On Sept. 26 at Ted Mann Concert Hall, the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts will be honoring Prince by presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Considered the University’s highest honor, the degree is given to people who made significant cultural contributions in their lifetime. In June 2016, the University […]
As students head back to school this fall, many return to their classrooms with stories from summer camp. Some kids will tell their friends about making s’mores and friendship bracelets, while others will tell tales of writing original music and performing in their own rock concert. In addition to writing for The Current, I teach […]
Haley (f.k.a. Haley Bonar) has announced the release date for her upcoming album, Pleasureland, due out on Oct 12. Last month, she dropped a new single via YouTube titled “Infinite Pleasure Part 2,” and if it’s any indication, Pleasureland might be stepping away from the pop-rock that has defined a majority of her music so […]
Last night, Metallica played a sold-out show at Target Center in Minneapolis, kitty-corner from First Avenue. The concert marked the first time the metal monsters played Minnesota since becoming the first rock band to play the Vikings’ new U.S. Bank Stadium, in 2016. While Metallica’s set consisted mostly of their greatest hits, the band did throw […]
The Wizard of Oz taught us that there’s no place like home, but for a certain pair of ruby red slippers home has been a faraway thought; until now. The shoes, one of four pairs worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, went missing 13 years ago on Aug. 28. […]
If the long lines inside the Minnesota State Fairground’s Agriculture Horticulture Building are evidence enough, then it is safe to say that Minnesotans love to look at crop art. If you plan to hop in line and take a peek for yourself, bring some cheese curds: the line moves slowly. People move step-by-step to get […]
Despite having grown up in Minnesota, I only started going to the State Fair three years ago. The Fair is full of music — but it can be hard to even get Minnesotans to clap along to a song, much less get up and dance. When it came to Tropical Zone Orchestra’s performance on Friday, […]
The Miracle of Birth center is easily one of my favorite parts of the fair; baby animals are irresistibly cute. This year as I was visiting the barn for the second time I noticed that nearly all of the babies had little name plaques on their pens. Many of the babies had been given names that […]
This year, the State Fair debuted a new venue on the north end: the Hangar. The building, which used to be the Pet Center, has been transformed into a hub for food, craft beer, and live entertainment. The Hangar also nods to the building’s history as the location of the State Fair Aircraft Shows in […]
“How the hell can a person go to work in the morning and come home in the evening and have nothing to say?” That’s singer/songwriter John Prine. Well, that’s Mike Lewis quoting Prine’s song “Angel From Montgomery” while sitting next to me at a countertop. We’re nearing the end of an hour-long conversation, and I’ve […]
