I’ve always enjoyed the Lumineers’ music, but I wondered whether their pleasant songs could captivate thousands of people in a live setting. I am happy to report, after Tuesday night’s show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, that indeed they can. As a black curtain dropped to reveal a kaleidoscope of colored lights and silver organ pipes, the…

Prince was inducted to the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame on Monday in Harlem. The New Power Generation and Maceo Parker were among the music luminaries on hand for the induction, which preceded the historic theater’s annual fundraising gala. During the induction, theater president Jonelle Procope said, “Prince was one of a kind. Bold. Prolific. A musical genius, rule breaker,…

Thom Yorke grabbed a guitar on Sunday and strolled over to a garden party his neighbor was throwing on the day that Queen Elizabeth II was being honored in England for turning 90. Yorke played a 30-minute solo acoustic set that a Reddit user posted about after getting a text from his dad: “in Oxford at garden party with Suzie’s…

Jackie Perman is a recent graduate of Macalester College, where this report was originally written as a class paper. It’s republished here with the permission of the writer and her sources. In 2015, rapper Kanye West released the song “All Day,” which was nominated in two categories at the 58th Grammy Awards. The song has…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that music has the power to open hearts, and as many in the singer/songwriter scene know, few artists wield that power like folk-rocker Brandi Carlile. She’s humble, gracious, and kind, and her music reflects those traits. Genre-benders the Avett Brothers touch crowds, too, especially through their poignant lyrics. They’re…

Hamilton won 11 Tony Awards out of its record 16 nominations on Sunday night, in a ceremony dedicated to those affected by Sunday morning’s terror attack in Orlando. “Love cannot be killed or swept aside,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the acclaimed show, as he accepted the award for best score. Among Hamilton’s wins were a Tony for…

In hopes to add another all-female rock band to the Minneapolis music scene, Cindy Lawson took out ads in local magazines in the summer of 1985. Soon enough, the City Pages and now-historic Twin Cities Reader ads caught the attention of drummer Karen Gratz, bassist Patsy Joe and  guitarist Roxie Terry, and The Clams were…

Each week on the Local Show, we’ll meet a new person from the Minnesota music community who has some fresh discoveries to share in a feature called “Ask a Cool Person.” These people will come from all corners of the scene, including record store clerks, recording studio engineers and producers, artists, writers, bookers, photographers, and…

Sean Anonymous, “Invisible Ink” Sean Anonymous dropped a surprise video this week, making killer song “Invisible Ink” feel even more confessional with black-and-white close-ups galore. Nicholas Perez directs, and Dimitry Killstorm is on the beat. Recap of Soundset 2016 The verses have been rapped, the blogs have been written, and the recap has been released; this video closes the book on…

Now in its second year, Local Current’s DJ in Residence program is an opportunity for The Current to invite local musicians to take over our all-Minnesota music stream and share their favorite stories and music from the local music scene. So far, Local Current’s DJ in Residence roster has included Mark Mallman, Tess Weinberg (Murder…