Recent content from Chris Riemenschneider

Duran Duran coming to Minnesota State Fair in 2023 after storms canceled a 2022 gig
The first grandstand concert announced for 2023 will also feature openers Bastille and Nile Rodgers' Chic.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Feb. 9-15 include Parker McCollum, Bruce Cockburn, Kiss the Tiger and Valentine's shows

Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce first Minnesota gig in a decade June 3 at Armory
Karen O's band took a nine-year break between albums.
Charlatans UK singer doubles up with 'Listening Party' ahead of First Ave gig
Tim Burgess began his Twitter parties during COVID lockdown, and he's still doing them. Even on tour.
Minnesota bands Polara and Honeydogs dust off '90s albums with new campaigns
Two of Polara's albums for Interscope are finally streaming online, while the Honeydogs' second LP is coming on vinyl.

Tips for scoring tickets to Beyoncé and other major concerts post-Taylor Swift
Fans will still have to navigate Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program for the Queen Bey tour. Good luck.

Bryan Adams coming in summer of '23 to St. Paul with Joan Jett
The '80s hitmakers will pair up July 3 at Xcel Energy Center on another nostalgic twofer tour.

At last, Beyoncé announces Renaissance Tour with July 20 date in Minneapolis
Her outdoor show at Huntington Bank Stadium will be sold through Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program, same as the much-maligned Taylor Swift tour.

The big gigs: 9 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Feb. 1-8 include Ana Popovic, Umphrey's McGee, Erik Koskinen, Bush and Bad Bad Hats.

Atlanta rap star Future coming to Target Center in April with 'friends'
The "Life Is Good" hitmaker landed another big single last year with "Wait for U."

Introducing the Green Room, 'bringing live music back to Uptown' in Minneapolis
The new 350-capacity, two-story rock club aims to fill a hole that many believe has existed since the closing of the Uptown Bar & Grill.

Review: Reopening time for Semisonic begins with intimate Icehouse gig before First Ave shows
The "Closing Time" hitmakers picked from their first new release in 19 years Wednesday — and even newer songs than that.
The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Jan. 23-Feb. 1 include Ice Cube, Semisonic, Robert Glasper and Lake Street Dive.

Klobuchar leads Senate hearing on Ticketmaster 'debacle'
Taylor Swift's upcoming tour and the Twin Cities arenas were brought up as Ticketmaster's CFO was grilled by senators.

Country duo Brooks & Dunn will hit St. Paul on first tour in over a decade
The "Play Something Country" hitmakers will return to Xcel Energy Center on June 3 following Omaha and Sioux Falls dates.

Music & Storytellers series returning to Woman's Club with Lissie, Dave Simonett and more
The March 12-May 13 program in Minneapolis will also feature Sue Scott, Paul Metsa and members of Kiss the Tiger.

Zach Bryan and the National both announce Aug. 9, 2023, concerts in Minneapolis
Bryan will be moving up to Target Center, while the National will try out the Armory.

Meet the 6 other entries in First Ave's Best New Bands of 2022
Friday's annual showcase also features Rafaella, Mike Kota, Obi Original and Killusonline.

Sister-helmed, quarantine-born Creeping Charlie leads First Ave's Best New Bands of 2022
Julia Eubanks came home to Minneapolis from college in Los Angeles with a batch of songs that stuck.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Live music highlights for Jan. 19-25 include Turn Turn Turn, Ani DiFranco, Suki Waterhouse and Drone Not Drones.

Madonna is coming to St. Paul again, and this time she's promising the hits
Her third stop at Xcel Energy Center comes a few week into her Celebration Tour, marking four decades in music.

Minnesota indie bands fight for rights to '90s recordings: 'We get the runaround'
An online petition last week asking Universal Music to release Low's early albums was the latest sign of corporate catalog inertia.

Vikings recruit Ludacris to perform at Sunday's playoff game vs. Giants
The Atlanta rapper's halftime appearance in Minneapolis precedes his St. Paul gig with Janet Jackson in May.

Single-day tickets to Metallica's 2024 'No Repeat Weekend' in Minneapolis go on sale Jan. 20
Prices will start at $50 for cheap seats to one of the metal gods' two shows next year at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Tommy Stinson postpones gigs for hip surgery, including rescheduled Turf Club date
He's due back in action in time to play the makeup date in St. Paul with his daughter, Ruby Stinson.

The big gigs: 9 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Concert highlights for Jan. 12-18 include Rebirth Brass Band, Dry Cleaning, Sounds of Blackness, SPCO and the Scarlet Goodbye's release party.

Minnesota acts line the Bonnaroo 2023 lineup under Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar
Hippo Campus, Yung Gravy and Cory Wong made the cut for the June 15-18 mega-fest in Tennessee.
Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks are U.S. Bank Stadium's 'major concert' announcement for Nov. 10
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are pairing up for a 2023 co-headlining U.S. tour that includes other football stadiums.

New Minnesota state Rep. Maria Isa Pérez-Vega drops a rap album the same day she's sworn in
Maria Isa Pérez-Vega released the EP "Capitolio" to emphasize that she's not giving up the music career she began in her teens.

The big gigs: 8 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Jan. 5-11 include Brandon Commodore's NRG, Acoustic Bowie, Eleganza and Dosh.
Minnesotans (and one ex-Minnesotan) filled the Current's Top 89 songs of 2022 list
Cloud Cult, the Cactus Blossoms, Trampled by Turtles and Lizzo were among the homegrown acts with songs favored by listeners at year's end.

Top Minnesota musicians plan January residencies at Twin Cities area clubs
This year's weekly winter offerings include Martin Dosh, Charlie Parr, the Cactus Blossom and transplanted indie-rock act Yellow Ostrich.
What were the best albums you heard in 2022? Our critics name their top 30
Best albums of 2022 included Spoon, Big Thief, SZA, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

What were the best concerts you saw in 2022? Our critics name their top 20
Brandi Carlile and Kendrick Lamar were among the remarkable shows.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 29-Jan. 4 include Snowta EDM fest, Morris Day and Davina & the Vagabonds

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 22-28 include the Bad Plus, Heiruspecs, Kinda Kinky Christmas and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
'I'm done,' Iowa folk hero Greg Brown contends ahead of Minneapolis shows
His retirement gigs at the Cedar come as one of the Avett Brothers issued a tribute album to him.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see this week in the Twin Cities
Concert highlights for Dec. 15-21 include Nikki Lane, the Big Wu, Beach Boys, Metz and Samantha Fish.

Janet Jackson will return to Twin Cities in May 2023 to play Xcel Center
Ludacris will open her tour, due to kick off in April with a new album also on the way.

From First Ave to the Weisman, Camille Gage 'had this amazing spark'
The visual artist and singer for Têtes Noires died of cancer at age 66.

From north Minneapolis to 'America's Got Talent,' Wyn Starks sings for healing
Soul-pop singer Wyn Starks returns to Minneapolis for a show at 7th St. Entry on his first headlining tour.

Eau Claire's Blue Ox Fest lines up Avett Brothers, Phish's Mike Gordon for 2023
The June 22-24 roots music campout will also feature Charley Crockett, Sam Bush Band, Yasmin Williams and Infamous Stringdusters.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 8-14 including Curtiss A's Lennon tribute, the 1975, Lissie, Bill Frisell and holiday shows with José James and the Blenders.

Red Hot Chili Peppers to hit U.S. Bank Stadium in April with the Strokes
The April 8 indoor gig will be the openers' first Twin Cities date since 2006, with King Princess also in tow.
Twin Cities shoegaze bands of the '90s get a reboot via Jack White's label
"Southeast of Saturn 2" features tracks by the 27 Various, Shapeshifter and Fauna.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 1-7 include the New Standards, Ne-Yo, Leo Kottke, Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Gunhild Carling

Metallica to play a 'no repeat' weekend August 2024 at Minneapolis stadium
The Aug. 16 and 18 concerts at U.S. Bank Stadium will feature two-night passes and different set lists.

Review: Trampled by Turtles honor Low in sold-out Armory gig behind new album 'Alpenglow'
Alan Sparhawk joined the acoustic sextet in a nearly two-hour Minneapolis set laden with homages to Duluth.

Morrissey strikes again, postponing Friday's Fillmore Minneapolis show due to illness
The former Smiths singer hopes to make up the date, though history suggests he may not fulfill it.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Nov. 24-30 include Yung Gravy, Morrissey, Trampled by Turtles, Dianne Reeves and Daryl Hall.

Minneapolis Native Joe Rainey thankful to be 'elevating powwow music'
The Ojibwe singer/drummer hits Friday's Decolonize Thanksgiving concert with a strong buzz for his innovative album "Niineta."
D.C. rapper Sa-Roc becomes a favorite 'Daughter' at Minneapolis' Rhymesayers label
Her 7th St. Entry gig Sunday follows standout appearances at Soundset and a two-year wait to tour.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Chris Botti, Plains, Steve Vai, Ike Reilly, Rodney Crowell and Sa-Roc top the concert highlights for Nov. 17-23.

Lizzo is among the leading 2023 Grammys nominees with Beyoncé, Adele, Taylor Swift
Women dominated the top categories announced Tuesday ahead of the Feb. 5 ceremony in Los Angeles.

Pink to become Target Field's first female concert headliner next August
She will be joined by newly inducted rock hall-of-famer Pat Benatar at the Minneapolis ballpark on Aug. 10.

Review: Fans still turn out for Arcade Fire in Minneapolis despite singer's troubles
Win Butler stepped back and let his band shine at the Armory after sexual misconduct allegations.

Taylor Swift adds second concert in Minneapolis as demand for her Eras Tour soars
The June 23 date at U.S. Bank Stadium will help fans clamoring for seats to the already-announced June 24 show.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Dave Matthews, Joshua Bell and SPCO, Beth Orton and the Backseat Lovers lead our concert highlights for Nov. 10-16.

Robert Plant, Sleater-Kinney and many more send tributes to late Low singer Mimi Parker
Parker's funeral is set for Thursday in Duluth, where a silent vigil was also held Sunday night.

'Meet Me in the Bathroom' and 4 other movies to see/hear in Sound Unseen fest
The Strokes-led NYC rock doc leads the 23rd annual lineup for Twin Cities music fans' favorite film fest.

6 songs that highlight Mimi Parker's contributions as a singer in Low
The band's co-founder, who died of cancer over the weekend, sometimes went it alone on vocals to great effect.

Duluth music hero Mimi Parker of the rock trio Low has died from cancer at 55
Radiohead and Robert Plant were among the famous fans of the Minnesota band she led with her husband, Alan Sparhawk.

Review: Keith Urban finishes strong in St. Paul with help from Tyler Hubbard, Kelsea Ballerini
The Aussie country star's tour finale at Xcel Energy Center offered a few surprises, plus the usual dazzling guitar work.

Review: Smashing Pumpkins and Jane's Addiction revisit Gen X glory days in St. Paul
Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan seemed content playing the oldies during the '90s twofer at Xcel Energy Center.

Bon Iver, Zach Bryan to headline Upper Midwest's hippest music fest in (checks notes) Iowa
Maggie Rogers, Angel Olsen, Sylvan Esso and Orville Peck are also on the 2023 lineup for Hinterland near Des Moines.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Concert highlights for Nov. 3-9 include Smashing Pumpkins, Tegan and Sara, Keith Urban and Pentatonix.

'Woke'-mocking country star Jason Aldean coming to Treasure Island amphitheater in 2023
The outdoor casino gig was announced amid backlash to comments by the singer's wife Brittany Aldean about transgender children.

Swifties, rejoice! Taylor Swift's 2023 Eras Tour to hit Minneapolis on June 24
Tickets for the U.S. Bank Stadium gig and other dates go on sale Nov. 18 and will be priced $49-$450.

Comeback queen Shania Twain will return to Xcel Center in May 2023
The Canadian megastar, who went on hiatus in the early 2000s, has another record coming soon titled "Queen of Me."
How Wilco's Jeff Tweedy tweaked Trampled by Turtles' overdue album
Minnesota's acoustic sextet was supposed to record while sidelined in 2020 but waited. It paid off.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Concert highlights for Oct. 26-Nov. 6 include Noah Cyrus, DaBaby, Joanne Shaw Taylor and locals Dylan Hicks, the Suburbs and Durry.

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Concert highlights for Oct. 20-26 include Maren Morris, Carrie Underwood, Dessa and a Sons-less Marcus Mumford.

Beck cancels from Arcade Fire's troubled Minneapolis concert, but no refunds offered
Haitian band Boukman Eksperyans will now open the Nov. 13 Armory gig, following sexual misconduct allegations against Arcade Fire's singer.

Semisonic announces January gigs at First Ave after COVID kept delaying its return
The two-night stand by the "Closing Time" hitmakers will double as the Current's 18th anniversary parties.