Anyone who’s seen Lizzo perform live in recent months knows that she’s outspoken about social justice and, in particular, about the concerns over police brutality that she shares with many who have been troubled by the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The Minneapolis MC has now joined with N.A.S.A. and Sean Paul for…

Minnesota native Cobi Mike has been a familiar face to pop fans who know him as vocalist and guitarist with the band Gentlemen Hall. He’s now going solo with debut single “Walking Through the Fire,” from Cobi Mike’s forthcoming self-titled EP. The EP will also include “First Snow,” a song written this winter in Minnesota. Gentlemen Hall…

The Third Man Rolling Record Store, a mobile offshoot of Jack White‘s Third Man Record Store in Nashville, will pull up at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis on April 9. The truck will feature limited vinyl releases from the label. Because one good truck deserves another, Chef Shack’s food truck will also park at the Fetus…

Greg Grease: Born to Lurk Forced to Work Oh, it’s so smooth! Born to Lurk Forced to Work is here, and Greg Grease’s lyrical prowess is stronger than ever. The album has more variety on the production side than his debut Cornbread, Pearl, & G , and the voice you love Grease for carries even…

It’s hard to believe that Hippo Campus only formed a year and a half ago and released their debut EP, Bashful Creatures, in November. Tonight, the St. Paul quartet of 19- and 20-year-olds will make their late-night television debut as the musical guests on Conan. “We like Hippo Campus so much, we’re starting a tribute…

You get a memoir! And you get a memoir! Everybody gets a memoir among indie rock notables this year…including, now, Elvis Costello and Johnny Marr. Costello’s Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink will be published on Oct. 13; Smiths guitarist Marr’s as-yet-untitled memoir will hit shelves about a year later, in fall 2016. Woodbury’s Hippo Campus will make their national TV debut…

As part of Member Appreciation Week, today's 9:30 Coffee Break idea comes from MPR member Deb Baker of Grand Rapids, Minn., who suggests: What songs featuring prominent harmonica parts do you want to hear? Send your requests.

On a snowy Sunday night when most Minnesotans were glad for the excuse to snuggle up and stay off the roads, Prince invited a handful of journalists and a few dozen die-hard fans out to Paisley Park to dance, watch a screening of Oz the Great and Powerful set to funk music, and eventually take in a short…

I started my day on Friday like I do most days: by waking up. I quickly realized that I had been kissed by a cold; I rolled out of bed, and blew my nose with the feeling of defeat. I checked my e-mail, and there was a message from SXSW with a notification that “if you watch…

Fresh off a triumphant run at this year's South by Southwest, Courtney Barnett delivers the best debut of the year.