Producer Rick Rubin has announced that he’s putting together a Star Wars remix album — featuring sound effects and dialogue from the Star Wars movies, melded with original music. The album will feature electronic music artists including Flying Lotus, Röyskopp, Kaskade, and more. Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, who’s also a musician, collaborates with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and A-Trak to cut a track called “Jabba Flow.” Star…

Early-bird ticket holders for this year’s Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival received a cassette that seems to tease the yet-to-be-announced lineup. The tape includes a new song by Fall Creek Boys Choir (Justin Vernon and James Blake), as well as music by members of The National; Bruce Hornsby (!); the recently-reactivated Fog; Taggart and Rosewood; Tickle Torture; Nathaniel Rateliff; and more.…

Clearly still buzzing from the ringing success of her first headlining show at First Ave last night, Lizzo took to Twitter to shower adoring fans with emojis and retweets. It was a meaningful capper to a big night for the rising rap powerhouse, who sold out the Mainroom ahead of the event on the strength…

NPR’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest recently closed its entry portal. As judges sift through entries, fans can vote on their favorite videos. Not only does the winner get a highly coveted Tiny Desk gig at NPR, but they will also appear at a taping of NPR’s show “Ask Me Another,” and tour the United States.…

Minneapolis experimental rock project Fog have just announced an upcoming album, along with a video (below) for the lead single, “Trying.” Titled For Good, the album will be Fog’s first in nine years. Andrew Broder (also known for his work with the Cloak Ox) tells Brooklyn Vegan that the song is about, among other things, “the universal feelings of clumsy, earnest and…

Since last May, The Current has been inviting local musicians to take over our all-Minnesota music stream to talk about the local music scene and to share tracks from their favorite local artists. So far, the roster for Local Current’s DJ in Residence has included Sophia Eris, Gabriel Douglas, Mark Mallman, Kerry Alexander, and many…

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Johnny Cash’s iconic performances inside Folsom State Prison, the Man in Black will be immortalized with a statue of his likeness outside the penitentiary. The statue, designed by artist Gary Tillery of the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany, will stand 50 ft. tall. The steel statue is nicknamed “Man…

Maurice White, the founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at age 74. The genre-busting Earth, Wind & Fire won six Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Seattle Times) Prince Down Under Prince has shared news that he’ll take his Piano & a Microphone tour to Australia…

Cloud Cult are presenting a sneak-peek screening of their forthcoming film The Seeker on Feb. 10 at Minneapolis’s Riverview Theater. Following the screening there will be a Q&A and meet-and-greet with the band, and film director Jeff D. Johnson. The Seeker is a feature-length narrative film featuring Alex McKenna and Josh Radnor. The experimental art-drama follows a girl…

Located in Northeast Minneapolis, Flashlight Vinyl specializes in rock, funk, and hip-hop records. With items ranging from cheap one-dollar records to obscure releases, Flashlight caters to casual listeners and record collectors alike. The new record store opened for business last month, and it’s celebrating with a party tomorrow — Friday, Feb. 5. Local Show host Andrea Swensson sat down…