Photo By Emily Utne

After the overwhelming success of Dessa's intimate show at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts back in February, the talented songstress is now set to bring her entire boisterous Doomtree crew to perform at the MIA's Summer Party on Saturday, June 1.

On an evening where the venerable art museum will be celebrating the Minneapolis music scene, they have also tapped the legendary Morris Day and the Time for a rare live performance at the outdoor event, ensuring that both the classic and modern sounds of the local scene are going to be well represented.

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Doomtree at Roosevelt High School, 4/26/13
Slideshow: Legendary Morris Day & The Time tear up Treasure Island

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Photo by Erik Hess

No Bird Sing are playing 612Brew's Art-A-Whirl Bash

The stellar music lineup at the 331 Club this weekend certainly isn't the only thing worth seeking out at this year's Art-A-Whirl. In addition to the fine locally created original artwork on offer as well as art studios opened up for tours, there are plenty of other terrific lineups that should keep area music fans plenty busy over the next few days.

The local independent breweries 612Brew and Indeed Brewing Company have both announced wonderful Art-A-Whirl events that have something special in store for connoisseurs of art, beer, and music alike.

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Art-A-Whirl: 7 things not to be missed
STNNNG and ft (the Shadow Government) to debut STNNNGVRNMNT at Art-A-Whirl

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Photo By Erik Hess

St. Paul's Grand Old Day has had the "grand" part down for years. The largest one-day festival in the Midwest has consistently entertained Minnesota families and fun-lovers with top-notch music and merriment along St. Paul's stately, historic Grand Avenue for decades.

And now, the "old" part in the festival's name is truly appropriate as well, as Grand Old Day is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and has a great lineup planned to mark the festive occasion on Sunday, June 2.

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Har Mar Superstar returns to the Turf Club, 5/4/13
Slideshow: Grand Old Day 2012

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Photo By Steve Cohen

John Milton's epic 17th century poem, Paradise Lost, has captivated and confounded scholars and English majors alike for hundreds of years. Those who find their way through Milton's challenging, impenetrable archaic language find a moving story about the fall of man, as well as Adam and Eve's eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The long-heralded poem has inspired artists for centuries, and continues to work its lyrical magic to this day.

In the case of former Hüsker Dü drummer Grant Hart, Milton's epic work recently inspired an entire double-album of new material, The Argument, which Hart is set to release on Domino Records on July 22. The double-LP features 20 new songs from Hart, all triggered by the eternal themes and subjects that Milton touched on, just filtered through the current lens of modern day rock 'n' roll.

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Hüsker Dü's Grant Hart gets the documentary treatment
Grant Hart of Hüsker Dü recovering from house fire

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Erik Hess

Chances are that you've probably never heard of Erik Hess. But if you keep up at all on the local music scene, and especially if you read this blog, then you've no doubt seen his photography before. Hess is one of our nightlife's most vibrant and prolific voices; on any given night, he's likely out and about, snapping photos and documenting the Twin Cities' best parties and concerts.

And now Hess needs our help.

Hess suffers from a rare immunodeficiency disease known as Common Variable Immunodeficiency, or CVID, and he's against the fence with with his medical bills. So his numerous friends and collaborators from the music community have organized a benefit, called Antibody Wanna Dance, set to take place at the Turf Club on Saturday, May 25.

See also:
10 gorgeous GIFs from Rock the Garden 2012
25 gorgeous GIFs from Lollapalooza 2012
Ten gorgeous GIFs of Prof at First Avenue


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When Astronautalis moved in with Sims following a devastating fire that claimed his home in January, it was heartwarming to hear about the community and friendship that prevailed. But you can't expect two of the most creative minds in local rap to live together and not talk shop, which is just what happened -- and luckily for all of us, that means collaborative music and a double-headliner show at First Avenue in June.

More than just a double feature, the show at First Ave is being promoted as a super-rare, one-night-only special occasion. Sims and Astro will be performing a collaborative set with a little help from their friends, and they'll be bringing out some fresh new tracks.

See Also:
Astronautalis' house in Northeast Minneapolis gutted by fire
Astronautalis house fire benefit, Burning Down the House, lineup announced
Doomtree at Roosevelt High School, 4/26/13

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Photo by Garret Born

Lizzo, with Lazerbeak and Cliff Rhymes, is expected to release LIZZOBANGERS on TGNP in 2013.

Doing it big is the only way for Totally Gross National Product. The Twin Cities label had a pretty quiet 2012 -- that is, aside from putting out Polica's Give You the Ghost, hosting one of the freshest parties of the summer to celebrate a Marijuana Deathsquads mixtape, and Solid Gold's Eat Your Young -- but 2013 is set to keep it going louder.

The TGNP core nucleus of weird friends who all have too many projects to name is currently Jake Luck (Leisure Birds), Drew Christopherson (Polica), Ryan Olson (Marijuana Deathsquads) and Justin Vernon. They've just announced the release of a 10-song sampler of new tracks to commemorate the many projects set to drop on the imprint in the coming months. It includes new material from 2011 Picked to Click winners Cloak Ox, the Chalice rapper Lizzo teaming with Lazerbeak, a Marijuana Deathsquads song that sounds like Ween with their tongues stuck in a garbage disposal, and glitchier stuff still.

See Also:
Marijuana Deathsquads announce May residency at Icehouse
Slideshow: Totally Gross National Party 2012
Marijuana Deathsquads' Tamper. Disable. Destroy. mixtape is here! (Download)

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Photo by Rigoberto Lara + James Christenson

There are all sorts of reasons to pick up the mixtape compiled by WMCN 91.7 FM, Macalester's college radio station. First of all, it's a well-curated snapshot of indie rock acts performing regularly and powerfully around town. Among them are Mac-tied groups Carroll (above) and Bad Bad Hats, who have both gotten abundant spins in the Gimme Noise offices. But dig deeper, and there are more shades of garage rock, psychedelia, power pop, and noise to be found within.

Additionally, the 14-track compilation is dedicated to the memory of Phantom Vibration's Henry Mackaman, a talented young guitarist and songwriter who recently passed away.

See Also:
RIP Phantom Vibration guitarist Henry Mackaman
The 14 Twin Cities college bands you need to hear

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Photo by Erik Hess

Record Store Day is like a religious holiday for audiophiles -- people who revel in digging through crates of vinyl, getting their fingers dusty paging through piles of records to find that one album that will complete their collection. It's also a day to help celebrate the local record store and appreciating what they contribute to the community.

This Saturday, get out early to support your local stores, and to help you find the exclusive deals, Gimme Noise has compiled a list specials and deals from stores around the Twin Cities.

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Record Store Day 2012 across Minneapolis
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blackbirdphotography.net

Next of Kin

Now in its 15th year, Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival shines a worthy spotlight on a growing collection of bands from the area, giving them stages to play on and expanding audiences to perform in front of as the fest has gained momentum and popularity over the past decade and a half.

A strong contingent of over 100 bands are set to perform throughout Duluth over the course of the eight days of the music festival, highlighted by a Homegrown photography show on Monday, April 29, and performances from Trampled By Turtles on at Clyde Iron Works on Tuesday, April 30, as well as Charlie Parr at Grandma's Sports Garden on Wednesday, May 1, and many, many others.

See Also:
Trampled by Turtles 10th Anniversary show at First Avenue, 4/17/13
Southwire champion gospel-folk

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