Minnesota Public Radio features by Andrea Swensson

The Walker's Music & Movies series returns

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:49:13 -0500

The Walker Art Center unveiled its Music & Movies 2013 lineup this afternoon, which will once again feature a handful of Minnesota acts warming up for free movie screenings Monday evenings in July and August.

Prominent Twin Cities concert promoter Sue McLean dies

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:59:16 -0500

Sue McLean, a high-profile concert promoter in the Twin Cities and the largest independent female promoter in the world, died Friday today from cancer. She was 63.

First Listen: Har Mar Superstar - Bye Bye 17

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:30:00 -0500

Har Mar, who we know off stage as Owatonna, Minn. native Sean Tillmann, has long been regarded as a shrewd composer with an ear for pop melodies. Yet throughout his career, he has made a point of separating out his "serious" songwriting and publishing it under aliases like Sean Na Na, while devoting his Har Mar stage name to a much baudier, more flamboyant performance style. For the first time, Bye Bye 17 finds Har Mar merging all sides of his persona into one unified front.

Movie Maven: A film review and a tribute to Roger Ebert

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:33:00 -0500

Stephanie Curtis, Steve Seel and Jill Riley reflect on the life and career of Roger Ebert, and Stephanie reviews Federico Alvarez's reboot of Sam Raimi's classic 1981 horror film.

The Current Sessions™: Duluth indie veterans Low perform at the Fitzgerald Theater

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:00:00 -0500

Low are minimalists in every sense of the word. Every note, every rise and fall in dynamic, every snippet of between-song banter is intentional, and measured. The Fitzgerald Theater was an ideal setting for the band's poignant show on Saturday, March 23. Enjoy audio from the event.

Album Review: Low - The Invisible Way

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Low are celebrating a few landmarks with their latest album, The Invisible Way: It's the Duluth trio's 10th studio recording, and it marks their 20th anniversary as a band.

Anonymous Choir performs in The Current studios

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Dark Dark Dark's Nona Marie started her Anonymous Choir back in 2011, featuring a rotating cast of female musicians and close friends, some of which had never performed in a band before. The result is a gorgeous, stirring and stripped-down project focused solely on covers of their favorite musicians.

MN at SXSW: An overview of the local presence at this year's festival

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:01:31 -0600

One of the coolest things about attending SXSW as a Minnesotan is observing just how far and wide our hometown artists manage to spread out during the week. The music festival is an overwhelming sensory experience, with every last bar, restaurant, and street corner overflowing with artists hoping to be seen and heard, and each artists and promoters from our state attempt to break through the din with an array of Minnesota-centric showcases and a healthy roster of acts accepted into the festival as official showcasing acts.

Prince playing six last-minute shows at the Dakota Jazz Club

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:42:06 -0600

So that's why the Dakota Jazz Club's calendar has been conspicuously blank for the remainder of this week and weekend. The space has been rented out by none other than Prince.

The 400 Bar may be gone, but its stories live on

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:55:45 -0600

It's the bar where Golden Smog, Zuzu's Petals, and Semisonic all began, and where Dan Wilson first debuted his big hit "Closing Time." It's the bar where Bonnie Raitt hung out while in the Twin Cities to record her debut album. It's where First Ave stage manager Conrad Sverkerson kicked out his first rowdy patron. And it's where Peter Ostroushko was playing pool when he got the call to go play on Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks.

The 400 Bar may be gone, but its stories live on

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:43:36 -0600

After decades of hosting live music, the West Bank institution has closed its doors and vacated its ancient two-story building on the corner of Cedar and Riverside Avenues.

Photographer Adam DeGross captures the local underground scene in vivid, gritty detail

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:36:59 -0600

This Saturday, photographer Adam DeGross will display his work in northeast Minneapolis at a party that will also celebrate the release of his first photo book, PAY ATTENTION.

Bob Dylan brings it back home for first Twin Cities show since 2008

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:40:00 -0600

For those who saw Bob Dylan perform in Rochester this past August, there were few surprises last night at the Xcel Energy Center as he played to a similarly sized crowd.

Album Review: P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"We Don't Even Live Here" is P.O.S.'s boldest release to date, and it's set to make an impact on a national scale with or without a tour to support it.

Pissed Off Stef and the Street Preacher: Rhymesayers heavyweights dissect the politics on their new albums

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On a surface level, these two artists couldn't be more different. P.O.S. identifies as an atheist, while Ali is a practicing Muslim and a prominent figure at his mosque. P.O.S. makes unapologetically aggressive music that blends punk, rap, noise, and dance, while Ali draws from classic soul and gospel influences. And P.O.S. encourages destruction and hostility, while Ali preaches the importance of community and togetherness.

Album Review: Brother Ali - Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Politically charged albums can sound preachy if handled clumsily, but Brother Ali's relaxed and conversational cadence showcases his personal approach to sociopolitics and his skill for presenting intellectual ideas in a universal language.

The Cactus Blossoms perform at the Minnesota State Fair

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Cactus Blossoms sat down with Mary Lucia for a chat and performed for the fans at the Minnesota Public Radio booth.

Bob Dylan returns to Minnesota for a night heavy on the hits

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:35:16 -0500

Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour has taken four years to steer its way back into his home state, and Minnesota's most famous expat seemed pleased to be back last night as he played for 7,000 fans in Rochester.

On Debussy's 150th birthday, the spirit of his 'Clair de Lune' lives on

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Local Current blogger Andrea Swensson ruminates on Claude Debussy's impact in popular culture.

SoundTown pulls the plug on 2012 installment

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:04:16 -0500

We have just learned that SoundTown, which was slated to take place July 26-28 at Somerset Amphitheater, has been cancelled.

Album Review: Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It's been seven years since Fiona Apple's last album, but a long pause between releases is business as usual for Apple, whose methodical approach to writing music has resulted in a stunning catalog of songs.

The Murder of Crows' Gaelynn Lea reflects on working with Alan Sparhawk

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:30:12 -0500

In a new project Low's Alan Sparhawk takes sidecar and gives violinist Gaelynn Lea center stage, laying down sparse electric guitar ambiance under her harrowing, sorrowful violin.

Duluth's Homegrown showcases a talented, tight-knit music community

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:24:16 -0500

Given the pool of talent in Duluth's music scene and Trampled by Turtles' recent upswing on the national scene, it seems like the time to pay attention to artists from Duluth is now.

L'Assassins performs in The Current studios

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

L'Assassins have been playing together for over two years, but they may seem new to local music fans since L'Assassins wasn't always their name. In fact, the quartet performed without a title for months before settling on something that fit their aesthetic and style. They've found their identity and are rising fast: L'Assassins will be playing the inaugural Girls Got Rhythm Fest in early May.