One of my favorite things about hosting and producing The Local Show each week is that it's helped me to discover so many new artists. If you listen to the show, you'll know there's often so much high-quality new work to get to that the playlist can vary wildly from week to week.

In an effort to introduce you to many of my favorite new acts and to help you stay caught up with the latest in our home state, I've curated a lineup of "Artists to Watch" to perform at the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday, August 20.

Not only is it a great way to sample 10 different bands in one shot, but it's also the Cedar's first two-stage show, taking advantage of their newly renovated outdoor plaza. We'll have food trucks, we'll have visual artists showcasing work, and we'll have nonstop music for nearly six hours. Check out eight of the 10 acts listed below; we'll reveal the final two performers on July 29.

You may remember a similar vibe at last year's event, which was curated by Corey Bracken and based on a list I had published here on the Local Current Blog. Corey is going to be back for this year's show and is curating the visual art that will be displayed, and the Cedar was kind enough to have us back for another go.

I can't wait! I hope to see you there.

Details:

The Local Show’s Artists to Watch

The Cedar Cultural Center

Saturday, August 20

5:30 p.m. doors/6 p.m. show / all ages

Tickets available online here, $12 adv/$15 door

Special $10 discount using code THECURRENT

Featuring:

Porno Wolves

Lexii Alijai

Holidae

Lady Midnight

Tabah

Tony Peachka

Goodnight Gold Dust

Ana Tuiran

Fraea

Nazeem & Spencer Joles

More about the acts:

Ana Tuiran: Born and raised in Mexico City, Tuiran moved to the Twin Cities to attend McNally Smith College of Music — and developed her own style of sophisticated orchestral folk-pop in the process.

Lexii Alijai: This introspective St. Paul-based MC already had over 10,000 followers clamoring for her latest work on Soundcloud by the time she turned 18 years old.

Good Night Gold Dust: This Mankato-based quartet creates epic, sprawling synth-pop with soaring vocal melodies in the vein of Florence and the Machine.

TABAH: With musicians trained in jazz theory, this folk-rock group takes their songs in surprising and adventurous directions.

Holidae: The winners of this year’s Are You Local? best-new-band contest hosted by the Star Tribune, Holidae finds singer-songwriter Ashley Gold collaborating with producer Garrett Neal to unlock a poppier, bolder, and darker side of her songcraft.

Lady Midnight: An alluring vocalist who has already been recognized as a talented force in VANDAAM and the Afro-Cuban band Malamanya, Lady Midnight has been stepping out as a solo artist with a series of increasingly daring new R&B and pop singles.

Porno Wolves: A young quartet from Minneapolis who hearken back to the days of Led Zeppelin with their grandiose, complex and gritty blues-rock.

Tony Peachka: Formed by college students from across the metro area, Tony Peachka play buoyant and melodic garage rock.

Fraea: Jessie Daley (formerly of Roma di Luna) and Drew Preiner (formerly of Roster McCabe) have come together to create a polished, powerful new electro-pop group.

Nazeem and Spencer Joles: A South Minneapolis hip-hop duo that infuses punk and classic soul influences into their raw, urgent sound.

Get updates on the Local Show's Artists to Watch