A Facebook promotional photo for the sludge-metal trio Cerebellum captures the band standing in a beige living room next to an overstuffed couch. The blinds are drawn. A lamp throws off glare. John Roemhildt wears flannel and holds a hollow body bass guitar. Drummer James Swanson looks like a young Keith Richards dressed in black. Singer and guitarist Nick Thill has a pumpkin on his head and flips the camera the double bird. A word is added to the scene in another image: Gnarly. Cerebellum plays its Stooges-, Soundgarden- and Led Zeppelin-inspired rock regularly at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon.

“Fighting Honesty,” the 2024 single issued by The Casualty Company, is full of chiming electronics, churning acoustic guitar and a big chorus. It’s quite a studio production considering The Casualty Company is a solo project for Superior-based guitarist and songwriter Tanner Classon. “I write songs with mild passion. I record with ancient software. I wing it most of the time,” Classon tells his Spotify listeners. “It’s just me, a mic and a half-assed dream.” An Instagram video features Classon riffing through a “seggsy” acoustic guitar jam in a bedroom furnished with a Coheed and Cambria banner.

Duluth-based artist Austin Castle said he has “three chords and stories to tell.” He was the winner of Duluth Dylan Fest’s singer-songwriter contest in 2024 and performed at Country Fest in 2023. Castle sings his original Americana/country tunes and accompanies himself on acoustic guitar, supported by Cole Mikel Gewerth on electric guitar, Ashe Berton on bass, and “Big Case” Casey Gillard on cajon and/or drums. He has released two albums — Northwoods in 2022 and Seasons in 2023. A third is planned for later this year.

Cars & Trucks performs a hooky brand of thrash rock that never seems to wear out. The group formed 20 years ago when singer, songwriter and guitarist Tony Bennett and drummer Mat Milinkovich were searching for a new direction after their heavy metal act, The Dames, broke up. Adding bassist Matt Osterlund, the new band made its debut at Homegrown 2005, performing at the Red Lion under the name Olive Drab. They quickly rebranded as Cars & Trucks, releasing three albums during the band’s initial 10-year run. The trio reunited three years ago for a “secret” Homegrown show in Symphony Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and still isn’t out of gas.