Recent content from Jon Bream
Lake Street Dive singer will bring her 'quieter' band to Minneapolis
Rachael & Vilray offer original jazz with a 1930s and '40s vibe.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 19-25 include Alicia Witt, the Steeles, the Jayhawks, the Bad Plus, Chapel Hart, Trailer Trash and Rachael & Vilray.
Review: Los Lobos and Tower of Power prove why great live bands last for 50 years
The hard-touring California groups thrilled baby boomers at the Dakota and Mystic Lake.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 12-18 include Wilco, Los Lobos, Tower of Power, Jose James, Brother Ali and Tina Schlieske's VaJamma Party.
James Taylor will return to St. Paul on June 17
Tickets will go on sale Friday for the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's Xcel Energy Center concert.
11 books to give music lovers this holiday season
The tuneful list ranges from Taylor Swift and Prince photo books to De La Soul and Joni Mitchell bios.
Review: The New Standards Holiday Show surprises with 'Nutcracker' and a batty Dessa
Other highlights of the annual romp included Jeremy Messersmith's sendup of the Mall of America.
Review: Despite vocal problems, Cyndi Lauper has fun in her Minneapolis farewell show
Lucinda Williams makes a guest appearance after Lauper started and stopped a ballad three times.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Dec. 5-11 include the New Standards, Girl in Red, Dillinger Four, Leo Kottke, Meshell Ndegeocello and Curtiss A's 45th annual John Lennon tribute.
Review: Allman Betts Family Revival sparks flashbacks to St. Paul's greatest concert
Scions of the Allman Brothers Band salute their fathers with a terrific all-star concert at the State Theatre.
Meet Angel, the bus that takes SimpleGifts to its Minnesota holiday concerts
Guitarist Billy McLaughlin drives the eight-bunk bus that has traveled 4 million miles.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Nov. 28-Dec. 4 include Cyndi Lauper, Ondara, Annie Humphrey, Guante & Big Cats, Allman Betts Family Revival and Minnesota Orchestra's "Back to the Future."
Review: How an in-show news conference elevated local guitar hero Cory Wong's St. Paul show
There were plenty of guitar and horn fireworks in an evening of entertaining jazzy funk.
Rare Prince guitar sells for $381,000 at auction
It was the big purchase at a sale that also featured an Eddie Van Halen guitar and a Michael Jackson fedora.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Nov. 21-27 include Eric Benét, Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Stinson, Cory Wong, Allie X, Ike Reilly and Laamar.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Nov. 14-20 include Tinashe, Low Cut Connie, Chief Keef, Swamp Dogg, Amythyst Kiah, King Pari, Golden Smog and Judy Carmichael.
Review: How was Billie Eilish on Night 2 in St. Paul?
New outfit, same songs and she promised "to have your back" during one of the year's best concerts.
Twin Cities keyboardist Dr. Fink explains why he's selling his Prince memorabilia
A London auction house is offering an unreleased Prince album and a synthesizer used on the Purple Rain Tour.
Prince's sister Tyka Nelson dies at 64: 'That girl could sing, no question'
After announcing her retirement from music in June, she died Monday at age 64.
Review: Little Big Town and Sugarland bring harmony in divisive times
The veteran country ensembles teamed up in Minneapolis for "Life in a Northern Town."
How Christopher Seebeck went from karaoke to a Garth Brooks tribute band
The St. Paul-reared singer/actor also fronts a cover band that plays everything from AC/DC to Michael Jackson.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Nov. 7-13 include Billie Eilish, Happy Apple, Ana Gabriel, Ashley Cooke, Oak Ridge Boys and Little Big Town with Sugarland.
Who gave the best 'SNL' music performances? The Replacements and Prince rank near the top
David Bowie leads Rolling Stone's Top 50 list but Minnesotans rank in the top four.
Review: Why was R&B icon Usher such a big tease in Minneapolis?
He dazzled with his dancing, singing and staging with — get this — cherries on top.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights from Oct. 31-Nov. 6 include Usher, Dasha, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brad Paisley, Nick Lowe, Okean Elzy and Halloween shows.
Review: Stevie Wonder delivers fulfilling Minneapolis concert for his favorite candidate
At Target Center, the music icon rallied behind love, urging fans to vote.
Jazz giant Charles Lloyd talks about Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys and sweeping DownBeat's 2024 awards
At 87, the celebrated saxophonist is headed to the Ordway on Sunday.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Oct. 24-30 include Madeleine Peyroux, Stevie Wonder, Maggie Rogers, Drive-By Truckers, Charles Lloyd, The The and Vince Staples.
Review: There's only one reason Pink's concert in St. Paul was not perfect
The Philly pop star topped last summer's Target Field concert with more nuance at Xcel Energy Center.
Crystal Gayle talks about 'Brown Eyes,' her sister Loretta Lynn and her floor-length hair
The veteran country-pop singer is headed to the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Oct. 17-23 include Pink, Leon Bridges, Dawn Richard, Iron Maiden, Rick Wakeman, Adeem the Artist, L.A. Buckner and Psychedelic Furs with the Jesus and Mary Chain.
T Bone Burnett dishes on the Coen brothers, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr
Headed to Minneapolis for a rare concert, the producer/singer revisits a basketball encounter with Prince.
Review: Cody Johnson proves he's the next big throwback thing in country music
Despite being overly talkative, the Texan won the votes of the sellout crowd.
Bob Dylan keeps fans guessing with his recent tweets
After only one post all year, he shouts out to Bob Newhart, a New Orleans restaurant and hockey's Buffalo Sabres.
Scene Maker Q&A: Bassist Liz Draper steps out front with residency at Minneapolis jazz club
After accompanying Low and Charlie Parr, she gets to experiment with various musicians.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Oct. 10-16 include Sabrina Carpenter, Savion Glover, Cody Johnson, MJ Lenderman, T Bone Burnett and Mdou Moctar.
Review: R&B star Babyface packs a remarkable 39 songs and a subtle Prince tribute into 100 minutes
At Mystic Lake Casino, he played his hits and those he produced for Madonna, Whitney Houston and Eric Clapton.
Savion Glover will bring his drum set and tap shoes to the Dakota
He talks about leading his new band, Project 9, and working with Prince and Spike Lee.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Oct. 3-9 include Brittany Howard, Babyface, Mk.gee, Musiq Soulchild, Air, Billy Bragg and the free Surly Darkness Day.
Review: On its farewell tour, Jeff Lynne's ELO could have used more Jeff Lynne
In St. Paul on Monday, his voice and guitar seemed diminished compared to his unforgettable 2019 concert.
Mary J. Blige is coming to Xcel Energy Center on March 16
Tickets go on sale this week before the queen of hip-hop soul is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Bream: Remembering Kris Kristofferson, a poet with the presence of a movie star
How the country-music songwriting giant connected with Bob Dylan, John Denver and Jimmy Webb.
Jimmy Webb explains why someone left the cake out in the rain in 'MacArthur Park'
As the classic resurfaces in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," the hit songwriter will perform in Minneapolis.
Rolling Stone declares 'Purple Rain' the greatest soundtrack album of all time
Prince placed three projects in the list of 101 soundtracks while the Coen Brothers helmed two films.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Sept. 26-Oct. 2 include PJ Harvey, ELO, Cowboy Junkies, Jimmy Webb, Morris Day & the Time, the Family Stone and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
We Fest will feature younger stars Hardy, Jon Pardi and Cody Johnson in 2025
Tickets to the annual country-and-camping fest in Detroit Lakes will go on sale on Thursday.
Review: Guitar goddess St. Vincent gets human in St. Paul
She peels away the artiness with stories about Prince and her early Minneapolis gigs.
Stevie Wonder is coming to Minneapolis on Oct. 27 to 'fix our nation's broken heart'
The music icon is doing a brief pre-election concert tour to urge people to vote.
Scene Maker Q&A: Minneapolis guitarist Dakota Dave Hull records live in Japan
The veteran acoustic picker played 33 concerts to come up with a 13-track instrumental album.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Sept. 19-25 include St. Vincent, Sturgill Simpson, Megadeth, Soul Coughing, Gracie Abrams and Cigarettes After Sex.
Bream: I was grilled for 6 hours by the director of the controversial Prince documentary
Director Ezra Edelman's nine-hour authorized series may never come out because Prince's estate objects to its content.
The top 10 pop, rock and country concerts in the Twin Cities this fall
Our critics' picks include veteran acts such as Charles Lloyd and Usher and newcomers such as Sabrina Carpenter and Inhaler.
Young jazz sensation Samara Joy is an old soul with a big TikTok following
The three-time Grammy winner will sing at the Ordway on Saturday.
![Thomas Rhett performs at the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in St. Paul, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/J64SKOCJEFLNFFCSQE3VREWEAA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis will headline Winstock 2025
The 31st annual country-and-camping festival is set for June 20-21 in Winsted, Minn.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Sept. 12-18 include Avril Lavigne, Samara Joy, Andre Cymone, Goose, Paul Weller, Buena Vista Orchestra and Cactus Blossoms.
Review: Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan deliver the last — and most momentous — doubleheader of the summer
John Mellencamp set the table for the two musical giants outdoors in Somerset, Wis.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in Twin Cities area this week
Highlights for Sept. 5-11 include Shaboozey, Luke Bryan, Larry Carlton, Black Pumas and Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan.
![Lori Dokken sits for a portrait Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn.. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/73VTEJHP6RPOSCNSQBQKEOUEC4.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Scene Maker Q&A: Minneapolis pianist Lori Dokken showcases female singers
After decades in piano bars, she conceives and presents themed shows.
The Cabooze music club will have grand reopening next week under new ownership
The 50-year-old Minneapolis bar will present "original music of every genre."
Review: Stephen Sanchez gets fans swooning and all shook up at State Fair grandstand
The 21-year-old retro pop star proved to be quite the crooning heartthrob.
![Matchbox 20, with lead vocalist Rob Thomas, performs Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at the State Fair grandstand in Falcon Heights.
] AARON LAVINSKY •](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/T5YSWSWPZJHYLO3ZEGX7PUZWKU.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Review: Matchbox Twenty delivers crowd-pleasing mom rock at the State Fair grandstand
Singer Rob Thomas proved to be a trouper despite appearing to be under the weather.
Review: Country star Jon Pardi throws a party at the State Fair grandstand
Pardi proved to be a spirited entertainer, with infectious energy and exaggerated dance moves borrowed from Luke Bryan, Dwight Yoakam and even Elvis Presley with those swiveling hips.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights from Aug. 29-Sept. 4 include TLC, Weezer, Kehlani, Stanley Clarke, Stephen Sanchez, Gaslight Anthem and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
Review: The War and Treaty hit the State Fair with hurricane force and it was a good thing
After getting rained out on Monday, the country-gospel duo put on a roof-raising, love-kissed performance.
Review: Blake Shelton uses humor at Minnesota State Fair to spice his ballad-heavy concert
After Blake Shelton crashed wife Gwen Stefani's St. Paul show in July, she didn't return the favor Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair.
Review: Sparse crowd doesn't deter Chance the Rapper at Minnesota State Fair
In his first local show since 2017, Chance the Rapper offered several new songs from his overdue sophomore full-length.
Scene Makers Q&A: How Nate Dungan books all the free music at the Minnesota State Fair
One band will earn $60,000 from the $500,000-plus budget for 102 entertainers.
![Zach Bryan performs Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/YXX4IW76O2JXX7FDIUQT56TB2Q.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Aug. 22-28 include Zach Bryan, Chance the Rapper, Blake Shelton, Ruthie Foster, Alice Cooper, Ludacris and the War and Treaty.
Review: Journey, Def Leppard close out Stadium Rock Weekend with kinder, gentler, sweet sounds
After banging shows by Metallica and Green Day, these classic rockers drew 35,000 to Target Field.
Review: Despite dreading going onstage, Irish rock star Hozier convinces crowd in St. Paul
A virus didn't stop the chatty, charming rocker from delivering "Too Sweet" and "Take Me to Church."
Review: Cornbread Harris and Jimmy Jam put their world back together with joy
After a 50-year estrangement, father and son musicians played a concert in celebration of a new Cornbread biography.
Twin Cities author reunites estranged musicians Cornbread Harris and Jimmy Jam
The Minneapolis book event will feature the father-and-son duo after a 50-year separation.
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Aug. 15-22 include Jhene Aiko, Hozier, Metallica, Koe Wetzel, Green Day with Smashing Pumpkins and Def Leppard with Journey,
Review: Dwight Yoakam, the Mavericks triumph with country music for adults
Yoakam was never so talkative as he heads for Moorhead after his Waite Park, Minn. concert.
New Primitives singer Stanley Kipper balances music and playwrighting
The groovy band is celebrating its new album and Kipper's play opens Sept. 21 at the History Theatre.
