Music
Charlie Parr – “Rooming House”
Charlie Parr has a new album, Rooming House, set for release Oct. 16. Comprised of seven songs, the conceptual narrative draws listeners into the lives of ordinary people navigating hardship and finding strength within a fragile-yet-vital sense of community. The video for the title track is animated and illustrated by Drew Christie.
Rafe Carlson – “Blowin’ Smoke”
Hermantown native Rafe Carlson performed at Two Harbors Heritage Days on July 10 and sat down for a private session for KTWH Two Harbors Public Radio. He wrote the song “Blowin’ Smoke” in 2024; it is about blowing figurative smoke and has nothing to do with recent air-quality issues related to wildfires.
Sydney Hansen – “Blue Side of the Mountain”
Duluth’s Sydney Hansen opened for country music superstar Dwight Yoakam at Black Bear Casino Resort in June. The song in this video is a cover of The SteelDrivers’ 2008 hit “Blue Side of the Mountain.”
Eveleth Clown Band – “America the Beautiful”
Always a hit at the Two Harbors Heritage Days Parade is the Eveleth Clown Band, seen here performing “America the Beautiful” this past weekend.
Three Songs by Container (Rich Mattson for Attention)
Eminent Minnesota musician Rich Mattson plays bass and drums on these tracks. They were recorded at his Sparta Sound studio somewhere in the pine trees of northern Minnesota. They are works in progress, with plans for an album in 2027. The videos are comprised of still images.
Sincerely,
Container (more…)
Sophie Hiroko – “Ashes” and “Cashmere Candles”
Duluth native Sophie Hiroko and her bandmates — bassist Kara Hageman and drummer Skye Sutherland — performed two songs during a live taping of The Local Show on the Current, recorded in the Forum at Minnesota Public Radio.
Between Howls – “Wascott Waltz”
Duluth band Between Howls has a new video for the instrumental track “Wascott Waltz” from the 2025 album Cabin Fever.
The video is directed by Megan McGarvey of Beyond the Birches Productions and shot by Luckie Ann Diamond and Ansley Fleming. It features Ricky Francois in the role of “The Illustrator”
Gaelynn Lea on That Show With That Midwestern Mom
Duluth musician and author Gaelynn Lea is the musical guest on the premiere episode of That Show With That Midwestern Mom, a web-only variety show hosted by Amber Estenson, aka That Midwestern Mom. The full episode is embedded above; the Gaelynn Lea segment begins at the 29:09 mark.
Northern Lights Music Festival returns to the Range
Every July, something remarkable happens just north of Duluth.
Musicians arrive from around the world. Conservatory students rehearse alongside internationally acclaimed artists. Historic auditoriums come alive with chamber music, orchestra concerts and opera. For three weeks, communities across Minnesota’s Iron Range become one of the state’s most unexpected destinations for classical music.
The Northern Lights Music Festival returns July 1–21 with a season that celebrates both artistic excellence and community tradition. (more…)
Making it Up North: Ursa Minor Brewing
From a high school teacher’s garage experimentation to launching the beloved Lincoln Park taproom in 2018, Ursa Minor Brewing has always been about more than just great beverages.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Ashe Berton – “Hello Minnesota”
Duluth folk musician Ashe Berton‘s new album Fill My Soul includes the track “Hello Minnesota,” which mentions Duluth at the start of the second verse. (more…)
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2026
Charlie Parr, sparkler in hand, travels far and wide this summer, hitting the Twin Ports Aug. 21 for a show at Earth Rider Brewery in Superior.
Large outdoor shows by traveling bigshots seem to be trending down while local bands in parks and courtyards are on an upswing. Nonetheless, there are still some heavy hitters passing through the region this summer. Perfect Duluth Day’s annual list spotlighting 15 outdoor shows mixes up a few of the big-ticket acts with highlights from free shows on the piers, porches and patios of Duluth and surrounding communities. (more…)
New NLMF season honors founder Veda Zuponcic
Following the recent passing of founder and artistic director Veda Zuponcic, the Northern Lights Music Festival board of directors announced that the 2026 festival season will continue as planned, honoring her vision and more than four decades of dedication to music education and performance. (more…)
Lee Clark Allen – “S.I.I.T. (Said I’m in Trouble)”
Duluth’s Lee Clark Allen has a new music video for a track from his 2025 album My World is Yours. It was shot primarily in Downtown Duluth and Canal Park.
Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles at Fitzgerald Theater
Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles celebrated their 2025 collaborative album with a performance at Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on Dec. 11. The Current captured the entire show on the video embedded above. (more…)
Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles — “Stranger” (Live at Fitzgerald Theater)
Clean those dashboard cup holders, the Current has released a video of Alan Sparhawk performing “Stranger” with Trampled by Turtles during a Dec. 11 concert at Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Video of the entire show will be released on Friday, May 29, to mark the one-year anniversary of Sparhawk’s second solo album, With Trampled by Turtles.
Toby Thomas Churchill – “The Bridge by the Crib”
“The Bridge by the Crib” is the third video release from Toby Thomas Churchill’s new album Nighttime.
Steve Solkela’s “Overpopulated” One-man Band – “She Taught Me How to Yodel”
Steve Solkela covers “She Taught Me How to Yodel” — a hit song for Frank Ifield in the 1960s — during a performance at the TapRoom in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Making it Up North: Northernly School for Music
Kyle Orla grew up surrounded by music, but his path to becoming an educator was anything but traditional. From playing 1990s hardcore and metal with jazz chords to traveling the country with a fiddle and no fixed address, he learned that the best education often happens outside the classroom. Today, he’s helping lead Northerly, a Duluth music school run by musicians, for musicians.
Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Palomino: Trampled by Turtles Live at First Avenue
Trampled by Turtles has released to YouTube a 2020 documentary featuring the band performing all the tracks from the 2010 album Palomino, with commentary on the process of writing the songs.
The documentary is directed and edited by Charlie Berg.
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2026 (The Weekend)
Select images via Instagram from the final three days of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Rollers earn kickball win in dramatic 10th inning
Coach Kaylee Matuszak celebrates with her team at Wheeler Athletic Complex after the Rollers defeated the Rawkers in extra innings to win the 2026 Homegrown Kickball Classic. (Photo by Seth Roeser)
Despite two controversial decisions by Umpire Jason Beckman pushing the game into extra innings, Matuszak’s Rollers eventually bested Rohrbaugh’s Rawkers in the 2026 Homegrown Kickball Classic at Wheeler Athletic Complex. The final score was 6-2. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2026 (The First Five Days)
Select images via Instagram from the first five days of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Homegrown Music Festival 2026 Primer
The 28th annual Homegrown Music Festival is underway. As usual, the weather is lousy, and as usual it doesn’t matter — it’s an indoor festival and the weather is always fine indoors.
The 100-page Homegrown Field Guide, available at numerous locations around town, offers complete details about the festival, but every year Perfect Duluth Day presents this rundown of updates, advice, sidebar details and notes of peripheral or unsanctioned interest. (more…)
Gaelynn Lea in People magazine
Duluth musician, author and disability activist Gaelynn Lea is featured in the April 27 edition of People magazine. The article was published online April 16.
Lea’s book, It Was Never Meant to Be Perfect, was released April 14 and an excerpt from it was featured on People’s website in October.