Welcome to The Scouting Report, a monthly list of 10 Minnesota artists with exciting new projects, as curated by our local music team. If you like these picks, check out The Local Show on Sundays from 7 p.m. to midnight, hosted by Diane, or check out our Spotify playlist, updated every week. In April 2024, The Current compiled the first Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report with votes from the local music industry.

The Penny Peaches

The Penny Peaches are a folk-oriented sister songwriter duo comprised of Hattie and Grace Peach. Their recent album, Good For Me, incorporates dazzling alternative-Americana textures of acoustic guitar, fiddle, and angelic harmonies. This family band is from Duluth and features their father John on drums. In an interview for The Current with Mark Nicklawske, Hattie Peach expressed her gratitude for the support they’ve found in the music scene, and what it means to create alongside family. “There is no purer way to share the human experience than through art, and it’s even more wonderful to be able to express that with family standing beside you,” she said. You can catch them live at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis with Lovehouse, the Cameras and Brother Means Ally on Tuesday, Sept 10, or at the North House Folk School’s Unplugged event in Grand Marais on Thursday, Sept. 19. -AD

St. Anthony Mann

St. Anthony Mann’s artistic, ambient, and gentle approach to songwriting and composition may inspire inner peace and stillness. The musician has released two new singles off his upcoming record, Look Again, which is dropping Sept. 27. “Make Better” is composed of sparse, glitchy electronic samples accompanying singer Adam Bjoraker’s nearly foreign-language sounding voice with its muddy diction and demure tone. Think José González meets Brian Eno meets the bourgeoisie Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood St. Anthony Main.  -Diane

bathtub cig

Started in 2017, bathtub cig is Minneapolis-based musician Hilary James’ “depression pop” project. James described the project as a musical outlet for all her feelings, evident through lyrical themes that honestly and smartly tackle mental health struggles, juxtaposed with catchy indie guitar riffs and bubbly vocal melodies. “Marry Me” is a wholesome tune off bathtub cig’s upcoming EP, Good Mourning, I love you, which the artist describes as half love songs and half grief songs. The EP release show is on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Turf Club in St. Paul with support from Trash Date, Robot Slide, and Nat Harvie. Fans of Frankie Cosmos and Indigo De Souza may enjoy bathtub cig. -AD

Her Crooked Heart

Her Crooked Heart is the project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Rachel Ries. “Right on Time” is a track from a new two-song EP that was inspired by Rachel’s wedding, properly titled A Wedding EP. This is also Rachel’s first release in five years. This sweet track was written as the couple began building a home in 2021. The EP is a celebration of love, which includes two early demo versions as bonus tracks. Only a limited amount of records are available on Her Crooked Heart’s Bandcamp. Featured musicians on the EP include drummer JT Bates, bassist Liz Draper, Joe Strachan on keys, Hilary James on cello and vocals, and Hannah Hebl on vocals. -NT

Keep for Cheap

Keep for Cheap are a “prairie rock” five-piece band based in the Twin Cities. Formed in 2018 after meeting at Hamline University, Keep for Cheap’s sophomore album Big Grass arrived in August. Their recent single “Life Is Like This” beautifully explores the childlike innocence that lingers within memories of nostalgic places. Fans of Big Thief and Waxahatchee may enjoy Keep for Cheap’s indie folk sound. You can celebrate the album at their release show on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul with support from Ivers, Yonder, and Lana Leone. -AD

Silversmith

Within the infectious unfolding of “Mid Air,” Margot Bassett Silver — under the moniker Silversmith — shares thoughts on moving through the messy pursuit of love. Silver beckons us deeper, drawing us in to claim this search as our own. The artist has also performed as a dancer, shared the stage with Aby Wolf, and toured internationally with Emily Johnson of Catalyst. Silver is a self-proclaimed tarot enthusiast, a student of grief, and a lover of beauty in all forms. -YV

Phillip Saint John

Phillip Saint John has been finding his way in the Twin Cities music scene for nearly a decade. Combining his passion for spiritual work, singing, and rapping, Saint John shares a little intimate piece of himself in every song. “Radiant” is an international collaboration with Polish musician Neeki. Exploring more with harmonies and melodies, “Radiant” is a mellow, uplifting proclamation of self-love. It was recently announced that Saint John is one of the recipients for the 14th round of the Cedar Commissions grant, which will result in new musical work that will debut at The Cedar in early 2025. -NT

A Piano in Every Home

Twin Cities’ adult-contemporary indie-folk band A Piano in Every Home returns with a new record, Terrible Things, this Oct. 4. Its first single, “Fix It, Etc.” — the band’s first release in five years — touches on interpersonal relations related to romance and scattered memories. Similar to A Piano In Every Home’s earlier work, its songs are melodically, harmonically, lyrically rich and accessible — perhaps for nearly every home. Fans of Dawes, the Wallflowers or Jeremy Messersmith may especially love this four-piece. -Diane

The Holy North

The Holy North is a Minnesota-raised Americana/blues rock band who have been playing covers and original material for about 10 years. Their new single “Love’s Bitter Blow” is an upbeat song about heartbreak and letting go. It’s also the first single off their upcoming second album, following up their debut album Rhubarb '93, released in 2022. You can catch The Holy North live at Project North Music Festival in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on Saturday, Sept. 21. -NT

Jared McCloud  

Bright guitar licks and pop-centric riffs break open this Kevin Bowe-produced track, “Tramp Like Me,” from Jared McCloud. In the 10 years McCloud has waited a decade to release new music, he suffered heartbreak via a divorce, gave up music altogether, became a father and husband, and found redemption with a return to music. “Tramp Like Me” is replete with strangely inviting, uncanny tones and a raft of rhythms and textures reminiscent of Ed Sheeran and OneRepublic and pulls from his album, Vacancy. Its release show is Saturday, Sept. 7, at the 331 Club with Hebba Jebba. -YV