FIRST AVENUE’S BEST NEW BANDS OF 2015

Aero Flynn

It is 2002 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin upstairs in a rented student house and Justin Vernon is in my arms weeping, saying, “I just want my band back.” Over a...

BABY SHEL

Native American rap artist out of Red Lake, MN.

Bruise Violet

Bruise Violet is a young grunge punk band, made up of the members Emily, Bella, and Danielle. Deriving their sound from the roots of the Riot Grrrl movement, the girls...

Eric Mayson

Eric Mayson, an innovative noise-maker from Minneapolis, has made a name for himself with a unique sound that merges elements of emotive piano, hip-hop, R&B, and indie pop. As a...

LEXII ALIJAI

I’m Lexii. I always have a hard time with these because I wouldn’t know how to describe myself. How can you describe a person you hardly know? I’m not to...

Murder Shoes

Sometimes, it really does boil down to who you know. Shortly after Derek Van Gieson first moved to Minneapolis, he met fellow guitarist Chris White through an ex-post-hardcore-punk pal. For...

Perfume Monster

“Local R&B soothsayers Perfume Monster are… bringing a danceable polish to First Ave’s dank little brother.” -Sept. 2015 [City Pages] “They haven’t released much music as of yet, but what they...

ANDREA SWENSSON (89.3 The Current)

Andrea Swensson is a music reporter at Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current and the voice of the Local Current Blog. She has been covering Minnesota music actively since 2005....

DJ BARB ABNEY

Former Host for Go 96.3, The Current, and 97X/WOXY.com

JARED HEMMING (RADIO K)