A slew of local musicians are getting together to perform for a good cause this Saturday at the fourth annual Konawerks Grumpy’s Bike Show. The event raises funds for the Minnesota Prostate Cancer Coalition and has two major components: a motorbike show and a series of live performances. The bike show will take place at the…

In this flavor-of-the-moment era of YouTube, Twitter, and TV singing competitions, it seems that artists become big overnight and are oftentimes cast aside by morning. Most don’t ever even claim 15 minutes of fame—it’s more like five minutes, at best. It’s nice to see Trampled By Turtles, then, in the enviable position of reaching a…

Sims: Field Notes EP Following the Doomtree crew’s recent book release, today Sims drops his new seven-track EP Field Notes. Sims has been performing songs from the new EP live, and recently made Andrea Swenson’s Friday Five for his “Sims Jong Il” video. When Sims recently visited MPR’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair, he told Mary Lucia…

It seems like Beyoncé can’t get any bigger, but actually she can: she’s still not as big as the Beatles, according to a Harris Poll of 2,306 American adults who were asked to name their favorite musical artist. The Beatles are on top, followed by Elvis Presley—then Queen Bey comes in at third. Rounding out…

Halfway through Saturday night’s marathon six-band MN Music-on-a-Stick show, just after Cloud Cult’s painters packed up their easels and before Bob Mould bounded out to pummel the crowd with his punk rock, a trivia question popped up on the venue’s screens: What was the longest concert to ever take place in the State Fair Grandstand?…

A big crowd is gathered here at MPR’s Minnesota State Fair booth as Jill Riley and Steve Seel broadcast live in what they’re aptly calling a “pre-party” for tonight’s big MN Music-on-a-Stick show at the Grandstand. We asked some of the Minnesota music fans gathered at the booth what State Fair foods they’d recommend for…

I have a bunch of goodies for you today, including some brand-new music from sister duo the Ericksons and Tickle Torture, two dramatically different but equally talented acts who have albums coming out next month. There’s also a cut from rapper Longshot, a new track from the rock band the Persian Leaps, and a glimpse…

You know it’s a historical night when every concert attendee is handed a commemorative poster on their way out the door—not to mention when their only option to exit said door is to sidestep the city’s mayor, who is there grinning ear to ear. The newly raised ceilings and freed-up walkways came in handy last night as hundreds…

Bruce Springsteen is joining the ranks of the Talking Heads (“Up All Night”); Woody Guthrie (“New Baby Train”); Peter, Paul and Mary (“Puff the Magic Dragon”); Bob Dylan (“Blowin’ in the Wind”); Bob Marley (“One Love”); and Simon and Garfunkel (“At the Zoo”): the Boss is having a song of his turned into a picture…

Jon Wurster is like the indie-punk version of Max Fischer’s eccentric character from the movie Rushmore. He has many bands and projects but, unlike Max, his ventures actually are good and work out well. When Bill Murray’s character asked Max Fischer what his secret was, Max replied, “The secret? I don’t know. I guess you’ve just…