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Top 89

Top 89 of 2024: Best new artists

Top 89 of 2024 Best New Artists honorees (top to bottom): Jana Mila, Myles Smith, Gigi Perez
Top 89 of 2024 Best New Artists honorees (top to bottom): Jana Mila, Myles Smith, Gigi PerezPhoto 1: Jantina Talsma, Photo 2: Jennifer McCord, Photo 3: Universal | Graphic: MPR

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December 29, 2024

The year 2024 was filled with artists who emerged and shared their music with us. The Current has compiled a list of the best new artists that we played in the last year. Here they are — in alphabetical order.

bby

Five men pose for a selfie in a practice space
bby
Provided

Been Stellar

Five members of Been Stellar pose for a photo.
Been Stellar
Gabe Long

Been Stellar play a three-song set at The Current
Been Stellar share their origin stories while looking ahead to what’s next

Bizhiki

Three man stand in a field of flowers and willow trees
Bizhiki
Graham Tolbert

Photos: Bizhiki debut 'Unbound' album at Parkway
10 Minnesota musicians with new songs for August enjoyment

The Dare

A man wearing a suit sits in a pile of garbage.
The Dare
Richard Kern

Erika de Casier

Erika de Casier, seated, wears sunglasses and a black coat.
Erika de Casier
Colin Solal Cardo

Clare Doyle

Clare doyle posing for a photo with an acoustic guitar
Clare Doyle at The Current Happy Hours at Milk & Honey Ciders in St. Joseph on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Bump Opera for MPR

Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2024: Clare Doyle
Premiere: Clare Doyle performs unreleased song, “High Again”
Photos: Clare Doyle delights at Milk & Honey Ciders
Review: First Avenue’s Best New Bands spotlights wide array of MN music

Friko

the band friko playing on stage
Friko opened up for Royel Otis at First Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 15
Laura Buhman for MPR

Royel Otis take a nostalgic indie-pop spin at First Avenue
Photos: Scenes from The Current's Winter Dig Out 2024

Jonah Kagen

the current happy hours utepils credit juliet farmer
Jonah Kagen performs at The Current's Happy Hours at Utepils Brewing in Minneapolis on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Juliet Farmer for MPR

Photos: Jonah Kagen performs solo at Utepils Brewing

Orla Gartland

Orla Gartland wears a striped shirt and sits in green grass.
Orla Gartland
Finnegan Travers

Anna Graves

Anna Graves Portrait 2
Anna Graves
Josefine Cardoni

Photos: Midwest Music Exchange 2024 at Green Room
Watch Anna Graves perform a three-song set in the Forum at MPR

Ravyn Lenae

Woman smiling and singing on stage
Ravyn Lenae performs onstage during GRAMMY Museum's Inaugural GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala and Concert presented by City National Bank at The Novo by Microsoft at L.A. Live on May 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording A

Cassandra Lewis

A woman reclines on a daybed in the style of Cleopatra
Rising cosmic Americana singer-songwriter Cassandra Lewis
Ashley Osborn

Watch Cassandra Lewis perform "More Like Mama"
Photos: Cassandra Lewis celebrates new album at Surly

Lutalo

Lutalo stands in front of a fence.
Lutalo
Adam Alonzo

Jensen McRae

MUNA and Jensen McRae perform at First Avenue
MUNA and Jensen McRae performed at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Sara Fish for MPR

Medium Build

Nick Carpenter kneels in front of a leafy backdrop.
Medium Build
Silken Weinberg

Jana Mila

Jana Mila
Jana Mila
Jantina Talsma

Watch Jana Mila perform songs from 'Chameleon' at The Current

Mk.gee

Mk.gee plays a guitar with light shining from above.
Mk.gee
Will Shaw

MRCY

MRCY stand with a spotlight pointed at them.
MRCY
Ben Quinton

Gigi Perez

A woman sings and plays guitar in a recording studio
Gigi Perez performing in The Current studio on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Evan Clark | MPR

Gigi Perez performs songs in The Current studio

Katie Pruitt

A woman poses near a window for a studio portrait
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Katie Pruitt
Alysse Gafkjen

Reyna Tropical

Fabi Reyna wears a cowboy hat and holds pineapples.
Reyna Tropical
Devyn Galindo

Chappell Roan

A woman in elaborate costume sings on a television sound stage
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1869 -- Pictured: Musical guest Chappell Roan performs on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Will Heath/NBC

What is it about Chappell Roan?
Photos: The stars of Hinterland Music Festival 2024
Olivia Rodrigo spills her 'GUTS' in St. Paul

Royel Otis

The band Royel Otis performing on stage
Royel Otis performed at First Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Laura Buhman for MPR

Royel Otis take a nostalgic indie-pop spin at First Avenue
Royel Otis play an acoustic set in The Current studio

Prize Horse

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

Photos: Hotline TNT inspire fuzzed-out bliss at Turf Club
Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2024: Prize Horse

she’s green

she's green sit for a photo
she's green (left to right): Kevin Seebeck, Liam Armstrong, Zofia Smith, Teddy Nordvold, and Raines Lucas
Nate Ryan for MPR

Why do so many Twin Cities musicians’ songs sound sublime? Two words: Alec Ness
Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2024: she's green

Myles Smith

Myles Smith
Myles Smith
Jennifer McCord

Teddy Swims

Teddy Swims wears a white suit.
Teddy Swims
Claire Marie Vogel

Stephen Wilson Jr.

Stephen Wilson Jr. sits in a vintage furnished living room.
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Acacia Evans

Lola Young

Lola Young wears a white shirt
Lola Young
Sophie Jones

Photos: Lola Young makes powerful debut at 7th St Entry

yungatita

Five people stand in front of a blue background.
yungatita
Provided