Contribute and support MPR

Soundset 2012: A series of rap trials make for an unforgettable fifth anniversary

See also: Photo slideshow of Soundset 2012With gates opening at 11 a.m. and the afterparty winding down around 2:30 the next morning, this year's Soundset kept hip-hop fans on their feet for a whopping 15 hours and required fans to endure extreme heat and severe weather. But those who stuck it out for the entire run were treated to some incredible moments befitting of the booming festival's fifth year anniversary celebration.

Read More
Rules

Local Current Blog

Soundset 2012: Photos

From Lupe Fiasco to P.O.S. to stage-diving Macklemore, flip through photos from the fifth annual Soundset hip-hop festival at Canterbury Park.... full post

Local Current Live showcases Chastity Brown, Van Stee, and The Chalice

If you follow the Current closely, you already know that we have a few different ways to introduce music fans to promising new local artists. This blog is one route, obviously, where we can debut brand-new tracks via a series of posts called the Local Radar and profile artists through interviews and show reviews.... full post

Friday Five: Retribution Gospel Choir flashback, Communist Daughter emerge from the vault

Who's ready to get outside and start soaking in some summer tunes? Here's a handful of new videos and notes to get your Memorial Day Weekend started out right...... full post

Blog homepage

The Current Music Quiz: Guitarists

Guitar Quiz

Test your knowledge of these axe-wielding greats

Ready to test your knowledge of guitarists? We've lined up audio clips and hints about influential, famous or interesting guitarists from all different eras and scenes, including some local ones. Check it out and see how your knowledge measures up!

Take the Quiz
CD of the Week: Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Mark Wheat's review

This album, then, is our chance to ask: are they all hype or the real deal? The answer is that they're the real deal. For me, their talent jumps out of the radio no matter which song off this album that we play. But the true pleasure of this band is found in sitting with the whole album and giving it a deep listen. It rewards your presence — it is real and authentic.

Read the Review
Contribute

Tune in at 8 p.m. on Thursday as we count down your Top 20.

This week, vote for a chance to receive one pair of tickets to the SOLD OUT Rock the Garden event on June 16, 2012 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Vote Now!
Previous Top 20
Hall of Fame

Song of the Day

Runaway
Gemma Ray
Download
Broadcast: 10 a.m. Mon - Fri

CD of the Week

Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls
Read Review
Contribute Now

Participate

  • 9:30 Coffee Break
    Hosts Steve Seel and Jill Riley create your morning musical break.
    Broadcast: 9:30 a.m. weekdays
  • My Three Songs
    Listen at noon every weekday for a new three-song set from a different listener.
    Broadcast: Noon weekdays
  • Radio Free Current
    Each Saturday night, we're letting you take over The Current.
    Broadcast: 7 - 11 p.m. Saturday
  • Minnewiki
    The Minnesota Music Encyclopedia
Works For Words

Chris Koza

Works for Words

Chris Koza will perform 'Works for Words' on June 8 at 8 pm at the Fitzgerald Theater. Koza, along with Gabriel Douglas of 4onthefloor, Caroline Smith, and Sims will explore explore the meanings of the lyrics and importance of words in pop, rock and folk songs.

Read More

In-studio performances

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros performs in The Current studios
It's been two years since Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros put out their last album "Up From Below" and had the hit song of the year with "Home." Since that time, the collective has gained several new members, toured all over the world and now have a new album, "Here."

Read More
M. Ward
M. Ward
M. Ward has been extremely busy the past few years: recording and touring with several side projects like She and Him and Monsters of Folk, producing bands and putting out two solo records. Somehow he's remained calm and thoughtful through it all and has been able to balance his life. This introspection and calm resonates in his latest album "A Wasteland Companion," with Ward's smoky voice covering topics of love and loss.
Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic may be one of the most impressive live bands you'll ever see. Throughout the past three years, they've refined their craft for rhythm, creating a sonic landscape on stage that makes jaws drop and bodies move. The results are bombastic and genre-defying, although one reviewer recently coined their style as a blend of kraut folk rock, and that might be the closest we'll get to an appropriate description.
Hypstrz
Hypstrz
The Hypstrz were considered one of the purveyors of cool in the Twin Cities during the late '70s and early '80s, helping to pave the way for some of our most beloved bands like The Suicide Commandos and The Suburbs. Hypstrz had a different niche though: reworking '60s classics into an idiosyncratic, full-out garage rock and punk experiment. And while they didn't immediately get the attention they deserved, the band has now gone down in the history books of Minnesota music.
MaLLy
MaLLy
If there's one artist in the Twin Cities who has steadily increased their recognition and popularity, it's probably MaLLy. Malik Watkins is only in his mid-20s, but his reputation has been bolstered by encouragement from the Rhymesayers crew and old friends from the high-school days that now collaborate with him side-by-side.

More live performances

On Now

Mary Lucia
Listen to the Stream
Loading...
Playlist

The Current Music Blog

Transmission Video of the Day - Orange Juice "Rip it Up"

This week Transmission features rock & roll from Scotland


9:30 Coffee Break: Cabin Music

This past weekend was a great time to take the extra vacation day to spend "up at the cabin", as we say here in Minnesota....


Today in Music History: Happy Birthday Danny Elfman

Birthdays: Jesse Johnson, guitarist for The Time, is 52 today. Today In: 1959 - Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Jimmy Reed played to 9,000...


Win a remastered, Blu-Ray copy of "Yellow Submarine" and its soundtrack

This 1968 film became an instant classic, helping to make animation a serious art-form in the movie industry. While The Beatles...


Win a copy of Conor Oberst's "One Of My Kind: The Story Of The Mystic Valley Band"

Directed by Philip Schaffart, this movie was never intended to be a movie. Instead, Schaffart just wanted to document a very special...


CD of the Week: Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

This album, then, is our chance to ask: are they all hype or the real deal? The answer is that they're the real deal. For me, their...


More Posts

 Twitter

 Facebook

 Google+

The Currenton

Local Current Vol. 2

After the success of last year's Local Current Vol. 1 CD, 89.3 The Current is back with another disc of great music performed by local bands right here in our studios! Enjoy this video preview of the disc, and be sure check out the full tracklist and release information on the blog.

More Info

Musicheads Essentials

The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen

Musicheads Essentials is a web feature that gives the Current staff a chance to share some of our favorite albums of all time with our listeners. Check out Barb Abney's take on the Afghan Whigs' Gentlemen and her memories of discovering the Cincinnati band in the early '90s.

Read More
The Current Giveaways

Current Giveaways

Here's a list of all your opportunities to win CDs, tickets, or other fun stuff we're lucky enough to share with our listeners on-air and online.

Win a remastered, Blu-Ray copy of "Yellow Submarine" and its soundtrack
This 1968 film became an instant classic, helping to make animation a serious art-form in the... Enter


Win a copy of Conor Oberst's "One Of My Kind: The Story Of The Mystic Valley Band"
Directed by Philip Schaffart, this movie was never intended to be a movie. Instead, Schaffart... Enter


TheCurrent.org/win

Upcoming Events

Rock the Garden 2012

Rock the Garden

Another installment of Rock The Garden is coming up on Saturday, June 16, 2012. Check out the line-up!

Tickets are sold out, but we'll also have ticket giveaways in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!


Wits™

Host John Moe and Musical Director John Munson are back for the 2012 season of Wits™, bringing together comedians and musicians for unique performances at The Fitzgerald Theater.

Dates:
6/1/12 - Wyatt Cenac and musical guest, Ted Leo
6/15/12 - Bobcat Goldthwait and musical guest, St. Vincent
6/30/12 - Amy Sedaris and musical guest, They Might Be Giants

Archive Highlights

Rock The Cradle »

Local Music Exchange™ »

Rock the Garden »



On-Air Highlights

This Week

Friday, June 1, 7:30 a.m. – Fred Willard - Theft of the Dial
Sunday, June 3, 9:30 a.m. – Neil Young interview


THE CURRENT PRESENTS

Coming up:
6/3/12 - Wits - John Moe, with guests Wyann Cenac and Ted Leo

Previously:
5/27/12 - Jazz and Rock in the Twin Cities Music Scene - Andrea Swensson
5/20/12 - 9000 45s - Hipshakers

(Playlists and audio)

Video from The Current

Punch Brothers

Check out video from Rock the Garden, The Local Show sessions and special features!

Live Current Vol. 7

We've compiled 18 of the best performances in The Current studios in the last year. Become a member and get your copy of the CD.

See tracklist and get your copy

The Current Newsletter

Subscribe to Cross Currents
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusive ticket offers, announcements, and other subscriber-only offers.
See our latest newsletter.

First Name:

Last Name:

ZIP/Postal Code:

E-mail address:

Preferred format:
HTML     Plain Text

 

You must be 13 or older to submit any information to American Public Media. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about American Public Media programs. See American Public Media Terms of Use and Privacy.