This Thursday, Aug. 15, the Walker Art Center is hosting its third annual Sound for Silents: a screening of five short films, accompanied by a live score by Minneapolis funk, soul, and hip-hop collective Astralblak. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with DJ sets from The Current’s Sanni Brown and Sean McPherson. At 8:30,…

This week, a new name was added to the constellation of legends watching over the intersection of North 1st Avenue and South 7th Street on First Avenue’s iconic exterior. The star belongs to Byron Frank: not a musician, but a man nonetheless instrumental in shifting First Avenue’s reputation 15 years ago, and a big reason…

Seven years ago, the local team here at The Current stumbled across so many impressive high-school bands that we decided to air the first-ever, high-schoolers-only “back to school” edition of the Local Show. It’s turned into quite the fun tradition — there are only so many young up-and-coming bands that we can stumble on by…

St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center has had the privilege this summer of hosting two of England’s storied rock bands in sold-out shows — both of them Rock and Roll Hall of Famers whose popularity has been re-energized by recent Hollywood blockbusters, and both led by septuagenarians. Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra starship landed in late…

Singer/songwriter/producer Lady Midnight poured out wisdom at the Turf Club last night. She said: “It is far worse to live life on your knees than to be killed standing.” She sang: “Can’t nobody put a claim on/ What you put your name on.” She proved: It is better to take your time on a project…

The kind of music I listen to depends on my mood. Some days the sky is green-grey from an oncoming storm and I feel like listening to Lana Del Ray’s smooth, eerie vocals while I sip hot tea on the couch with my two cats. Other days I’ll blast some King Princess or Lizzo while…

Dizzy Fae – “Big Wall” “Big Wall” stars “Dizzy Fae, Dizzy Fae, Dizzy Fae & Dizzy Fae,” as its YouTube description points out. The shape-shifting starlet/entrepreneur plays and styles every character, one of whom is on a mission. Under Violet – “Blame Me” Sara Bischoff’s voice is the light in Under Violet‘s landscape, so this…

In February 2020, Minneapolis will expand its portfolio of live music venues with the opening of the Fillmore Minneapolis in the North Loop, just northwest of Target Field. The Fillmore is named for the iconic music hall in San Francisco, a 1912 venue that became known for unforgettable rock shows when legendary promoter Bill Graham…

Beginning on Sept. 21, fans can get an intimate look at Prince’s career during the period comprising the late 1970s through early 1980s as seen through the eyes of his friend and photographer Allen Beaulieu. The “Prince: Before the Rain” exhibit at the Minnesota History Center will feature 50 digital prints of Prince, the Revolution,…

When you go to a concert by Macklemore, Pitbull, or Marshmello, it’s not just for the music — you’re also going for an elaborate spectacle, and often that means waterfalls of sparks raining down from the ceiling or pillars of fire erupting from the edge of the stage. In short, pyrotechnics. Pyrotechnics can incorporate anything…