Listen to Looch: talking about 'Carmine Street Guitars' June 18, 2019 This week, Mary Lucia talks about 'Carmine Street Guitars,' a documentary by Ron Mann that covers a week in the life of a unique guitar shop in New York City's West Village. 'It's a gentle, wonderful story,' Mary says. Read More ›
Shovels and Rope talk about 'By Blood' and about raising kids on tour June 18, 2019 During The Current's live broadcasts from Bonnaroo, Shovels and Rope, the Charleston, S.C., husband-and-wife duo comprising Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, stopped by to talk about their new album and about what it's like raising kids as touring musicians. Read More ›
Get your tickets to Rock the Garden! June 14, 2019 Don't miss Rock the Garden this year featuring The National, Courtney Barnett, X, Heart Bones, deM atlaS, Bad Bad Hats, Adia Victoria and The Beths! Read More ›
Top ten new 2019 Minnesota State Fair foods that sound like band names June 18, 2019 By the presumed popular demand of the 1,242 people who read my 2018 guide, it’s back and fresh for 2k19! For actual information about these dishes, click on their names. For more new Minnesota State Fair foods, see MPR News. Bada Bing Sandwich Two guys. One sings Sinatra, the other does Dino. Pianos? Dueling, baby!… Read More ›
Jake Luppen of Hippo Campus talks 'Demos I' and how he ended up on a Bon Iver track June 18, 2019 During Bonnaroo 2019, Jake Luppen of Hippo Campus stopped at The Current's broadcast booth, where he talked to host Jade about Hippo Campus's recent release of 'Bambi' demos and about how he ended up playing guitar on a new track from Bon Iver. Read More ›
Hometown hero José James coming ‘full circle’ as Twin Cities Jazz Fest headliner June 18, 2019 José James has traveled the world touring his music, recently performing a project called Gershwin Reimagined with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia. His success has earned him worldwide recognition, but he has a soft spot for his original home state of Minnesota. “I’m literally halfway across the world talking to you, but I really… Read More ›
Adia Victoria on ‘Silences,’ collaborating with The National’s Aaron Dessner, and getting ready for Rock the Garden June 18, 2019 While writing her second full-length album, Silences, Adia Victoria spent time in the stacks of the Vanderbilt University library, poring over the works of women she admires — from Toni Morrison to Virginia Woolf to Tillie Olsen, whose 1978 novel inspired the album’s title. “I consider myself a writer first and foremost, and I don’t… Read More ›
The Current's Guitar Collection: Adia Victoria, 2001 Gibson SG June 22, 2016 When Adia Victoria visited The Current's studio for a recent session, she was rocking out on a near-mint 2001 Gibson SG. She took some time after the session to tell us about it. Read More ›
Adia Victoria performs in The Current studio June 15, 2016 Adia Victoria, now touring in support of her debut album, 'Beyond the Bloodhounds,' visited The Current's studio ahead of her show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. Victoria first fell in love with making music when she was a young girl. 'It made me feel empowered to stand before people and sing a song, versus just speaking,' she says. 'I felt a connection with people that I didn't feel otherwise. I felt alive.' Read More ›
Adia Victoria Reckons With The South May 23, 2016 The singer and songwriter grew up under difficult circumstances in South Carolina. Today she uses her music, and the legacy of Southern black women's music, to come to terms with the past and present. Read More ›
Watch Father John Misty perform in concert at the Armory in Minneapolis June 16, 2019 On Friday, June 14, singer-songwriter Father John Misty (aka Josh Tillman) and his band performed in concert at the Armory in Minneapolis. The Current was on hand to record the set on live video, and you can watch the complete concert. Read More ›
Watch Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit perform in concert in Minneapolis June 16, 2019 On Friday, June 14, award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and his band the 400 Unit performed in concert at the Armory in Minneapolis. The Current was on hand to record the set on live video, and you can watch the complete concert. Read More ›
Playlist: Aar Maanta Youtube hits June 14, 2019 YouTube has become an indispensable tool for Somali artists to share their music and create an online community. To give you a sense of the music and stories that exist on London-based Somali musician Aar Maanta's channel, we put together a list of some of the singer-songwriter's videos. Read More ›
The Current Rewind: Aan WadaMidnimayno Minnesota June 12, 2019 Ask most casual Minnesota music fans about the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, and they'll probably tell you about the folk and blues hippie scene of the '60s and '70s. These days, the West Bank is home to a thriving Somali population, and several Somali-Minnesotans are famous throughout the diaspora for their own music and poetry. In this episode, we learn about music and community from our Somali neighbors. Read More ›
Photos: A tour of Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood June 12, 2019 With venues like the Cedar Cultural Center, Palmer's Bar, and Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis' West Bank has become a hub for Somali music and culture. Cedar-Riverside resident and KFAI radio host Abdirizak Bihi takes us for a tour of his neighborhood, which he calls "Little Mogadishu." Read More ›
Download The Current app January 29, 2018 Download The Current's app to hear a crisp, high-fidelity stream of our station (and our additional streams) wherever you go! Read More ›
Listen to The Current via Smart Speakers July 23, 2018 Listen to The Current on Google Home and Amazon's Echo devices, and get enhanced functionality -- song names, requests, song of the day -- with our Alexa Skill. Read More ›
Coffee Break: Where'd You Put the Keys, Girl June 18, 2019 Thanks to listener Julie for writing in with today's theme idea. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that feature finding, looking or searching for something? Read More ›
Today in Music History: Happy Birthday, Paul McCartney June 18, 2019 Columbia Records started producing the LP; Abba performed for the King of Sweden and his soon-to-be queen; Fleetwood Mac hit No. 1 with 'Dreams'; and Sir Paul McCartney celebrates a birthday, Today in Music History. Read More ›
Coffee Break Suggestions and Archive November 08, 2016 Got an idea for a Coffee Break? Want to see what we did a while back? Read More ›