In town for a couple of shows at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, Brandi Carlile and her band stopped in to The Current's studio to play some songs off their forthcoming record, 'The Firewatcher's Daughter.' The session features the live radio premieres of three new songs, including one about which Carlile says, "It's my favorite song on the album, probably my favorite song ever."

Minnesota's own Doomtree visited MPR to put on an intimate and exclusive live performance as a part of their #LastBlowoutEver. "Every year, we want to outdo everything we've done," Sims says. Watch video and listen to audio of the performance, hosted by Mary Lucia.

Celebrating the release of their new concept album Picture (Portrait), Minneapolis' We Are the Willows stopped by The Current to perform tracks off the record live in-studio and to chat with the Local Show's host David Campbell.

In town for a show at First Avenue, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets visited The Current's studio for a session hosted by Mary Lucia. Originally scheduled to appear with Ian McLagan, the session includes a live version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," dedicated to McLagan. "He was a fellow who loved life," Lowe says.

Anticipating the release of her sophomore album Lustrous, Duluth resident Sarah Krueger stopped by The Current studio to perform tracks off the new record and to chat with the Local Show's host David Campbell.

Mike Doughty is playing back-to-back shows at the Dakota in Minneapolis tonight, prompting The Current's Bill DeVille to ask him if such a gig is difficult. "Not really," Doughty says. "I prefer to be playing music than not playing music." Doughty stopped in to The Current's studio to chat with DeVille and to play a few tunes before the doubleheader.

Ahead of their sold out show in the First Avenue mainroom with Fitz and the Tantrums, Big Data stopped by The Current to chat with host Mark Wheat and to record tracks off their latest record live in our studio.

Montreal band Stars have released their seventh album, but on their most recent visit to The Current, they opened the in-studio set by covering "Here Comes a Regular" by the Replacements. "It is one of the greatest sad songs ever written," says Stars' vocalist Torquil Campbell. Check out the full session.

"Men seem to only notice when a woman is talking once she starts yelling," Nikki Lane tells Mark Wheat, but she never has to yell at Mark; instead, the two share some great stories and good laughs as Nikki Lane and her band stop by The Current's studio ahead of a show tonight (with Jamestown Revival and Hollow Wood) at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

"We're from Montreal, but this is our first snow of the year," says Brad Barr, gazing out the window of The Current's Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser studio. Although based in Montreal, The Barr Brothers draw from a world of influences. Before their gig at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, the Barr Brothers stopped at The Current for a live session hosted by Bill DeVille.