For decades, Robyn Crawford was one of the people closest to Whitney Houston. In 'A Song for You,' Crawford finally tells the story of her personal and professional relationship with one of the greatest performers in the history of pop music.
Although this proved to be yet another disappointing year for the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, it’s been a pretty good year for the team in pop music, with an unmissable name-drop in Lizzo’s chart-topping hit “Truth Hurts.” Ten years ago today, the Vikings achieved another music milestone, albeit one that didn’t make quite so…
Photographer Fred Case's retrospective 'When the Stones Came to Town' is about much more than just music photography: it's about life in and out of trouble in mid-century Minnesota.
Renée Zellweger is among this year’s Academy Award nominees, earning a place in the Best Actress contenders for her portrayal of Minnesota native Judy Garland, a 20th century icon. The biopic Judy found Garland near the end of her life, playing a poignant last stand in London. “It’s a big performance with a poignancy that lies…
The Grammys will host an all-star Prince tribute concert that will take place Jan. 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince” promises “performances by Alicia Keys, Beck, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Common, Gary Clark Jr., H.E.R., John Legend, Juanes, Sheila E., Usher and more.” Tickets ($60-$300) are now…
Lizzo is currently on tour in Australia, and took time earlier today (it’s already tomorrow in Australia) to help pack food for victims of the raging fires that are devastating the continent. “Everyone was freaking out” when a surprise guest at Foodbank, a food donation nonprofit, turned out to be the chart-topping star, a fellow…
If there's an artist who deserves the comprehensive song-by-song treatment, it's David Bowie. Chris O'Leary completes his two-volume set with 'Ashes to Ashes,' covering Bowie's career from 1976 to 2016.
Bob Dylan is reportedly getting the biopic treatment, with swoon-worthy star Timothée Chalamet in talks to play the Duluth native in a movie that centers on Dylan’s infamous decision to plug in at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Dylan himself is on board, according to Deadline, serving as an executive producer. The movie’s working title: Going…
This month, The Current is celebrating 15 years on the air. Inspired by Corbin Reiff’s book Lighters in the Sky, Andrea Swensson and I challenged ourselves to think back on every year from 2005 to 2019 and name one essential concert you’d absolutely have to hit if you could go skipping back in a time machine.…
Classical music's had more than its share of broken hearts - but not every composer was lovelorn! Here are six who found lasting happiness in committed relationships.
“Anyone who loved Alexis is welcome” at a four-day, four-night celebration of life in honor of the St. Paul rapper known professionally as Lexii Alijai, according to her manager Julieanna Goddard. “We will celebrate Lexii’s life the traditional Native American way for 4 days & 4 nights starting this evening at 6PM at the Minneapolis…
Lexii Alijai, a rapper from St. Paul who won fans around the world for her inspired flow and inspiring career, died on New Year’s Day at age 21. After family members confirmed the incredibly sad news on social media, the hip-hop community mourned the loss of a distinctive artist who’s gone too soon. “Saddest way…
It’s been another busy year for our Local Current blogging team, covering all the news that’s fit to blog across the Minnesota music scene. Here are the ten stories our readers found most fascinating in 2019. Click on each headline to read the full story. 10. Take a look inside the Fillmore Minneapolis, opening in…
Paisley Park has announced a film series showcasing “important films — each reflecting a profound moment in music and culture.” The three films, presented on successive Saturdays next month (Jan. 11, 18, and 25), are Wattstax, Amazing Grace, and Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. DJ afterparties will follow the first and third movies in the series. Announcing the…
The end of a year is a time to celebrate the best new music that hit our ears in the past 12 months — and also to remember the remarkable lives and storied careers of people on the music scene who passed on. For the Honey Do list this Saturday, Dec. 28 on The Current,…
“That ain’t Lake Minnetonka,” Prince famously said to Apollonia after she “purified herself” in Purple Rain. He wasn’t lying: it was a section of the Minnesota River in the small town of Henderson, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis. For years, the exact spot where the iconic scene was filmed was hard to find. After talking…
From the time he first appeared on the Minnesota music scene as Jay Smart, the artist now known as J.S. Ondara has captivated listeners both here and, increasingly, around the world. A native of Kenya, Ondara’s always had a global view — but his musical sights were set on the United States, and the Recording…
For Prince fans visiting the Twin Cities, it’s easy to find landmarks like Paisley Park, First Avenue, the Purple Rain house, and a growing number of murals. A new interactive guide on the Prince estate’s official website helps fans to zero in on the Minneapolis where Prince grew up: his homes, his schools, the venues where…
Part of the fun of holiday music season, for those who celebrate, is hearing endless variations on some of the world’s sturdiest songs. Whether it’s Eric Clapton paying tribute to Avicii (?!) with an EDM “Jingle Bells” or Lydia Liza rewriting “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” there’s never a shortage of new ways to hear a…
Despite the trailer's manic energy, Cats is actually a very slow, somber show. The cats take long pauses between, and even during, their many sad ballads, and the upbeat numbers are such a mess of confused animation that it's hard to enjoy the very real hoofing these uncanny mammals do.