If you have a music video you want to be featured, send it my way at fridayfive [at] mpr.org! Ashley DuBose – “Love Tingz” The latest track from former Voice contestant Ashley Dubose is a summer-ready jam with percussion made for dancing. The video for “Love Tingz” features tender romance and dance sequences in tandem…

Juneteenth (June 19) commemorates Black freedom and is recognized as a “time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future.” It is often celebrated with picnics, celebrations, guest speakers, and family gatherings. The origins of Juneteenth date back to June 19th, 1865, acknowledged as the day that the remaining African-American slaves in the Confederacy were…

On the Morning Show this week, host Jill Riley had a conversation with Michele Norris, a columnist for the Washington Post, founding director of the Race Card Project, author of The Grace of Silence, and former host of All Things Considered. They discussed Norris’s experience growing up in Minneapolis, the significance of Juneteenth, and whether or not…

Click on any one of Alec Wigdahl’s videos posted to YouTube, and a majority of the comments are forecasts.  “Your [sic] gonna blow up soon I’m calling it 2020,” writes one user. “This man is gonna blow up i swear,” predicts another. “Whos here before he blows up??? He’s (original) [sic] in some way.” The…

Throughout the events that have unfolded since the killing of George Floyd, Morning Show host Jill Riley has been sharing her platform with numerous musicians and community members to share their perspectives about what has been going on. She connected with local neo-soul musician Lady Lark to talk about what she has witnessed in the…

After the police killing of George Floyd, Morning Show host Jill Riley has been inviting community members onto her show in order to share their perspectives on the events that have since unfolded. On Wednesday morning she connected with Melvin Carter, the current mayor of St. Paul and also the first African American mayor of…

If you have a music video you would like to be featured, send it my way at fridayfive [at] thecurrent.org! Lewiee Blaze – “Freedom Fighter” “Freedom Fighter” is rapper Lewiee Blaze’s ode to black activists, from protest footage from Minneapolis this past week to historical figures like Fred Hampton. The artist’s candid recording of events…

Yesterday, Morning Show host Jill Riley spoke with Tim Wilson, the owner and operator of Urban Lights, the only black-owned record store in the Twin Cities, which has been around for nearly three decades now. The two discussed the history of Urban Lights, the rebuilding of the Midway neighborhood following the events of the last…

The Twin Cities community has been impacted deeply by the killing of George Floyd. In the wake of tragedy, many forms of neighborly support have surfaced. We’ve compiled a list of ongoing efforts that are seeking and offering aid locally. Donation and Distribution Sites Interactive map of sites in the Twin Cities taking donations and…

“We all miss it; the live audiences, the fun, and the laughter.” said Tom Franek in a conversation with me regarding his cruise ship entertainment career that, due to the pandemic, has been put on hold. People have been speculating how the pandemic is going to impact the future of the live entertainment industry, and…