This weekend, we're upgrading the systems behind the music you hear on The Current. Our online now playing and playlist features will be out of service during the upgrade, and we're bringing you some special concert broadcasts.

After years of withering criticism over their lack of diversity, this year's Grammy nominations have gone some distance to close the gap. Kendrick Lamar leads nominees with eight nods, followed closely by Drake. Further, female nominees predominate in all four top categories. Also today, we pay tribute to the late Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks.

Michigan-born, Reykjavik-based musician John Grant is a fascinating individual even before he starts performing songs. Ahead of a show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, Grant stopped at The Current studio to play songs and to engage in lively and thoughtful conversation with host Mac Wilson.

The Cactus Blossoms recently released the first single from their upcoming sophomore album, Easy Way. “Please Don’t Call Me Crazy” has a retro vibe to it — and not just because of the tremolo-soaked guitars. The song is a tribute to one of the Twin Cities’ veteran rock stars, Curtiss A. Curtiss A, born Curt Almsted, began…

Pete Shelley, lead singer of the Buzzcocks, passed away yesterday. On Twitter, the band said he was "one of the U.K.'s most influential and prolific songwriters". So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what U.K. punk rock do you want to hear?

I feel I should probably admit right off the bat that I have not been a massive fan of Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes. It’s not bad by any means, but it’s overall not quite melodic or singable enough and, Lord knows, Thom Yorke can write a beautiful melody. I’m more of a fan of, The Eraser or…

Tom Waits was born, Carl Douglas was at the top of the U.S. singles chart with 'Kung Fu Fighting'; John Lennon's MBE medal he returned to the Queen was found; and David Bowie appeared in public for the last time, Today in Music History.

Static Panic – The Crazy Thing Static Panic‘s first music video is an animated project by Wisconsiner Jake Huffcut. For more on this “discolicious” band: The Current selected their EP Chrome as one of 10 Notable Albums of 2018, and they’ll perform at First Avenue’s Best New Bands show on Jan. 4. Emily Haavik & the 35s…

Although Haley has composed instrumental music before, her 2018 release 'Pleasureland' is her first all-instrumental full-length. 'This was so much more satisfying when I wasn't trying to say something with words,' Haley says. 'It was how I felt and what I connected to.' Haley, along with Jeremy Ylvisaker, visited The Current studio to play music from 'Pleasureland.'

'A Star Is Born' landed some of the biggest nominations at the Golden Globes, making Oscar chances look more likely for the movie about fictional music stars. Also, a roundup of some of this year's biggest holiday releases.