Music

Although most of us don’t get the opportunity to dine in the café’s of Seville or dance in the clubs of Havana, it is possible to experience a sense of that cultural vibe in our own city through live music performance. That’s just what took place Thursday, May 9 within the doors of the fabulous Pantages Theatre where Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook and his band transported fans with their style of Rumba Flamenco. Cook is touring in support of his current release “The Blue Guitar Sessions,” a definite shift from the fiery upbeat tunes he’s best known for. Although the mood of the album is "blue," the melodies are beautiful and built around the idea of leaving space to appreciate how Cook crafts each note to deliver the intended message.

On Tuesday, May 7, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires played at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis with Paul & the Tall Trees to open.

Dennis Curley brings the music of John Denver to the Bryant-Lake Bowl in Country Roads: Dennis Curley Sings the Music of John Denver. If you are not familiar with the theater at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, let me tell you that on May 4 I felt like I was sitting in Curley’s living room surrounded by friends and family. This is the magic of John Denver’s music: it connects people to a simpler time and to shared memories. Not to mention that the audience did consist of friends and family of Curley and the four musicians who shared the stage with him—along with people like me, who love the music of John Denver.

On May 3, the 2013 Festival of Nations—Minnesota's largest multicultural celebration—began at the RiverCentre with a party aptly advertised as a "World Class Bash."