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Top 89

Top 89 of 2023: Best new artists

Top 89 of 2023 Best New Artists honorees (left to right): Laufey, Ber, and Sid Sriram
Top 89 of 2023 Best New Artists honorees (left to right): Laufey, Ber, and Sid SriramLaufey: Gemma Warren; Ber: Nate Ryan for MPR; Sid Sriram: Ahmed Klink; artwork by Natalia Toledo | MPR

December 27, 2023

The Last Dinner Party

Five women holding flowers stand together for a group portrait
London band The Last Dinner Party
courtesy the artists

New music from Low Cut Connie, Thundercat and Tame Impala, The Last Dinner Party, PJ Harvey, Killer Mike, and 12 Rods

Sid Sriram

Sid Sriram performs with a band.
Sid Sriram. The Totally Gross National Party returned to Icehouse's courtyard in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 13, 2023. after a long hiatus.
Sara Fish for MPR

Photos: Totally Gross National Party at Icehouse

Hear new songs by Spoon, Janelle Monáe, Libianca, Kara Jackson, Sid Sriram, and Deer Tick

Abraham Alexander

Abraham Alexander in studio at The Current
Abraham Alexander is interviewed by host Bill DeVille in The Current studio on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
Christian Ankrum for MPR

Abraham Alexander performs songs from 'SEA/SONS' in The Current studio

Laufey

A woman sings and plays guitar in a recording studio
Laufey performing in The Current studio on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
Josh Sauvageau | MPR

Hear new songs from Caroline Polachek, Green Day, Future Islands, serpentwithfeet, beabadoobee & Laufey, and Halloween, Alaska

Laufey performs two songs in The Current studio

Laufey: Tiny Desk Concert

Ber

Two women stand together for a portrait
Singer-songwriter Ber with The Current's Jill Riley on Monday, July 31, 2023.
Luke Taylor | MPR

Photos: Scenes and sounds of North by North Loop

Ber recaps an amazing summer (so far!), helps announce new music festival in Minneapolis

Ber gets personal during homecoming show at 7th St Entry

Album of the Week: Ber, 'Halfway'

Friday Five: Minnesota music videos to help assuage your March Madness

Meet Ber, a Minnesota singer-songwriter melting hearts this spring

Brigitte Calls Me Baby

Five men stand in a courtyard for a group photo
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Scarlet Page

10 must-listen music discoveries from SXSW

Photos: Brigitte Calls Me Baby charm big crowd at Surly Brewing Co.

Watch Brigitte Calls Me Baby's full set at Surly Brewing Co.

Hear new music from Brittany Howard, Boygenius, Mustafa, Yumi Zouma, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, and Touch Sensitive

Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean 2
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Olivia Dean visits the Empire State Building on June 16, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Re

One day in New York with U.K. phenom Olivia Dean

Hear new songs by Olivia Dean, Jenny Lewis, RVG, Jungle, Ana Macho, and Gully Boys

Hear new songs by Slowdive, Romy, Olivia Dean, Christine and the Queens, Big Cats, and Beck and Phoenix

Joe P

A man plays guitar and sings onstage
Joe P performs at Winter Dig Out at the Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.
Steven Cohen for MPR

Watch Joe P perform a solo, acoustic set at the Hook and Ladder

See photos from Saturday's Winter Dig Out event

RAYE

A woman in a fashionable outfit poses among instruments and audio equipment
English singer-songwriter Rachel Agatha Keen, known professionally as Raye.
Callum Walker Hutchinson

Hear new songs from Death Cab for Cutie, Miguel, RAYE, Mae Simpson, Divorce, Spill Tab

Baby Rose

A woman in a dress stands next to a curtain
D.C. bred, N.C. raised and Atlanta-based newcomer Baby Rose is a soulful singer, songwriter, and producer known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz.
Nicole Hernandez

SXSW preview: discover Baby Rose, the Golden Dregs, Chiiild, Kid Dakota, Chance Peña, and Blondshell

Debby Friday

A woman with lights in her eyes and liquid pouringout
Debby Friday
Stella Gigliotti

Hear new music from The National, Arlo Parks and more, plus a trio of new songs from trio boygenius

Hear new music from Sleater-Kinney, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Dark Dark Dark, Debby Friday, Cleo Sol and U2

Blondshell

Woman singing into microphone
Blondshell at Palace Threatre on November 17, 2023
Sara Fish for MPR

Liz Phair triumphantly returns to 'Guyville' at Palace Theatre

Ratboys

Ratboys on stage
Ratboys with Free Range performed at the Turf Club in St. Paul on Friday, October 6, 2023.
Sara Fish for MPR

Ratboys make energetic, heartfelt noise at Turf Club

Hotline TNT

Four people sit in a row next to each other
Hotline TNT
Wes Knoll

10 Minnesota musicians to heat up your playlists in June

Friday Five: Marvel at these stylish new Minnesota music videos

LAAMAR

Laamar performing with a guitar at the Fine Line
Laamar opened up for Arlo Parks’ Unplugged Music & Poetry performance at the Fine Line in Minneapolis on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.
Sarah Fish for MPR

Behind the scenes with Laamar, one of First Ave’s Best New Bands

Photos: Faces of MPR Day at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair

10 Minnesota musicians with fresh music for April

The Current's Top 89 Songs of 2023 will air on New Year’s Eve. We'll count down your Top 89 of 2023 at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, and at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.