Yesterday afternoon a Minneapolis City Council committee unanimously approved a concept plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal along the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis, which includes a Community Performing Arts Center operated by First Avenue. The open-air CPAC would hold around 10,000 guests and include 6,000 stacked seats (a capacity comparable to Rock the Garden). It…

Thanks to listener John who wrote in and reminded us that yesterday was John Hughes' birthday. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's make a soundtrack to a fictional John Hughes teen movie. What songs - spanning all genres - do you want to hear?

While the Twin Cities may be known for a vibrant jazz scene, it’s no secret that many of the musicians playing the music in Minnesota are white. But even though the Twin Cities jazz scene might not be as diverse as other scenes, there are many artists of color here who work hard and bring…

When The Cactus Blossoms played in The Current studio ahead of the release of their new album, 'Easy Way,' the guitar being played by the band's Tyler Burkum caught everyone's attention. After the session, we were able to talk to him about it.

It had been months since I saw a good thunderstorm. Snow and deep freezes have swept through the Twin Cities lately, but it’s been a long time without thunder and lightning. Sharon Van Etten put an end to that stretch last night at First Avenue. She summoned angry synths, crashing cymbals, and even windchimes and…

The album is a clear step forward for Clark who now has one of the most respectable careers in making rock records but still maintains the status of an incredible live musician.

From the early 1960s to this very day, Stax recording artist William Bell has crafted soul classics with a clarity, passion and grit that is truly unparalleled. Last week Sean McPherson sat in the backstage of the Dakota with the soul legend and discussed soul music with him.

Seven rows away from the stage last night, I sat munching on my chocolate chip cookie, not knowing quite what to expect. I was about to see Amy Ray and Emily Saliers — the Indigo Girls — perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. As conductor Sarah Hicks and the folk duo walked on stage, a roaring…

Joe Jackson has been turning out music for more than 40 years, and has just released a new album, 'Fool.' The Current's Jim McGuinn recently connected with Jackson to talk about his career then and now. 'The best work that I've done is always the latest,' Jackson says. 'It's always what I'm most excited about.' Check out the complete interview.

A new academic study from Michigan's Lawrence Technical University claims that pop music is getting sadder and angrier.