Homegrown 2014 on KUMD
As always KUMD, Duluth Public Radio, will feature performers from Duluth’s Homegrown Music Festival Live from Studio A all week long. We’ll also feature a two-hour edition of the Local, Wednesday from 5-7pm, featuring Mary Bue, the Crunchy Bunch, and maybe more.
Homegrown Live from Studio A Schedule:
Monday: 2pm Steve Johnson [Listen]
Tuesday: 2pm Tin Can Gin [Listen]
Wednesday: noon Thunder Brothers [Listen], 2pm Wood Blind [Listen]
Thursday: noon Brother George [Listen], 2pm Timothy Martin and the New Norm [Listen]
Friday: noon Silk Sheiks, 1pm Getarounds, 2pm Amy Abts of Extinct Gingers
This week: tastes like chicken
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Blah blah blah Homegrown. Blah blah all week blah over 200 bands blah blah. Blah blah PDD Chicken app. Yadda yadda yadda.
Believe it or not, there are other things going on in town, too!
Emily Woster (inventor of the PDD Bingo Sheet) is presenting on Anne of Green Gables at the Nordic Center on Tuesday. And speaking of that feisty fictional red head, Wise Fool opens its production of Anne of Green Gables at the UWS Manion Theater on Friday.
And that’s not the only theater going on! Much Ado About Nothing opens at East High School on Thursday and All in the Timing opens at Marshall on Friday while Pride & Prejudice continues at Harbor City and Damn Yankees continues at UMD.
For the outdoorsy types, Hartley Nature Center is having an Outdoor Expo on Saturday and Camp Miller is having an open house on Sunday with all sorts of activities.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
The Figures
Happy Homegrown Duluth! I had to send a contribution from afar. I wanted to premiere my first short film on PDD. It’s a spooky little thing filmed in Duluth during a brief visit I made in 2014. The soundtrack is by myself and Eric Lyman, we record as Pale Wall. This film may be best viewed around 3 a.m. with a warm blanket. Cheers.
If you want this in your collection I have artfully packaged DVDs available. Contact jhuntzinger @ gmail.com
World Book Night 2014 in Duluth
Every year since 2012, on April 23, which is William Shakespeare’s birthday, volunteers across the country spread out and give away special editions of books to unsuspecting citizens. It’s a campaign to promote literacy and the importance of people having access to books, no matter their circumstances.
This year, I gave away copies of Peter Geye’s The Lighthouse Road, which is a novel set in early 20th-century Duluth and on the North Shore. I figured it would resonate with anyone who lives here or would like to live here. As I’ve done since this initiative was launched, I blogged about my experiences for Publishers Weekly magazine. Did anyone else give out books on World Book Night this year? If so, I’d love to hear your stories!
Bear
In early spring, bear moms often “park” their tiny cubs in or next to a tall “refuge tree” while they go off to forage. The cubs can climb to safety if they feel threatened, and can sleep up in the branches, out of harm’s way, while they wait for mom to return. Mom may be gone for a while. Read more about “refuge trees” here.
Wildwoods got a call yesterday morning about a small cub all by herself. After touching base with Dr. Rogers at the Bear Center, we’ve asked the folks who called about the cub to keep an eye on her from a distance, while keeping curious onlookers, dogs, etc., away. We want to give mom every chance to come back and reclaim her cub. (more…)
Net neutrality under attack
The Federal Communications Commission is once again planning to put an end to net neutrality. I can’t weigh in on the geek end of this issue, but it is surely a bad idea, considering that print and broadcast media are so tightly controlled, with six corporations owning 90 percent of U.S. media. Big Money should not be able to control internet traffic. What to do?
Homegrown Music Festival 2014 Primer
Duluth’s 16th annual showcase of devil music is upon us. We present here the final rundown of tidbits you need to know to maximize your ability to navigate the eight-day 200-band shitshow. Have fun, and don’t eat the brown lutefisk.
The URL for PDD’s Homegrown Chicken App for mobile devices is … calendar.perfectduluthday.com/homegrown.
The official Homegrown website should have everything else you need, and of course, there are Field Guides all over town. At the bottom of this post is an online version of the Field Guide.
There are a couple schedule changes to report:
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Roller Derby Victory!
Harbor City Roller Dames were victorious all around Saturday night! The HCRD Shipwreckers won their bout against Forx Roller Derby 295-112; I missed most of this bout, catching dinner with friends beforehand.
The HCRD Nautikills won their bout against Mid State Sisters of Skate 223-129! It was close in the beginning; the SOS seemed masterful at luring the dames into the penalty box, and they were skillful at keeping control of the lead jammer.
But no one is as flexible as the Dames, no team can adjust the way the dames can adjust, you know?
Special goodbye to the person who introduced me to local derby through a Nerd Nite presentation years ago, I think it was: Killer Cletah. This was her retirement bout, and I will miss her terribly, despite being greeted with “Good to see you, Sir.”
Video Archive: Homegrown Kickball 2004
Ahhh … the fresh spring air, clogged lungs and diseased livers. Scenes from the Homegrown Music Festival Kickball Classic of a decade ago, and the after-party at the Shaky Ray. The song is Bone Appetit’s “Drive Away.” Video shot and edited by Barrett Chase.
Fisheye View of Chester Creek
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwahk1r2xsw
Homegrown Banners
We’re looking for new Homegrown photo banners to run across the top of PDD during the festival. Photos shot at last year’s festival are the best candidates, but if there are compelling images of preparations for this year, I suppose that’s fair game too. For full details on banner submissions, click here. The basic info is the image must be 960 pixels wide by 167 pixels high. The Perfect Duluth Day logo will be added by PDD’s art department. Send them to banners @ perfectduluthday.com.
The Homegrown banners will replace the regular banner photos at the top of the page starting Sunday.
Duluth Band Profile: Dad’s Acid
Dad’s Acid mixes the surf-rock of the 1960s with the swagger of the Cramps. Nikki Moeller and Jake Swanson mention how the song “Surf’s Up Minnesota” cornerstones the EP First Trip. Click on the link above to hear the interview and click on the link for the band’s video “Red Surf.”
Calling Out
Based on a silly little piece of literature by Paul Lundgren. Directed by Pat Fischer and Collin Goodspeed. Starring Rob Larson.
Thanks to the folks at the PlayList for arranging this weird dream.
Duluth Homeowners Insurance
After a seven-year hiatus I’m moving back to Duluth and bought a home. Does anyone have a homeowners insurance recommendation?
Cracked Walnut Poetry at Prøve
Cracked Walnut Poetry (with the art of Kathy McTavish’s “Origin of Birds” projected behind them) at Prøve.
Video Archive: Light Up the NorShor 2004
Here we are, ten years later, and the marquee at the NorShor hasn’t quite been lit up yet … but it seems like we’re getting close.
The “Light Up the NorShor” fashion show fundraiser was held on Feb. 28, 2004. There must be a video of the entire event somewhere; I seem to remember it aired on public access TV. The show was organized by Adeline Wright and Laura Scheu (who became Laura Ness two months later).
Looking for the holiest of rollers …
I am asking the Perfect Duluth Day community to recommend the most holiest of roller, conservative, speaking in tongues, fire and brimstone, literal interpretation, snake handling, God hates fags, Elmer Gantry churches in the region. I have always been fascinated by this culture and want to be a Sunday morning tourist, but need a little help finding some of these temples of gawd.
Seeking makeup artist for wedding in Duluth
I am on the hunt for an experienced makeup artist who has an opening for July 12 in the Duluth area. This person might have to travel to Two Harbors to do my makeup depending on how the day runs. I currently own my own business and am a Motives makeup consultant, however, I would like to be pampered and not have to worry about doing my own makeup that day. I need someone who is flexible and is willing to work with my own line of Motives products. If you know of anyone please send them my way!
Giant among giants slain along Congdon
October 10, 2013, I took a trip to Copper Harbor to visit the old-growth stand of white pines, many said to be saplings around the time Columbus visited America. Then while passing through Congdon Park a few days later, discovered the most amazing tree I’d ever seen appearing larger than the trees in Michigan. Looking at old photographs of the hillsides of Minnesota towns rising out of the prairies and hills of the 19th century, trees are absent throughout, scalped from the earth as far as the eye can see. Maybe some buffalo hides stacked over by the saloon, a church, a brothel, somebody feeding pigs behind the blacksmith’s shop, but no trees. This got me to wondering if Marjorie Congdon herself had protected this tree, wrapping her arms around it passionately in her lovely white dress while the press snapped photos.
There it was in the autumn light though, spiraling into the sky, a vast oasis unto itself. Through sheer fortitude, having carved its way into rock along the banks, supported precariously by one large main root, but with an all too extreme angle for its massive size. When I went down there yesterday evening, it lay a broken shattered remnant of its glorious former self. (more…)
File Discrimination
If I were a jpg, I’d be calling my lawyer.
Duluth Community Needs Survey
The public is encouraged to participate in the 2014 Community Needs Survey conducted by the city of Duluth. It takes five minutes and will help develop an understanding of the needs of Duluth neighborhoods and identify potential improvements in services for low-income residents. The survey will be open through May 7.
Paper surveys will also be available at all three Duluth Public Library branches or copies can be requested from:
Michael Palermo
mpalermo @ duluthmn.gov
Community Development
City Hall, Room 407
Duluth, MN 55802
Lake Voice News #Five3Duluth Project
Duluth’s Lake Voice News is teaming up with KUMD radio and the UMD Statesman to celebrate the kickoff of summer fun on the Great Lakes, and it’s all about you and the unique activities you love.
On Saturday, May 3, get out and show us how you have fun in Duluth with a quick pic at #Five3Duluth on your Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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Duluth Band Profile: Lay Low & Bender
Lay Low & Bender is the musical outlet for Keir Gellatly. He opens up about being a front man and his love for ’90s pop-rock. Click on the image above to hear the interview.
Spring Fever in Duluth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6FFcuR7HX4&feature=youtu.be