Jon Langford is a true renaissance man: a musician, a visual artist, a producer. Founder of the Mekons and a student and propagator of Americana and roots music, the Welsh-born, Chicago-based Langford stopped at The Current for a fun and free-flowing conversation with Mary Lucia.

While in Nashville just a couple weeks ago, Bill DeVille met Ashley Monroe at Black River Entertainment for a conversation about Monroe's latest album, 'Sparrow,' and about what it was like to record at RCA Studio A in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb.

Batiste, the band leader for 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' sits at the piano and demonstrates his 'everything in the pot' style of playing.

Sting -- formerly with the Police, a solo artist for many years, and a frequent collaborator with tons of artists -- has most recently collaborated with Shaggy on a new album, '44/876.' Ahead of their show at the Armory in Minneapolis, Sting connected with The Current's Brian Oake to talk about the album and its influences, and about working with Shaggy. 'Performing with Shaggy is a joy in itself,' Sting says.

Morris Hayes has it all: candor, a sense of humor, and musical chops that earned him the title of keyboardist, then musical director in Prince's band. He sat down with Purple Current host Sean McPherson for a marathon interview about Prince albums from 1995-2010, plus miscellaneous other stories he remembered as they went. Due to overwhelming demand, we're publishing the full interview album by album.

Morris Hayes has it all: candor, a sense of humor, and musical chops that earned him the title of keyboardist, then musical director in Prince's band. He sat down with Purple Current host Sean McPherson for a marathon interview about Prince albums from 1995-2010, plus miscellaneous other stories he remembered as they went. Due to overwhelming demand, we're publishing the full interview album by album.

Jessica Hopper just released Night Moves, a love letter to friends, bikes, and Chicago night air. In advance of her Sept. 23 event at Milkweed Books in Minneapolis, she shared a conversation with The Current's Cecilia Johnson.

Morris Hayes has it all: candor, a sense of humor, and musical chops that earned him the title of keyboardist, then musical director in Prince's band. He sat down with Purple Current host Sean McPherson for a marathon interview about Prince albums from 1995-2010, plus miscellaneous other stories he remembered as they went. Due to overwhelming demand, we're publishing the full interview album by album.

Charles Bradley, aka 'the Screaming Eagle of Soul,' passed away in September 2017. One year on, The Current's Production Manager, Derrick Stevens, reflects on the life and music of the late soul singer and remembers the friendship he and Bradley shared.

Morris Hayes has it all: candor, a sense of humor, and musical chops that earned him the title of keyboardist, then musical director in Prince's band. He sat down with Purple Current host Sean McPherson for a marathon interview about Prince albums from 1995-2010, plus miscellaneous other stories he remembered as they went. Due to overwhelming demand, we're publishing the full interview album by album.