Record Store Day

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 >>

The best Twin Cities concerts: 4/17-4/23

This week marks several musical events in the Twin Cities. Duluth folk-bluegrass stars Trampled by Turtles celebrate ten years with three sold out shows (Wednesday - Friday) at First Avenue/7th Street Entry. Saturday, April 20 marks a very special occasion that is celebrated internationally, that's ... More >>

Top 10 Twin Cities hip-hop venues

It's hard to believe with the reputation it now holds that there was a time when the Twin Cities wasn't booking too many hip-hop acts. Once we were still flyover country to many of the national touring acts, and the local underground scene had yet to rise to prominence and prove the power of homegro ... More >>

Dark Dark Dark release new EP, Nona records with the National

It's no surprise that the worldly, chamber-pop charms of the Minneapolis quintet Dark Dark Dark has found an audience throughout the U.S. and Europe. Their sound has both a classic appeal and modern flourishes that are pleasing both to the ear as well as the heart. At their transfixing Who Needs Wh ... More >>

Top 10 best places to buy vinyl in the Twin Cities

Within the sagging music industry, vinyl sales represent a rare sign of growth during the past few years, and that trend is healthy in the Twin Cities. Here, a plethora of independent record stores meet the local music community's demand for records -- and then some. They stock Record Store Day excl ... More >>

Solid Gold, Haley Bonar, Greg Grease among Minnesota musicians featured on free Record Store Day LP

After Noiseland Industries' American Buffalo LP's became instant collectors' items following Record Store Day 2012, the Minneapolis boutique vinyl and CD manufacturer is once again set to deliver yet another reason to head out to your local record store on April 20. Noiseland will be distributing vi ... More >>

Hüsker Dü to rerelease debut single for Record Store Day

Not to be outdone by all of the noise that their Twin Cities brethren the Replacements have made as of late, Hüsker Dü just announced plans to release some early songs the band recorded at the Old Blackberry Way studio back in 1980 for this year's Record Store Day on April 20th. The four songs we ... More >>

Beach House at First Avenue, 10/9/12

Beach House With Poor Moon First Avenue, Minneapolis October 9, 2012 With the release of Teen Dream in 2010, Baltimore's Beach House set the standard for what a modern pop record can accomplish, both in sound and texture. And while the arrival of Bloom earlier this year perhaps didn't raise the bar ... More >>

William Elliott Whitmore at Triple Rock, 10/6/12

William Elliott Whitmore Triple Rock Social Club, MinneapolisSaturday, October 6, 2012It's been a few years since William Elliott Whitmore came through the Triple Rock on a headlining gig. Since the jump to ANTI- Records, he's been crossing the globe with some big names. It's good to see his success ... More >>

Electric Fetus' Bob Fuchs on record retail evolution and this year's garage sale

See Also:Electric Fetus Garage Sale and Fall Festival 2012 lineupIt's been a long and eccentric ride for the Electric Fetus. The Minneapolis record store opened in 1968 and has been at the current location overlooking I-35W since 1972. There have been many obstacles, including recent threats from th ... More >>

Electric Fetus Garage Sale and Fall Festival 2012 lineup

See Also: John Mark Nelson CD release at 7th St. Entry, 8/12/12 Record Store Day 2012: Keep independent Twin Cities shops open With all of the great local and national albums that have been released as of late, now is a perfect time for Electric Fetus to have their annual Garage Sale and Fall Fest ... More >>

Musicians as parents: The Ericksons and Wizards Are Real return after maternity leave

Here's one: What's squirmy and pink, weighs about eight and a half pounds, and can stop even the most steamrollin' awesome band on a rockin' roll? For Wizards Are Real -- the only band in town so awesome they don't need words -- it was baby Colin, born on Record Store Day (April 21) to bandmates Mel ... More >>

Feist takes Twitter questions, talks Red Rocks and Bon Iver ahead of her show at the Zoo

The music of Leslie Feist is expansive. For a woman whose unique alt-pop vocals exploded into the music world with 2007's The Reminder (and, consequently, the worldwide domination of her hit single "1234"), Feist holds no allegiance to a concrete formula of songwriting. After a four-year hiatus, ... More >>

Q&A: Feist on a Bon Iver softball rivalry, honoring Jim Henson, and Feistodon

The "1234" singer speaks ahead of Minnesota Zoo show

The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys at Target Center, 5/15/12

The Black Keys and Arctic MonkeysTarget Center, MinneapolisMay 15, 2012View a slideshow here. A day after celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut record (and singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach's 33rd birthday) the Black Keys rolled confidently into their biggest local headlining ... More >>

Top 20 best Minnesota songs: The complete list

Related:Top 20 best Minnesota musiciansFirst Avenue's 20 best concertsFirst Avenue's 20 best concerts: Readers' picks50 cool facts about the Minnesota music sceneCountless songwriters have found inspiration in the Land of 10,000 Lakes over the years, and even more have hit upon something revelatory ... More >>

Mastodon

Top 20 best Minnesota songs: #20-11

Related:Top 20 best Minnesota musiciansFirst Avenue's 20 best concertsMinneapolis music scene named second-best in the U.S.50 cool facts about the Minnesota music sceneCountless songwriters have found inspiration in the Land of 10,000 Lakes over the years, and even more have hit upon something revel ... More >>

Record Store Day 2012 across Minneapolis

Related:Record Store Day 2012: Keep independent Twin Cities shops openDo Twin Cities record stores need Record Store Day?Slideshow: Record Store Day 2012Record Store Day 2012 was the biggest yet, as hosts of Twin Cities record stores gathered their enthusiasm and planned parties. Gimme Noise went in ... More >>

Mid West Music Fest, Day Three: Kimya Dawson, the Melismatics, BNLX, and My Private Eye

Mid West Music Fest, Day Three: Featuring Kimya Dawson, the Melismatics, BNLX, and My Private EyeWinona, MNSaturday, April 21, 2012See also:Mid West Music Fest Day One with Tapes 'n TapesMid West Music Fest, Day Two: the 4onthefloor, Rogue ValleyThe final day of the Mid West Music Fest found the gra ... More >>

Weekend Checklist: Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, Counting Crows, A. Wolf and Her Claws, Record Store Day

For those not attending Midwest Music Fest in Winona, this weekend will be a flurry of CD releases mixed into Record Store Day. Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles headline First Ave. to share some new music and A. Wolf and Her Claws release their long-awaited debut. Counting Crows will be in town ... More >>

Do Twin Cities record stores need Record Store Day?

Related:2012 Record Store Day events roundupA celebration of independent Twin City record storesWith Record Store Day upon us once more, it's a little hard to believe that this is only the event's fifth installment. The annual celebration of brick and mortar music retailers has turned into such an e ... More >>

Root of All Evil Radio is 25, pays tribute to Earl Root

It's been almost four years since the Twin Cities lost its grandfather of all things metal, Earl Root. He died of lymphoma, which he had battled like a true metal warrior for 10 years. Since then his legacy lives on in myriad forms each year with tributes, his wife Nancy's continued work with the Le ... More >>

Record Store Day 2012: Twin Cities in-store events roundup

In addition to the stellar, limited-edition vinyl that is released exclusively for Record Store Day, record shops throughout the Twin Cities and beyond have plenty of exciting in-store music events and specials planned to add to Saturday's RSD festivities. Here's just a sampling of the outstandin ... More >>

Record Store Day 2012: Keep independent Twin Cities shops open

With the musical madness of Record Store Day about to sweep over the Twin Cities and the rest of the country once again on Saturday, it seems like an opportune time to celebrate the many outstanding options within both Minneapolis and St. Paul to shop for our music. As Record Store Day thankfully ... 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 >>

Radiohead at Sprint Center in Kansas City, 3/11/12

​RadioheadSprint Center, Kansas CitySunday, March 11, 2012With Radiohead continuing to ignore the Twin Cities for some unknown, annoying reason (14 years and counting), Kansas City was the closest the band would get during the first leg of their 2012 U.S. tour for The King Of Limbs. So, 18,000 ... More >>

Hymie's Vintage announces 14-act Record Store Day lineup

​As the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming Record Store Day on April 21 continues to grow, entertaining plans for the big day from local record shops are beginning to be announced. First out of the gate is Hymie's Vintage Records, who have a full-day of great music and merriment plan ... 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 >>

The Flaming Lips working with Bon Iver, Yoko Ono, and Nick Cave on their new album

​If anyone can pull off this mad concoction it's the Flaming Lips. As if their idiosyncratic sound and the unhinged musical themes of their past albums wasn't enough, the Lips have now recruited a talented batch of disparate special guests to work with them on their new record. In addition to ... More >>

Twin Cities Year in Music 2011

Howler, Astronautalis, Pink Mink, and more

Black Friday Record Store Day: A guide to special sales and events in the Cities

Black Friday. Potentially the single most terrifying phrase in the English language, those two little words are a retailer's curse and a shopper's pipe dream come true. This year, if you somehow missed pitching your tent in the Best Buy parking lot in preparation for the sales, not to worry--there i ... More >>

Food Pyramid and Deep Earth drop split 7" in time for Black Friday

​With Record Store Day's Black Friday sales just around the corner, Moon Glyph is issuing a new split 7" from labelmates Food Pyramid and Deep Earth, Kollider / Kontraband, which marks the first time Food Pyramid have ventured away from the cassette for a vinyl release. (Does a transition from tap ... More >>

Craig Finn solo tour coming to the Triple Rock on February 4

Photo by Stacy Schwartz​With a release date pinned down for his first solo album (due out January 24), Craig Finn is embarking on a short solo tour this winter -- including a stop in Minneapolis at the Triple Rock on February 4.

Craig Finn solo album out early 2012, with 7" single coming in November

Photo by Stacy Schwartz​We already knew Craig Finn was laying down some solo tracks, and now we've learned more about when we'll be able to hear some of them: Finn will debut his first solo single, "Honolulu Blues," on November 25, and the only way to get your paws on a physical copy is to head to ... More >>

Hymie's Vintage Record's owners talk about the move

Photo by Dave Hoenack​Minneapolis has seen a lot of record stores rise and fall, with each closing being well documented. Ironically, the survivors are often overlooked in these stories. Founded in 1988 by Jim "Hymie" Peterson, Hymie's Vintage Records created a vinyl collector's emporium o ... More >>

Gayngs at Coachella, Nikki Sixx phones it in at the Fitz, and more notes from the weekend

Photos by Denis Jeong Plaster​April is continuing to roar by us at a steady clip, and this past weekend our local scene was so bustling that we had to export some of our musicians out to Indio, California before the whole town overflowed.

Record Store Day 2011 in photos

Photos by Erik HessHastings 3000 and Brother Ali at Down in the Valley on Record Store Day​Record Store Day, the annual celebration of independent music shops, returned this Saturday for its fourth and largest citywide celebration yet. The metro area is thankfully still home to a long list of reco ... More >>

The Civil Wars at the Varsity Theater, 4/17/11

Photos by Stacy Schwartz​The Civil WarsApril 17, 2011Varsity Theater, MinneapolisWho are these adorable people? Where did they come from? And, dear god, why have I been sleeping on them until now?

Record Store Day 2011: Complete Twin Cities listings

​Record Store Day, the annual celebration of good ol' fashioned mom-and-pop music shops, seems to balloon into a bigger event each year. Now in its fourth go-'round, RSD will overtake 18 different businesses in the Twin Cities tomorrow--and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has even gone so far as ... More >>

Record Store Day 2011: Vinyl lovers' paradise

Twin Cities prepares for busiest RSD yet