Music / Concerts
Summer Fest
Everything raised at this event goes directly to the program support for youth, mentors and families through Mentor North. Attendees can expect music from The Gemstones, NurD and DJ Hayes, food from Love Creamery, Oasis Del Norte and R & B Grilled Cheese, yard games and tabletop games, auctions and much more. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. This event is designed for an adult audience. Youth are admitted with a supervising adult. Questions? Contact Samantha @ mentornorth.org or text/call 218-206-4430.
Vinyl Sighting Presents: Northern Wax Crew
Vibe on vinyl every first and third Thursday of the month. DJ sessions are from a rotating cast. Audience will hear sets from DJ ANIBODY, Saint John, DJ Fraudulent, DJ StaggaLee, Natty Nico, Steeze in the Breeze, Bog Boy, Moeview and Al Pajamas. All are welcome.
Music in the Park at Bennett
This year’s Music in the Park at Bennett will feature six evenings of live music designed for all ages. In addition to a larger lineup, this year’s series also showcases a brand new stage in the park.
Concerts take place on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the north end of Bennett Park.
2026 Concert Lineup:
June 25 – MorningBird
July 9 – Adessa & the Beat
July 16 – Honkytonks & Hangovers
July 23 – Timmy Haus
July 30 – The Everly Covers
August 6 – Pirates, Guitars, & Beachfront Bars
Celtic Jam
Every Thursday, Sir Benedict’s brings a little Celtic twist to the English pub with the Celtic Jam. This open session is available to anyone who wants to join in and is open to all ages and talent levels.
Project Constellation
Project Constellation is an acoustic duo whose Scandinavian music blends folk, pop, rock and more.
This program takes place in the Two Harbors Public Library Meeting Room and is sponsored by Friends of the Two Harbors Public Library.
Dedric Clark
Dedric Clark is lead vocalist and lyricist of Social Animals, a rock band that formed in Duluth. When Clark is not on tour, he plays solo shows like this one to keep himself fresh and to try out new material.
Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Wandering Eye
The Ween tribute act featuring Marc Gartman (Glitteratti, Damien), Alan Sparhawk (Low, Derecho), Tim Saxhaug (Trampled By Turtles), Dan Anderson and Tyler Dubla performs.
D-Town Driftway: Mario Kart Live Band
D-Town Driftway is Duluth’s premiere Mario Kart 8 live band, performing Mario Kart original soundtrack hits while audience members race in a head-to-head competition.
The band features Beck Fulin on trumpet, Devon Defoe on saxophone, Marshall Dillon on guitar, Luke Torrent on drums, and Taylor Shykes on bass.
Park Point Art Fair 2026
The 54th annual Park Point Art Fair is an outdoor visual arts showcase featuring more than 100 juried artists working in clay, photography, painting, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and glass. Held at the Park Point Recreation Area, rain or shine, the event offers the chance to meet the juried artists showing and selling fine art and craft, while enjoying live music, food venders and more.
The event is presented by the Park Point Community Club. Proceeds support youth, environmental and civic projects in the community. Admission and parking are free.
GND Rec Summer Jam
This outdoor summer event features kids’ games, inflatables, skateboarding, food trucks, ice cream, root beer floats and a free concert from Duluth Transit Authority at 4 p.m. Lawn chairs welcome.
Larkin Poe with The Record Company
Larkin Poe is made up of dynamic sister duo, Rebecca and Megan Lovell. These leading ladies have been heavily influenced by blues and rock sounds. They have been known for their gift of storytelling, highlighting personal narratives and introducing universal themes on individuality.
They will be joined by special guest The Record Company.
Tickets can be bought at bigtop.org.
Rich Mattson & the Northstars, Miss Georgia Peach and Mud Puppies
The Northstars perform all around Minnesota and beyond and have been invited to share the stage with such notable acts as the Minus 5, the Jayhawks, Drivin’ and Cryin’, and Trampled By Turtles. Miss Georgia Peach is a country-rock artist from Saint Paul, Minnesota, known for a style she calls “70s country bubblegum.” The Mud Puppies are a rising band from Duluth, Minnesota, carving out a sound they proudly call “folk grunge.”
8:00 p.m. The Mud Puppies
9:00 p.m. Miss Georgia Peach
10:00 p.m. Rich Mattson & The Northstars
Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Park Point Art Fair 2026
The 54th annual Park Point Art Fair is an outdoor visual arts showcase featuring more than 100 juried artists working in clay, photography, painting, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and glass. Held at the Park Point Recreation Area, rain or shine, the event offers the chance to meet the juried artists showing and selling fine art and craft, while enjoying live music, food venders and more.
The event is presented by the Park Point Community Club. Proceeds support youth, environmental and civic projects in the community. Admission and parking are free.
Stephen Foster Bicentennial Celebration
Baritone Elias Mokole and pianist Linda Turpening celebrate the 200th anniversary of Stephen Foster’s birth with an afternoon of American song. The program list includes many of Foster’s best-known melodies, humorous songs, patriotic selections and music from 19th-century America.
Admission is free; goodwill offerings are accepted.
Music Open Mic
Music Open Mic is held every Sunday at Duluth Folk School’s Dovetail Café & Marketplace.
Performers can sign up for a 15-minute slot upon arrival.
Teague Alexy
Americana musician Teague Alexy plays most Monday evenings at Sir Ben’s.
Summer Parking Lot Concert with Sara Thomsen and Paula Pedersen
After a bit of a break, Summer Parking Lot Concerts are back at the Coppertop Church.
Singer, songwriter and composer Sara Thomsen is joined by her musical partner and spouse, Paula Pedersen, for this night of soft tunes on the top of the hill.
Chairs are available, but attendees are invited to bring their own. Funds from the concession stand and freewill donations are split between Chum and First United Methodist Church.
Music in the Park: The Windjammers
The 42nd annual Music in the Park concert series, formerly known as the Chester Creek Concert Series, features a variety of live music on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. This summer all shows are at Lincoln Park while chalet renovations happen at Chester Bowl Park. The series is presented by Duluth Parks and Recreation and the Chester Bowl Improvement Club. The Twin Ports Express food truck will be on site and attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
For weather-related cancellations or updates, call the Music in the Park hotline at 218-730-4321 after 3 p.m. the night of the concert or visit duluthmn.gov/parks/cancellations.
Concerts on the Pier 2026: Danny Frank & the Smoky Gold with The Harlow Pennies
After two decades of writing songs, years of performing as a solo artist, and the release of his debut album Smoky Gold, Danny Frank has formed a cast of seasoned musicians that fully compliments his style, better known as the Smoky Gold.
They will be joined by Minnesota indie band, The Harlow Pennies.
Food trucks for the night will include Johnny B’s, Bowlz n Thangz and Oasis Del Norte.
Glensheen’s Concerts on the Pier are an opportunity for Duluthians to wander the Glensheen grounds and enjoy free live music. Attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Food and drinks are available for purchase but small outside snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. Do not bring in large coolers. Service animals are allowed on the estate; other pets are discouraged. It is also encouraged to bike, boat, walk or kayak to the concert since parking is limited. Openers perform from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., continuing with headliners from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
This year, Glensheen is offering a skip-the-line package. The package includes a punchcard to all nine concerts, allowing folks to skip the line with early access, a 2026 Concerts on the Pier t-shirt and a sticker. Those can be purchased at tickets.umn.edu.
Open Mic Night at the Backstage
Big Top Chautauqua’s year-round performance space hosts an open mic event on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. with a special guest host, offering attendees the opportunity to sing a song, play a tune, tell a joke or tell a story.
Drinks and food are available for purchase.
Courtside Concerts at Pier B
Make plans for summer nights of soul, funk and groove on the water with Soulhead for Pier B Hotel’s Courtside Concert Series.
The series takes place every Wednesday in June, July and August from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Music in the Park at Bennett
This year’s Music in the Park at Bennett will feature six evenings of live music designed for all ages. In addition to a larger lineup, this year’s series also showcases a brand new stage in the park.
Concerts take place on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the north end of Bennett Park.
2026 Concert Lineup:
June 25 – MorningBird
July 9 – Adessa & the Beat
July 16 – Honkytonks & Hangovers
July 23 – Timmy Haus
July 30 – The Everly Covers
August 6 – Pirates, Guitars, & Beachfront Bars
Celtic Jam
Every Thursday, Sir Benedict’s brings a little Celtic twist to the English pub with the Celtic Jam. This open session is available to anyone who wants to join in and is open to all ages and talent levels.
Helen Bradach Zuponcic Concerto Competition 2026
The third annual Helen Bradach Zuponcic Concerto Competition gives participants in the Young Artists program the opportunity to compete for a chance to appear in concert with the Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra, along with cash awards.
Helen Bradach Zuponcic (b. 1915, d. 2014) was a piano teacher who taught hundreds of young people in the city of Aurora. She accepted her first student in 1945, and taught for 70 years, until her retirement in 2005 at age 90.
The Northern Lights Music Festival offers lovers of classical music three weeks of opera, chamber music and orchestra concerts presented by an international roster of guest artists, performing faculty and prize-winning young artists. The festival runs July 1-21; the full schedule is available at northernlightsmusic.org.
Spindependence Day Music Festival
The Spindependence Day Music Festival is a grassroots celebration of the electronic dance music community, brought to life by Jesse Unger alongside Aaron Abramson, Niizhoode DeNash and John Davidson, with immersive visuals led by art director Kyle Krause. Built to spotlight rising local and regional talent, this gathering is all about energy, connection and the next wave of sound.
Performers
Star Monster
Gemini Danger
Farmer Bob
Waterboyz
FlexZone
Lucid Lazer b2b Dutchess
Plead the Filth b2b Ruzz Lightyear
Tres Leches
A.M.S.H.
Evolve
Gordito Supreme b2b Evermore
Porb
Finder
Inf3rno
Builder and Destroyer
Tickets are available at spindependencedayfestival.com.