Email Author Andrea Swensson

Awards

• 2010 - Page One Contest/Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists

  Year in Music

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2012 Stories by Andrea Swensson

• The Pines

  published February 15, 2012

  There's something inherently mysterious about the Pines' dusky, timeless folk music—the way it sinks into the listener's bones like a deep... More >>

• A fond farewell, and changes ahead for Gimme Noise

  published Jan 04, 2012

  Today marks my last day at the helm of this blog, and the end of a journey that I began with City Pages nearly four years ago. Naturally, I have quite a few thoughts about closing this chapter, and yo More >>

• Andrea Swensson departs City Pages for the Current

  published January 4, 2012

  It was almost four years ago now that I sat down at my new desk, opened up my new email account, and read a note from my new boss: "We need a... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  96.3 NOW shifts to adult top 40 station K-TWIN

  published Jan 03, 2012

  Are you keeping up with all thisr Just a short year and a half after switching from B96 to the less rap-heavy top 40 pop station 96.3 NOW, the station's owners made another shift this weekend and More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Brother Ali goes dark on new track "Writer's Block"

  published Jan 03, 2012

  "If I don't get this in one take I'm going to quit rapping," Brother Ali mutters over the opening beat of new track "Writer's Block," and things only get more life-or-death serious from there. Release More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Christine Rosholt, local jazz singer, dead at 46

  published Dec 29, 2011

  The Twin Cities jazz scene is grieving today upon learning the news that Christine Rosholt, an omnipresent and longtime local singer, has passed away suddenly. She was just a week shy of her 47th birt More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Loring Theater closing down once again

  published Dec 29, 2011

  It's been a trying few years for the old theater space on Nicollet Ave. and 14th St., which wrapped up its run as the Music Box Theater and converted back to its original name, the Loring Theater, und More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  First Avenue's Best New Bands of 2011 announced

  published Dec 28, 2011

  With all of the holiday hubbub this week, this one almost got lost in the shuffle: the lineup for First Avenue's annual Best New Bands showcase was announced last Friday afternoon on Radio K's Off the More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Ecid debuts new video, announces album release show

  published Dec 27, 2011

  Fans of poetic and thought-provoking rappers like Kristoff Krane, No Bird Sing, and Astronautalis will find lots to love in the new single from DIY hip-hop artist Ecid, "Werewolf Hologram," which is a More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Prof announces headlining King Gampo tour

  published Dec 27, 2011

  Taking a cue from Atmosphere's quick-selling second annual Welcome to Minnesota tour, onetime Atmosphere tourmate Prof announced today that he will head out on a mostly regional tour next month, hitti More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Best nationally released albums of 2011

  published Dec 27, 2011

  It's a good thing we waited until the last week of 2011 to publish our final best-album lists, since a few bands managed to eke out stellar releases just this December (the Roots' undun and the Black More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Reed Fischer named new music editor of City Pages

  published Dec 22, 2011

  As we near the end of 2011, big changes are in the air for Gimme Noise and the City Pages music section. After holding down the position of music editor for almost four years, I've decided to pursue a More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Most popular Gimme Noise posts of 2011

  published Dec 22, 2011

  We've learned a few things about our readers in 2011: Your pastimes include Googling the meaning behind the songs "Like a G6" and "Pumped Up Kicks" and researching Minnesota music history, a More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Artists of the Year, Northeast's Pearl Studio featured in this week's City Pages

  published Dec 21, 2011

  With the year-end review season in full swing, this week marks the publication of our annual Artists of the Year issue, which pays tribute to 15 local and national artists whose voices rose above the More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Best 2011 concerts in the Twin Cities

  published Dec 20, 2011

  Here at Gimme Noise, we kinda have a thing for live music. Practically every night of the week we deploy one of our staff members to a show, whether it's a local band playing a CD-release show at the More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  WLTE switching to pop country station BUZ'N 102.9

  published Dec 19, 2011

  If the fact that Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney's show at Target Field sold out in a mere four hours isn't enough to convince you that top-40 country is winning the populist vote here in the Twin Cities More >>

• Atmosphere, MaLLy, Kill the Vultures, Big Quarters release free track "Somebody, MN"

  published Dec 16, 2011

  It's a big day for all of Atmosphere's Welcome to Minnesota tourmates today, as tickets go on sale for their six-date February jaunt around the state -- especially for MaLLy, who not only appears on a More >>

• Brian Wilson reuniting with the Beach Boys for 50th anniversary album and tour

  published Dec 16, 2011

  Generations of music fans are in for a shock this morning as news is rippling out that Brian Wilson, chief songwriter and long-estranged member of the Beach Boys, will rejoin the group to record a new More >>

• Davina and the Vagabonds featured on Midmorning

  published Dec 15, 2011

  It's always interested to see which local artists are selected to appear on Midmorning, Kerri Miller's popular hour-long show on MPR. Because it's part of the regular news programming and not featured More >>

• Doomtree coloring contest: The winner

  published Dec 15, 2011

  At last weekend's Doomtree Blowout, we gave fans the chance to score an extra prize and profess their love for the group by participating in a back-to-the-schoolyard-style coloring contest. Yes, a col More >>

• Foster the People playing the Target Center next summer

  published Dec 14, 2011

  Though they were just here last week, Foster the People have already booked a new U.S. tour that will keep them on the road through July of 2012, including a June 22 stop at the Target Center in downt More >>

• Tapes 'n Tapes get 'Heavy' for Minnesota Beatle Project video

  published Dec 14, 2011

  With holiday shopping season in full swing, the folks behind the Minnesota Beatle Project, Vol. 3 album are releasing a series of music videos to keep their charity compilation at the very front of ou More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Ryan Adams at the State Theatre, 12/13/11

  published Dec 14, 2011

  Ryan AdamsDecember 13, 2011State Theatre, MinneapolisIt can't be easy, pouring your heart out every night and trying to maintain that ever-elusive sense of cool. Now that he's a few years sober, Ryan More >>

• Year in Music: More of Minnesota's best 2011 releases

  published Dec 13, 2011

  Our annual Year in Music issue is online now, and hits stands tomorrow.As we were narrowing down the volumes of albums released this year for our Best Minnesota Albums of 2011 list, I couldn't help bu More >>

• Gary Burger of the Monks planning rare live appearance

  published Dec 13, 2011

  It's not often these days that Gary Burger's name pops up on a show calendar. In recent years, he's better known as the mayor of small northern Minnesota town Turtle River than he is the frontman of i More >>