"If you're here to hear 'Way It Goes,' you're in the wrong place," Jake Luppen said, smirking. He and the rest of Hippo Campus were sticking to "new sh**," having just announced a new album, LP3, for Feb.

Luppen and his Hippo Campus bandmates were the not-so-secret "special guests" atop the bill of Blossom, the first show by the band's new "arts and advocacy program." Trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson apparently came up with the idea after the onset of COVID. What exactly Blossom does is TBD, but the show did benefit Juxtaposition Arts and the Black Boy, Black Boy book drive.

Blossom showcased some of the finest hook-writers in the Twin Cities, from rockers Gully Boys to pop artist Raffaella, whose clever writing and charisma captivated the crowd. Jackson's other band, DNM, performed a short set as well. Ivers opened the show. - Cecilia Johnson

Ivers

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Raffaella

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DNM

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Gully Boys

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Hippo Campus

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