings” is the only cover song they do. A spirited show at Fine Line last year shows there’s plenty to look forward to this Friday.

Best New Bands of 2021 will take place at First Avenue on Friday, March 4. Doors at 7 p.m; 18+. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.