The song “Welcome to Our City” appeared in the magazine section of the April 2, 1916, Duluth News Tribune. It was written by two Duluthians — Donald Wade and D.J. Michaud — as a “contribution to the city’s welcome to the visiting oarsmen who will come to the Head of the Lakes next August.”
Duluth hosted the 44th annual regatta of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen on Aug. 11 and 12, 1916, winning nine of the 12 events entered.
The Current announced in a news release today that Michael Novitzki will host its revamped version of The Duluth Local Show, which will launch May 1 on the low-power 90.9 FM and air every Sunday at 8 p.m. Also announced in the release: Cecilia Johnson has been named Local Current blogger.
Brandon Gordon came into hip-hop when Outkast and other Atlanta powerhouses ruled the airwaves. When he came into his own as Illyrik, he discovered his voice. Click on image above to hear the interview.
Kraig James & the Campfire Stars are releasing a new song each month in 2016 for a project called Campfire Americana: Volume 1. This is the third track, available for download at kraigjames.com/music. Portions of the video were shot at the Aerie Lake Crappie Challenge on March 12.
Tallulah has been in development for over three years. Band members explain how the song “A Blue Painting” gave them a reason to venture onto the stage. Click on image above to hear the interview.
Barbara Jean and Molly Dean perform “Cigarettes & Matches” in a gondola at Lutsen Mountains on March 7.
To help fund his official full-length release, due out in Summer 2016, Matt Ray needs your help! His Skeleton Key EP on Bandcamp contains eight tracks he has not gotten around to putting on a full-length, so he has decided to release them all as an EP where you can pay what you want.
All funds, and we do mean all funds, from this go directly to funding the recording, production and distribution of his full length album of original material, produced by Ian Alexy of Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank and recorded/engineered by Ryan David Young of Trampled by Turtles. It features guest appearances by Nate Sipe of Pert Near Sandstone, Paul Fonfara of Brass Messengers, Eddie Juntunen of White Iron Band and several others.
Ray is very proud of this album and wants you to hear it, but in order for that to happen, he needs everybody to really “support local/live music” and donate a couple of bucks to help cover all the costs.
Pay what you want … let the music take you.
Nigerian-born artist, storyteller and community organizer Daniel Oyinloye, a 2004 University of Minnesota Duluth graduate now living in Minneapolis, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund his next album, Dawn of Redemption. On Saturday, March 26, he’ll perform at Trepanier Hall in Duluth, along with openers Rachael Kilgour and Isaac Wierman.
Duluth’s Charlie Parr performs on the gondola at Lutsen Mountains on March 17, the day after his concert at Papa Charlie’s during the DuLutsen North of North Music & Ski Festival.
Yes, Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, but yesterday NPR posted “10 More Tiny Desk Entries We Loved” featuring the beautiful Gwen Austin.
Austin went to school at UMD and lives in Duluth on and off. Her most recent Duluth project is the trio Bone Harp. So out of more than 6,000 entries Duluth is represented twice in the top 11. Way to go Duluth.
Dirty Knobs
30,000 Days
Available on Bandcamp
(Jan. 5)
Gin Street
Model Homes
Available on Bandcamp
(Feb. 4)
Kyle Ollah
Wouldn’t Mind Working from Sun to Sun EP
Available on Bandcamp
(Feb. 5)
The 2016 Homegrown Music Festival, Duluth’s annual 200ish-band showcase, runs May 1-8. The official schedule has been released, so it’s time to begin charting the adventure. The Chicken App, PDD’s smart-phone optimized version of the lineup, is also available.
This year’s schedule follows the same basic format as previous Homegrowns — opening ceremonies and new band showcase on Sunday, video festival and poetry showcase on Monday, Canal Park focus on Tuesday, western Duluth on Wednesday, Superior on Thursday, buttload o’ bands in Downtown Duluth on Friday and Saturday, and a few brunch shows on the final Sunday.
The two biggest weekday shows are again at Grandma’s Sports Garden and Clyde Iron Works. The Sports Garden lineup includes A Band Called Truman, Mary Bue & the Holy Bones, Space Carpet and the Social Disaster. Clyde will feature Teague Alexy and Friends, Low and Red Mountain.
Local rock band the Adjustments record “North Shore Sinner Pt. IV” at the home studio of band member Alex Nelson in Lakeside. The band’s new album At North Shore is available tonight at Carmody Irish Pub. Sam Tuthill opens the show at 10 p.m.
Duluth’s Gaelynn Lea won NPR’s second annual Tiny Desk Contest. Above is her 22-minute performance, featuring the tunes “Someday We’ll Linger in the Sun,” “Southwind,” “Bird Song” and “Moment Of Bliss.” Alan Sparhawk, her band mate in the Murder of Crows, joins in on the latter two songs.
