Matthew Hope certainly lives up to his name! Matthew, a musician in his own right, has organized an incredible benefit for Open Arms MN coming up July 12. The musical line up is killer and it couldn't be for a more important cause. Learn all about the event and enjoy the music! Cheers!

Claire Luger and Mikkel Bee join us to talk all things Minnesota Music Resistance. It's a new organization that puts on events to raise money for great causes. Their first event is Sunday at Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis starting at 2pm and going until 7. A killer lineup of bands including Silent Treatment Buffalo Weaver, Turn Turn Turn, Dad Bod, Christy Costello and more. It all benefits the ACLU. Get tickets today.

She's a force in the Twin Cities music scene and a fierce advocate for people's rights, Tina Schlieske joins us on this show to talk about her show at Lowertown Sounds on Thursday and her show atop the Hewing Hotel on Sunday. We commemorate Sly of Sly and the family stone, Brian Wilson and hear a great Tina song! Enjoy!

Legendary Canadian rocker Dave Rave (Teenage Head, The Shakers) and MN musical everyman Craig Teiken (Edie Rae Band, Bleek & Grimm) join us to talk about the latest expolits of their mutual music endeavor, Dave Rave & The Governors. The band is finish up sessions for their 9th (!) album at Rich Mattson's Sparta Sound, and we caught them just before they hit the road up North. Enjoy!

This episode features MN music stalwart Randy Casey along with Nate Westgor (aka 'Willie' of Willies American Guitars). They both joined to talk about a great show coming up this weekend. Sunday night (6/15) at The Parkway Theater in South Minneapolis it's a special Father's Day celebration of the legendary Joey Molland of Badfinger. We hear some great stories about Joey and hear all about the wicked all-star lineup of featured musicians playing this event. Enjoy!

More great local music! This time we are joined by Ben, Chris and James of Minneapolis-based band The Federales. Are they Country? Are they Rock? Are They Roots? YES! Listen and learn. Also check them out live Friday April 13 at Palmer's. Cheers!

What a treat! Zippy Laske makes her inaugural visit to the SmartStart MN Studio to talk about her new self-titled EP (out 6/13) and the big EP release celebration at the Green Room (also 6/13) with other luminaries like Chastity Brown and Leslie Vincent! Zippy is real, funny and definitely lives up to her nickname. Enjoy!

She's back! Annie Enneking (Annie and The Bang Bang, Glass) makes her 4th visit to the SmartStartMN Studio in scenic South Minneapolis. Annie is reliably insightful, funny and brings so much amazing enegy to everything she does. She's also a fight director, so she can help you kick someone's ass without actually kicking their ass. So great to have her back in. Enjoy!!