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Pick Six: Praise for Sting, Hippo Campus, Palace Theatre, Rhiannon Giddens, Joyann Parker, 89.3 the Current

Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.

March 9, 2017 at 11:57PM

Dawn Novak of Maple Grove:

1 Sting, the Myth. Experiencing a rock show by my favorite singer in a club setting with my 13-year-old daughter was amazing. Sting's band complemented his unmistakable voice on new songs from "57th & 9th," as well as Police favorites.

2 Hippo Campus on "Conan." It was a treat to see this fun Twin Cities band return to Conan O'Brien's stage with "Way It Goes" before its "Landmark" Tour brought it home to First Avenue for two sold-out shows.

3 Palace Theatre, St. Paul. It's great to have a new venue for live music and to be able to choose to stand on the floor or have a reserved seat in the balcony. Super-excited to see Bryan Ferry there Aug. 5.

Contribute: popmusic@startribune.com.

Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:

1 International Women's Day on 89.3 the Current. It was a treat to hear 24 hours of music by women, ranging from old faves such as Blondie and Sharon Jones to newer voices such as Tabah and Sarah White.

2 Rhiannon Giddens, "Freedom Highway." On her second solo disc, she offers a historical perspective of sorts on Black Lives Matter, with potent African-American folk originals and a closing, rousing rendition of the Staple Singers' "Freedom Highway."

3 Joyann Parker, the Dakota. In her Dakota debut, this Twin Citian came across like a sober Janis Joplin. And that's a compliment. She's a powerful, animated blues-rock singer, capable guitarist and pianist, and a writer of praiseworthy originals.