Charlie Parr

Summer Music & Movies 2013 at Walker Art Center lineup

The Walker Art Center's yearly pairing of high-concept film and local music, Summer Music & Movies, has just unveiled this year's slate of entertainment. Running on Mondays between July 29 and August 19, each of the four shows -- under the subhead "Roadways" -- expresses something different from ... More >>

Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival unveils lineup, local pre-party

Now in its 15th year, Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival shines a worthy spotlight on a growing collection of bands from the area, giving them stages to play on and expanding audiences to perform in front of as the fest has gained momentum and popularity over the past decade and a half. A strong con ... More >>

Mid West Music Festival in Winona

The three-day music event featuring more than 100 local artists celebrates its fourth year

Deep Blues Festival unveils 2013 lineup

The good folks at Bayport BBQ have offered up the lineup for the sixth annual Deep Blues Festival. As expected, this is a grouping of some of the rawest blues and folk players around gathered at Bayport's scenic location next to the St. Croix River.Last year's running of the Deep Blues Festival birt ... More >>

Astronautalis, the Big Wu, Willie Murphy highlight Winona's Mid West Music Fest lineup

After the resounding success of 2012's Mid West Music Fest in Winona, event organizers have just announced the dates as well as their ambitious musical plans for this year's festival. The 2013 Mid West Music Fest is set for April 18-20, taking place in a wide array of venues spread throughout Winona ... More >>

The best concerts in the Twin Cities this week: 1/30-2/5

The Twin Cities is starting to thaw out as January comes to an end. Friday night is especially busy. Retribution Gospel Choir plays the Turf Club while Minneapolis pays tribute to Joe Strummer in the First Avenue Mainroom. Semisonic songwriter Dan Wilson and brother Matt Wilson play a set at Pantage ... More >>

MN Original leaps forward

New Lowertown Line series takes a closer look at live local music

How Paul Doffing toured his music around the U.S. -- on his bike

A typical tour for an artist involves gear and a vehicle to get from city to city. In early June, Minneapolis artist Paul Doffing quit his two jobs and hit the road to play some shows. This tour was not an ordinary tour; Paul came up with the idea to be free from fuel by traveling with merely a frie ... More >>

Low enlist Jeff Tweedy to produce The Invisible Way, release live EP

Masters of musical light and shadow Low will release The Invisible Way in March. This album marks their 20th anniversary, and shows Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy's connection to Duluth runs deep. Not only did Wilco received a key to the city this summer during a performance at Bayfront Festival Park an ... More >>

Lindsey Buckingham, Aimee Mann, RNDM, and more

Sonny Landreth

Weekend Checklist: Coldplay, The Big Wu Family Reunion, Rufus Wainwright

It's the second weekend of August and the weather will be playing a crucial role with the myriad of outdoor events this weekend. Friday evening, The Harriet Island Bandshell is hosting another movie and music night featuring Bloodnstuff and Is/Is followed by a showing of Army of Darkness. The Big Wu ... More >>

Lit head to Duluth for Summerland Tour amidst a cavalcade of nineties nostalgia

See Also:Duluth flood updates: Low, Charlie Parr, and Trampled By TurtlesIf anyone in Minnesota needed further proof that their expanse of '90s memories are being appropriately distilled to microcosmic parameters of Americana bedrock, all lingering uncertainties can be resolved Saturday at Duluth's ... More >>

The Gaslight Anthem, King Tuff, Wake Up Madagascar, and more

Wilco lend helping hand to Duluth floods victims

See Also: Trampled by Turtles join Twin Ports Bridge Festival to help Duluth flood victims The Duluth floods drowned my record collection Duluth flood updates: Low, Charlie Parr, & Trampled by TurtlesTip of the hat to Wilco for joining the cause to help those in need following the ma ... More >>

Music in Mears kicks off free summer concert series in St. Paul tonight

The ninth season of Music in Mears kicks off tonight in the gorgeous setting of Mears Park in downtown St. Paul with a strong trio of local acts. Dan Israel and the Cultivators, Crossing Guards, and the Annie Lawler Band should certainly get Music In Mears off to a rousing start.Thursdays full of ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: The Shins, Feist, Roger Waters, Grand Old Day

The Twin Cities will be steeped with indie-rock this weekend with The Shins at the Orpheum Theatre and Leslie Feist opening the MN Zoo's Music in the Zoo series. Cute pop band Bella Ruse will be leaving Minneapolis for Columbus soon, so make sure to catch their free show at the Lake Harriet Bandshel ... More >>

Schlitz Kickin' country, Chuck Mead and Jack Klatt perform this weekend

Jack Klatt's new album Mississippi Roll is easily gonna be one of the best local albums of the year, mark my words. Recorded in two free-rollin' ten-hour sessions with production assistance from classic guitar virtuoso and composer Dakota Dave Hull, Klatt is backed as usual by the Cat Swingers -- fi ... More >>

Jack Klatt and the Cat Swingers release collaborative album

Mississippi Roll is a gem

Weekend Checklist: BB King, Marilyn Manson, Art-A-Whirl, Mayer Hawthorne

May ushers in warmer weather, which means the beginning of street festivals -- two big ones in particular: Art-A-Whirl and Lyn-Lake Festival that feature many talented local artists. If the heat is too much for you, BB King will be rocking the State Theatre and on the other end of the musical spectr ... More >>

Tapes 'n Tapes, Kimya Dawson, Greg Brown top Winona's Mid West Music Fest lineup

Part of the appeal of out-of-town music festivals (like SXSW and Soundtown) is seeing local acts in front of crowds who aren't nearly as familiar with them as we are in the Twin Cities. Having to win over new fans will only make those bands better when they return back home, and bearing witness ... More >>

Trampled by Turtles, Polica on free Record Store Day LP

​In recent years, it has become increasingly obvious that Minnesotans love Record Store Day. The turnout to local independent record shops has been massive throughout the state, especially in the Twin Cites, where music fans line up early for the chance to score some of the exclusive albums ma ... More >>

Minnesota Beatle Project, Vol. 3 track listing revealed

​The first installment was named the Best Local Music Compilation of the year, and the second was listed among our top Twin Cities albums released in 2010. So it's not too shocking that the third volume of the wildly successful Minnesota Beatle Project series is packed with big names from our loca ... More >>

'Minnesota Remembers Vic Chestnutt' coming this November, listen to a track here

​Each year, it seems like at least one compilation is released that vies for a spot in the top local records of that year. For the past two years, the Minnesota Beatle Project has landed in the top Minnesota albums section of our Year in Music issue, and this November a new compilation that pays t ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: BoDeans, U2, Trampled by Turtles, Minneapalooza

​"The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend."--Chuck Palahniuk

Best summer film events in the Twin Cities

48-Hour Film Project, Twin Cities Film Fest

Walker Fields offer up new live album for free download

​Though they just released their first full-length album last summer, the Woody Guthrie-inspired Walker Fields have already recorded a live follow-up full-length, and they are giving away the entire thing for free online.

501 Art features band photos

Tom Loftus by Greg Schaal​The 501 Club will launch their 501 Arts fall program this Saturday with a band photo exhibit featuring Minneapolis-based photographers. From mid-performance snapshots to posed band portraits, the medley of photos in the exhibit will be intriguing, to say the least. A ... More >>

The Current announces State Fair schedule

Photo by Stacy Schwartz​It's hard to believe that it's almost time for the State Fair again (summer, do you have to leave already?), but the great gathering of fried food, free stuff, and outdoor music is only a few short weeks away. The Current just announced their schedule of live performances a ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Mother Of Fire, Cro-Mags, Tapes 'n Tapes, and more

​July appears to be the season where bands put out new music for you to buy, and let's face it, nothing says fun like a record release party. This weekend is chock full of record release shows, as well as some fine local music, touring acts, and outdoor festivals. Submitted for your approval:

Deep Blues Festival announces initial lineup

​The Cedar Cultural Center and Palmer's are teaming up to present the West Bank Deep Blues Festival later this month, and have announced a portion of the lineup for July 22 and 23. See below for the scheduled acts, and keep an eye on both the Cedar's site and Palmer's MySpace page for more informa ... More >>

Fourth of July, Ten Second Film Fest: Freeloader Friday

​Fourth of July weekend promises to be a good one. This week in Freeloader Friday we have free fireworks, free film fests, free events for families, and more.

Taste of Minnesota set times and performers

​So just how early do we all need to skip out of work today to make it down to the Taste of Minnesota? If you're hoping to catch local acts like Communist Daughter, Haley Bonar, and Willie Murphy, you'd best take a half day. Print out this schedule and show it to your boss; we're pretty sure they ... More >>

Grand Old Day, the Walker's Open Field: Freeloader Friday

​(Pictured: Last year's MOSAIC street fest)This weekend we have a party on the Walker lawn, a new music venue in Uptown, and two free street fests for kids.

Atmosphere, P.O.S, the Walkmen added to Taste lineup

​The ever-changing Friday night lineup for the Taste of Minnesota has been altered for (hopefully) the last time, with the addition of headliners Atmosphere and P.O.S, which were announced at Soundset on Sunday. The Walkmen have also been added to fill the slot left by Janelle Monae's cancellation ... More >>

Janelle Monae added to Taste of Minnesota lineup

​More acts have been announced for the Taste of Minnesota this upcoming 4th of July weekend, and while some nights look a bit dismal (Gin Blossoms AND Counting Crows on the same night, oh my), the Friday night lineup booked by 89.3 the Current is shaping up to be amazing. Over the weekend, Taste a ... More >>

Sound Unseen branches out to the Great Lakefront

​It's been 10 years since Sound Unseen began its yearly showcase of the most promising music-related films, a nice round number on which to expand, or straight-up double in size. So of course that's exactly what they're doing: the first annual Sound Unseen International, Duluth will be taking plac ... More >>

Q&A: Megafaun's Brad Cook

Eau Claire transplant discusses band's Minneapolis "homecoming"

Official SXSW showcases announced, many locals in the mix

The Birthday Suits, Solid Gold, Peter Wolf Crier, and 14 other locals have been selected for SXSW showcases.

State Fair free music lineups

The Great Minnesota Get-Together is upon us.

Are You Ready for the Country: County fairs, cowboy boots and Sparks

Today I head back from my hometown's county fair; cheap Sparks and heckling Blake Shelton made for a rough three nights.

August 17, 2009: Vampire Hands & Bob Dylan

Charlie Parr visits the Current, the police mess with Dylan in NJ & new Ambassador Gun.

State Fair free music announced

The full lineup of free music includes some very promising local acts.

Dec. 9, 2008: New Western Fifth, Dance Band, & Charlie Parr

Minnesota Mixtape 2007

The Year's Best Local Albums

It may seem greedy, but we couldn't confine ourselves to fewer than 13 riotous / melodious / prodigious records

Too Much Is Never Enough

Two Shows, Forty Local Bands

Top 10 Albums of 2005

Duluth leftovers