Bobby Z knew Prince for 43 years. The two spent time together growing up in Minneapolis and played with each other for years in the Revolution. Stopping by The Current’s studio, Z shared some of the memories he made with Prince. One of his most memorable ones was working on the essential Prince album, 1999.…

The day drummer JT Bates announced the end of his longtime series, JT’s Jazz Implosion, was a sad day for the Twin Cities jazz community. Bates had been running the series for more than 20 years and many musicians and fans were disappointed to see a boon to the experimental jazz scene grow suddenly disappear.…

It’s the split-second of hesitation, that beat of uncertainty, when two musicians must wordlessly communicate where a melody is leading, and how one harmony will flow seamlessly into the next, that has singer-songwriter Molly Maher hooked on the art of the duet. Starting tomorrow, Jan. 8, she will host a weekly series where musical pairs take…

I have a certain admiration for angry people. As a citizen and scholar of the United States, I’ve read about the provocative suffragettes; the can’t-be-tamed flag-wavers; the defiant revolutionaries. I’ve imagined myself joining their fights. But when I think about the issues threaded through present-day America, I feel numb and/or scared more often than roused.…

We made it through the holidays, and I’m a little worried I didn’t savor them while they lasted. But that could be withdrawal speaking. I enjoyed Hanukkah parties early on; survived a Christmas intensive; and delighted in the turn of the new year. Now I’m stuck on the dream to travel somewhere, back to Spain…

Earlier today, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival announced its lineup for 2019. The bill includes headliners Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, and Ariana Grande, as well as acts like Janelle Monáe, Weezer, Maggie Rogers, and former Minnesota resident Lizzo. While the internet is in a frenzy over this year’s Coachella performers, we thought we’d…

2018 was a big one for music, and especially for Minnesota music. Here at The Current, we watched as the Super Bowl LII crowds descended on the Twin Cities, and continued to hold our breath as the Prince estate handled the artist’s legacy. On our website, we covered hundreds of stories this year. Here are…

Imagine bundling up and feeling the heat of a bonfire, with homegrown Minnesota sounds wafting through the air and the soft crunch of snow under your tapping foot. Last year Minnesotans were able to have this experience in the heart of Minneapolis at Super Bowl Live, but there’s also a festival experience in a more…

I remember it as if it were yesterday. The song “Bam Bam,” by Jamaican singer/DJ Sister Nancy, was blaring in the car. My sister and I sat in the backseat, mortified, and rolled our eyes as our mom belted out the song’s famous chorus. “Bam bam, ey, what a bam bam, Bam bam dilla, bam…

Morning, everyone. I’ve had the pleasure of watching hundreds of Minnesota music videos this year, and as 2018 comes to a close, I wanted to revisit some of my favorites. There’s no impartial ranking here, as I’m just one person with a set of eyes and ears. But I did my best to provide a…