Music Posts

Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Soup Town Night

Select Instagram images from day five of the Homegrown Music Festival.

Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Westside Wednesday

Select Instagram images from day four of the Homegrown Music Festival.

Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Canal Park Night

Select Instagram images from day three of the Homegrown Music Festival.

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.

Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Opening Ceremonies

Select Instagram images from opening day of the Homegrown Music Festival.

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.

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.

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.

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.