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Soundcheck

Tuesday, September 02, 2008
  • Atmosphere
    MC Slug of the Twin Cities-based hip-hop duo Atmosphere (Jeannette Fleury/flickr)

    Behind the Twin Cities Music Scene

    The Republican Party faithful are gathering in St. Paul, Minn., to crown John McCain as their presidential nominee. But amid all the hoopla at the Xcel Energy Center, the GOP might miss out on the Twin Cities’ rich music scene. DJ Mark Wheat of Minnesota Public Radio’s eclectic music station, The Current, joins us with an overview of local sounds from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Plus: choreographer Bill T. Jones takes us inside his musical about Nigerian bandleader and Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti.

Land of 10,000 Bands

With all eyes on St. Paul during the Republican National Convention, we look at the vibrant local music scene in the Twin Cities. Radio host Mark Wheat of the eclectic music station The Current tells us about some of the acts carrying on a legacy that stretches back to the 1980s.

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on Minnesota’s Musical Muscle

More about Mark Wheat
The Current site

The Story of Fela, in Song

Bill T. Jones is often called the political lion of modern dance. Nigerian bandleader Fela Kuti was the political – and controversial -- lion of Afrobeat. Jones joins us to talk about directing and choreographing the new Off Broadway musical “Fela!,” and about celebrating his company’s 25th anniversary with a production called “A Quarreling Pair.”

"Fela!" site

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

Soundcheck

Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.