Johannesburg, South Africa's BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) began five years ago as a group of friends jamming. Influenced by jazz and rock, they also pull from Zulu, Xhosa, and other traditional South African cultures.

Brandi Carlile made her stage debut at the age of performing Rosanne Cash's "Tennessee Flat-Top Box" at the Northwest's version of the Grand Ole Opry.

Sondre Lerche recorded his debut album "Faces Down" in 2000, which received praise in both Europe and America.

For the past five years James Buckley has been at the forefront of the Twin Cities music community, from his early days playing bass with the experimental Poor Line Condition to his recent work with The Pines, some say Buckley is prolific.

Minneapolis' Dan Wilson is experimenting with touring "staycation" style. He's playing a string of dates in the Twin Cities under the philosophy of "low milage, small rooms, one guy."

On their debut album "Album," San Francisco band Girls deliver a messy, spectacular collision of singer-songwriter sensibilities and noisy, bratty indie rock.

Success hasn't diluted Brother Ali's message but on his new release, "Us", he stops short of drawing a line in the sand.

Never have three songwriters who sing come together for such a project in such a diplomatic way, even to the point of taking it on tour.

It was very special for me to get the chance to do this feature with Mason. He tells the story of how I was the first DJ that he heard play his song!

In a conversation with The Current's Steve Seel as part of The Current's Policy and a Pint, author Colin Beavan discusses his book "No Impact Man" and what permanent changes he has made, the importance of personal action and responsibility, and what the developed world must to do to ensure a healthy future for the next generations.