Music
Miller Music Company: Photos from the Estate of Ben B. Miller
One century ago the Miller Brothers opened Miller Music Company at 8 W. First St. in Duluth’s Spina Building. According to the Kathryn A. Martin Library’s Archives & Special Collections at the University of Minnesota Duluth, “Abe Miller was a violinist and the manager of the Duluth Symphony for 37 years beginning in 1932. Ben was an assistant manager of Northern Drug prior to launching the music store in 1922.” (more…)
One Less Guest – “The Fruit”
The jazz/rock outfit One Less Guest has a new album on the way and a new music video. The song “The Fruit” appears on Viewfinder, scheduled for release June 9. The video was shot and edited by Patrick Parkhill and Jay Reiss.
The band formed in Duluth in 2018 and moved to Anaheim, Calif., in 2021, but returns home every summer for a show. This year’s gig at at Earth Rider Brewery is July 22.
Homegrown Music Festival 2023 Photo Slideshow
The 25th annual Homegrown Music Festival featured 171 acts. I made it to 57 — which is a lot, but also only one-third of the available options. The scope of the festival makes each experience unique, so obviously one person’s photo collection will vary significantly from another’s. (more…)
Duluth Album Releases in 2023
Dirty Knobs
666666SuperSatan
(Jan. 6)
Available on Bandcamp
God’s Holy Blood
Self titled
(Jan. 20)
Available on Bandcamp
Ill Fortune
Ill Ol’ Me
(Jan. 28)
Available on various platforms
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Recovery Beer Lunch
Select Instagram images from the closing event of the Homegrown Music Festival — the Recovery Beer Lunch at Canal Park Brewing Company with the final three bands. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Roll Night
Select Instagram images from day seven of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Rawkers crush Rollers in Homegrown Kickball Classic 2023
Rohrbaugh’s Rawkers piled on five runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth to easily top Vaagen’s Rollers 13-4 in the 2023 Homegrown Kickball Classic at Chester Bowl. The Rawkers now lead the overall series with 12 wins in 23 games. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023: Rawk Night
Select Instagram images from day six of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Soup Town Night
Select Instagram images from day five of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Westside Wednesday
Select Instagram images from day four of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Canal Park Night
Select Instagram images from day three of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Berserk Blondes! – “Hips Don’t Lie”
Live at Bent Paddle Brewing during the 2023 Homegrown Music Festival, Steve Solkela and Kaylee Matuszak perform their take on the 2006 hit song “Hips Don’t Lie,” written and originally performed by Shakira and Wyclef Jean.
MN Moder – “Indecisive”
The new music video from Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, aka MN Moder features several familiar local scenes. Joining in on the track are Cole Oksa, aka NorthWood, and Scott Vezina, aka NonFic.
MN Moder performs May 5, 8:15 p.m., at Legacy Glassworks as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Craft District Night
Select Instagram images from day two of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Opening Ceremonies
Select Instagram images from opening day of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Homegrown Music Festival 2023 Primer
The 25th annual Homegrown Music Festival is upon us. All the specifics are in a 116-page Field Guide available around town or online as a PDF. The most accurate version of the schedule is always at duluthhomegrown.org/schedule. And this here primer consists of the random last-minute bulletins that always spring up. (more…)
Every Single Homegrown 1999 Photo Available
Members of Ballyhoo performing at the inaugural Homegrown Music Festival in 1999. (Photo courtesy Leon Rohrbaugh; photographer unknown)
On the eve of the 25th annual Homegrown Music Festival we take a look at every single locatable image from the first Homegrown in 1999. It was a few years before digital photography became a common thing, a few years before social media existed, and a few years before Homegrown became one of the most photographed events in Duluth. (more…)
Beyondbliss – “Goodbye My Friend”
The new music video by Superior-based rapper David Kittelson, aka Beyondbliss, was made from a collection of old VHS tapes of performances. The song is the first single from the upcoming Beyondbliss release, which Kittelson has referred to as his final album.
Beyondbliss performs at Wild State Cider on May 1 at 7 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Ill Fortune – “Third Eye Open” (w/ Lane Newman and Dane MD)
Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Hunter Fortune, aka Ill Fortune, has a new album — Ill Ol’ Me. The video for “Third Eye Open” features Lane Newman and Dane MD, and was shot by Olivia Newman and John Persons.
Ill Fortune performs at Pizza Lucé in Duluth on May 6 at 10 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Big Sky Woody – “#70”
Free on Bandcamp.
Homegrown Music Festival Field Guide 2023 has arrived
The 2023 Homegrown Music Festival runs April 30 to May 7, and the annual Field Guide for the event was trucked into Duluth this morning. Piles of them will be available at local music venues within the coming days.
This year’s festival features 171 acts at 36 venues over the course of eight days. (more…)
MN Moder – “Shooting Star”
Presenting the visualizer for the new single by MN Moder. The Duluth-based hip-hop artist performs May 5, 8:15 p.m., at Legacy Glassworks as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
R.I.P. Diona Johnson / Di Jay / AfroGeode
Diona Johnson, leader of the Duluth band AfroGeode and the Gemstones, died on Monday at age 35. The Duluth News Tribune reports that the cause of the sudden death remains unknown pending the results of an autopsy. (more…)
Sydney Hansen – “For Better”
Duluth native Sydney Hansen, who now splits time between her home town and Nashville, has a new music video.
Hansen performs at Duluth Cider on May 1 at 8:30 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Video: Trampled by Turtles 20th anniversary at Sir Ben’s
Twenty years after the band’s first gig, Trampled by Turtles popped up at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake for an anniversary performance. This video of the song “Victory” was shot by Gina Nagler Smith.