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
Our critic ranks the 5 best and 5 worst Super Bowl halftime shows
Prince was the best and a Minneapolis show was almost the worst.
February 6, 2026
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Feb. 5-11 include Sudan Archives, Eric Church, Eric Gales, the Runarounds, Bob Marley tribute and Drone Not Drone marathons.
February 4, 2026
Grammy winners riff on ICE, immigration and Minneapolis
From Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish to Bon Iver and classical musicians, artists spoke up at the ceremony in Los Angeles.
February 2, 2026
Influx of new voters could send top Grammy to Bad Bunny
Our critic predicts “relevant” winners for the Feb. 1 awards show.
January 30, 2026
Bruce Springsteen drops video for ‘Streets of Minneapolis’
It includes photos and clips of protesters marching, ICE agents arresting and the Boss singing.
January 29, 2026
Bruce Springsteen releases protest song ‘Streets of Minneapolis’
He excoriates ICE and promises to remember Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
January 28, 2026
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Jan. 29-Feb. 4 include Trampled by Turtles, Ondara, Jessie J, the Headhunters and the Cookers.
January 28, 2026
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire will launch tour in St. Paul on June 24
Tickets will go on sale Jan. 30, with a presale on Jan. 27 for Citi card members
January 26, 2026
Bonnie Raitt will kick off the Minnesota State Fair grandstand series
Tickets for her first fair gig in 10 years will go on sale Jan. 30.
January 26, 2026
The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Highlights for Jan. 22-28 include Rascal Flatts, Cate LeBon, the Current’s birthday party, Big Head Todd and a farewell from Halloween, Alaska.
January 21, 2026
Twin Cities musical couples love performing in tribute bands
Like Hugh Jackman’s and Kate Hudson’s characters in the movie “Song Sung Blue,” local couples find harmony onstage and off.
January 20, 2026
Twin Cities-launched jazz group the Bad Plus is disbanding
After 27 years, Golden Valley’s Dave King and Reid Anderson have “said what we set out to say.”
January 17, 2026
