If Sound Unseen were a human, this year would mark legal adulthood and responsibility and having to figure it all out, but the “films-on-music” festival has had everything figured out for quite a while now, and they’re proving it yet again with the first wave of selections for their 18th year, featuring over 20 films…

Slug and Brother Ali appear in a new video released to help get out the vote in Minneapolis on Nov. 7. The video is a promotion for the new website thisismpls.com, which is a voter guide created as a collaboration among Rhymesayers, Ashley Fairbanks, Pollen Midwest, Voices for Racial Justice, and Parks and Power. The website…

Velvet Negroni, “Spiceworld” Jeremy Nutzman, aka Velvet Negroni, goes rollerskating in this crisp, black-and-white video. “Spiceworld” belongs to Velvet Negroni’s Dadaist debut, TCOD, available via Totally Gross National Product. 26 BATS!, “Edge of Life” University of Minnesota alum Lisa Persson took on video production, direction, and make-up for this 26 BATS! video, one of the band’s…

Author, and Macalester College professor, Marlon James has signed a deal for an Amazon Prime series based on his 2014 novel A Brief History of Seven Killings. James will write the script, while Melina Matsoukas will direct and executive produce the series. Matsoukas, who began her career directing music videos, is best-known as the director…

When you hear “Justin Timberlake” and “Super Bowl” in the same sentence you probably remember the embarrassing “wardrobe malfunction” with Janet Jackson back at the 2004 Super Bowl. The former NSYNC singer may be setting his sights on a return to the Super Bowl stage. Timberlake is “finalizing” his deal for the halftime show at…

Manitoba Music and The Current are getting to be old pals. For the third year running, the non-profit teams brought Manitoba and Minnesota bands together for a Local Music Exchange, staging shows in the U.S. and Canada to foster cultural exchange and goodwill. The run, which will continue at Red Raven Espresso Parlor in Fargo,…

I was incredibly sad to read a letter on Instagram Monday morning from the British band Wild Beasts, announcing their impending split. They’ve been together for 13 years and five albums and they’ve mutually decided to part ways. Leave a good thing whilst it’s still good. I’m disappointed that now I’ll definitely never get to…

On Saturday evening, it was sibling central at First Avenue. There is something so magical about sibling harmony. It feels effortless, natural, and seamless. The trio Bailen (brothers Daniel and David, and sister Julia) opened for Portland-based Joseph (sisters Natalie, Allie, and Meegan Closner). Having released an EP just a couple weeks ago entitled Stay…

When I see shows billed as “An Evening With” some entertainer, I tend to quirk an eyebrow. The term promises a transportive adventure, in which you’ll be swept off your feet without leaving your seat, lost in the simultaneous intimacy and grandeur of whatever is happening onstage. Although few performers can deliver a living-room experience…

Yet another Prince auction is upon us, and this roundup includes items once belonging to Susannah Melvoin, who was long close to Prince and is sister to Wendy Melvoin of the Revolution. Other offerings include items from Prince’s former horn player Eric Leeds, assistant tour manager Gwen Leeds, and costume designer Helen Hiatt. Currently, it…