Heart, Patti Smith, Jesse Welles, Mariah the Scientist, another all-star REM tribute and more concert picks for the upcoming week. www.startribune.com/the-big-gigs...

Hold on! Surly Field will still be going strong in 2026 despite stiffer competition among outdoor concerts. Three big summer shows are newly announced for the brewery's big backyard, each going on sale Thu-Fri. www.startribune.com/surly-brewin...

Big news in Twin Cities beerland! Dangerous Man is returning to its old hood with a taproom in HeadFlyer’s popular NE Mpls space. www.startribune.com/dangerous-ma...

Extreme Noise Records will leave the Lyn-Lake area for the east end of Lake Street, next door to kindred music venue Cloudland Theater. www.startribune.com/extreme-nois...

Peaches, Jason Isbell, Los Lobos, Rage Against the Regime and two very different Dropkick Murphys sets round out this week's Big Gigs live music options. www.startribune.com/jason-isbell...

They’ve been hired by innumerable MN songwriters. Now the Laurel Strings Quartet is recruiting folks to play with them. www.startribune.com/laurels-stri...

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...

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...

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-...

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...

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-...

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...

“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...

“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 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-...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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-...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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, 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.

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...

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...

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-...

A couple protest/fundraiser concerts in this week's Big Gigs and a lot of other good reasons to get out and keep supporting the artists and music venues that still help make our cities great. www.startribune.com/ondara-1vers...

The Boss just took charge. www.startribune.com/bruce-spring...

The twangy offshoot to Minnesota Yacht Club looks like it's competing with the Blue Ox Music Fest more than it is mainstream country shows like We Fest and Winstock. Full lineup is out. www.startribune.com/minnesota-co...

Dave Matthews Band's first outdoor MN show in 14 years was announced today for June 23 at Mystic Lake Amphitheater along with a Ne-Yo/Akon twofer there on Aug. 5. www.startribune.com/mystic-lake-...

WSJ says ICE is lying. Read that again…. The Wall Street Journal is calling out the lies

The Star Tribune reports that federal agents "attempted to order local police from the scene" where a man was shot and killed by feds this morning, but Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara refused and "instructed his officers to preserve the scene."

Among all the other news on the Strib live blog: Renowned Twin Cities musician Matt “Nur-D” Allen was violently detained by agents today. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

Have a larger story on this coming, but I’ve been embedded with this group, and this story from yesterday is part of what they’ve been doing in the city: religionnews.com/2026/01/22/h...

Some of Friday's shows are off, including the Current's 21st birthday, but there are still plenty of chances to get out and let music do its thing this week, including Cate Le Bon's first show here this decade and Halloween, Alaska's farewell. www.startribune.com/jonah-kagen-...

How about some good news? Bob Mould had a good idea to play two nights at @first-avenue.com with Sugar in September instead of one night in a bigger room. www.startribune.com/bob-mould-re...

"Music just helps people access their feelings. Especially when there’s so much going on that it’s hard to know what to feel, music helps us sort it out.” Musicians/singers are bringing truly harmonious peaceful protests to the streets in recent weeks. www.startribune.com/minnesota-ic...

Tickets are on sale now for the Feb. 15 ICE Out fundraiser at First Ave with Hippo Campus, Papa Mbye, 26 Bats! and one artist TBA that everyone already knows who it is. www.startribune.com/ice-out-prot...

I'm happy to report the culture and community Deadheads built around live gigs isn't going away with Bobby. Here's a roundup of some of the tributes happening locally in the next couple months, including one Saturday at the Turf Club. www.startribune.com/7-ways-twin-...