Regal Anton-Chavez Francis Bragg, a Minneapolis musician and producer who worked under the name Regal the Rare, has died at age 29. His stepfather Jellybean Johnson shared the news in social media statements, writing, “Fly free son.” No cause of death was provided; a memorial celebration is planned this Saturday, May 1 at Winterland Studios […]
In an intimate Oscar ceremony like none other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross won Best Original Score for their work on Pixar’s Soul. “God gave us 12 notes,” said Batiste in an acceptance speech. “It’s the same 12 notes Duke Ellington had, Bach had, Nina Simone…I’m just thankful to […]
This afternoon, a Minneapolis jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts of murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd. The case drew international attention, sparking months of demonstrations and cries for justice in the music community and beyond. Below is a sampling of artists’ reactions today. For more on […]
Musicians around the world, and particularly here in Minnesota, have been sharing grief and anger at the police killing of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center on Sunday. Below is a selection of those responses. Our colleagues at MPR News are continuing to cover this developing story. Nothing to reform. Burn it down and start over […]
The Prince estate has announced that Welcome 2 America, an album Prince recorded in 2010 but never shared with the public, will be released on July 30. Welcome 2 America is the first stand-alone Prince album to be released posthumously, as opposed to re-releases (1999, Sign O’ The Times) or compilations (Originals). It will be […]
Sean Tillmann, the Minneapolis musician who performs as Har Mar Superstar, has been accused of sexual misconduct. Multiple women have detailed experiencing “assault or harassment” by Tillmann in incidents spanning 2014 to 2017, reports the Star Tribune. After one account surfaced recently in a private Facebook post, other women shared accounts and have now spoken […]
Liquor Lyle’s, a 58-year-old bar that’s been a longtime hangout for members of the music, entertainment, and media scene at the northern edge of South Minneapolis, will not reopen under its present ownership, reports Axios. General manager Jeremiah Kline told reporter Nick Halter that “the owners, after going back and forth over the past year, […]
Paisley Park has announced that it will open the venue’s atrium for fans to visit, free of charge, and pay their respects to Prince on April 21 — which will mark five years since Prince’s tragic death. The atrium, a light-filled space at the heart of Paisley Park that was very special to Prince, will […]
Albums by Minnesota artists including Nur-D, iLLism, Sarah Morris, Mae Simpson, Venus DeMars, MaLLy, the Bad Man, Kiss the Tiger, Desdamona, Humbird, Pert Near Sandstone, the Okee Dokee Brothers, Superior Siren, and Mary Bue are among 93 new titles added last month to Hennepin County Library’s MNspin streaming program, free to library users. A two-night […]
The 63rd Grammys will be postponed from their scheduled date of Jan. 31 due to safety concerns amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic. After news of the postponement broke in Rolling Stone, the Recording Academy confirmed a new date: March 14. In a joint statement, the Recording Academy’s leaders and the awards ceremony producer said: After […]
