The third Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report is complete. On Friday, April 10 — The Current revealed the top 10 vote-getters. Today, we share the raw data from 245 members of the Minnesota music scene.

In February, Minnesota music fans chose five new Minnesota bands/artists who put their first project out after Jan. 1, 2024. We reached folks who are witnessing new artist development every day in their careers: arts journalism, venues, promotion, music retail, artist representation, manufacturing, and more.

The response we got back for the second Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report includes some clear favorites, but 455 unique artists were chosen overall. Each voter named up to five new bands/artists and could either rank their picks (5 points for their No. 1 choice, 4 points for No. 2, etc.) or leave their picks unranked (3 points for each choice). Some voters included comments — some serious and some glib — discussing their choices.

The ballots are sorted alphabetically, and you will see numbers next to the artists’ names if the voter chose to rank their choices.

Thanks and gratitude to everyone who submitted a ballot! Didn’t vote this year, but want to in 2027? Drop an email to digitalmusic [at] mpr.org, and tell us a tiny bit about your connection to the Minnesota music industry.

Aaron Buckley

1. Buckls

2. Kitty Molotov

Comments:

Buckls is my solo project, a bit of power pop and a bit of punk rock with some hints of goth and grunge and everything in between. Replacements and Green Day are big influences for the self titled album put out in Jan of last year. Check out ‘If I Had a Dime’ and ‘Therapy’ to see what it’s about, then ‘Wednesday’ or ‘Blister’ to see the spectrum. Kitty Molotov is a project I started with my partner Kaitlynn this past summer, going for a bit of silly and a bit of serious indie rock sounds blending both of our influences. We’ve put out two singles so far, ‘Vape’ and ‘Mutants in Love’, and more are in the oven set for this spring. Thanks for checking us out! Love you Current!!!

Aaron Piersiak

1. Halfway Down

2. Asparagus

3. The Cameras

4. Virginia’s Basement

5. Amateur Hour

Abbey

1. Spiderlily

2. Fiona Hayes

3. Bunny Blood

4. Blimey

Abigail Walker

1. pity party

Comments:

They just released Fleeced on February 27. This is a song written about what is going on in our city. They care about their community.

Adam Nyland

1. Honeymoon Madness

2. Nothing But Joy

Adam Skogman

1. High Speed Snowshoes

2. Agony in the living room

3. Anything You Want

4. Nice and Blue

Adam szczepaniak

1. Anxiety Society

2. Bullets & Butterflies

Comments:

For decades, The Current has taken pride in playing “everything”. Over the years, I have found there’s not a whole lot of hard rock on the playlist (not talking about Geese or Turnstile). As people who experienced their formative years in the late 90s/early 2000s begin to enter your age demographic, my hope is that you will get increased requests for artists like Chevelle, Nine Inch Nails, and Incubus. I dare you to get ahead of the curve and start playing more of that now :)

Aidan Cavanaugh

1. Gill Weather

Aiden Betourne

1. Gill Weather

Aine Sumner

1. The Pullover

2. Bunny Blood

Alec Ness

Mother Soki

Panel

The Rumors

Sophie Hiroko

Anna Devine

Alek Glauvitz

1. Clayton Ryan

2. The Daily Norm

3. The Weeping Covenant

4. Ambient Toad

5. Fiona Hayes

Alex Leary

Monarch

Terravision

Brunch

Iodine

Lost in Prati

Alex maas

1. Socktopus

Alexa

1. Pity Party

Alexander Koo (Chilly Oppa)

1. Waking Hours

2. 12th House Sun

3. Gill Weather

4. 1947

5. Virginia’s Basement

Alissa Hilleren

1. Socktopus

aly eleanor

Eudaemon

May + the Ladies

Mouthful

Sunpearl

alone-a

Comments:

Death to empire, fuck the occupier, fix your hearts or die.

Amber Hoback

1. sahn

2. IAMJOY

3. THE RUMORS

4. Nina Luna

5. Young Dervish

Amelia

1. Panel

Amy Nelson

1. Third Date

2. Katie Gleason

Amy Penner

1. The Rosie Daze Band

Andrew Lentz

1. *Splash!*

2. Paper Chain

3. Ditch Pigeon

4. Knife Emoji

5. Robyn Jamner

Andy Ellis

Canada Goose

Logan Vagle

The Handsome Traveler

Bullets & Butterflies

Vintage Revival

Comments:

Canada Goose - "Their debut record American Band has that timeless analog feel, but sounds incredibly current. It's a great roadtrip record."
Logan Vagle - "I remember hearing him perform for the first time at a Northstar Original Revue showcase at Big Wood Brewery, and just being blown away at the power and effortless of his vocals. All he needs is a guitar as accompaniment, which you can hear on his debut self-titled project, but I cannot wait until he gets a full band."
The Handsome Traveler - "It's hard not to hear a little bit of Elton John when this guy sings. His debut full-length Semi-Sober is one of those rare debuts where the artist seems to know who they are and yet you cannot wait for what they do next."
Bullets & Butterflies - "Lead singer Josephine Marie's vocals are just flat out incredible, and you can hear the influence of Hayley Williams. Together this band knows how to rock with emotion-filled lyrics, and a live show that's keeping modern rock alive in Minnesota."
Vintage Revival - "Their harmonies are killer, bringing to mind both the Eagles and Alabama, and a sound that has an easy-going windows-down country-rock feel. Also, their drummer is their lead singer."

Anika Besst

1. sophie hiroko

2. Cigarette Picnic

3. Tailspin

4. Lasalle

5. Sallyforth

Comments:

Thank you!

Ann Treacy

Sawtooth Witch

Big Trouble

Dish-Pit Violet

M.A.Y.

REIKI

Comments:

Is there a write in category for ICE Out drummers who played on the Stone Arch Bridge played January 23 during the general strike and all around downtown Mpls on Feb 3? They get the grit and groove award!

Anna Devine

1. Lily Blue

2. Planer

3. Mother Soki

4. Berzica

5. Daguerreotypes

Anna Hare

1. Third Date

2. One Big Quilt

3. Fumbler

4. Ciao Bello

5. Mouthful

Comments:

UnderCurrentMPLS is MVP

Anna Kauffman

1. High Speed Snowshoes

Annie P

1. jellyjacket

2. Annie and the Bang Bang

3. Flaming Ohs

Arwen Larson

1. Rusty Playground

Comments:

www.rustyplaygroundband.com

Austin

1. Honeygrl

Becky Hoffmann

Sallyforth

Oister Boy

Berzica

The Tolerables

IAMJOY

Bek

1. Social Pariah

2. Mastered

Ben Ertl

1. The Rosy Daze Band

2. Daniels and Baker

3. Sweet Amanita

4. Molly brandt

5. Josh cleveland

Ben Stevens

1. Extermination Day

2. Baumgardner

3. Bunny Blood

4. Deterioration

5. Flintlock

Beth Burns

1. Jellyjacket

BIG CUTIE

8UMANA

EMMANUEL CARTER

MACK OC AND OZONE CREATIONS

RICKI MONIQUE

FANAKA NATION

Comments:

I literally have to go out of my way NOT to play their music too much in my show! THEY BRINGIN' THAT HEAT! These artists are what make me look forward to going All-Local onmy shows!

Bill DeVille

1. Sleeping Jesus

2. Luke Callen

3. Charlie Bruber

4. The Gated Community

5. Feeding Leroy

Billy Briggs

1. Lamaar

2. Kavyesh Kaviraj

3. Nunnabove

4. MMYYKK

5. LA Buckner and Big Homie

Blake Deneweth

1. Halfway Down

2. Sensing Agony

3. Shadow Lake

4. Spam Caller

5. Cheap Bouquet

Blake Peterson

1. Mary Jam

2. Modern Wildlife

3. Unstable Shapes

4. Curve

5. Spit Takes

Bob Dobson

1. Millennial falcon

2. Downtown Jada brown

Brandi

1. Stone Arch Rivals

Brandy Krow

1. The Rosie Days Band

Breann Karau

1. Topiary Blush

2. Sweet Heat

3. Thomas Richey

4. Weeklong Weekend

5. Tarias and the Sound

Breonni Jones

1. Pity Partt

2. Funk n Spuds

Bri Chapin

1. Unattractive Giant Monster

2. Mid Death Calm

3. American Muscle

4. Lords of the Universe

5. Garf

Brian Sjaaheim

1. F-18

Comments:

Great, new Pop Punk band playing original music.

Brindley Schull

1. Pity Party

Call Mitsch

1. The Pullover

Cambria Haen

1. Flutes & Low

2. Sophie Hiroko

carolyn parker

1. Topiary Blush

Carter Johnson

Bunny Blood

Flack

Cassandra Johnson

1. Astronomy Town

2. St. Rangers

3. Maddie Ties

4. LaPlant Road

5. One Big Quilt

Charles Dubay

1. Social Pariah

2. In lieu

3. Buildings

4. Mastered

5. Gay witch abortion

charley Markson

1. Scott Hefte & The Bury Em’ Deep

2. Glen Circle

3. Trick Locket

CHARLIE

1. Midwest American Youth (MAY)

2. WARCAKE

Charlie Lindstrom

1. Moonsault

2. Poor John Candy

3. Mayfly Moon

4. Son/Boy

Chaz Kangas

Sophie Hiroko

Call Me Fritz

Conzemius

Jaya Kellogg

berzica

Comments:

The Minneapolis Skyway should be open until 10:00 PM again. Walking it is where I do my best new music listening.

Chris

1. Guitar Band

2. The Daily Norm

3. Do Not Crush

4. lovergirl

5. Panel

Chris parrish

1. Bunny Blood

2. Enemy In The Sky

3. Sugarcoat

4. Planer

5. Trellis

Chris Riemenschneider

1. Mother Soki

2. Runo Plum

3. Ava Levy

4. White Boy Summer

5. Panel

Christine VeLure Roholt

1. The Rosie Daze Band

Christopher Goyette

1. Berzica

2. Julia Wheaton

3. Sophie Hiroko

4. Monique Smaz

5. Mother Soki

Comments:

Berzica opened for CIVIC in the Entry last year, and they blew me away. I have been a fan of shoegaze for a long long time, and they have that something special that makes me stop to pay full attention. Julia Wheaton recently released a solo album that is just stellar. You may have seen her around the Twin Cities in Bloodline, another great band that has gotten some press on the Current. Sophie, Monique, and Mother Soki are all artists I cannot wait to see live in 2026. We are so lucky to have such a vibrant music scene in Minnesota!

Christy spiess

1. Astronomy Town

CJ

1. High speed Snowshoes

Clayton Ryan

1. Clayton Ryan

2. LaPlant Road

3. The Daily Norm

4. Ambient Toad

5. Sammie Jean

Corey Bracken

1. Anita Velveeta

2. Hey, Ily Forever

3. Bejalvin

4. Flyover States

5. Eudaemon

crawlspace_msp

1. Conzemius

2. Anything You Want

3. Planer

4. Cheap Bouquet

5. Society of Chemists

Comments:

Conzemius - dreamy, floaty, soulful voice, live show is incredible
Anything You Want - jangly, folk rock with a Jenny Lewis vibe
Planer - atmospheric cinematic indie fuzz FFO Pavement
Cheap Bouquet - fantastic raw pop punk, high energy show
Society of Chemists - layered chamber jazz fusion with excellent musicians

Cyn Collins

1. Panel

2. áit ait

3. The Pullover

4. Cowboy Thoughts

5. Ghost Kitchen

Comments:

Honorable Mention: Prophets of Mothra

daisy swimmer

Hey, ily!

¿Watches?

small animal hospital

dream colors

12th house sun

Comments:

all the snow plows should have been named ABOLISH ICE

Dan Garrisoj

1. Millennial Falcon

david

gramma

chutes

berzica

peeler

easeupkid

David Feily

1. Room 3

2. Cool Nel D

3. Lucia Sarmiento

4. Ber

5. Astronomy Town

Comments:

Would love to see more local shows covered (all genres) as well as show, single, EP, and album reviews. More engagement with artists.

David Priebe

Fiona Hayes

Juliet and the Montagues

Creeping Charlie

Beemer

Sophie Hiroko

Comments:

This is hard! Ya'll should invite me out more! The kids are old enough that I can sneak out sometimes. I'll come see your new band.

Dax

1. The Pullover

2. Lunaderos

Diane Miller

1. Young Dervish

2. Mother Soki

3. Anna Graves

4. The Rumors

5. Sophie Hiroko

Direasa Rassman

1. Pity Party

drew ailes

1. American Muscle

2. Laugh Track

3. Tommy

4. Orchid Club

5. Just A Casualty

Comments:

ban indie rock

Dylan Hilliker

FINICK

Lapdogs

GR3G

LaSalle

Beemer

Ed Anderson

1. Dead Guy in a Swamp

2. Slape

Eli Awada

Marvelous

Bakkwooddrift

Young Dervish

Brandyn Tulloch

Luverne

Eli Hoehn

1. The Quantum Mechanics

2. Hi Fi

3. Stringdingers

4. Jojo Green

Ellen Stanley

1. Laura Hugo

2. Zippy Laske

3. Red Thread

4. The Gated Community

Comments:

Laura Hugo has become one of the biggest rising stars on the indie/folk/Americana scene over the last few years even though she has only released one single ever and that was 9 years ago. Now she's finally released a new single and will be releasing a full EP later this year. Feel like this is her time!

Em Cassel

1. fallingwithscissors

2. Panel

3. I Owe This Land a Body

4. Everybody Takes One

5. KALOT

Comments:

i know the screamy thrashy chaotic hardcore shit never wins these things but i am BEGGING EVERYONE TO LISTEN TO FALLINGWITHSCISSORS

Emma Deaner

1. William Dafoe Fan Club

2. EmbalmingEva

3. Sister Veery

4. Peat Boggs

5. The Draco Volans

Eric

1. Millennial Falcon

Eric Frame

1. Planer

2. Wish Wash

3. Fend

4. James Eugene Russell

5. Atomic Lights

Evan Arnold

1. Dead Guy in a Swamp

2. Slape

Everest Quinn

1. Social Pariah

Evonne Bilotta-Burke

1. Rosie Daze Band

Flip Arkulary

1. Curly Jefferson and the Jamturkeys

2. Cigarette Picnic

3. Elsa Krantz

4. Stella and the Lawless

5. Heidi Marie Feroe

Comments:

Duluth has a vibrant, collaborative, and inclusive music scene. Please visit our city for a concert. If you're an artist and want to play here, you are always welcome to hit me up about help with a local booking.

Gannon Hanevold

1. Walker Rider

2. clovers daughter

3. Berzica

4. True Green

5. Dogpile

Graham Halverson

1. Pity Party

2. Spider Lily

3. Joan of Profile

Hallelujah Tamene

1. Socktopus

2. Space Monkey Mafia

Hallie Nelsen

1. Bunny Blood

2. Mary Jam

3. Mid Death Calm

4. Third Date

Henry Patterson

1. Mother Soki

2. Lily Blue

3. Anna Devine

4. berzica

5. Peeler

Comments:

Thank you for coordinating this!

Ian Stenlund

1. Knife Emoji

2. Topiary Blush

Iodine

1. Halfway Down

2. Jenny Matrix

3. Tammy

4. Doll Chaser

5. Peeler

Izzy

1. Society of Chemists

Izzy

1. Astronomy Town

2. Cassandra Johnson

Jacob Downs

1. Mud Puppies

2. Junkyard Mule

3. Entheos Enclave

Jacob West

Yuasa Exide

Crush Scene

Mary Jam

Tannins

Berzica

Jake

1. Moneybones

2. Vash the Stampede

3. Doll Chaser

4. Jay James

5. Robyn Jamner

Comments:

Full disclosure, I'm in the first two bands. I saw Doll Chaser for the first time at Pillar and they absolutely rocked. Jay and Robyn are good friends and musicians from the MPLS OpenMic music scene.

Jake Wilcox

1. Mayfly Moon

2. Moon Sault

3. Poor John Candy

4. Syncline

5. Son/Boy

Jamie Passewe

1. J-Mo On The Beat & The J-Lighters

2. Samantha Grimes

3. Rockin' Hep Cats

4. Liam Vance

5. Kinda Fonda Wanda

Jammaz

1. Jammaz

2. Otterheist

3. Oisterboy

4. Spiderlily

5. Taxidermy

Comments:

JAMMAZ ROCKS

Janet Lettrich

1. Rosie Daze Band

JARED HOEFS

1. Perth

Comments:

Ffm.bio/perthbandmn

Jarett Huard

The Undergroove

Jessie Street Band

J-Mo and the J-Lighters

Jasmine

1. Pity Party

Jason Karau

Topiary Blush

Sweet Heat

Maje Adams

Weeklong Weekend

Thomas Richey

Jason Woolery

YES WE ARE

Wish Wash

Venus Yevu

Knife Emoji

Triple Fiddle

Jay Gabler

1. Josie Langhorst

2. Willem Dafoe Fan Club

3. Hot Tamale Cosmos

4. Jumpsuit

5. Cigarette Picnic

Comments:

Shout-out to rising opera star Sadie Cheslak!

Jay Zapata

1. Lost Evidence

2. Xawaro

3. Blodwar

Jeremy Downs

1. Mud Puppies

2. Enthos Enclave

3. Junkyard Mule

Jesse Baker

1. Halfway Down

Jessi Day

Halfway Down

Linus

Dingus

Tightwire

Mary jam

Comments:

For sure Halfway Down.

Jessica Paxton

1. Chatham Rise

2. Bathtub Cig

3. Nona Invie

4. anni xo

5. Matt Arthur Contraption

Jessie Seymour

1. Halfway Down

2. Quail

3. Sensing Agony

4. The Wildermen

5. Virginia’s Basment

Jim Hasnik

1. FINICK

2. Eldest daughter

3. Waking hours

Jim Prepodnik

1. Otto Van Trux

2. Andy Lindquist

3. High on Stress

Jim Walsh

1. The Minnesota Singing Resistance

2. Leslie Vincent

3. LaPlant Road

4. Bathtub Cig

5. Billy Bragg & The Minnesota Whistleblowers

Joanne Johnson

1. Rosie Daze

2. Evonne “Boom” Bilotta-Burke/Rosie Daze

3. Johnna Lawrence/Rosie Daze

Comments:

Monsters is our favorite song on Due North album released 2/2024. Wish I had the song when the kids were younger.

Joel Almberg

1. Sunken Planes

2. Field Hospitals

3. Dashed

4. The Silent Treatment

5. Guest Rooms

John Kueppers

THE RUMORS

Mother Soki

8umana

Young Dervish

Matt Proxy

Johnna Lawrence

1. Rosie Daze Band

Jon Jon Scott

1. The Muatas

2. Kavyesh Kaviraj

3. Lamarr

4. Obi & The Originals

5. Maya Marchelle

Jonny T

Spectres of Desire

Darkling I Listen

Velour Tomb

Panel

Cheap Glue

Jordan Riggs

Halfway Down

Bunny Blood

Josh Nelsen

1. Bunny Blood

Juliet Farmer

Xina

Joan of Profile

Sophie Hiroko

Anni XO

Eldest Daughter

Kara

1. Sophie Hiroko

2. Momzilla

Karl

1. Bunny Blood

Karla

1. Jellyjacket

2. Jordan messerole

Karlos Weisemhorn

1. Julie's Abiders

Comments:

New album coming soon...
"IN THE RIGHT PLACE"

Katy Tessman

LaPlant Road

Wren & Wilde

Conzemis

St. Rangers

Heartland Souvenirs

Comments:

The most compelling new music in Minnesota right now is being driven by women who are shaping the scene in powerful ways. My list this year includes artists creating music across a wide range of genres with songwriting that actually says something. Grounded in strong musicianship and fearless voices, this new music reflects real experiences, honest perspectives, and a deep commitment to the craft. These artists are not only filling rooms, they are making our Minnesota music scene stronger by building community and lifting one another up.

Katy Vernon

1. Favourite Girl

2. Lily Blue

3. Anything You Want

4. Nomolos

5. Daphne Jane

Comments:

Self promo aside (my new band is Favourite Girl, full length debut coming out April 10), I am constantly inspired by all the new bands that I continue to discover. Especially more and more young women who are making such great music. There is so much happening all over the state that it is hard to keep up.

Kaylee Matuszak

1. Midnight Kissfight

2. Joy & Melancholy

Comments:

Midnight Kissfight, new indie rock with some former members of NVR TGTHR and The Social Disaster. Joy & Melancholy, young band with really solid songwriting.

Kevin Martin

1. The Rosie Daze Band

Kim Schneider

Honeygrl

Delicate Friend

KYM and the Kick

Anything You Want

Boobless

Comments:

No particular order! I love a little dancey vibe with silliness or deep feeling behind it. These folks fit into those categories with a lot of stunning vocals and fun riffs.

Klash Coffee

1. Bunny Blood

Knol Tate

1. Unstable Shapes

Krista Vilinskis - Elephants & Flowers Media

1. Flutes & Low

2. Chutes

3. Samuel Wilbur

4. Dilly Dally Alley

5. Sawtooth Witch

Comments:

Its so hard to pick just 5 bands/artists. I also love Reiki, Twins of Franklin, Favourite Girl (Katy new album is amazing its some of her best music yet) Big Salt blows my mind every time I see them live! Agnes Uncaged is killer live and I love their new album! Deep Dark Lake is awesome live, Modern Wildlife is also amazing! Wild Horses and Kelley Smith! White Boy Summer, Anna Graves....we are lucky to live here! The Twin Cities music scene is thriving! Made Jett Mojo is FIRE! Beebe Gallini rocks!

Kristin

1. The Pullover

kristyn leigh

1. bunny blood

2. TANNINS

3. MAKR AN ERIS

4. Fiona Hayes

Comments:

This music community is all 10/10, these are personal faves or friends that I’ve mixed live or performed with- their vibes are top notch 😎

Kyle McKinney

Bunny Blood

L franklin

Manias

Wilderman

Daüggers

LaTischa Franzmeier

1. Samantha Grimes

laura buhman

SURLY GRRLY

SAWTOOTH WITCH

OBI ORIGINAL

POISON IVY AND THE PEOPLE

SOPHIE HIROKO

Laura Larson

1. Momzilla

2. Makin’ Out

3. Third Date

4. Wet T-Slur Contest

5. Sophie Hiroko

Lazerbeak / Aaron Mader

White Boy Summer

Sophia Hiroko

Reiki

Ginger Bones

The Nunnery

Lily

1. Social Pariah

Lindsay Kimball

Thomas Sticha

Flutes & Low

Agnes Uncaged

Sadie Gustafson-Zook

Fiona Hayes

Lindsey Behl

1. Putty party

Lisette Salinas

1. Topiary Blush

Comments:

Great Band!!

Liz

1. Pity party

Liz Draper

1. Liz Draper

2. Fanaka Nation

3. Betty Won't

4. Robert Lehmann (Ancestral Currents- NOT the old white guy composer with the same name)

5. Maddie Thies

Comments:

Is it tacky or self-affirming to vote for yourself? lol

Liz Seagren

1. The Lucky Lizzy Band

2. J-mo and the lamplighters

Logan falck

1. Astronomy Town

Luc Parker

Tommy

Cheap Glue

Momzilla

Bunny Blood

Cowboy Thoughts

Lucas

1. mixdsignals

2. POSTER BOY

3. Chutes

4. Lady Midnight

5. Lil Shine

Luke Pehoski

1. Shadow Lake

2. Halfway Down

3. Cheap Bouquet

4. Sugarcoat

5. Maelstrom in the Harbor

Luke Taylor

1. Anna Graves

2. Nur-D

3. Young Dervish

4. Now Now

Lydia Grimes

1. Pity Party

Mac "THE HAMMER" Wilson

1. Mother Soki

2. Sallyforth

3. Agnes Unchained

4. Midnight Kissfight

5. The Locals

Macie Rasmussen

Sophie Hiroko

Mother Soki

Berzica

Peeler

True Green

malik curtis

1. Midwest James

2. Yevrah

3. P Soul

4. Jandeltha Rae

5. JaiiSoul

Comments:

everyone on here is special and has something to say , 4 are up and coming and 1 P soul is established producer in the industry but working to build his sound as an artist up more in the city
jandeltha hasn't dropped a full album but she is set to drop soon and has material that is worthy of being heard .

Mandi Leyendecker

1. Bunny Blood

Mark Bassett

1. Beulah Rue

Mark Derrick

1. MLLT

2. Fishing

3. Bridal Style

4. Landfill Harmonik

Mark Nicklawske

Cigarette Picnic

Comments:

Duluth acoustic trio - three women who write new folk songs that could be 100-years-old, harmonize like the Carter Family but still sound fresh and very 2026.

Marnie Gamble

The Rumors

ROC BARBOZA

W.I.F.E.

vea vea

GR3G

Marta

1. Social Pariah

Martin Devaney

Lasalle

Ciao Bello

Thomas Sticha

Sophie Hiroko

Hot Press

Martin Lee

1. Pity Party

2. Moneybones

3. Spiderlily

4. Do Not Crush

5. Vash the Stampede

Matt Helgeson

Panel

Do Not Crush

Tender Comrade

Orchid Club

Visual Learner

Matt Reed

Pity Party

Portside Dive

Million.point.million

Melissa Platt

1. Dead Guy in a Swamp

2. Slape

Michael

1. Astronomy Town

2. Sam & J

3. Hidden Glade

4. Audrey Q

Michelle

1. Socktopus

2. The Teddy Holidays

Mike weiler l

Aestis

Bunny Blood

Mid Death Calm

Mikey

1. Socktopus

2. Space Monkey Mafia

3. Full Catholic

4. 26 Bats

5. Nik Pellinen

Mikey

1. Slape

2. Dead Guy in a Swamp

3. Southpaw

4. Torment

5. Bellerpuss

Millie Puckett

1. Jeb LaPlant Wild Horses

Nathan Honeypants

1. One Big Quilt

2. Third Date

3. Lenwood

4. Ciao Bello

5. Crownshy

Comments:

Thanks for spotlighting local music. There are enough local bands to fill your entire day with local tunes.

Nelson Ny-Devereaux

1. cool nel d

2. david feily

Noah Paster

1. TANNINS

2. Conzemius

3. M.A.Y.

4. Laugh Track

5. Blacklighter

Comments:

Honorable mention: Eric Hitchmough
R.I.P. Kitty Cat Klub

Pam Kucera

1. Woodzen

2. Greg Volker and the River

3. Emmy Woods and the Red Pine Ramblers

Pat "Doc" Dougherty

1. Sawtooth Witch

2. Hiahli

3. XINA

4. Emmy Woods

5. girlblunt

Pete

1. Side Saddle Sirens

Phil Lundberg

1. Squinny

2. Sophie Hiroko

Rachel Bearinger

Astronomy Town

Daguerreotypes

St. Rangers

Conzemius

Thomas Sticha

Randy

1. Favourite Girl

2. Katy Vernon

Red

1. Supermodified

2. Jmo and the J lighters

Reg

1. High Speed Snowshoes

2. Agony in the living room

3. Glitterpit

4. Porch light

5. The Dalmatian club

Rilee Millis

1. Pity Party

Riley

1. High speed snow shoes

Robb

1. Astronomy Town

2. Halfway Down

3. St Rangers

Robert Martin

1. Squinny

2. Planer

3. Blood Cookie

4. Embahn

5. Glurge

Roland Struckman

1. Mud Puppies

2. Entheos Enclave

Comments:

My band Mud Puppies is a group incredibly driven high schoolers. We have a lot of passion and hope to play music the rest of our lives. I think this would be a very beneficial opportunity.

Ross McNall

1. Socktopus

Ross Thorn

1. Peat Boggs

2. Josie Langhorst

3. St. Rangers

4. Climes

5. Entheos Enclave

Ruslan Johnson

1. Mud Puppies

Ryan Karau

1. Topiary Blush

2. Weeklong Weekend

3. Thomas Richey

4. Buoi Omega

Sam brown

1. The Reach Outs (Winona)

Sam Weld

1. Bunny Blood

2. Weeklong Weekend

3. Mid Death Calm

4. Mary Jam

5. Momzilla

Samantha Grimes

1. Samantha Grimes

2. Sammie Jean Cohen

3. Tom Mobry

4. Lazareus

5. Ruby Blu

Sammie Jean

Clayton Ryan

Sammie Jean Cohen

Astronomy Town

LaPlant Road

Ross Thorn

Sara Horishnyk

1. Liz Draper

2. Quarter Past Half Time

Sarah Morris

1. LaPlant Road

2. GLASS (Annie Enneking and Kari Tweiten Macdonald)

3. Favourite Girl

4. Trick Locket

5. Thomas Sticha

Comments:

Holy buckets am I excited that LaPlant Road are going into the studio this month to record their debut record. They are incredible! And GLASS - I saw one of their first official performances at Icehouse and it made all my hairs stand up. All of them! We've been waiting patiently for Katy Vernon's new rock band's debut album and the wait is almost over! (See you on 4/10 at Parkway!). Trick Locket is making incredibly clever, catchy, smart pop(?) music and I'm here for it. Thomas Sticha! His songwriting hits the sweet spot and his easy, natural delivery is just right....

Scion Jordan

1. Mud Puppies

Scott Herold

1. High School for Recording Arts

2. Anna Graves

3. Monique Smaz

4. Yellow Roses

5. Stone Williams

Sean McPherson

1. Kavyesh Kaviraj

2. Dom Mooney

3. Obi Original

4. Sophie Hiroko

5. Simple Motions

Seth Rohl

1. Social Pariah

2. Seth Rohl

Shawn grider

1. The Pullover

Shelby

1. JJ Sweetheart

2. Eldest Daughter

3. Dream Colors

4. Hairless Twin

5. Careful Caroline

Simon Deutsch

Christian Music

Sophie Hiroko

Tufawon

Huhroon

Essjay TheAfroCentricRatchet

Comments:

I voted not in order because I believe that the qualifications specified above may technically disqualify some of my selections, but I firmly believe that the qualifications outlined above will incorrectly disqualify some of these entries on a technicality. These rules, from my perspective, ignore the collaborative, public, and ultimately vulnerable artistic expression that all artists must go through to find their groove in their project. Naming their Artist project as an arbitrary delineation does not adequately reflect how musicians our working in our cities. They are in the studio, on the road, gigging, and seeking to define their project through networks that extend far beyond these cities and if we want to rightfully assert that the Minnesota Music Scene has some Scouting Report worthy artists, then we can't leave behind those artists who have ALWAYS been around creating, but maybe not conforming to these expectations. This is most exclusionary to those artists who were raised in the cities and always finding their ways in front of a microphone and/or an audience. They made this scene what it was - please don't forget that in your role as a critic and curator.

Sophie Williams

1. GR3G

2. Lily Blue

3. J.S. Walker

4. Anna Devine

5. Sophie Hiroko

Spencer Gosewisch

Third Date

Bunny Blood

One Big Quilt

Ciao Bello

Real Dirty

Stacy zenner

1. Rosie daze band

Steve Marsh

1. Braingiver

2. Mother soki

3. Ciao Bella

4. Cemshade

5. Postal Boys

Steve Mauch

1. Stephanie Was and The Secret Izz

2. Hot Press

3. Superfloor

4. 13 Howell

Comments:

Check out #1’s record ‘Here’s what I saw’ on Bandcamp!

Steve Paladie

1. Jellyjacket

Swan Otis

1. Sophie Hiroko

Taylor

1. The Rosie Daze Band

2. Rosie Daze Band

thermes

1. JELLYJACKET

Tom Cornish

1. Rosie Daze Band

2. Rosie Daze Band

3. Rosie Daze Band

4. Rosie Daze Band

5. Rosie Daze Band

Tom Hels

1. Twins Of Franklin

Tom Mobry

1. The FriendShip

Tom Salinas

1. Topiary Blush

Comments:

They have a unique touch with expression, poetry and sexuality

Tony Williamette

1. The Rosie Daze Band

2. Sammie Jean Cohen

Ty

1. Socktopus

2. 92Steps

Tyler Stoltzman

1. Fortunate Suns

2. Pocket Lounge

3. Farmer Josh

4. Forrest Hunter

5. Lazy River Road (Grateful Dead cover band)

Comments:

Fortunate Suns are the best new original jam band in Minnesota, big things to come for them!
https://youtube.com/shorts/qLvEb-LSsp8?si=Jho0lf1je-H2u_Dc

Val Lowry-Ortega

1. Gillweather

2. Mouthful

3. Anni XO

4. Damn Phibian

5. Willow Waters and the Earth Tones

Valerie Square-Briggs

1. Midwest American Youth (M.A.Y)

2. Bunny Blood

Walt Dizzo

1. Willem Dafoe Fan Club

2. Midnight Kissfight

3. Dirt Magnet

4. Sallyforth

5. Cigarette Picnic

Comments:

Duluth needs more full-time venues.

William guy

1. Dead Guy in a Swamp

2. Slape

3. Sophie Hiroko

Youa Vang

Samia

Anna Devine

Honeybutter

Anna Graves

Landon Conrath

Zac

1. Pity Party

Zach McCormick

1. Panel

2. Tommy

3. Will Olsen & The Wild Ones

4. Cheap Glue

5. Dashed

Comments:

Voting for Panel for the second year in a row, let's hope this one does the trick! Another great year for my fellow local lovers of local power-pop-adjacent punk stuff. Shout out to UndercurrentMPLS for keeping me up to speed on a lot of this goodness!

Zach Zurn

Bunny Blood

Jesus Son

upup/OVER

Jett Moleman

Eldest Daughter

Zack Moncrieff

1. Planer

2. Conzemius

3. Anything you want

4. Cheap Banquet

5. Society of Chemists

Zeno Arterius

1. Social paraiah

2. Mastered

3. Black widows

4. GR3G

5. Sophie Hiroko

Comments:

If it’s social pariah play “so slow” (Spotify) if it’s mastered play “done to me” or Unwanted memory of their self named EP (Spotify) black widows had a really solid single this Valentine’s Day, GR3G just has overall insanely highly incarnately lyrical & sound I’d recommend either WHERE’S DA LUV or If I Pray, if it’s Sophie Hiroko, Annastasia or DIVORCE are really solid songs