Music

MPR News staff share their favorite albums and EPs of 2023
We generally leave the music recommendations to our sister stations The Current and YourClassical, but MPR News staff listened to a lot of music in 2023. Here are some of their favorite albums and EPs.
Minnesota Yacht Club Music Festival scheduled for next summer in St. Paul
Concert promoters behind several of the country’s top music festivals are making plans for a new event in St. Paul next summer. The lineup for the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival is set to be released next month.
J.D. Steele: Spreading joy and soul through song
Musician J.D. Steele is known for his work with Prince and singing and producing R&B, gospel and soul with The Steeles. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with this Minnesota music powerhouse about his career, directing community choirs and inspiring the next generation to sing.
Four holiday events for the adventurous
For those looking for holiday events that are a little off the beaten path, we offer a selection of four delightful shows.
Art Hounds: Opera, a cappella and theater
The a cappella group Johnson Street Underground entertains audiences at their holiday concert this Saturday at Winona Arts Center. New Native Theatre’s play “A Christmas in Ochopee” runs through this weekend. Skylark Opera Theatre stages “The Gift of the Magi” in St Paul. 
People have been searching for this song from 'The X-Files' for 25 years. Until now
A song playing in the background of one episode has fascinated and eluded fans for more than two decades as they sought to track it, and the musicians, down. Now that mystery has finally been solved.
Art Hounds: Holiday recommendations
It’s a holiday line-up this week for Art Hounds. La Grande Bande presents a French Baroque Christmas in St. Peter and St. Paul this weekend, St. Croix Valley Chamber Chorale performs its Christmas concert this weekend in Stillwater, and Trekkies unite for the play “It’s an Honorable Life,” a Klingon take of the George Bailey classic, at Mounds Theatre in St. Paul. 
Local musician celebrating Hanukkah with song
Musician Sarina Partridge teaches original songs, speaking to the themes of Hanukkah, for community singing.
Minnesota fiddle builder brings new life to an old Norwegian folk instrument
Master fiddle builder Bud Larsen is passing on his knowledge of the Hardanger fiddle to apprentices in the Fargo-Moorhead area. His work is creating a new generation of fiddle makers and players.