Music
Wizardstone – “People People”
From the great forests and lakes of northeast Minnesota comes Wizardstone, the musical alter ego of Chuck Olsen, who hopes the video for the song “People People” can “help envision the world we want to live in.”
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Poison”
A new original song from Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Ian Alexy – “Healing Me”
“Healing Me” is the new music video from Duluth’s Ian Alexy. The track is on Alexy’s new album The Tao of Ian.
2025: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters
Perfect Duluth Day’s collection of gig posters goes back to 1976, so there are now 50 years of bulletin-board art compiled on this website. But in this particular post we focus on just one year, 2025. (more…)
Berzerk Blawndz – “Santa is Injured”
Berzerk Blawndz released a new Christmas album, Go Berserk This Christmas!, in early December. The post-Christmas release of the music video for “Santa is Injured” tells the story of how St. Nick was unable to deliver presents this year, so the band did the job using Steve Solkela’s minivan.
PDD Bandcamp Playlist: Holiday Sampler, Volume Two
In the interest of making your yuletide as gay as possible, here’s another sampling of Christmas or “Christmasish” tunes by artists in the Duluth music scene. (more…)
Hauliwood Dreams – “Finns in America”
Duluth’s Steve Solkela partners with Maria Voltaine, Miska Kajanus and Jaakko Manninen to form the Finnish-American novelty band Hauliwood Dreams for this parody of Kim Wilde’s 1981 hit “Kids in America.” The “Finns in America” lyrics are by Voltaine.
Steve Solkela – “En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa”
Steve Solkela performs the Christmas song “En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa” or “I Seek Not Power, or Glory,” composed by Jean Sibelius. He dedicates the song to the recently departed Rev. Martti Hyhkö of Ontario, Canada. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Christmas City
How well do you know the song “Christmas City”? Put your knowledge to the test with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
A 2025-in-review quiz comes your way on Dec. 28. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at alisonlinnaemoffat@gmail.com by Dec. 21. (more…)
Chuck Haavik – “Nothing to Say”
Duluth’s Chuck Haavik has a new EP, Friend For the End of the World. The single “Nothing to Say,” embedded above, features Dave Mehling on electric guitar, Emily Haavik on backing vocals and Luke Mirau on drums. Mehling produced and mixed the album.
Haavik’s EP release show is Dec. 27 at Wussow’s Concert Cafe.
Ian Alexy – “Living in a Dream”
The latest from Duluth’s Ian Alexy is a bluesy rock track with an afrobeat inspired chorus, featuring Emma Lee Heart on guest vocals. The “Living in a Dream” video features a collage of footage from public archival sources, edited by Alexy.
Alexy’s new album, The Tao of Ian, releases on Dec. 9.
Duluth Album Releases in 2000
Dial back the sound system one quarter of a century. The year 2000 was of particular significance to the Duluth music scene. It’s possibly the first time more than a dozen local albums were released in a single year. The emergence of a few local music labels is partially the reason, but in general the reduction in the cost to put out compact discs, growth in the number of bands and easier access to recording technology all contributed to the spike in output, which has only accelerated since.
Compiled here is an incomplete list of Duluth-related music releases from 2000. If you spot something that’s missing, feel free to comment here or send an email to paul @ perfectduluthday.com. (more…)
Pronoya – “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone”
Pronoya‘s new EP All for the Sun is out now on numerous platforms. The video for the track “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone” is directed, shot and edited by Cristian Pastrana of D/E Design & Studio.
Pronoya’s EP release show is Nov. 29 at Pizza Luce.
Toby Thomas Churchill – “You”
Duluth’s Toby Thomas Churchill has a new album called Nighttime coming out any minute now. “You” is the first single.
Rich Mattson and the Northstars – “Races With Turtle”
Rich Mattson and the Northstars are jumping over hurdles, running round in circles and racin’ with the turtles in their minds. The video for the band’s new single is directed by Reggie Pype.
Lee Clark Allen shares ‘seasons of life’ on new album
Lee Clark Allen at the Roxy on Broadway in Denver, Colorado.
There’s a stereotype that some musicians have “super egos.” Patrick Clark, an English teacher at the University of Minnesota Duluth and musician who performs as Lee Clark Allen, wants to avoid that. (more…)
JamesG – “Feeling Myself (Today)”
Former Duluthian James Geisler, aka JamesG, is feeling the flow today.
Robert Plant covers Low on Tiny Desk Concert
Rock icon Robert Plant performed a five-song set for National Public Radio on Halloween. The third piece, “Everybody’s Song,” was composed by Duluth band Low.
At the 10-minute mark in the video, Plant explains that it’s the third song he has recorded from Low’s 2005 album The Great Destroyer.
Music in the Weeds: Between Howls
Duluth band Between Howls performs two songs from a ridge overlooking Grand Marais.
Music in the Weeds is a new video series from WTIP North Shore Community Radio that showcases northern Minnesota artists performing original music at scenic and meaningful locations around Cook County. It is produced by M. Baxley and Will Moore.
Ian Alexy – “Move Like Water”
Duluth’s Ian Alexy has a new album on the way. The Tao of Ian is set for a Dec. 9 release.
An alternate version of the “Move Like Water” video, centered on a dance performance by Annika Danielson, previously appeared on Perfect Duluth Day. The new version adds footage of Alexy and beach scenes from Wisconsin Point.
Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners – “Shelf”
Two Trees, the new album from Duluth’s Breanne Marie & the Front Porch Sinners, is out today and the album release show is Nov. 15 at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake with The Yeah Scherz opening.
The video for “Shelf” is directed by Breanne Marie and Anya Tepler.
Jorma Kaukonen has Duluth tour stop in April
I just looked at Jorma Kaukonen’s tour schedule and discovered that he’s coming to the West Theatre in Duluth on April 23. The co-founder of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna is a guitarist, lyricist, singer and biker, and runs Fur Peace Ranch, a guitar camp in Ohio. Get a copy of his autobiography, Been So Long from Zenith Bookstore, across the street from the West. It’s a great read. At 85, he’s a stalwart. Duluthians, please give him a warm welcome!
JamesG – “So Long”
Former Duluthian James Geisler, aka JamesG, points out life is short in his latest music video, “but at times, it’s so long.”
Video Archive: Crazy Betty – “Days of Easy”
Take a quick dip in the lake and do some flips off the dock. It’s been 25 years since Duluth band Crazy Betty released the music video “Days of Easy,” shot on Park Point and other Duluth locations in late summer 2000. And yes, the whole thing is very, very 2000.
The video was directed by Nicholas Kapanke.
Ian Alexy – “Move Like Water” (Dance Version)
The new music video from Ian Alexy features a dance performance by Annika Danielson.