Over nine months since the last regular concert at First Avenue (Chelsea Cutler on March 12), Congress is set to pass a long-awaited relief bill that includes $15 billion in support for live entertainment venues. The Save Our Stages Act was championed by the newly-formed National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), led by First Avenue owner…

Live at the Royal Albert Hall showcases many of Arctic Monkeys' most recent songs along with fan favorites and a presence from the audience that will deliver you back to the live music experience so many of us are craving. From the frenetic "Brianstorm" to the meandering "Arabella," you're left wishing you could have been in the crowd but grateful to have this album to consume as we are all socially distancing.

Round 2 -- for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what artists would you like to hear that we lost in 2020?

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder called her our state’s “First Lady of Song.” The Star Tribune called her a “pre-eminent” vocalist in the local jazz scene. She called herself “ridiculously picky” when it comes to material, but, she told Local Current blogger Simone Cazares in 2018, “I know a tune when I hear one.” So did the…

The Friday Five inbox (submit by shooting a message to fridayfive [at] mpr.org) fills up with an eclectic mix of music videos each week. Sometimes longstanding local favorites, sometimes brand new DIY projects, and this week, a particularly mysterious artist performing under the moniker 85918 who shared an energetic, psychedelic experience for his latest single…

As The Current’s local music team, we used to find a lot of new music out at late-night shows, but this year, we’ve mostly been exploring releases through Bandcamp and SoundCloud (and our inboxes). Is it ideal? No, but it’s still rewarding. This year, Minnesota music has made us cry, dance, and cheer. Below, we’ve…

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what artists would you like to hear that we lost in 2020?

Radiohead's 'Kid A,' regarded by many as one of the greatest albums of the 2000s, turns 20 this year. In a new book, Steven Hyden writes about how the album speaks to its tumultuous times.

When Gene Simmons describes the heyday of West Hollywood's Rainbow Bar & Grill as 'a bacchanalia,' that's saying something. Mary Lucia talks about a documentary, 'The Rainbow,' that explores the history of the music scene along Hollywood's Sunset Strip.

There are just so many National Treasures in this country that we're going for a Day 3! Who would you like to hear for this morning's Coffee Break?