On Monday, local singer-songwriter Haley Bonar visited the BBC Radio 6 Music studios to promote the UK release of her album Last War. In an intimate conversation with Lauren Laverne, Bonar discussed a number of things including her beginnings as a musician, the making of Last War, Justin Vernon’s contribution to the record, the empowering…

Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You” (originally by Dolly Parton) and Johnny Cash‘s “Hurt” (originally by Nine Inch Nails) made the top ten, as did two covers of songs by Minnesota artists: Sinead O’Connor‘s version of Prince‘s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and Jimi Hendrix‘s transformative take on Bob Dylan‘s “All Along the Watchtower.” The best cover version of all time, though—according…

As the 2014 Halloweekend approaches, the Twin Cities will be crawling with shows for every ghoul and boy. Whether you’re seeking spooktacular celebrations or refuge from incessant trick-or-treaters, there are plenty of options to make this a festive Friday night. Halloween Party & Costume Contest First Avenue, Minneapolis 8:00 p.m., $5 advance/$10 day of show/$15…

The Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival, a new outdoor event dreamed up by Justin Vernon and organized by the production team behind the independent-minded Boston Calling festival, passed through its final round of permit approvals tonight and is officially slated to take place in Eau Claire on July 17 and 18, 2015. The Bon Iver frontman tapped Crashline Productions to…

Chris Koza: In Real Time Rouge Valley’s Chris Koza has a new album. In Real Time reaches into the past trying to grasp onto something human. On the track “Radio Wave,” for example Koza’s struggle to accept technology’s grasp on the world makes for a compelling theme over rhythmic instrumentation that captures the feeling of…

For the third time in four years, Kenny Chesney will be making an appearance at Target Field. The 13-time chart-topping country singer’s “Big Revival Tour” will merge with Jason Aldean’s “Burn it Down Tour,” with a Target Field show on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Ticket info and complete artist lineup will be announced at a later…

One of my earliest memories is so vivid that I can close my eyes right now and picture it: I’m sitting on the brown shag carpet-covered steps that led down into the living room of my childhood home and wiping dried tears from the corners of my eyes while my dad plays the song “You…

As digital download sales plummet—along with sales of physical music formats, excluding vinyl—Apple is focusing on streaming as the future of its music services. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple will re-launch Beats Music (which it now owns) next year as a part of iTunes rather than a standalone service. On the one-year anniversary…

The first time I ever heard Caroline Smith, I found myself with a friend and a cup of jasmine tea on a Thursday night in a Northfield venue unknown to many. The Chapel is a cozy upstairs venue that hosts music and art events at 310 1/2 Division Street, run by Michael Morris. Longtime local…

This morning I biked through my home town listening to pop idol Taylor Swift’s new album, and of course I was thinking of 1989. 1989 is the album’s title, and it’s the year Swift was born. As Jon Caramanica notes in the New York Times, the album also sonically harks back to an era before hip-hop and…