In The Current Rewind’s second season, we’re tracing the 50-year history of Minneapolis club First Avenue, using 10 pivotal dates to explore how a city, a scene, and popular music have evolved since the dawn of the ’70s. The Current’s Cecilia Johnson and Mark Wheat — along with special guest hosts like Craig Finn, Jay Smooth, and Sun Yung Shin — will meet you at the barricades for opening night, drop in on life-changing shows, and take an inside look at the present-day #SaveOurStages campaign.
Latest episodes
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11 min
Bonus: Seeing stars
Before we wrap up our First Avenue season, we have to pay homage to its famous painted stars.
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11 min
Bonus: Seeing stars
Before we wrap up our First Avenue season, we have to pay homage to its famous painted stars.
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6 min
The Current Rewind bonus ep: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is bittersweet this year, but we've got a spoonful of sugar straight from Steve McClellan and LeeAnn Weimar.
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36 min
April 21, 2016: The day the streets turned purple
The day Prince passed away, thousands of Minnesotans congregated outside First Avenue to dance and cry. Although the street party might've seemed like magic, of course real people…
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36 min
April 21, 2016: The day the streets turned purple
The day Prince passed away, thousands of Minnesotans congregated outside First Avenue to dance and cry. Although the street party might've seemed like magic, of course real people…
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29 min
Aug. 12, 2015: The day the sky fell
A piece of First Avenue's ceiling fell to the ground during a concert in August 2015. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. But throughout the music industry, concert safety has b…
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29 min
Aug. 12, 2015: The day the sky fell
A piece of First Avenue's ceiling fell to the ground during a concert in August 2015. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. But throughout the music industry, concert safety has b…
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36 min
The Current Rewind: Nov. 2, 2004
Description: When First Avenue entered bankruptcy on Election Day 2004, some saw it as the end of an era. But others – including devoted employees, local music fans, and a certain…
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36 min
Nov. 2, 2004: The day the doors closed
When First Avenue entered bankruptcy on Election Day 2004, some saw it as the end of an era. But others - including devoted employees, local music fans, and a certain stage-diving…
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36 min
Nov. 2, 2004: The day the doors closed
When First Avenue entered bankruptcy on Election Day 2004, some saw it as the end of an era. But others - including devoted employees, local music fans, and a certain stage-diving…
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35 min
The Current Rewind: March 4, 1991
Description: One day after the LAPD beat up Rodney King, an Ice Cube concert went down in history as one of the most violent shows ever held at First Avenue. Hosted by Jay Smooth,…
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35 min
March 4, 1991: Ice Cube/WC and the Maad Circle
One day after the LAPD beat up Rodney King, an Ice Cube concert went down in history as one of the most violent shows ever held at First Avenue. Hosted by Jay Smooth, we ask rap ex…
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35 min
March 4, 1991: Ice Cube/WC and the Maad Circle
One day after the LAPD beat up Rodney King, an Ice Cube concert went down in history as one of the most violent shows ever held at First Avenue. Hosted by Jay Smooth, we ask rap ex…
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26 min
Oct. 22, 1990: The heyday
Alternative rock stayed underground throughout the '80s, but in the early '90s, that distorted, furious sound burst into the mainstream. Experimental bands who'd been playing First…
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26 min
Oct. 22, 1990: Sonic Youth/Cows/Babes in Toyland
Alternative rock stayed underground throughout the '80s, but in the early '90s, that distorted, furious sound burst into the mainstream. Experimental bands who'd been playing First…
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24 min
Bonus: Mark Wheat on his DJ career, love for music
Mark Wheat left The Current in May 2020, but not before recording an interview with Cecilia Johnson for The Current Rewind. In this conversation, Mark talks about how he got a star…
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24 min
Bonus: Mark Wheat on his DJ career, love for music
Mark Wheat left The Current in May 2020, but not before recording an interview with Cecilia Johnson for The Current Rewind. In this conversation, Mark talks about how he got a star…
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24 min
The Current Rewind: Aug. 3, 1983
Most casual Prince fans know Purple Rain was partially filmed at First Avenue. But did you know the title song is a live recording, taped at First Ave a few months before filming s…
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24 min
Aug. 3, 1983: Purple Rain's birthday
Most casual Prince fans know 'Purple Rain' was partially filmed at First Avenue. But did you know the title song is a live recording, taped at First Ave a few months before filming…
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24 min
Aug. 3, 1983: The birth of "Purple Rain"
Most casual Prince fans know 'Purple Rain' was partially filmed at First Avenue. But did you know the title song is a live recording, taped at First Ave a few months before filming…