All artists are creative. But Papa Mbye, a North Minneapolis rapper, singer, and producer, has a creative appetite that few can match. Talk to Mbye (pronounced “ehm-bay”) and his collaborators, and it becomes clear the 22-year-old multidisciplinary artist — who, as a teenager, used to caricature passersby in the park as both an outlet and […]
Water Is Life, the festival held at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth by Honor the Earth (Winona LaDuke’s arts-associated advocacy group), was about more than music. Ten hours of music; Anishinaabe traditional ceremony; teaching; passionate statements from Native artists and non-Native allies; and performance marked the day. The 5,000 participants danced, sweated in the 90-degree […]
In a regular series of features, we’re inviting Minnesota artists to introduce themselves to our audience. Today: folk group Maygen and the Birdwatcher. They’ll be releasing their debut album, Moonshine, with a show at Icehouse on Oct. 10. Maygen Lacey (lead vocals/guitar): I’m pretty much terrified of performing live. So, my Maygen Lacey solo stuff was always studio things and collaborations […]
It’s the quirkiest and most delightful recording in a catalog where quirky delights abound. The story of Prince and the Revolution’s “Kiss,” from 1986, has been told many times — its genesis as a demo for the band Mazarati, protégés of Revolution bassist BrownMark; of he and that band turned into a skeletal groove unlike […]
“It’s really intimidating to be back after a year of sadness,” Nadirah McGill confessed from behind the drums on Saturday. “You got it, babe!” yelled someone in the crowd. McGill and their Gully Boys bandmates — Kathy Callahan and Natalie Klemond, plus guest guitarist Mariah Mercedes — headlined the Fine Line for the first time […]
In a regular series of features, we’re inviting Minnesota artists to introduce themselves to our audience. Today: Huhroon, a Minneapolis-based rapper whose experience as a poet and singer shine in his emotive music. Check out his latest release ICEPACK. My name is Haroon Rasheed. I got started as an artist by doing slam poetry and spoken word when I was […]
Last night, the Fine Line presented its first show since the COVID shutdown: Nur-D and Finding Novyon co-headlining a bill with support from Xavier Goodman and JAKI. JAKI Xavier Goodman Finding Novyon Nur-D
In a regular series of features, we’re inviting Minnesota artists to introduce themselves to our audience. Today: Honeybutter, a Minneapolis trio making their live debut tonight at the Turf Club. Their debut EP is forthcoming this fall. Zak Khan (guitar/production): I went to college in this small town called St. Peter. The college was Gustavus. I […]
“We welcome you back,” said longtime First Avenue stage manager Conrad Sverkerson (as reported by Chris Riemenschneider on Instagram), joined at the 7th St Entry by fellow staffers including general manager Nate Kranz, talent buyer Sonia Grover, marketing head Ashley Ryan, and owner Dayna Frank last night. A sold-out audience attended the first full-capacity show […]
