Chris Riemenschneider

Tracking Minnesota: 7 new local songs to hear in March She’s Green, Solid Gold and Mina Moore are among our monthly picks to tap into all the new music flowing out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

I didn't intend for this month's Tracking Minnesota playlist to be a lot of songs reflective of the turmoil in the Twin Cities this winter, but that's what happens when artists do their thing. Hear new tracks by She's Green, Solid Gold, Mina Moore and Curtiss A.
www.startribune.com/tracking-min...

Eric Clapton's short Midwest U.S. fall tour includes St. Paul date The three-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer confirmed the Sept. 15 date at Grand Casino Arena ahead of his 81st birthday.

Who still gets excited about seeing Clapton? Serious, non-snarky question. Those who do will have the chance again Sept. 15 at Grand Casino Arena with one of my all-time favorite guitar players Jimmie Vaughan as his opener again.
www.startribune.com/eric-clapton...

Rock legend Patti Smith announces intimate Minneapolis theater gig She will play the Parkway Theater on March 14, the night after an appearance at St. Catherine University promoting her new memoir, "Bread of Angles."

Patti Smith was already coming to town to promote her new memoir on March 13, and now she's sticking around a day later to play the Parkway Theater.
www.startribune.com/patti-smith-...

HeadFlyer Brewing will shut down its Northeast Minneapolis taproom Its beers will still be made elsewhere, and another brewer could be moving into its space on E. Hennepin Avenue.

Another brewery down. HeadFlyer is closing its taproom, but its beers will be available elsewhere, and another brewer could be moving into the space.

www.startribune.com/headflyer-br...

The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week Highlights for Feb. 26-March 4 include Margo Price, the Pharcyde, Emmet Cohen, Cat Power and Yo-Yo Ma.

A couple of classic hip-hop acts at the Dakota, a young local punk band graduates to the Mainroom, a full-blown disco throwback act and a revival of an acclaimed 2006 album are part of the Big Gigs mix this week.
www.startribune.com/margo-price-...

Boston punks Dropkick Murphys to headline anti-ICE party in Minneapolis The Boston punks will perform March 6 with local bands in the Black Forest Inn parking lot before their sold-out show at the Palace Theatre.

Before their sold-out March 6 gig at Palace, @dropkickmurphys.com are throwing a free afternoon block party across Nicollet from the Alex Pretti shooting site with Laamar, Obi Original, Brass Solidarity, Sophie Hiroko, Chutes and Wild Colonial Bhoys.
www.startribune.com/dropkick-mur...

Brandi Carlile raises more than $600k with Minneapolis livestream “Minnesota is so deeply inspiring,” the singer posted after Saturday’s emotional Target Center concert.

“Minnesota is so deeply inspiring,” Brandi posted after Saturday’s emotional Target Center concert, which is still viewable online through Monday night and still raising more money via T-shirt sales. It also raised the profile of the Singing Resistance.
www.startribune.com/brandi-carli...

A different Brandi Carlile heads to Minneapolis with a message Her sold-out concert will be livestreamed on the radio and the internet.

“My message is one of love and reconciliation and protection for displaced people. I have a long record of standing behind this.”

Brandi Carlile is livestreaming Sat’s Target Ctr show to raise money for Minneapolis causes. Also airing via the Current.

www.startribune.com/brandi-carli...

The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week Highlights for Feb. 19-25 include Brandi Carlile, Esperanza Spalding, Conan Gray, Turnpike Troubadours and Gogol Bordello.

The Cedar Commissions, Esperanza Spalding, Gogol Bordello, a special Turnpike Troubadours fundraiser and a very special Brandi C appearance in this week’s Big Gigs.

www.startribune.com/brandi-carli...

Usually I’m jealous Milwaukee gets Summerfest every year. Not this year.

Two of the best records in MN music history imo now paired as one with bonus tracks. Party today at Lucky Cat Records.

curation-records.bandcamp.com/album/every-...

Compilation albums offer a new tune against ICE in Minnesota Two all-local fundraiser collections, “Melt ICE” and “Thaw,” arrive this weekend with 130-plus contributing acts.

Twin Cities musicians have been turning out in droves to sing, blow or drum on the streets in protest of ICE. Now, they’re also lining up on record.
Two bulky fundraiser compilation albums are being released this weekend featuring more than 130 artists.

www.startribune.com/musicians-ar...

Hippo Campus and Samia among bands quitting Epstein-tied booking agency The Minnesota music makers joined Chappell Roan and Best Coast on an exodus from the troubled Los Angeles company Wasserman.

A major rupture in the concert industry worldwide tied to the Epstein investigations is having a ripple effect on the Twin Cities music scene.
www.startribune.com/minnesota-ba...

Eaux Claires festival's comeback year to feature Dijon, Aimee Mann and not Bon Iver Lil Yachty and Jon Cleary are also among the performers so far confirmed for host Justin Vernon's 2026 hometown music fest.

Dijon, Aimee Mann and Lil Yachty - but not Bon Iver - are on the very eclectic lineup unveiled last night for Justin Vernon’s first hometown mysic fest in eight years, scheduled July 24 and 25.
www.startribune.com/eaux-claires...

Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires fest is just a pull tab away Returning July 24-25 after an eight-year hiatus, the Wisconsin music festival's lineup will be revealed on cardboard at an Eau Claire bar.

The 2026 Eaux Claires lineup will be revealed tonight via pull tabs at a bar in Justin Vernon's hometown. It's the fest's first installment in eight years and will take place July 24-25 in a new location on the edge of downtown Eau Claire.
www.startribune.com/eaux-claires...

The muse for a classic Replacements song has died Lynn Blakey inspired one of the Minneapolis band’s most revered rock anthems, “Left of the Dial.”

You've read about her band in some local page...

RIP Lynn Blakey, inspirator of one of the greatest rock songs to ever come out of Minnesota.
www.startribune.com/replacements...

Why Bad Bunny is a good pick for Super Bowl LX’s halftime The Puerto Rican hip-hop star was announced Sunday for the big gig happening Feb. 8 in the Bay Area.

Talking points to bring up if you're watching Sunday's Super Bowl with a Bad Bunny naysayer.
www.startribune.com/why-bad-bunn...

More of this please.

Red-hot Sierra Ferrell added to MN State Fair 2026 lineup The West Virginian bluegrass/Americana singer will make her debut at the grandstand on Aug. 30 after a string of local sell-outs.

If you haven’t been bowled over by Sierra Ferrell and her mega talent and giant charm yet, the State Fair seems like a great chance to get to know her.
www.startribune.com/sierra-ferre...

The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week Highlights for Feb. 5-11 include Sudan Archives, Eric Church, Eric Gales, the Runarounds, Bob Marley tribute and Drone Not Drone marathons.

A wide range of options for live music this week, including Sudan Archives, Meshell Ndegeocello, a Monkees-like made-for-TV band and two popular annual events that are very on point this year, the Bob Marley Remembered and Drone Not Drone marathons.
www.startribune.com/eric-church-...

Jayhawks, Cory Wong among Minnesota names on Record Store Day 2026 mega-list Neither Prince or the Replacements have offerings for this year’s big shopping day for music collectors, but several locally tied acts do.

For once, neither Prince or the Replacements are on the list that just dropped for @recordstoreday special releases. See who is.
www.startribune.com/what-minneso...

Dua Saleh recruits Bon Iver and other Midwest collaborators for new album Justin Vernon is featured on two tracks issued from the St. Paul music maker and Netflix TV star’s May release, “Of Earth & Wires”

After acting ate up a lot of Dua Saleh's time in recent years (see: Netflix's "Sex Education"), the St. Paul rapper/poet looks to be diving headlong back into music and got some high-profile help in the process.
www.startribune.com/dua-saleh-ne...

Tim McGraw to hit Target Field with the Chicks, Lady A on Aug. 23 Twins reps announced the show a day after confirming another August concert date with Noah Kahan.

The third concert announced for Target Field in 2026 is a country-music trifecta; never mind one of the acts was ostracized by the country music industry.

www.startribune.com/tim-mcgraw-a...

Tim McGraw to hit Target Field with the Chicks, Lady A on Aug. 23 Twins reps announced the show a day after confirming another August concert date with Noah Kahan.

The third concert announced for Target Field in 2026 is a country-music trifecta; never mind one of the acts was ostracized by the country music industry.

www.startribune.com/tim-mcgraw-a...

Noah Kahan will slide into Target Field in Minneapolis in August The “Stick Season” hitmaker’s Aug. 5 show will be the first ticketed concert at the Twins' ballpark in two years.

First ticketed concert at Target Field in two years: Noah Kahan will hit the Twins' outfield Aug. 5.
www.startribune.com/noah-kahan-a...

Tracking Minnesota: 7 new local songs to hear in February A monthly series to help you tap into all the new music flowing out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Tracking Minnesota: 7 new local songs to hear in February, including Agnes Uncaged (fka Creeping Charlie), Cory Wong (with some local buds) and David Huckfelt (covering a Minnesotan songwriting great; no not that one).
www.startribune.com/tracking-min...

In a sharply worded order, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery condemned what he called “the perfidious lust for unbridled power” and “the imposition of cruelty,” directing the government to release the father and son — a rare judicial rebuke as federal immigration operations continue across the state.

Minnesota music scene remembers '90s era photographer Brian Garrity The rock lensmen who captured Nirvana for Rolling Stone and countless Twin Cities bands in action will be celebrated Feb. 1 at the Hook & Ladder.

Ahead of Sunday’s memorial for Brian Garrity at the Hook & Ladder, here’s a bit about him and a gallery of his work capturing the Twin Cities music scene of the ‘80s/‘90s (Babes in Toyland, Nirvana at First Ave, Cows at the Uptown Bar, Bob Stinson, etc).
www.startribune.com/brian-garrit...

'Special guest' Bruce Springsteen takes charge of Minneapolis protest concert The Boss joined Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello in a midday benefit show at First Avenue denouncing ICE activity.

Here's my writeup on "the best brunchtime show in the history" of First Ave, as Tom Morello called it. www.startribune.com/bruce-spring...

Twin Cities rapper Nur-D hires Rodney King's lawyer against feds Violently detained during protests following Alex Pretti’s shooting, hip-hop star Matt Allen has retained Los Angeles attorney John Burris, known from King’s 1991 police-abuse case.

Matt “Nur-D” Allen has hired Rodney King’s lawyer following his violent detainment last weekend near the Alex Pretti shooting site.
www.startribune.com/twin-cities-...