Formerly known as “Ancillary Arts Night,” Homegrown Monday now features most of its programming in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District. But the evening begins downtown at Zinema 2 with the premiere of the 2019 Homegrown Music Video Festival. Sean Zarn is coordinating and predicts a spike in entries. There’s outreach to colleges and high schools this year to recruit student participation. After the multimedia experience comes a learning opportunity. The first ever Homegrown edition of Nerd Nite will feature several pre-sentations, a HGMF-themed game as well as door prizes
The remainder of Monday’s festivities take place at a cluster of venues in Lincoln Park, several of which are new and had a test run during the Homegrown Winter Fiasco. Bards of the Twin Ports will assemble at the Duluth Folk School for the annual Homegrown Poetry Showcase at 7 p.m. An estimated 30 wordsmiths will recite works, with musical accompaniment by guitarist Richie Townsend.
Tina Higgins Wussow is excited to organize the event again and “happy to get to host and hang out with this awesome community of writers.” Lake Superior Brewing’s odd double bill includes robots and old-timey music. Bent Paddle hosts a French horn choir, of all things, as well as bluesy rock and bluegrass. On tap at Duluth Cider is a tasty mix of rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock and ska. Music runs latest at the Caddy Shack, where Rick McLean and crew cap off the night debuting material from an upcoming EP. McLean says the band is progressing in an “electric/energetic direction” and fans can “expect a few rippers in there.