The Minnesota Historical Society has acquired a new artifact that documents a pivotal moment in Prince’s career: The year he signed his record deal with Warner Bros. and entered into a contract he would wrestle with for much of his career. Back in 1977, Prince Rogers Nelson was a rising star in the North Minneapolis…

Lil Yachty is from nowhere near the Midwest — the “bubblegum trap” star hails from Atlanta — but he’s basically a hometown sweetheart thanks to his song “Minnesota.” Today, St. Paul’s Allan Kingdom dropped a remix of our state’s eponymous song, laying throaty raps over the plinky beat and shouting out Purple Rain. The first lines? “I been…

Crystal Ball International Market Square, Minneapolis $60/$250 The Crystal Ball is one of the largest New Year’s Eve events in the country, and this year it is host to the Prince tribute band Ovation. There will also be DJs, Go-Go dancers, and performers from Dragon’s Fire Theater. Tickets and information here King Fine Line, Minneapolis…

Duluth is on the map. People know it. Sure, it’s a picturesque outpost in the Great Lakes region that lends itself to outdoor adventure tourists. It was even Outside Magazine’s 2014 “Best Town in America.” But that’s not quite what I mean. In 2010, I was in London chatting with two Czech gentlemen who eventually asked…

Here’s one bad thing that didn’t happen in 2016: there were no ceiling collapses at Minneapolis music venues. There was still plenty of local venue news, though — both happy and sad. The year’s big closing was Mill City Nights — though that turned out to be only temporary. Operators AEG said in September that they’d be closing the venue they’d…

When Bob Dylan was announced as the winner of 2016’s Nobel Prize in Literature, Minnesotans rejoiced. The first rock star ever to win the Nobel, and he’s one of our own! Born and bred! Or…is he? Throwing cold water on the prairie party, many pointed out that Dylan was nowhere near the Gopher State when…

On Jan. 18, First Avenue will host its annual Best New Bands showcase — hosted, this year, by The Current’s Andrea Swensson along with Miles Anzaldo and Sylvia Jennings. Familiarize yourself with these six talented artists before making your way to the Mainroom. Colin Campbell and the Shackletons Colin Campbell & The Shackletons describe themselves…

Suzanne Rindell’s new novel Three-Martini Lunch is set in the New York publishing industry circa the 1950s. It centers on Eden Katz, a young woman trying to work her way from secretarial duties up to an editorial position. That means spending late nights at work, going through manuscripts — and dodging the drunken, aggressive advances of a…

New Year’s Eve is only a few days away, but with the overload of celebrity deaths, tumultuous political climate, and the recent holidays, many have already started reflecting on the last year. If your 2016 needed more dancing, celebration, and art from incredible women — and whose didn’t? — it’s not too late to end…

Brianna Kocka, “Goodbye, Dear Lover” Singer/songwriter Brianna Kocka is back with another living room video (dueting with Jimmy Barnett). If you’ll be in La Crosse, Wis. around New Year’s Eve, check out her show at the Root Note on Dec. 30. City Counselor, “Ask The Gays” Prediction: The next four years will yield a mighty…