While the music industry is shut down, and the concept of a live show seems very far away, Sylvan Esso have put out a timely release of their new live record and live concert film: WITH gives fans an opportunity to revisit the live music experience. The Current’s Morning Show host Jill Riley had a…

Around this time each year, local music enthusiasts typically gather in Winona, Minnesota to attend the Midwest Music Fest. This year, due to social distancing rules, Mid West Music Fest is going virtual, and is now Midwest Music Fest at home. The event will be streamed from the Midwest Music Fest Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo,…

If you have a music video you’d like to be considered for an upcoming feature, send it my way: fridayfive [at] mpr.org! Early Eyes – “Clarity” Perched on rooftops and hopping around railroad bridges, Early Eyes’ latest video showcases their effortless magnetism as a band better than ever before. With sticky bass lines and gauzy vocals,…

Prior to the cancellation of her 2020 tour, Sophie Allison, a.k.a. Soccer Mommy, was ready to hit the road and promote her latest record, color theory. To make it up to her fans, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter has been trying to provide performances and content across a variety of digital platforms. The Nashville-based artist has remained…

No one knows when exactly venues will reopen, but many have speculated that it could be many months or even over a year until we are able to safely gather in large crowds again. “It was estimated that 90% of independent venues and promoters could close if this goes more than six months,” said First…

“I just want to say thank you,” said Dessa in an emotional video posted to Twitter on Sunday. “You’ve been an important port through so many storms.” Her sentiments echoed those of many Minnesotans paying tribute to the Lyn-Lake restaurant Muddy Waters. It opened in 1987 as a coffee shop at 24th and Lyndale before,…

As a part of her Phone a Friend series, Morning Show host Jill Riley got a chance to catch up with Britt Daniel (Spoon, Divine Fits) and talk about upcoming releases that are being written during this period of isolation, as well the impact that the coronavirus has had on Austin, Texas, and the celebration…

If you have a music video you’d like to be considered for an upcoming feature, send it my way: fridayfive@mpr.org! Sister Species – “Heat Death (Hold Me Here)” The music video for “Heat Death (Hold Me Here)” features tender moments of intimacy and touch that are often grounding for Minnesotans in the depths of our…

Minneapolis-based visual artist Eric Rieger, known as HOTTEA, has created an installation located on the bike path right outside of Paisley Park. The artist is known for creating installations by suspending or stringing yarn of various colors; this installation comprises 4,200 purple strands, each knotted twice, that move with the breeze and create an almost…

The Current hosts have been checking in with various artists throughout this extended quarantine period to see how they are holding up, and how this global pandemic has been affecting them. Jade caught up with Cage The Elephant guitarist Brad Shultz to chat about the new normal, including spending time with family at home in…