What's the best place for a local rapper to learn from a successful chef or tax accountant, or a hip-hop video maker to network with an entertainment lawyer and Brother Ali?
OK, so the sixth annual Giant Steps conference might be the only place where these sorts of meetups regularly occur. Scheduled Friday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, this year's powwow will include a keynote speech by Jay Z's attorney and Loud Speaker Network founder Reggie "Combat Jack" Ossé, plus many panels and mentoring sessions with members of Rhymesayers and other local entrepreneurs.
The event was co-founded in 2009 by University of St. Thomas Prof. Susan Campion and then-local rap giant M.anifest, who is returning from Ghana for the occasion.
"I feel like it opens up a lot of opportunities for the hip-hop community that are often too hard to come by," said fellow rapper MaLLy, part of the Giant Steps planning committee. Tickets are a steep $125 but come with lots of doodads. See GiantStepsMN.com. …
A sweet spat of belated recognition that No Depression compared to the "Searching for Sugar Man" story, Minneapolis singer/songwriter Barry Thomas Goldberg is suddenly earning raves for his 1974 solo album "Misty Flats." The collection of lo-fi, all-mono folkie recordings — issued simply as Goldberg and made with the help of fellow music-industry castaway Michael Yonkers — was reissued in July via Light in the Attic Records and has also earned high praise from Mojo and Record Collector magazines. Look for it at LightIntheAttic.net. The album's lead-off track is posted below. …
Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland will sit for the free It Records Interview series Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., an ongoing series hosted by former Let It Be store owner Ryan Cameron at his new shop, 13 NE. 5th St., Mpls. … Local surf-rock vets the Surfdawgs — featuring guitarist Zippy Caplan of '60s garage-rock band the Litter — have some special guests on their new album, "Moontide," who will also join them at Saturday's release party at the Turf Club, including Tony Andreason of the Trashmen and Bob Spalding of the Ventures (8:30 p.m., $10). …
The best music lineup of the many Oktoberfest-style parties, Indeed Brewing's Hullabaloo kicks off Saturday at noon with Tyte Jeff and runs through Sunday's 5 p.m. set by the Cactus Blossoms, with sets in between by Kitten Forever, Fury Things, the Mighty Mofos, Frankie Teardrop and many more (free, all ages until 8 p.m., 711 15th Av. NE., Mpls.).
chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658
