Photo by Gary Walton
Bret Holland, or “Dirtbike Boyfriend,” is a multimedia artist based in Duluth. His art — encompassing doodles, denim painted clothing, music and more — explores themes both personal and political. And yes, he does ride dirt bikes.
Duluth’s Charlie Parr performs the song “Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)” in this recently-uploaded-to-YouTube video from PoleCat Productions. The song was originally recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. This video of the Charlie Parr version was shot on Feb. 22, 2021, during a performance in Slab City in California’s Sonoran Desert.
In this video, the Embassy‘s Sub Superior Festival (feat. Troy Rogers AKA Robot Rickshaw) teams up with Cafe Scientifique Twin Ports. They address the technical challenges of producing an underwater music festival, review favorite moments, and dream about the future of Sub Superior. Broadcast live from the Embassy’s secret Industrial Temple.
Twenty years later and they’re still going strong.
From 94.5 FM WELY radio in Ely.
This is a one-man-band home-recording available for free on Bandcamp. You can find a few others there as well.
The fourth single from Duluth’s Chuck Haavik, “When We Were in Love,” is sort of a boy breakup rock ballad. Duluth native Dave Mehling plays bass and mixed the song.
Charlie Parr performed on the North Shore last week as part of the Silver Bay Music in the Park Concert Series. The song “Running, Jumping, Standing Still” is the title track to a 1969 “Spider” John Koerner and Willie Murphy album.
Tom Maloney built a rolling stage for a moving concert. Here’s a very brief montage of videos and photos from the inaugural ride of the Bike-a-Band.
The new Trampled by Turtles music video, complete with bicycling owls, was shot and edited by Cooper Baumgartner. “Burlesque Desert Window” is on the band’s upcoming album Alpenglow, scheduled for release Oct. 28.
Duluth native Dave Mehling has a new EP in the works titled 100 Percent Denial. The single “Country USA” features Stacy K on vocals and Jason McGlone on drums. The track is mixed by McGlone and mastered by Rob Schlette.
Duluth’s Charlie Parr performed songs from his 2021 album Last of the Better Days Ahead at the Rail River Folk School in Bemidji for an episode of the Lakeland PBS program Backroads.
For your flag-waving Independence Day viewing pleasure Perfect Duluth Day presents the “Gonzo USA Theme” from Jim Richardson’s public access television show circa 2001. The music is by Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult fame; Richardson, of course, is now alternatively known as Lake Superior Aquaman.
Charlie Parr performing outside Wussow’s Concert Cafe in the spring of 2021.
The noticeable change in recent years to the outdoor concert scene in the Duluth area is the extension of the season. It used to be a mid-June to mid-September thing. In the pandemic era the patios and canopies of the region host music from April to November. But things still kick into high gear in July and August.
What’s hot on stages this summer? Here’s a summary.
The Brothers Burn Mountain have a new album, The Thrill and the Flame, set for release July 16. The video for the first single, “When We Play Music,” was produced by Ryan Dermody.
