Alabama Shakes still haven't booked a Twin Cities date but have plenty of gigs at South by Southwest this week.
This list is neither a promise of the new acts I will see in Austin this week, nor is it necessarily the ones I believe I'll personally like best. It's just the names I believe to be the most noteworthy or interesting. Using last year's list for reference, I wound up only seeing a little over half of them (long lines, deadlines and mega-famous rappers got in the way). Also, two of the acts on last year's list, Skrillex and the Civil Wars, wound up having huge years afterward -- but I personally couldn't stand either of them.
Grimes (performing Tuesday at 7th Street Entry on her way down to Austin)
Howler (OK, so they're not new to me, but local connections aside I'd say they're pretty dang notable this year)
In heated western Minn. GOP congressional primary, outsiders challenging incumbent
Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame: A class-by-class list of all members
This retired journalist changed professional wrestling from Mankato
