Photos by Stacy Schwartz

Peter Wolf Crier

​As we mentioned last month, the Red Stag Block Party in Northeast booked a particularly strong lineup this year that has a little something for nearly every kind of local music fan. In addition to breakout duo Peter Wolf Crier, who are getting ready to hit the road again in support of their sophomore album, Garden of Arms, the block party features Mike Mictlan of Doomtree, rowdy rabble-rousers the 4onthefloor, and Andrew Broder's new project the Cloak Ox, who are getting ready to release their debut EP.

More >>

The Who? for a conservative generation

​Michelle Bachmann announced the names of three musicians who will play for Team Bachmann at the Iowa Straw Poll August 13.

Country music singers Richie McDonald and Tim Rushlow, who's recorded with Jeff Foxworthy and describes himself as a "bro in the know" on Twitter, will join Christian rock musician Charles Billingsley in Aimes.

All three musicians have made names for themselves on the country and Christian music scenes -- but they all come with serious conservative credentials for Republican primary voters to latch onto.

More >>

​Singer-songwriter Ryan Traster was born and bred in Minneapolis, and moved to Brooklyn three years ago to further along his music career. Regardless of the move, Traster -- always a Minneapolis folk and roots scene favorite -- has been frequenting the Cities; it appears you can take the boy out of the Midwest, but you can't keep him out.

Traster is coming back to Minneapolis this weekend to play the 7th St. Entry, and Gimme Noise caught up with the smooth-voiced artist for a refresh.

More >>

​Minneapolis singer-songwriter Kevin Steinman is abroad in Norway right now visiting family with his wife Ina. As the horrific Oslo attacks were taking place, Steinman was an hour away from the city, watching and waiting for the news as it all happened. We spoke to Kevin via email about his experience in Norway, and he was generous enough to shed some light on the situation for us--as well as provide us with a very unique perspective on the attacks.

More >>

Photo by Erik Hess

Doomtree at SXSW 2011

​In keeping with their current rigorous schedule of record, release, tour, repeat, the seven current members of the Doomtree crew are heading back into the studio this week to record their second full-length, full-crew album, which will serve as the follow-up to 2008's Doomtree. In the time between, every single member of the group has recorded at least one if not several solo or collaborative projects, so it's no surprise that they've churned out enough songs to add another full-crew record to their firehose of new releases.

With three of the MCs in the group tweeting furiously throughout the album's recording process, we've already gleaned a few tidbits about the new album: If all goes as planned, it should be out this fall, and it's being recorded at the Hideaway Studios by Joe Mabbott.

More >>

​"Every now and then we hear our song, we've been having fun all summer long."
-"All Summer Long," The Beach Boys

More >>

​Well, that didn't take long. Just a day after posting a cryptic kitten-filled map of the United States that indicated that the group would be making its way to Minnesota on their next tour, Odd Future's Tyler the Creator tweeted out a tour poster that lists a date at First Avenue on October 12.More >>

​Cool news from the Totally Gross National Product camp today: The Minneapolis label is getting ready to release the debut EP from Andrew Broder's newest project the Cloak Ox, and the band has already posted three of the EP's six tracks on the web as a preview.More >>

Photo by Ben Clark

Odd Future performing at SXSW 2011

​Though the band only has one US date on the books right now -- a stop at Austin, Texas's Fun Fun Fun Fest in early November -- Odd Future posted a map to their Tumblr page that hinted that they might be making a stop in Minnesota before the year is over. More >>

Photos by Steve Cohen

​Dolly Parton
July 27, 2011
Mystic Lake Casino

"Is she lip synching?" "Is she really playing banjo in those nails?" "Oh my word, is she really, really playing that saxophone?"

With a stage full of glitz and glitter, three costume (and two wig) changes, an unwavering dose of wit and enthusiasm, and a set lasting two hours, fifteen minutes and drawing as heavily upon her new album as from her classic hits and roots in bluegrass, gospel and classic country, the answer to these questions and more at Dolly Parton's Wednesday night sold-out Mystic Lake Casino appearance? "Who cares!"

More >>