Music
Phantom Ship Kickstarter
Scott Gusts moved from Minneapolis to Walker in 2012 with plans to release a new Phantom Ship record inspired by his time spent on Lake Superior and in northern Minnesota. He’s running a Kickstarter for the project, which is halfway funded with five days to go. (more…)
A week of art, music and singles mingling
How do I catch you up on the past week, PDD?
Last Thursday, I went to the reopening of the Tweed. Mayor Larson was there, exciting. Ken Bloom directs one of the most significant cultural resources in the region. Bill Payne‘s tenure as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at UMD made great things possible for the Tweed, too. (more…)
Superior Siren – “Trying Too Hard”
Superior Siren performing “Trying Too Hard” at KUMD last month promoting the Homegrown Music Festival. Listen to the interview at kumd.org.
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2016
Those who prefer the safe confines of walls and a sturdy roof can check out Kiss or the Beach Boys this summer at Amsoil Arena or David Liebe Hart at the Red Herring Lounge, but ’tis the season for music under canopies or wide open to the elements.
Bayfront Festival Park and Big Top Chautauqua are hosting the usual slew of major acts throughout the summer, along with local music being showcased through smaller concert series, such as the Chester Creek Concert Series and Bayside Sounds at Barker’s Island Pavilion. With multiple shows scheduled every week throughout the summer, it’s hard to choose which ones to make time for. Here’s a look at some 2016 outdoor concert highlights.
June 14
Teague Alexy
Chester Bowl Park
The Chester Creek Concert Series launches its 34th season with a performance by poetic rock musician Teague Alexy.
June 17
Grandma’s Marathon Big Top Opening Night
Canal Park
Multi-platinum rock band Smash Mouth headlines this year’s opening night to Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
June 18
Brandi Carlile
Big Top Chautauqua
Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile makes her way back for another year at the Big Top stage.
Woodblind – “Jubilee”
The ska duo of Veikko Lepisto and Jason Wussow perform “Jubilee” in KUMD’s Studio A.
Upcoming Woodblind gigs: June 9 at Beaner’s Central and June 27 at Thirsty Pagan Brewing.
The Story of Charlie Parr
Tony Polecastro interviews Duluth musician Charlie Parr.
Kat Fox – “Kat Calling”
Kat Fox is makin’ it on her own; just give her the microphone.
Recent Interview: Conversations on Misogyny and the Music Scene, Pt. 1
Upcoming gig: June 10 at Red Herring Lounge.
Trampled by Turtles 2015 Bayfront Park Footage
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList shot last summer’s Trampled by Turtles concert at Bayfront Festival Park. The band returns July 9 for another Bayfront show.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Bulletproof Vest”
Ingeborg von Agassiz performs in KUMD‘s studio in this video, shot on May 5.
Upcoming gig: Friday, June 24 at Washington Gallery
Zenith Quartette circa 1908
The Zenith Quartette was a Dutch vocal group based in Duluth. Members shown in this old flier are Carl Hvaal, first tenor; J. Olsen, second bass; O.A. Gronseth, baritone and O.O. Hovday, second tenor.
The Story of Duluth Homegrown 2016
Kip Praslowicz‘s latest memory-card dump video is a retrospective of the eight-day Homegrown Music Festival.
Music by the Electric Witch
Matt Ray – “We’ll be OK”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures singer/songwriter Matt Ray performing “We’ll be OK.”
R.I.P. John Berquist
John W. Berquist, founder of the Moose Wallow Ramblers band and writer of the song “I Like it in Duluth,” died May 12 at his home in Fayal Township. He was 69.
You probably haven’t heard of KTWH-FM of Two Harbors
There’s something amazing going on at a little community radio station in Two Harbors. If you haven’t heard of KTWH it is most likely due to its recent arrival upon the airwaves and its status as a low-power community radio station. If you live outside of its broadcast range, streaming online will be your only recourse, but it is well worth the effort. It is something I haven’t heard since the advent of FM in the early 1970s. DJs playing music that has merit and meaning rather than having the potential for being the opening theme song for the new CSI, set in Bugtussle, KY. (more…)
Charlie Parr in his own words
Charlie Parr strolled into the neighborhood yesterday—barefoot, even though it was cold and damp. We had a nice conversation on my podcast about the hardships and joys of life on the road, dropping out of school, and how he slowly got into making music as a vocation. He’s doing what he loves, and that’s what I’m trying to do: as an author, and an urban farmer. My new urban farm, Tiny Farm Duluth, is slowly coming together. The soil of formerly wasted space within the city of Duluth has been tilled, and seeds will soon be sown. (more…)
Homegrown Music Video Fest 2016
The videos from the 2016 Homegrown Music Video Festival have been popping up online, and PDD is archiving them on a page. We’ll continue to add to the collection as we find them or as they are sent to us.
Here’s a sample by Tomas Soderberg – “Machinery” by the Social Disaster
Who won Homegrown 2016?
The final applause of the 2016 Homegrown Music Festival is now in the history books. Which band “won” the festival? Each year PDD polls its readership and asks that very question. Because art is useless if it isn’t vain and competitive, right?
How does one “win” a music festival? Is it about musicianship? Is it about showmanship and antics? Is it about pretty hairstyles and flamboyant fashions? Yes.
The poll is now closed. Here are the results:
Medical Underground – 16.8 percent
Red Mountain – 12.3 percent
The Social Disaster – 11.2 percent
Bratwurst – 10 percent
A Band Called Truman – 7.8 percent
Various other bands – 41.9 percent (more…)
Superior Siren – “Rosemar”
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
The Superior Siren trio performs the song Rosemar aboard the William A. Irvin in this video shot for the 2016 NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
Boku Frequency – “Satisfied”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures Boku Frequency performing “Satisfied” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
The Farsights – “Saturdays”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures the Farsights performing “Saturdays” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
CUD: an album to benefit the family of Shawn Burr
Recently, the Duluth music community lost a great guitarist and better person when Shawn Burr passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He was only 40, and was a father and a husband. (more…)
The Boomchucks Home Movie
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Batteries – “Evening Birds”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures Batteries performing “Evening Birds” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
Homegrown Music Festival 2016 Primer
If this isn’t your 18th time attending the Homegrown Music Festival, here are some links that might be helpful:
Homegrown website
Event schedule on Homegrown website
PDD Homegrown Chicken App (schedule optimized for smartphones)
Homegrown Facebook page
Homegrown Twitter page
Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of Seth Langreck’s Duluth Band Profiles