Now that the year is half-past, it’s become somewhat of a tradition to pause and reflect on the music that’s come out thus far. One writer in particular, Chris Riemenschneider at the Star Tribune, has been compiling his mid-year best-of list for 11 years now, and he stopped by the Local Show this past weekend…

This year, we’ll be spotlighting a prominent Minnesota musician or band each month with our new Artist of the Month feature. You’ll be able to hear a variety of songs from throughout the artists’ career on both the Local Current stream and the Local Show, and you can read more about the artists’ history and their role in…

  Monday, July 1 Sleep Study, American Authors, Taj Raj 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis 8 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, 18+ If you missed Taj Raj at their big release show at the Turf last month, tonight’s gig gives curious fans another chance to sample their new alt-country influenced rock sound up close. And judging by…

  Heading to Duluth this weekend for the big Trampled by Turtles and Atmosphere show at Bayfront Park? May as well make a day out of it. Like a mini Homegrown Music Festival, this Saturday boasts a wide variety of concerts all around Duluth, offering Minnesota music fans plenty of opportunities to see something unexpected.…

  If you’ve never participated in Twin Cities Pride before, this year’s festivities might be some of the wildest and most joyful yet. There’s a reason why Pride is on the cover of both alt-weeklies this week: With the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in Minnesota and this week’s overturning of the Defense of Marriage…

The Local Radar is getting a little revamp. Each week, we’ll focus on a single new release that we feel deserves a spotlight. First Communion Afterparty “Happy New Year! Everyone in the FCAP family is wishing anyone reading a fantastic year! Although we have long since disbanded into many fractals, the movement keeps growing. Fingers…

  Text by Andrea Swensson and Steve Cohen Research and “Now” photos by Steve Cohen Now that every address is available with a quick Google search and every concert is Instagrammed from 100 angles, it can be hard to remember a time when things weren’t so heavily documented. Even massive concerts like the Beatles’ visit…

  When they officially broke up in 1987, no one could have guessed that the Suburbs would be back together and making music almost three decades later. The band’s members have been through a lot in that time; founding guitarist Bruce C. Allen passed away in 2009, and just two years later frontman Chan Poling…

  Besides the fact that “This That And The Third” is a solid album musically and lyrically, there is an additional appealing feature, it is also a reminder of the important results of cultivating the culture. I first became aware of both of the artists behind this project, I.B.E (The Intelligent Black Enterprise) and Benzilla,…

Actual Wolf is preparing to release his debut, self-titled album in the fall after a year of touring behind his two EPs Actual Wolf USA and Lightning and The Wolf. Eric Pollard has assembled a full band to bolster his ideas into full, lush arrangements; the talents of Steve Garrington and brothers Jake and Jeremy Hanson…