Jon Bream
Critic / Reporter
Pop MusicBream has interviewed such music royalty as the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) and Prince as well as Bob Dylan, U2, three Beatles, four Rolling Stones and all of Maroon 5. He has performed with Alice Cooper, jogged with Willie Nelson and walked the streets of New York with Bruce Springsteen. A longtime voter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bream has also written for the Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Vibe and other publications. He has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, where he established the Jon Bream Scholarship for Arts Criticism.
Latest from Jon Bream
Music
Review: Stephen Sanchez gets fans swooning and all shook up at State Fair grandstand
The 21-year-old retro pop star proved to be quite the crooning heartthrob.
September 1, 2024
Music
Review: Matchbox Twenty delivers crowd-pleasing mom rock at the State Fair grandstand
Singer Rob Thomas proved to be a trouper despite appearing to be under the weather.
August 31, 2024
Music
Review: Country star Jon Pardi throws a party at the State Fair grandstand
Pardi proved to be a spirited entertainer, with infectious energy and exaggerated dance moves borrowed from Luke Bryan, Dwight Yoakam and even Elvis Presley with those swiveling hips.
August 29, 2024
Music
The Big Gigs: 10 best concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights from Aug. 29-Sept. 4 include TLC, Weezer, Kehlani, Stanley Clarke, Stephen Sanchez, Gaslight Anthem and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
August 28, 2024
Music
Review: The War and Treaty hit the State Fair with hurricane force and it was a good thing
After getting rained out on Monday, the country-gospel duo put on a roof-raising, love-kissed performance.
August 28, 2024
Music
Review: Blake Shelton uses humor at Minnesota State Fair to spice his ballad-heavy concert
After Blake Shelton crashed wife Gwen Stefani’s St. Paul show in July, she didn’t return the favor Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair.
August 26, 2024
Music
Review: Sparse crowd doesn’t deter Chance the Rapper at Minnesota State Fair
In his first local show since 2017, Chance the Rapper offered several new songs from his overdue sophomore full-length.
August 24, 2024
Music
Scene Makers Q&A: How Nate Dungan books all the free music at the Minnesota State Fair
One band will earn $60,000 from the $500,000-plus budget for 102 entertainers.
August 22, 2024
Music
Review: The War and Treaty hit the State Fair with hurricane force and it was a good thing
After getting rained out on Monday, the country-gospel duo put on a roof-raising, love-kissed performance.
August 28, 2024
Music
Review: Blake Shelton uses humor at Minnesota State Fair to spice his ballad-heavy concert
After Blake Shelton crashed wife Gwen Stefani’s St. Paul show in July, she didn’t return the favor Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair.
August 26, 2024
Music
Review: Sparse crowd doesn’t deter Chance the Rapper at Minnesota State Fair
In his first local show since 2017, Chance the Rapper offered several new songs from his overdue sophomore full-length.
August 24, 2024
Music
Scene Makers Q&A: How Nate Dungan books all the free music at the Minnesota State Fair
One band will earn $60,000 from the $500,000-plus budget for 102 entertainers.
August 22, 2024