The Cactus Blossoms are blooming. There is a timelessness in these songs and nothing can touch Jack and Page's harmonies.

Tomorrow is Record Store Day, an annual event to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record stores. We will be out and about on Saturday visiting some of our favorite record stores and spending way too much money. In the meantime, what songs do you want to hear that mention records, vinyl, DJs, etc.?

Each year, Minnesotans set aside a month to celebrate the state’s music community. Now, Governor Tim Walz has made the celebration official, by proclaiming April “Minnesota Music Month.” The proclamation gives a shout-out to some of the artists who have shaped the Minnesota music scene, from Bob Dylan and Prince to Dessa and Lizzo. It…

Good morning from a cold living room in St. Paul, Minn. Like most Minnesotans, I’m disappointed by this week’s return to February — but I’m getting through it with layers and support croissants. In this week’s lead music video, Dua Saleh isn’t so lucky. Dua Saleh – “Warm Pants” In this video, scene darling Dua…

On the day rapper, entrepreneur and activist Nipsey Hussle is memorialized in Los Angeles, MPR News' Jeffrey Bissoy shares an interview he did with Hussle at the Blacks in Technology conference on October 2018. Bissoy also reflects on Hussle's legacy in music and in the broader community.

Snow and howling winds are making it difficult to get around the Midwest today. In the metro area, winds could gust up to 55 mph at times. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention wind, cyclones, tornadoes, or maybe even have wind noise in them?

April 7-13 is National Library Week, originally formed in 1958 to motivate people to read and to support libraries. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear for National Library Week?

You probably wouldn’t think to connect mini golf and contemporary music — beyond, maybe, the Gee Gee Shinn novelty record released by Putt-Putt Corporation in the late ’60s. There are more connective threads, though, than you might imagine. The popularity of mini golf was exploding just as rock and roll was born in the 1950s, and both came to…

Mayor Jacob Frey has issued a proclamation naming today “Trevor Engelbrektson Day” in the City of Minneapolis. Engelbrektson played bass in Southside Desire and was a familiar face at many Twin Cities venues, where he worked as a sound engineer. The musician and sound professional died in a highway crash in Arizona last month while traveling with…

We're about halfway through the time frame for submitting your Essential Songs since the year 2000, and the top 893 songs will air back during the May member drive. Here on Oake & Riley, we are just at a lost for how to get our own lists started, so let's do some brainstorming today. What are your essential songs since 2000?