PDDTV

Making it Up North: Sarah Agaton Howes

Sarah Agaton Howes stitched history and culture into her business, Heart Berry, specializing in contemporary Ojibwe art and traditional woodlands florals for a contemporary take on Anishinaabe stories and teachings.

WDSE-TV‘s Making it Up North explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.

The Slice: Birding at Sax-Zim Bog

Alexis Powell talks about seeking out northern boreal birds at Sax-Zim Bog, about 30 miles northwest of Duluth.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

The Dukes of Hubbard’s Unreleased Originals

From the early 2000s comes this rather extensive collection of live recordings of Duluth band the Dukes of Hubbard. It’s a full three hours — 25 tracks of music with a photo slideshow as the visuals — featuring the six-piece band made up of Ben Wizik, Jimi Cooper, Tim Saxhaug, Russ Sackett, Mike Gomez and Eric Pollard. (more…)

Morgan Park: Remembering Our Past

Retired Duluth Fire Chief John Strongitharm put together this half-hour photo slideshow depicting the history of Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood. It’s been 50 years since United States Steel announced it would begin phasing out its Duluth Mill operations, but much of the Model Community it created in the early 20th century remains. (more…)

Making it Up North: Steve Solkela

Meet Steve Solkela. With his music career crushed by COVID-19 cancellations, he built up a robust YouTube following with his music videos, tandem-bike interviews and random stunts.

WDSE-TV‘s Making it Up North explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.

Homegrown Winter Fiasco 2021

The Homegrown Music Festival’s annual Winter Fiasco is digital this year. The four hourlong videos feature performances, interviews and archival footage of more than 30 local artists. Episode one features music by Mary Bue, Shadows of Me, the Slamming Doors, Dog Talk, Moriah Skye, Boogeymen, WNDY, and Isolation Band. It also includes words from festival director Melissa La Tour and an interview with Kala Moira about her unofficial 2020 Homegrown Scavenger Hunt. (more…)

Lanue – “What I Love the Most”

Duluthian Sarah Krueger’s new music project is called Lanue. The album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

The video for the track “What I Love the Most” was filmed and directed by Zoe Prinds-Flash and edited by Lauren Josephine.

Paula Gudmundson – “Partita in A minor”

Dr. Paula Gudmundson, associate professor of music at the University of Minnesota Duluth, performs J.S. Bach’s “Partita in A minor” in this music video shot throughout Duluth on Sept. 16 as part of the Bach Society of Minnesota’s Mini Mobile Concerts Series. (more…)

The Slice: Live Streaming Guitar Lessons with Darin Bergsven

Duluth musician Darin Bergsven has been performing and teaching guitar online since March.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Heely Tricks with JamesG: December 2020

Another monthly installment of wheeled-sneaker stunts from former Duluthian James Geisler, also known as the hip-hop artist JamesG.

The Slice: The Heart of Piedmont Ski Trails

Take a cross-country ski tour with Glen Nelson, one of the pioneers of the Piedmont Ski Trails in Duluth.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

One Less Guest – “Breezeblocks”

Duluth band One Less Guest performs “Breezeblocks,” a song composed by the British indie rock band Alt-J.

The live rooftop performance is part of its 2021 collection of favorite cover songs.

Gaelynn Lea – “Bound by a Thread”

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea performs “Bound by a Thread” from her 2018 album, Learning How to Stay.

MN Moder – “Day to Day”

Duluth native Zachary Moder raps his way across the city in a new music video for a song from the 2019 MN Moder album Modervation.

Iceboating at Duluth’s Park Point

Chip Jacobs explains the allure iceboating on the Duluth Harbor.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Em’s Gems Lake Superior Jewelry

Emily Pilz of Em’s Gems Lake Superior Jewelry creates necklaces, earrings, sun catchers and other decorative items from agates and glass found on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Her partner in the enterprise is Emily Rakos. Both are 2020 graduates of the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Video by Angelina Sonnen.

Superior Siren – “Trying Too Hard”

Eerie folk project Superior Siren has released a new music video for the song “Trying Too Hard” from the band’s 2018 self-titled album. The video was created by Killy Kay and Caelen Mars, and features Alison Peluso. (more…)

Perfect Duluth Day’s Best Videos of 2020

Right at the top of our list of best videos from the year of the pandemic is a montage of some of the various musicians, artists and jokers who entertained with livestreams and other productions during what was largely a year of avoiding in-person interactions. But 2020 still had a crop of the usual stuff that makes it into our annual compilation — namely stunts, crashes, wildlife encounters and sweet music videos. (more…)

Consider the Stars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTqcRrilLTw

Celestial photography by Duluth’s Dennis O’Hara, with a song performed by Deb O’Hara.

Denfeld Jazz Band – “Up on the Housetop”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKZ0M8uzZC4

This video of the Denfeld Jazz Band’s arrangement of “Up on the Housetop” was created for the televised version of the Christmas City of the North Virtual Parade.

Dance Attic “At Christmas Time” Special

Jimi and Suzi of the guitar/accordion duo Dance Attic partake in holiday hijinks with music from their 2020 Christmas song collection (featured in the PDD Gift Guide).

Video produced by Andrew Stern. (more…)

Tanner Zahn – “Little Things”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sobf_qfQLF4

Hermantown native Tanner Zahn, now of the Los Angeles group FuturePop, has released this Christmas music video. Locals will remember him as Tanner Zahn Hagen, performer in Duluth Playhouse productions and son of Jennifer Madill Hagen and Dusty Hagen, former owners of Madill Performing Arts Center in Duluth. (more…)

Video Archive: Gap ad with Low’s “Little Drummer Boy”

Few would expect Perfect Duluth Day to present a Gap television commercial as content, but it’s pretty Duluthy. Twenty years ago the global clothing and accessories retailer featured music by Duluth band Low in its holiday ad. The song appeared on Low’s Christmas EP, released a year prior.

Duluth East Choralaires – “Carol of the Bells”

Gaelynn Lea – “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Duluth’s Gaelynn Lea performs the Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” in this video shot live in her home. The song is on Gaelynn’s 2016 Christmas album Deepest Darkness Brightest Dawn, which features live-looped versions of traditional Christmas carols.