Music
Three Versions of “Opiate War”
Oh, Duluth.
It began with watching addicts scream in the alley. Then it got electric. Then it got louder.
I’m not sure where it’s going, but I know how it ends. (more…)
Cloud Cult – “It’s All Burning to Begin”
The new song and video from Cloud Cult “feels like the prelude birthing of a new album,” according to bandleader Craig Minowa’s description on YouTube. “The ground this new musical nursery stands on was Ho Chunk. The Kickapoo River hugs this recording studio on three sides and is considered by some geologists to be one of the oldest in the world — 2 million years. There is spirit here, and it has stories to tell.” (more…)
Alan Sparhawk – “JCMF” and “No More Darkness”
Alan Sparhawk has new lyric videos for the songs “JCMF” and “No More Darkness.” Both are “a response to all of the turmoil that (has) occurred locally and globally over the past couple of years,” according to Sparhawk. (more…)
Ian Alexy – “Don’t Hesitate”
Duluth’s Ian Alexy nabs footage from the century-old film Don Juan for his latest music video. The track “Don’t Hesitate” is on Alexy’s new album The Tao of Ian.
Making it Up North: Misisipi Mike Wolf
Musician and poster artist Misisipi Mike Wolf shares the story of the journey that took him from the music-filled porches of the Gulf Coast to the creative community of Duluth.
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.
Rich Mattson and the Northstars – “Rendezvous With a Star”
The latest from Rich Mattson and the Northstars, “Rendezvous With a Star,” is from the band’s album Wake Up Songs, due out later this month.
Austin Castle – “Something Real” (The Lagom Session)
Austin Castle and friends perform “Something Real” at Lagom Builders Supply in Duluth. Castle released a new album, Timeless, in January.
Dopey tune on a junky guitar
I’ve become an old man who putters around in the garage. Or the basement — the garage is really cold right now. I built a guitar out of garage stuff.
Chad Elliott – “Minnesota”
“Iowa’s Renaissance Man” Chad Elliott has released an updated version of his song “Minnesota” with a video referencing the unrest in Minneapolis. The original version of the song appeared on his 2007 album Humbled at My Door. Kathryn Severing Fox, Elliot’s bandmate in Weary Ramblers, adds viola and harmony.
Pink Marlena – “Ishpeming” and “Akiing”
Pink Marlena, aka Makwawigwamikwe Marlena Boedigheimer, has a new album, Ishpiming, set for release Jan. 16 during a performance at the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. (more…)
Pronoya – “Pull Me Closer to the Flame”
“Pull Me Closer to the Flame” is from Pronoya‘s 2025 EP All for the Sun. The video is directed and edited by Cristian Pastrana of D/E Design & Studio. It was shot at Pizza Lucé by Pastrana with additional camerawork by Austin Sherzberg.
Wizardstone – “People People”
From the great forests and lakes of northeast Minnesota comes Wizardstone, the musical alter ego of Chuck Olsen, who hopes the video for the song “People People” can “help envision the world we want to live in.”
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Poison”
A new original song from Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Ian Alexy – “Healing Me”
“Healing Me” is the new music video from Duluth’s Ian Alexy. The track is on Alexy’s new album The Tao of Ian.
2025: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters
Perfect Duluth Day’s collection of gig posters goes back to 1976, so there are now 50 years of bulletin-board art compiled on this website. But in this particular post we focus on just one year, 2025. (more…)
Berzerk Blawndz – “Santa is Injured”
Berzerk Blawndz released a new Christmas album, Go Berserk This Christmas!, in early December. The post-Christmas release of the music video for “Santa is Injured” tells the story of how St. Nick was unable to deliver presents this year, so the band did the job using Steve Solkela’s minivan.
PDD Bandcamp Playlist: Holiday Sampler, Volume Two
In the interest of making your yuletide as gay as possible, here’s another sampling of Christmas or “Christmasish” tunes by artists in the Duluth music scene. (more…)
Hauliwood Dreams – “Finns in America”
Duluth’s Steve Solkela partners with Maria Voltaine, Miska Kajanus and Jaakko Manninen to form the Finnish-American novelty band Hauliwood Dreams for this parody of Kim Wilde’s 1981 hit “Kids in America.” The “Finns in America” lyrics are by Voltaine.
Steve Solkela – “En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa”
Steve Solkela performs the Christmas song “En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa” or “I Seek Not Power, or Glory,” composed by Jean Sibelius. He dedicates the song to the recently departed Rev. Martti Hyhkö of Ontario, Canada. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Christmas City
How well do you know the song “Christmas City”? Put your knowledge to the test with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
A 2025-in-review quiz comes your way on Dec. 28. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Dec. 21. (more…)
Chuck Haavik – “Nothing to Say”
Duluth’s Chuck Haavik has a new EP, Friend For the End of the World. The single “Nothing to Say,” embedded above, features Dave Mehling on electric guitar, Emily Haavik on backing vocals and Luke Mirau on drums. Mehling produced and mixed the album.
Haavik’s EP release show is Dec. 27 at Wussow’s Concert Cafe.
Ian Alexy – “Living in a Dream”
The latest from Duluth’s Ian Alexy is a bluesy rock track with an afrobeat inspired chorus, featuring Emma Lee Heart on guest vocals. The “Living in a Dream” video features a collage of footage from public archival sources, edited by Alexy.
Alexy’s new album, The Tao of Ian, releases on Dec. 9.
Pronoya – “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone”
Pronoya‘s new EP All for the Sun is out now on numerous platforms. The video for the track “Your Worship Cannot Be Undone” is directed, shot and edited by Cristian Pastrana of D/E Design & Studio.
Pronoya’s EP release show is Nov. 29 at Pizza Luce.
Toby Thomas Churchill – “You”
Duluth’s Toby Thomas Churchill has a new album called Nighttime coming out Nov. 28. “You” is the first single.
Rich Mattson and the Northstars – “Races With Turtle”
Rich Mattson and the Northstars are jumping over hurdles, running round in circles and racin’ with the turtles in their minds. The video for the band’s new single is directed by Reggie Pype.