As the first show announcements rolled out, it seemed unclear what the very first public performance at the reopened Palace Theatre would be. It wasn’t a certainty that the first performer would be local, particularly with the room’s 2,800 capacity. Atmosphere, though, were a perfect choice for the first act to headline the stage: their local pedigree can’t…

GRAMMY award-winner Thundercat and his band stopped by The Current to chat with host Mac Wilson and to perform songs off his new album, 'Drunk,' live in-studio.

In town to perform at the First Avenue Mainroom, California rockers The Growlers stopped at The Current for a session hosted by Sean McPherson. Although they originally described their music as 'beach goth,' the Growlers have distanced themselves from that categorization. 'We make this music for ourselves and decide to share it with people,' frontman Brooks Nielsen explains.

Prefiguring the June 2 release of his next album,' Witness,' the New Orleans-based guitarist and songwriter returns with a personal, political gospel track, lent moral urgency by Mavis Staples. Hear the song and read Benjamin Booker's accompanying essay.

The 48th annual NAACP Image Awards took place last month, and in the audience in Los Angeles were some very special nominees from the state of Minnesota. Going up against artists such as Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, and Common were students from St. Paul’s High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) — for their collaboration with Sounds…

We'll be springing forward this weekend for Daylight Saving Time which begins first thing on Sunday. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that mention time or clocks, or make tick tock sounds would you like to hear?

Gaelynn Lea, “Watch the World Unfold” Since winning last year’s NPR Tiny Desk Contest, violinist/songwriter Gaelynn Lea has toured non-stop. But her newest video, a stop-motion piece by New Jersey’s Melanie Schantz, breathes tranquility. Lea and guitarist Al Church, along with a couple dozen other Minnesota artists, are headed to South by Southwest this week.  P.O.S,…

The Sex Pistols inked a six-day contract; Pearl Jam's bassist and drummer celebrate birthdays; Simon and Garfunkel recorded 'The Sound of Silence'; Pink Floyd released 'Dark Side of the Moon'; and Neneh Cherry was born, Today in Music History.

Aimee Mann and Cold War Kids have debuts; Lucius rise to No1.; and Ty Segall and Dead Man Winter are inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Today's top music news stories include a deluxe reissue of U2's 'The Joshua Tree,' an album date for Lorde, and a first glimpse of the Beatles.