Music
Live music returns to Sacred Heart, fall concerts announced
The Cactus Blossoms performing on the Sacred Heart Music Center altar stage in 2019. (Photo by Michael K. Anderson)
After an 18-month pandemic closure, Sacred Heart Music Center will welcome live audiences back to a full concert schedule beginning in September. (more…)
Life Parade – “Something”
Cameron Mathews of the Duluth band Life Parade performs a cover of the Beatles song “Something” from the 1969 album Abbey Road.
An interview with viola soloist Jonas Benson
Former Duluthian and professional violist Jonas Benson is back in town to solo with the Northshore Philharmonic Orchestra. Jonas will play the brilliant Telemann Viola Concerto on July 29 at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm and on Aug. 3 at the Mitchell Auditorium in Duluth.
As NSPO conductor, I was eager to sit down with Jonas to ask about his path in the music world. (more…)
Bon Iver to play Bayfront Park in Duluth Aug. 18
Indie folk band Bon Iver will headline Honor the Earth’s “Water is Life: Stop Line 3” music, art and cultural festival at Bayfront Park in Duluth on Aug. 18. The event will also feature performances by Mumu Fresh, Annie Humphrey, David Huckfelt, Larry Long, Lissie, Charlie Parr, Corey Medina and Alan Sparhawk, among others. (more…)
MN Moder – “Pimp”
Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, who performs as MN Moder, has a new album out titled Sweet Dreams. The track “Pimp” is produced by NorthWood Beats and features guitar by J-Smooth.
Limited tickets available to Alan Sparhawk at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Music Center has just released a small amount of free tickets for a studio audience at its Live from the Heart songwriters/storytellers livestream featuring Alan Sparhawk. (more…)
Low – “Disappearing”
Duluth band Low‘s new video is directed, produced and edited by Los Angeles-based artist Dorian Wood, who also stars in the video. Low’s new album, Hey What, is schedule for release on Sept. 10.
The Slice: Jonathan Thunder
Ojibwe artist Jonathan Thunder talks about his practice of mixing modern sensibilities with traditional imagery.
In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.
LineCheck: Mary Bue
The Current‘s video series “LineCheck” presents virtual conversations with Minnesota’s music community. The sessions open and close with a song. In episode 2, occasional Duluthian Mary Bue performs. (more…)
Ditchbird – “Think She Was Right” (Lyric Video)
Cloquet native Tony Petersen, now based in Minneapolis, has a new music project called Ditchbird. The track “Think She Was Right” is on the forthcoming five-track EP, Some Dreams, out Aug. 13 on DoublePug Records.
Petersen is best known for his work with the band Social Animals. He released his first Ditchbird record, Real Enough for You Now, in April.
The Slice: Superior Porchfest
Local music brings Superior neighborhoods together this summer during Porchfest. Daryl Yankee, a volunteer from Siggy’s Musical Garden, explains the series of events in this video. (more…)
LineCheck: Charlie Parr
The Current‘s video series “LineCheck” presents virtual conversations with Minnesota’s music community. The sessions open and close with a song. In episode 1, Duluth’s Charlie Parr performs at Sacred Heart Music Center. Parr’s forthcoming album, Last of the Better Days Ahead, will be released July 30. (more…)
Lanue – “Mexico”
An excerpt from the WDSE-TV special Northern Rhythms featuring Lanue.
Minnesota Sessions: Lanue at Black Beach
In the Current‘s new video series, “Minnesota Sessions,” musicians perform in some of the state’s best natural offerings. In this edition, Duluth’s Sarah Krueger brings her new project, Lanue, to Black Beach in Silver Bay. (more…)
MN Moder – “She Bhad”
Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, who performs as MN Moder, has a new album out titled Sweet Dreams. The track “She Bhad” is “the song you play when you’re thinking about that one girl who’s got it all,” according to Moder. (more…)
Minnesota Sessions: Dave Simonett at Wolf Ridge
In the Current‘s new video series, “Minnesota Sessions,” musicians perform in some of the state’s best natural offerings. In this edition, Dave Simonett of Duluth-based bluegrass act Trampled by Turtles, brings acoustic tunes to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. (more…)
David Munyon – “Coffee in Duluth”
The song “Coffee in Duluth” is not available on the internet, but we nonetheless note its existence on Perfect Duluth Day … just because that’s what we do. (more…)
Chuck Haavik – “Still Raining”
Duluth’s Chuck Haavik has released his second song. “Still Raining” is “a lament from the Summer of 2020,” Haavik said. It’s available for download on Bandcamp.
The track is mixed and mastered by Dave Mehling, who also plays Hammond B3 Organ, bass and drums.
Low – “Days Like These”
Duluth band Low has a new album on the way. Hey What is schedule for release on Sept. 10. The video for the first single, “Days Like These,” was directed, produced and edited by Karlos Rena Ayala.
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2021
A Band Called Truman, seen here performing as part of the Chester Creek Concert Series in 2017, returns to Chester Bowl on Aug. 10 as part of the 2021 series. (Photo by Brian Barber)
Last summer was such a bummer, Perfect Duluth Day didn’t even bother publishing its annual preview of outdoor concerts. There was nearly nothing to report. With the pandemic seemingly under control in 2021, however, the list of options is lengthy. Rock, however, seems to have barely survived the pandemic. Bluegrass, folk and country dominate the concert scene. (more…)
June of ’71: Concert Under the Sun
A rock concert staged on a farm field about 20 miles south of Duluth was in the news 50 years ago. The June 21, 1971 Duluth Herald reported that “about 300 young people” attended what was called the Concert Under the Sun, “along with 30 sheriff’s deputies, reserve offices, rescue squad personnel and state game wardens.” (more…)
Charlie Parr-king Lot
Charlie Parr performed in the parking lot outside Wussow’s Concert Cafe during Pete Fest Tuesday night, playing his unique brand of Dumpster blues. The festival continues through Saturday.
Superior Siren – “Darkness and Light” (Lyric Video)
Laura Sellner of Superior Siren has released a lyric video for the first single from the recently released solo EP Kill Your Darlings. The video was created by Sarah Jordan.
Mary Bue – “I Don’t Need”
Another track by Mary Bue from her 2020 album The World is Your Lover, captured on video by Richard Medek in April for the Homegrown Music Festival. Steve Price and Jeremy Ylvisaker accompany Bue.