Welcome to The Scouting Report, a monthly list of 10 Minnesota artists with exciting new projects, as curated by our local music team. If you like these picks, check out The Local Show on Sundays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., hosted by Diane, or check out our Spotify playlist, updated every week. In April 2026, The Current compiled the third Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report with votes from the local music industry.

Elsa Krantz

Singer-songwriter Elsa Krantz, who is part of the Duluth folk trio Cigarette Picnic, says she had “a freaky dream” a few sober Augusts ago. It became the song “Exit Sign,” which has twangy guitar licks and roadhouse-ready grooves. Backed by her Cigarette Picnic bandmates Madi Phyle and Ricky Francois, Krantz’s confident voice narrates a late-night tale. A full-length album, titled Deluxe Edition, follows on Nov. 19 with a release show that night at Icehouse in Minneapolis. -YV

Good Morning Midnight

Charlie Cacciatore began the indie rock project Good Morning Midnight about 10 years ago while he was living in Iowa. Now based in Minneapolis, Cacciatore released two tracks, “Clarity” and “Circuit Bender,” in April. The heavy electric guitar riff leading off “Clarity” sets off a catchy track with an alt-country lean. The lyrics show a bleak meditation on grief that treats spring’s obligatory rebirth like an insult. Cacciatore and band recently wrapped a Midwest tour, and don’t have any local shows on the calendar at the moment. Follow their Instagram for the occasional snippet of unreleased material. -YV

Trevor McSpadden

For the past two decades, St. Paul-based Trevor McSpadden has built a career writing witty and descriptive country songs and delivering them with his warm voice. The smooth-flowing “Amarillo Sunset” is a vivid picture of Texas sky and an invitation to experience it before you die. Long a sharp-eyed sidekick to local icon Mary Cutrufello, McSpadden has a dream crew backing him up on this track, including drummer JT Bates, bassist Charlie Bruber, guitarist Dean Magraw, and pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj. There’s an unhurried quality to the track, as if McSpadden is content to let the melody find its own way home rather than force a grand revelation. McSpadden will play a tribute to the Derailers at White Squirrel Bar in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 24. -YV

Preston Hodek

Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Preston Hodek has released two high-impact singles so far on streaming platforms. On “Laundry, the lyrical themes explore miscommunication in relationships with a catchy indie pop melody, featuring guitar by Kenji Asai and production by Ben Bassett, throughout the song’s choruses. His debut single, “Once in a Lifetime,” arrived in September. We’re excited to hear what comes next from this emerging artist. -AD

Callback

Minneapolis-based band Callback released Overobsessed, their debut EP of melodic alternative pop/rock in 2024. Their latest singles mark a shift toward a heavier rock sound. On recent single “Facedown,” singer Ben Klepfer’s raw vocals deliver heartfelt and vulnerable lyrics, while Bailey Prevost’s crisp guitar riffs push the song’s melody along. Their next live performance is a co-headline with Scorched Waves on Friday, Nov. 20, at Icehouse in Minneapolis, featuring local support from Pullstring and Call Me Fritz. Fans of The 1975 and Cage the Elephant may enjoy the recent singles by Callback. -AD

Careful Gaze

Minneapolis post-hardcore band Careful Gaze’s third full-length album, IT DOES NOT SLEEP, opens with a deep screech from lead vocalist Gabriel Reasoner. Released in October, the album bursts with doom, fuzzy guitars from Bailey Sullivan and Cody Jones, harsh bass from Aslan Denbow, and pummeling drums from Lars Oslund. The single “CERULEAN” tones down the aggression from shrieks and high-speed guitars. Luna Yves eerily whispers, “I still hear your voice here / In a place that held so much / It's like you phase in / And out / Beside me,” to open the track before Reasoner returns to impassioned, melancholic storytelling in hardcore punk form. Whatever the song, Careful Gaze makes music to thrash limbs to. They begin their U.S. tour in early November. - MR

Duncan

Hello is the debut EP from prolific Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Duncan Seltzer. After his band Peeler broke up in June, Duncan focused on a self-titled solo project, resulting in the EP dedicated to his late father. “Making this EP felt like I was arriving home, using any equipment I had around the house to produce my favorite kind of music,” Seltzer says. This project echoes the music Duncan grew up with, including LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, STRFKR, Phantogram, MGMT, and Passion Pit. “Glitter Wherewithal” holds strong ties to the latter with its synth-heavy indie pop, bubbly production, and lightweight vocals. Seltzer sings, “Your tongue is tied, my back's against the wall / And my head is full of glitter vitriol,” as Will Langson's upbeat drum rhythms clip steadily along the sunny tune. - MR

The Hi-Bridge Band

The Hi-Bridge Band is the funky soul-jazz studio project of Cy Pierpoint, former drummer of Sonny Knight & the Lakers. After Sonny Knight’s death in 2017, Pierpoint took a long break from music — at least from creating it. He focused his energy on his record label Secret Stash Records. The band is a rotating cast of local musicians and former members of Sonny Knight & the Lakers, including Riley Helgeson on trumpet/organ, Blair Krivanek on guitar, Connor Carroll on flute, and Kevin Gastonguay on B3 organ. If you’re into funk and soul, you’ll love their single “Cannonball.” -NT

Anna Houston

Singer-songwriter Anna Houston is known for blending indie and pop styles, with a distinct soulful voice. Her debut album Catharsis, was released in 2025, with a focus on honest songwritng. Houston has been performing around the Twin Cities ever since and is now back with a new single called “punchlight,” and it is the perfect fall vibe. Follow Anna on Instagram to stay connected and be on the lookout for upcoming shows, which include a Christmas-themed concert on Friday, Dec. 11, at Aster Cafe in Minneapolis. -NT

MASTO

MASTO is a half-Cameroonian, half-Dutch melodic rapper based in south Minneapolis. MASTO describes his sound as late-night romantic and lyric-forward. MASTO prides himself on being a DIY artist, and produces, writes and films his work himself. He was recently featured on the popular online platform On The Radar. His song “Closer” is super catchy, fun, and for sure has replay value. Catch MASTO live at 7th St Entry in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 24. -NT