President Barack Obama just released his summer playlist, which includes jams that could be practically plucked straight from the Current's catalog. So let's all handpick our favorites, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.

The woman who inspired Prince’s classic song “Little Red Corvette” has come forward to tell her story. Mi-Ling Stone Poole tells City Pages she decided to open up about her relationship with Prince after David “T.C.” Ellis, a rapper who performed with Prince’s New Power Generation, said he’d asked Prince to confirm whether Stone Poole inspired “Little Red Corvette,” and…

On Saturday, August 20, the Local Show’s Artists to Watch event will feature 10 of my favorite up-and-coming acts in Minnesota performing across two stages at the Cedar Cultural Center. As we gear up for the showcase, you’ll be hearing from the performers in segments on the Local Show and here on the Local Current Blog. I first saw…

Yesterday a man spent three hours scaling the glass facade of Trump Tower seeking "a private audience" with Donald Trump. So for today's Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that feature going to extremes in order to get someone's attention?

Camping and/or dorm supplies stowed in your car? Directions to Foster Farm pulled up on your phone? Bruce Hornsby cassette loaded in the tape deck? Okay, you might be saving all the preparation for the last minute. But that’s what this final pre-festival day is for, right? We’re talking about Eaux Claires 2016, the second…

'One thing that comes easily to me is having conversations with strangers,' writes Mary Lucia. 'However, after interviewing bands for a jillion years, I have to tell you that there is nothing natural about having your first chat with five or six strangers broadcast for the world to hear.' Mary shares her thoughts about interviewing bands on The Current.

The Smiths have partnered with PETA to create a video game inspired by the band’s song “Meat is Murder.” In the game, “This Beautiful Creature Must Die,” players try to save animals from being ground into meat. An eight-bit version of “Meat is Murder” soundtracks the game. “This game is the biggest social crusade of all,…

On Saturday, August 20, the Local Show’s Artists to Watch event will feature 10 of my favorite up-and-coming acts in Minnesota performing across two stages at the Cedar Cultural Center. As we gear up for the showcase, you’ll be hearing from the performers in segments on the Local Show and here on the Local Current Blog. Word about Tony…

Over in the Oake & Riley studios we are all haunted by a horrifying article from the New York Times that asks you to question whether your friends actually like you. Let's dig into this topic a little. For today's Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear about friends? Bonus points for song suggestions that include friends that might not really be friends.

Bon Iver have been hinting for a while that they’ll be playing new music at this week’s Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival, and over the past couple of days they’ve stepped up the indications that they’ll be premiering much or all of a new album. Among the hints: a new mural in Brooklyn. (Pitchfork)…