Music Posts

2021: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters

It wasn’t quite the wild and crazy return to rawk that Duluthians longed for, but 2021 did mark the transition away from livestreams to in-person concerts. Sometimes outdoors, sometimes masked, sometimes with vaccine cards required and often just with fingers crossed, music fans edged back into the concert scene in year-two of the COVID-19 pandemic. If one thing remained normal, it was that Perfect Duluth Day collected a bunch of gig-poster images to share at the end of the year.

Jazz Time

Duluth Public Access Community Television presents Duluth band Jazz Time, performing six tunes.

Emily Haavik – “All is Bright”

Duluth native Emily Haavik released an original holiday song and music video today. A group of her friends recorded segments to help put the video together. Haavik performs the song with Phil Miller on cello and Dave Mehling on bass and guitar. The mix is by Mehling and the mastering by Eric Martin. Proceeds from downloads go to help Haavik’s friend Sonya Goins fight breast cancer.

PDD Bandcamp Playlist: A Holiday Sampler

Assembled here for your holiday listening pleasure, a sampling of Christmas or “Christmasish” tunes by artists in the Duluth music scene. It’s not even close to a comprehensive collection of local holiday music, just a sampling of a few tunes available on Bandcamp.

Low – “Hey”

The fifth video release from Duluth band Low‘s new album Hey What was directed by Killy Kay.

Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Advent Hymn” (Lyric Video)

Duluth-based electro-folk artist Ingeborg von Agassiz shot this video in rural northwestern Minnesota while driving home for Thanksgiving. She does not recommended shooting video while driving, but sacrifices must be made for slow-motion Christmas-light art.

The song is from the artist’s new album of “original dark holiday tunes inspired by Victorian ghost stories and the winter blues.” Coventry Carols is available online at ingeborgvonagassiz.com/shoppe and various music sites.

Accordion Steve rocks!

Went to the Julebyen Christmas Village in Knife River via a great train ride last Saturday and was enthralled with all things Scandinavian; the high spot was a talented funny Finn from Da Rengch named Steve Solkela —— from singing opera to “Play That Funky Music” he has it all covered. And did I say funny? Writes his own songs about Palo and saunas and, let’s face it, all the good things in life. Go see this guy and you’ll be smiling and clapping within two minutes!

Trampled by Turtles and Caamp – “Alone”

Trampled by Turtles performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado this past summer with the folk trio Caamp. The groups joined together for this performance of TBT’s “Alone,” from the 2012 album Stars & Satellites.

The Hermits – “Peel”

Duluth-based grunge band the Hermits released a debut music video this week. The song “Peel” is from the group’s EP titled If; the video was shot by Grayson Nolan.

Beyondbliss – “Divide and Conquer”

Duluth rapper Beyondbliss divides the screen and divides himself in this video, rapping about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, critical race theory and all the divisive divisiveness.

The Slice: Jim Hall

Duluth singer/songwriter Jim Hall performs his song “Beast in the Yard.”

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.

Low’s latest album nominated for Grammy as best engineered

Duluth band Low‘s new album, Hey What, received a major nod from the music industry yesterday. The record has been nominated for a Grammy in the category “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical” for the work by mastering engineer BJ Burton.

The Slice: Tim Kaiser’s Sci-Fi Musical Instruments

Tim Kaiser‘s instruments create drones and ethereal sounds that build layers of sonic texture.

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.

Chuck Haavik – “Middle of June”

Is Duluth’s Chuck Haavik living five months in the past or seven months in future? Either way, he’s chosen the middle of November to release “Middle of June.” It’s available for download on Bandcamp and other platforms.

The song features his daughter, Emily Haavik, on vocals, with Dave Mehling on organ and Beau Jeffrie on bass.

New Ingeborg von Agassiz album features ‘dark holiday music’

Duluth-based electro-folk artist Ingeborg von Agassiz is releasing an album of “dark holiday music” titled Coventry Carols. The album will be available digitally and on compact disc on Nov. 19. Discs can be ordered online at ingeborgvonagassiz.com/shoppe.