The Current Celebrates 20 years on-air with two shows in January
Jan 6, 2025
Along with anniversary concerts, the station will have special programming throughout the year highlighting the station’s impact
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 6, 2025 – On Jan. 24, 2025, The Current, one of Minnesota Public Radio’s three services, will celebrate 20 years of being on-air, online, and in the community. Since playing its first song (Atmosphere’s “Say Shh”), the station has won over a loyal local audience, become an industry leader within the Triple A radio format nationwide, helped launch the careers of well-known artists, and grown into a far-reaching community, with members and online listeners from around the world.
“This anniversary is a milestone for The Current and all the fans and artists who built the community we know today as the Minnesota music scene,” said David Safar, managing director at The Current. “It’s a time to celebrate the artists who shaped the sound of our region and the music fans whose dedication to supporting the music makes this a destination for artists from around the world.”
Part of The Current’s mission in its 20-year history has been to champion emerging artists, support arts and cultural organizations, and give a platform to important voices that shape the community. An all-music, noncommercial, member-supported station, The Current plays new and established artists alike – from local to legendary, indie to influential. The station has become a launchpad for the careers of many local artists including Lizzo, Cloud Cult, Trampled by Turtles, Dessa, Hippo Campus, and has been an early amplifier of well-known artists like Mumford and Sons, Adele, Wet Leg, Kendrick Lamar, and Bon Iver.
“The Current and public radio is like an album,” said singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. “You really get to hear and understand and get access to what an artist is really, really about, which for me is really exciting and powerful and allows me to continue doing what I'm doing.”
“My music, my band has received an incredible amount of support from The Current,” said Craig Finn, frontman of indie rock band The Hold Steady. “Public radio is so important because it creates communities within our cities that commune around good music. And it makes such a difference to the lives of artists, but also to the city itself. And I'm very, very grateful for that.”
Over the last 20 years, The Current has received numerous awards and accolades including an Anthem Award, a Webby Award, multiple Upper Midwest Emmy nominations, Minnesota Monthly’s Readers’ Choice Award for best music radio station five years in a row, and multiple Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards.
To celebrate the milestone anniversary, the station will kick off festivities with two nights of music at First Avenue in January, along with special programming throughout the year.
Show information:
Night One: Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at First Avenue
Frank Black (The Pixies) will play a show dedicated to his acclaimed 1994 album, Teenager of the Year. Twin Cities shoegaze band she’s green, chosen by the local music community as breakout act in the 2024 Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report, and DJ Jake Rudh (host of Transmission on The Current) will also perform.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Night Two: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at First Avenue (SOLD OUT)
Chicago pop-punk band Beach Bunny, a mainstay on The Current’s airwaves who had a global hit “Cloud 9” in 2020, lead the lineup. Twin Cities indie rock group Bad Bad Hats and hip-hop duo MAKR AN ERIS fill out the show.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Other special programming to celebrate 20 years includes a 20th anniversary music stream showcasing music from the past 20 years of The Current, and “The Current’s Live Sessions Vault,” a video stream on The Current’s Youtube channel featuring never-before-seen footage from the hundreds of musicians who have recorded at The Current.
The station also plans to have 20th anniversary-themed content throughout the year, including March Music Madness Albums of 2005, and the 893 Essential Songs of The Current in May. In 2025, The Current will release a new mobile app and expand events like The Current’s Happy Hour series.
A group of founding members helped The Current get its start, and members remain the most important source of funding for the station. Since its inception, The Current’s hosts have been passionate about music, the stories behind it, and sharing with listeners every hour of every day. For those that want more, The Current has a variety of shows and streams, that dive deep into different genres and eras including The Local Show®, The Chart Show, Teenage Kicks®, The Message, United States of Americana, Radio Free Current, and music streams like Carbon Sound and Radio Heartland®.
Over its history, The Current has curated a wide range of live events: MicroShows, Rock the Garden, Rock the Cradle, Minnesota Music Month, and live performances at SXSW, Grand Old Day, and the Minnesota State Fair.
Tickets for The Current’s anniversary show can be found at thecurrent.org/anniversary. Learn more about The Current at thecurrent.org.
###
About The Current
The Current is an all-music, noncommercial, member-supported station from Minnesota Public Radio®. Since it began broadcasting in 2005, the award-winning station has grown into a far-reaching community, boasting members and online listeners from around the world. From local to legendary, indie to influential, The Current plays the best new music next to the artists you already love. Part of The Current’s mission is to champion emerging artists, support civic and cultural organizations, and give a platform to important voices that shape our community and make the Twin Cities a great place to live. Learn more and listen at thecurrent.org.