The ailing Aretha Franklin is 'alert' with family, a Velvet Underground exhibit is coming to NYC, Lindsey Buckingham is touring solo, and the House of Blues has banned straws. Also today, Spin has a detailed report on women being harassed after accusing popular musicians of misconduct, and Ariana Grande does 'Titanic' with James Corden.

Olivia Chaney's new album, 'Shelter,' sounds like a collection of old English folk tunes, even though the songs are largely original compositions. Chaney and her longtime musical partner Jordan Hunt pulled into the Radio Heartland studio to play songs and to discuss the new album.

How T-shirts, "buying local" and hometown record distribution made the epic album -- and subsequent tour -- a truly Minnesota-based production.

It's Primary Day in Minnesota - your opportunity to cast your vote for U.S. Senators, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, County Sheriff and School Board Member. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention primary colors - red, yellow or blue?

Jerry Wexler passed away; The Beatles thought it best to say goodbye to Pete; Sonny & Cher had a hit with 'I Got You, Babe'; Michael Jackson secured the rights to the Beatles' back catalogue; Foo Fighters made their TV debut; and guitarist Slim Dunlap was born in Plainview, MN, Today in Music History.

If you ask a Minnesotan if they’ve ever seen Radiohead live, they might lament the fact that the band hasn’t visited the Gopher State in over 20 years, since their 1997 show at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. Some fans, however, might recall having seen the up-and-coming English rock band play at First Avenue in…

Punch Brothers released their fifth album "All Ashore" in July 2018. The resulting tour brought them to St. Paul's Palace Theatre; well-polished and plucky as ever, the band stopped by The Current's studio beforehand to perform a few songs and talk with Bill DeVille.

Aretha Franklin is seriously ill, confirm friends; hundreds were injured when a boardwalk collapsed at a music festival in Spain; Kendrick Lamar will play a 'very special set- at Jay-Z's Made in America festival; and this year's Teen Choice Award winners have been named. Also, why is Azealia Banks hanging out at Elon Musk's house - and why does that bass guitar look like a giant iPhone?

Artists heard on The Current are frequently featured on TV programs, and we've gathered the listings in one convenient place for you. See the complete listings, and find performance videos as the week progresses. You can also subscribe to receive the week's schedule in your inbox.

This morning Paul McCartney tweeted "Hey all you lefties, have a happy #LeftHandersDay". International Left Handers Day is observed annually on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left handers. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear from left-handed musicians?