Today's top music news stories include a Bootsy Collins album announcement, plans for a Chris Cornell online tribute, and Nick Cave co-scoring a crime drama.

The 2017 Minnesota State Fair is underway, and it's a tradition for Bill DeVille to provide a rundown of some music picks at the Grandstand and at the many free stages around the fairgrounds, including the MPR booth. In looking at the 2017 State Fair lineup, DeVille calls it 'a banner year' for music.

Jeffrey Bissoy-Mattis has assembled a list of Twin Cities-based rappers on the ascent. 'This is not my top rappers of Minnesota list (too much talent to even begin to construct one),' Bissoy-Mattis writes. 'This is just a list of individuals from the Twin Cities that I enjoy listening to, and who I enjoy watching develop their craft.'

After taking time to rebuild their marriage, Har-di-Har are back with a tender, frantic new song: "I Will Go Slow." An album is on the way.

Today we're celebrating the 79th birthday of Mason Williams, classical guitarist, composer, writer, comedian and poet. Williams is well-known for his instrumental song "Classical Gas" for which he won three Grammys. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what instrumental songs do you want to hear?

“I don’t play that much, and I don’t go out of town. I don’t like having a manager. I wouldn’t mind having wardrobe and makeup.” Curtiss A paused. He was midway through a costume change backstage at the Minnesota State Fair — to be precise, in the broom closet at the Ramberg Senior Center. After…

Mason Williams was born; Stevie Wonder topped the charts as a 12-year-old; the Doors started recording their first album; Liam Gallagher failed to show up for an MTV Unplugged session in London; and Huey Lewis and the News had a major hit with 'The Power of Love', Today in Music History.

Arcade Fire tops the chart, with new tracks debuting this week from Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, The Killers, and Dan Auerbach!

Today's top music news stories include 'Sign o' the Times' coming to Showtime, Taylor Swift's album announcement, and Steve Harris's plan to turn his home into a hotel.

This week, Mary Lucia gives a photographic tour of the objects on her desk at The Current. 'I know if I was more Buddha-like, I wouldn't place so much importance on my stuff,' Mary writes. 'Anyone who cube dwells knows the importance of personalizing this often sterile workspace.'