Wednesday news and reviews

Art

Saint Paul Art Crawl takes over the town this weekend

Over 325 artists are participating in this self-guided event, which includes Lowertown and downtown neighborhoods, studios located around University and Raymond Avenues, Grand Avenue, and Harriet Island.

- Coco Mault, City Pages

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Dance

'SOLO 1x2' follows six McKnight Fellowship dancers

​​This Thursday SOLO 1x2, a documentary that follows six recipients of the 2006 and 2007 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Dancers, along with their choreographers, will have its world premiere at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. The work takes a closer look at the dance artists; their hopes, fears, and their part in Minnesota dance community.

- Sheila Regan, City Pages

Funding

Southern Theater cancels five shows, holds benefit party

Things are looking dire for the Southern Theater, an institution 101 years in the making.

- Jessica Armbruster, City Pages

General

Things falling apart: Local graphic novel 'Death-Day'; Michael Scott leaves 'Office'

- Max Sparber, MinnPost.com

Music

Jonathon Coulton at Guthrie Theater, 4/25/11

There were no frills, there was no posturing by audience members, and a complete lack of pretense for the entire hour and a half show. It was just a good-natured nerd with his acoustic guitar and it was surprising what a breath of fresh air it had been when it was all said and done.

- Pat O'Brien, City Pages

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Twin Shadow at the Triple Rock, 4/25/11

Two hotly tipped young bands both made their Minneapolis debuts at the sold-out Triple Rock on Monday night, as the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Twin Shadow delivered rousing, uplifting sets that made it clear why there's a buzz building about them in the first place.

- Erik Thompson, City Pages

Phoebe Snow dies at 58

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Phoebe Snow, who came to prominence in 1975 for her hit "Poetry Man," has died at the age of 58.

- Andrea Swensson, City Pages

RIP Poly Styrene, Oh Cancer Up Yours!

The world of punk rock lost a feminist icon yesterday with the passing of Poly Styrene, frontwoman for X-Ray Spex, best known for the song, "Oh Bondage Up Yours!"

- Kevin Hoffman, City Pages

Ben Cook-Feltz discusses his upcoming release and daring to do what bands only joke about

On the latest episode of Radio Noir, ​I sat down with local artist Ben Cook-Feltz to rehash the past, crack a few jokes, and discuss his latest LP, Ben Cook-Feltz and You. Here are a few snippets from that conversation.

- Pat Dougherty

Stage

Penumbra's I Wish You Love: Telling the story of Nat King Cole

The production is as smooth as Cole's voice, with 20 expertly performed musical numbers and a drama that ends with an indelible image of three battle-worn performers playing their music before the curtain falls on a pioneering TV show.

- Ed Huyck, City Pages