Staff Directory 8660039

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter | Pop Music
Phone: 612-673-1719

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.


Bream has interviewed such music royalty as the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) and Prince as well as Bob Dylan, U2, three Beatles, four Rolling Stones and all of Maroon 5. He has performed with Alice Cooper, jogged with Willie Nelson and walked the streets of New York with Bruce Springsteen. A longtime voter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bream has also written for the Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Vibe and other publications. He has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, where he established the Jon Bream Scholarship for Arts Criticism.
Recent content from Jon Bream
Bob Dylan plays harmonica with his Band while performing at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Minn. Tuesday July 9, 2013 during a stop on the American

With a wink, Bob Dylan joins TikTok days before it might be banned

In his posts, the Jokerman indicates he knows what's happening with the popular social media platform.
Monique Linder in the green room of OMG Studios in St. Paul.

Monique Linder went from marketing Prince to educating young musicians

Scene Makers Q&A: The Twin Cities entrepreneur also produces movies and promotes State Fair concerts.
Joy Oladukon performs.

The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

Highlights for Jan. 16-22 include Joy Oladokun, Jontavious Willis, Jamie xx, Myles Kennedy, the Headhunters, Lissie and Jukebox the Ghost.
Old Dominion's Brad Tursi and Matthew Ramsey, seen rocking out at Xcel Energy Center, will open the State Fair grandstand series.

Country stars Old Dominion will kick off Minnesota State Fair grandstand shows

Tickets for the Aug. 21 show will go on sale Friday for the award-winning group's first fair gig since 2018.
credit: AMI Robert Glasper

The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

Highlights for Jan. 9-15 include Robert Glasper, Ber, Zeitgeist, G. Love & Special Sauce and Big Head Todd & the Monsters.
The Suburbs, John "Beej" Chaney, guitar vocals, during a rehearsal last week in North Minneapolis. He and the band were getting ready for another roun

Minnesota punk rock hero Beej Chaney of the Suburbs, 67, dies while swimming in the Pacific Ocean

The band's original co-leader was known for his wild antics onstage and later owned a legendary Malibu recording studio.
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in 1965.

Revisiting Bob Dylan's first electric concert in Minneapolis

Then-rookie reporter Dave Mona didn't know what was happening at the 1965 show.
Grammy-winning jazz composer Maria Schneider suits up for a video shoot for her new Minnesota Vikings rouser.

Are you ready for a thunderous new rouser for the Vikings?

Grammy-winning Maria Schneider composes a new fight song for her home team.
Sturgill Simpson gave a nearly three-hour performance at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul on Sept. 25, 2024.

What was Minnesota's best in music, theater, dance and art in 2024?

Our critics weigh in.
Some of the year's best albums included titles by (clockwise from left)  Sturgill Simpson, Beyoncé, Mdou Moctar, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Sabrina Carpent

What were the top albums of 2024? Our critics list their favorites.

Beyoncé, Sturgill Simpson, Jack White, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX make the lists.
Pat Hayes on the harp during the Lamont Cranston Band's second set.

The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities in the next two weeks

Highlights for Dec. 26-Jan. 8 include Lamont Cranston, Soul Asylum, the Bad Plus and New Year's Eve shows.
Sturgill Simpson's nearly three-hour Roy Wilkins Auditorium performance and Billie Eilish's two-night stand at Xcel Energy Center were standouts for 2

What were the best concerts you saw in 2024? Our critics name their top 20.

Sturgill Simpson, Billie Eilish and the Twin Cities' boldest new festival were among our favorite live music offerings this year.
FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2015 file photo, Prince presents the award for album of the year at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Prince was th

Prince will receive lifetime achievement Grammy, a prize usually for underrecognized artists

Other honorees include Frankie Valli, Frankie Beverly, Taj Mahal, Roxanne Shanté and the Clash.
Edward Norton, left, as Pete Seeger, and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, perform in a scene from "A Complete Unknown."

12 Minnesota musicians review the Bob Dylan biopic: Thumbs-up, but...

The locals couldn't decide who would gain more fans from the film — Dylan or Timothée Chalamet.
Elle Fanning, left, as Sylvie Russo and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan take a motorcycle ride to the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, a fictitious scene i

10 inaccuracies in the Bob Dylan biopic 'A Complete Unknown'

The miscues won't distract from viewers' enjoyment but romantic timelines are muddled.
It's Rachael & Vilray, with the guitarist Vilray standing in front of a vintage chest and singer Rachael Price seated on a chair, making eyes at him.

Lake Street Dive singer will bring her 'quieter' band to Minneapolis

Rachael & Vilray offer original jazz with a 1930s and '40s vibe.
Trailer Trash, seen here with Santa Claus (editor's note: not the real one), settle in for three nights of "Trashy Little Xmas" at the Turf Club this

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.
Los Lobos' David Hidalgo takes an accordion solo during "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" at the Dakota in Minneapolis.

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.
Photo provided by Monterey International; Los Lobos ORG XMIT: MIN1306302155070480

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 performs onstage at the 2016 All for the Hall Los Angeles Benefit Concert at The Novo by Microsoft on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Los Ang

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.
Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour Book," a Target exclusive, is a must-have for all bracelet-wearing Swifties.

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.
Sophia Rasmussen brings a taste of "The Nutcracker" to the annual New Standards Holiday Show at the State Theatre.

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.
Cyndi Lauper belts during her farewell tour Wednesday at Target Center.

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.
"Girl in Red" performs Friday, June 23, 2023, at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.

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.
Devon Allman delivers "Dreams" with Luther Dickinson, right, during the Allman Betts Family Revival concert at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.

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.
Billy McLaughlin sits behind the driver seat of his 1969 bus, named Angel, at C&J Bus Repair in Bloomington on Nov. 21. McLaughlin will take the bus o

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.
Wearing a multi-colored sequined pantsuit, Cyndi Lauper delivered a powerful and provocative set.

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."
Cory Wong, as captured on the big screen, rocks out during his encore on Saturday at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul.

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.
FILE � Prince performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., April 27, 2008. Prince Rogers Nelson, the singularly flambo

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.
Cory Wong performs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.

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.
Adam Weiner kicked off Rock the Garden with Low Cut Connie in June. / Alex Kormann, Star Tribune

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.
Billie Eilish sings "Birds of a Feather" during a storm of confetti for her final song at Xcel Energy Center.

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.
Dr.. Fink of Prince & the Revolution is selling some of his Purple memorabilia at a London auction.

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.
Tyka Nelson sits on one of Prince's motorcycles

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.
Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town performs at the CMA Music Festival at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Al W

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."
Christopher Seebeck sings with the World According to Garth.

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.
Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush performed Friday night at the Grandstand.

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.
Tommy Stinson, left, and Paul Westerberg, of the Replacements at First Avenue in 1986, the year they made an unforgettable performance on "Saturday Ni

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.
Usher offers a career retrospective in his first of two nights at Target Center in Minneapolis

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.
No word if Usher has found the shirt he apparently lost during his Super Bowl LVIII performance in Las Vegas this past February.

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.
Stevie Wonder speaks during the Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart tour at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Review: Stevie Wonder delivers fulfilling Minneapolis concert for his favorite candidate

At Target Center, the music icon rallied behind love, urging fans to vote.
After sweeping DownBeat's awards, Charles Lloyd is headed to the Ordway.

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.
Madeleine Peyroux returns to the Dakota for two nights this week.

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.
Pink gets ready to tumble at Xcel Energy Center.

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

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.
Leon Bridges is leaving Texas to promote his new album, "Leon," at the Armory in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

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 has hit the road for a rare tour, supporting his album "The Other Side."

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.
Cody Johnson performs at CMA Fest on June 7 in Nashville, Tenn.

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.
FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2012, file photo, Bob Dylan performs in Los Angeles. The music legend has quietly put concert tickets on sale for a tour in su

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.
Minnesota bass player Liz Draper is in the midst of a residency at the Berlin club in the North Loop.

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.
Sabrina Carpenter performed at the Coachella festival in April to kick off her tour coming Monday to Target Center.

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.
Babyface

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 arrives at the Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in New York.

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.
Ex-Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard returns Sunday to the Palace Theatre on a co-headlining tour with Michael Kiwanuka.

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.
Jeff Lynne and ELO performing early in their show at Xcel. Jeff Lynne’s ELO performed on their Over and Out tour at Xcel Energy Center.

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 headed to St. Paul in March 2025.

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.
Kris Kristofferson wrote country-music classics in the key of Kristofferson.

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, seen at a piano at the Helsinki Festival, will return to Minneapolis' Parkway Theater.

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.
Prince performs in his debut movie "Purple Rain," which was named the greatest movie soundtrack ever by Rolling Stone.

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.
British rock hero PJ Harvey plays St. Paul's Palace Theatre on Wednesday as part of her first U.S. tour in seven years.

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.
After performing at the Minnesota State Fair in August, Jon Pardi will return for We Fest in August 2025.

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.
St. Vincent rocks Thursday at the Palace Theatre for her first of two nights in St. Paul.

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, seen performing at the Democratic National convention in August, is coming to Target Center in Minneapolis on a 10-city pre-election to

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.
Dakota Dave Hull performs in Obama, Japan.

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.
St. Vincent will perform for two nights at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul.

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.
Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 18, 1985.

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.
Sabrina Carpenter is scheduled to perform at Target Center on Oct. 14 in Minneapolis.

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.
Samara Joy will perform on Saturday at the Ordway.

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

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.
Avril Lavigne performed as the opening act before the Backstreet Boys.

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.
Willie Nelson performs with his band at the Outlaw Music Festival in Somerset, Wis., on Friday, September 6, 2024.

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 Black Pumas return to Surly Brewing Festival Field on Wednesday.

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

Scene Maker Q&A: Minneapolis pianist Lori Dokken showcases female singers

After decades in piano bars, she conceives and presents themed shows.
The Belfast Cowboys performed at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Friday, June 9, 2017, in Minneapolis, Minn.

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."
Stephen Sanchez performs Saturday night at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand.

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.