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Top 89

Top 89 of 2024: Best Local Songs

Top 89 of 2024 Best Local Songs nominees (top to bottom): Papa Mbye, Alan Sparhawk, Anna Graves
Top 89 of 2024 Best Local Songs nominees (top to bottom): Papa Mbye, Alan Sparhawk, Anna GravesPhoto 1: Darin Kamnetz, Photo 2: Sophia Photo Co, Photo 3: Josefine Cardoni | Graphic: MPR

December 30, 2024

The year 2024 was filled with amazing music. The Local Show has compiled a list of the Best Local Songs that we played in the last year. Here they are — in alphabetical order by artist. 

A Piano In Every Home - “Fix It, Etc.”

ahem - “Leap Year”

Aiden Intro - “Up Here”

Alan Sparhawk - “Can U Hear”

A man sings and plays guitar onstage at a music venue
Alan Sparhawk performing at The Current’s Minnesota Music Month Artists Showcase at the Turf Club in St. Paul on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Steven Cohen for MPR

Anna Graves - “Contact High”

Anna Graves - “Made To Love Someone”

A woman sings and plays guitar in an auditorium
Anna Graves performs in the Forum at Minnesota Public Radio on Minnesota Music Day, April 10, 2024.
Evan Clark | MPR

anni xo - “RED EYE”

Arcwelder - “Take It Slow”

Autumn - “Deserving”

Bad Bad Hats - “My Heart Your Heart”

Bain - “Lifetime”

Ber - “Room For You”

Ber - “Better Man”

A woman sings onstage at a music venue
Ber performing at First Avenue in Minneapolis as part of The Current's 19th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.
Laura Buhman for MPR

Bizhiki - “Gigawaabamin (Come Through)”

Bizhiki performing on stage
Bizhiki performed for the "Unbound" release show at The Parkway Theater on Wednesday, July 24, featuring special guest Dosh.
Jaida Grey Eagle for MPR

Bon Iver - “S P E Y S I D E”

Bon Iver - “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS”

A man sings and plays guitar at a political rally
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver performing at a rally for Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
Kerem Yucel | MPR News

Charlie Parr - “Boombox”

Christy Costello - “Sus”

Clare Doyle - “Devices”

Clare doyle and her band performing on stage outside
Clare Doyle and her band performing at The Current Happy Hours at Milk & Honey Ciders in St. Joseph on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Bump Opera for MPR

Cloud Cult - "I am a Force Field”

Cloud Cult - “The Universe Woke Up As You”

Colin Bracewell - “Dirty Laundry”

Colin Bracewell and his band performing on stage 03
Colin Bracewell performed at Mid West Music Fest in Winona, Minn. on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Laura Buhman for MPR

Creeping Charlie - “Rabbit”

Creeping Charlie - “Capricorn”

Davina and the Vagabonds - “Find My Love”

Dilly Dally Alley - “Same Damn Door”

Dua Saleh - “want”

Durry - “Teenagers Forever”

Durry perform on an outdoor stage.
Durry. Minnesota Yacht Club Festival 2024 took place at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul on Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20.
Ismael Quintanilla III

Dylan Hicks - “The Head of a Dog”

Early Eyes - “Figure Drawing”

Eric Mayson - “Nevermind”

Erik Koskinen - “Two of Us”

Faith Boblett - “Never Right”

Faith Boblett performing outdoors
Faith Boblett performs at The Current's Happy Hours at Holman's Table in St. Paul on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
Tony Nelson for MPR

FenixDion - “Big Suits”

Two musicians performing on an outdoor stage
Keston Wright (at microphone) and Matt Greene of FènixDion, presented by The Current, performing during MPR Day in Dan Patch Park at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Bump Opera for MPR

Filthy Kittens - “It's Alright”

Goon Tribune - “Second Opinion”

Gully Boys - “Bad Day”

a band playing on stage
Gull Boys performing in support of Heart to Gold's 'Free Help' album release show at Fine Line on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Juliet Farmer for MPR

Happy Apple - “Vanity Plate”

Heart to Gold - “Can’t Feel Me”

the band heart to gold playing on stage
Heart to Gold performing at their 'Free Help' album release show at Fine Line on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Juliet Farmer for MPR

Hippo Campus - “Paranoid”

Hippo Campus - “Everything At Once”

Humbird - “Right On”

Humbird - “Song For The Seeds”

Two people are recorded speaking on video
Humbird, who is The Local Show's Artist of the Month for August 2024, records a promo for the show with Local Show host Diane.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

jeremy messersmith - “New York Times Crossword Puzzle”

A five-piece band performing onstage in a large theater
L to R: Dan Lawonn, jeremy messersmith, Grady Kenevan, Ian Allison and Andy Thompson performing at the The Current’s Minnesota Music Month Artists Showcase at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Tony Nelson for MPR

Keep For Cheap - “Life is Like This”

KINFU - “NEED YA”

King Pari - “Better The Devil”

L.A. Buckner - “Fireflies”

L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE perform live
L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE performed at First Avenue's Best New Bands showcase in Minneapolis on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

Laamar - “Dream/Grief”

Man playing an instrument
Laamar and bandmates perform at The Current
The Current

Landon Conrath - “Overrated”

Lutalo - “Ocean Swallows Him Whole”

MAKR AN ERIS - “Get In The Water”

A hip-hop duo performing onstage in a large theater
MAKR AN ERIS performing at the The Current’s Minnesota Music Month Artists Showcase at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Tony Nelson for MPR

MaLLy and Last Word - “Show Me Love”

Maria Isa - “Unlock The Chamber”

Jeremy Messersmith and Maria Isa.
Jeremy Messersmith and Maria Isa. The Current's Minnesota Music Month Showcase at UBS Forum on Wednesday, April 10.
Laura Buhman for MPR

Mati - “appetite”

Maya Marchelle - “No Magic”

Mike Kota - “Glimpse”

Molly Brandt - “Sunup”

Molly Brandt sits in front of a desert-themed background
Molly Brandt
Photo: Madalyn Rowell, Graphic: Natalia Toledo | MPR

Motion City Soundtrack - “Stop Talking”

Nat Harvie - “SHUGARBOY (ft. Lala Lala and Brent Penny)”

Nat Harvie - “Cigapple”

Nelson Devereaux - “Ghostrider”

Painted Shield - “Transector”

papa mbye - “PASSENGER”

papa mbye - “ULTRAVIOLET”

A man stands with arms akimbo
Papa Mbye is The Local Show's Artist of the Month for October 2024.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

Porcupine - “Character Flaws”

Porcupine band performing on stage 11
Porcupine performed at Mid West Music Fest in Winona, Minn. on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Laura Buhman for MPR

Prize Horse - “Further From My Start”

A three-person band performing onstage in a music venue
Prize Horse performing at the Turf Club in St. Paul on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

Remo Drive - “No There's No Hope For You”

Remo Drive - “Mercy”

Remo Drive
Remo Drive for The Current
Jaida Grey Eagle

Scrunchies - “The Empire”

a band performing on stage
Scrunchies performing in support of Heart to Gold's 'Free Help' album release show at Fine Line on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Juliet Farmer for MPR

Social Animals - “Blacking Out”

Solid Gold - “Don’t React”

Soul Asylum - “High Road”

Soul Asylum perform on an outdoor stage.
Soul Asylum. Minnesota Yacht Club Festival 2024 took place at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul on Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20.
Ismael Quintanilla III

SoulFlower - “Passion”

Tahjer - “The Recipe”

The Bad Plus - “French Horns”

The Cactus Blossoms - “There She Goes”

The Cactus Blossoms - “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”

The Cactus Blossoms studio visit credit luke taylor
Page Burkum and Jack Torrey (back, center) of The Cactus Blossoms visit The Current studio on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Luke Taylor | MPR

The Nunnery - “Garden of Your Heart”

The Scarlet Goodbye - “Speedway”

The Shackletons - “Caller Number 10”

The Twins of Franklin - “To the Moon”

A band performing on an outdoor stage
The Twins of Franklin, presented by The Current and Radio Heartland, performing during MPR Day in Dan Patch Park at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Bump Opera for MPR

Traiveon - “Relax”

Trampled by Turtles - “Out of Time”

Trampled By Turtles performing on stage
Trampled By Turtles. The Avett Brothers and Trampled By Turtles performed at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, October 24.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

Ultrabomb - “Rage Bomb”

Uranium Club - “Small Grey Man”

VIAL - “Just Fine”

3 people posing behind a colorful graffiti background
VIAL at Caffetto in south Minneapolis on Wednesday, Nov. 27. L to R: drummer Katie Fischer, bassist Taylor Kraemer, guitarist KT Branscom
Natalia Mendez for MPR

WHY NOT - “It’s Fun”

Yam Haus - “First To Try”

Yam Haus - “Color You In”

Yam Haus on stage
Yam Haus performed at Grand Old Day 2024: The Grand Stage on Sunday, June 2.
Sara Fish for MPR

Zora - “Fastlane”

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.