Chris Osgood at the Minnesota State Fair Chris Osgood's legendary local punk group The Suicide Commandos plays the Minnesota State Fair Grand Stand this weekend. In 1974, when Osgood formed the band with Dave Ahl and Steve Almaas, who would have thought that they would ever play that most mainstream of Minnesota events, the State Fair?August 23, 2007
Film opens a window on Minneapolis rock history Twenty years ago Twin/Tone Records, a label credited with launching a host of Minneapolis bands, videotaped a weeks worth of concerts at the Seventh Street Entry at the First Avenue night club.
Now the tapes have resurfaced and are providing a unique opportunity to experience some Minnesota rock history.August 22, 2007
First Avenue's right-hand man Conrad Sverkerson, stage manager and long-standing icon of the First Avenue nightclub, received a Sound Unseen Festival Artist of Distinction at 2007's multimedia event.August 22, 2007
Rock's next generation For many Minnesota rock bands, it takes years to get a gig at First Avenue in Minneapolis. But for participants in the MacPhail Center for Music's summer rock camp, it took less than a week.August 10, 2007
A 'reveille' for the local music scene A band of local music writers have gathered together to start a new magazine called Reveille. Andrea Myers is one of those founders. She joined The Current's Mary Lucia at Gluek's to explain why they thought there was a need for a new place to read about music.July 27, 2007
Rachel Raimist talks about Hip Hop Rachel Raimist makes films, writes books, teaches at colleges, and lectures around the country about Hip Hop and women. She joined Mary Lucia in the studio to talk about how she first became a lover of Hip Hop and what it means to be a Hip-Hop feminist.July 20, 2007
Putting together a Prince show -- at the last minute Prince fans told stories of waiting outside overnight to get tickets. Bloggers endlessly critiqued the show. But what was the Purple One's impromptu concert like from the club's point of view?July 9, 2007
Songs line the road to Patrick McGuigan's recovery A serious accident derailed a Minneapolis singer/songwriter's career in music but music continues to be one of his most important modes of expression.June 27, 2007
MPR Fakebook with Laurie Lindeen The Current Fakebook returned with its final show of the series' first season as The Current's Mary Lucia welcomed Minneapolis-based musician and author Laurie Lindeen, along with a cast of rock worthies to help tell Lindeen's story.June 22, 2007
Laurie Lindeen looks back on a rock and roll Cinderella story Laurie Lindeen knew she wanted to be in a band -- and particularly an all-girl band -- before she learned to play an instrument. It was the late 1980s and she moved to Minneapolis from Madison to experience the music scene.
Now Lindeen is retelling the whole story in her new memoir "Petal Pusher."June 12, 2007
Whose hoot Every Friday night, the basement at Java Jack's coffee shop in Minneapolis is overtaken by the The Mad Ripple's Friday Night Hootenanny. Organizer and singer/songwriter Jim Walsh, aka the Mad Ripple, says the hootenanny is a rare chance for local musicians and the audience to make a connection.June 1, 2007
West Bank festival has Pan-African vision Organizers are developing the Twin Cities' first Pan-African cultural festival. "Afrifest" is designed to introduce Minnesota's African immigrants to each other and the larger population.May 18, 2007
This band's best friends are Abe, Ike and each other A Minneapolis indie rock band has ignored the advice, "Friends don't let friends form rock bands." The two founders of Best Friends Forever actually are best friends, and it shows in their music.May 3, 2007
Red House Records enters a new era More than a year after the death of its founder and president, Bob Feldman, St. Paul-based Red House Records is still going strong, and embracing the digital age.April 16, 2007
Doc Severinsen's farewell to Minnesota This weekend Doc Severinsen performs his last concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra, after a 14-year relationship as the orchestra's principal pops conductor. MPR's Tom Crann sat down with Severinson for an exit interview.March 29, 2007