Duluth Homegrown Music Festival has teamed up with the Greater Downtown Council to present Music in the HART (Historic Arts & Theater District). Starting August 2nd stop by the Lake Place Park located above the lakewalk and enjoy this great family friendly event. Please see the schedule of events below.
Category: 2018
DAY EIGHT: BRUNCH & RECOVERY
Sleep in, weary music fans, but don’t rest long on your seven-days-of-revelry laurels. The grand finale remains.
Slackers have one last chance to see the Homegrown Music Video Festival at the Red Herring. Proprietor Bob Monahan promises a bloody mary bar and bottomless mimosas with freshly squeezed juices from the Juice Pharm and some sort of brunch offering, possibly an eggs Benedict buffet.
The last music happens at Canal Park Brewing. For those needing hair of the dog, the popular bloody mary bar is open until 3 p.m. Music begins at 1:30 with Battersea, a band that incorporates instruments such as the jouhikko and bouzouki. Next comes the acoustic Americana of The Lowland Lakers.
The Teague Alexy Band is the final act of the fest. The Americana singer-songwriter will have an array of talented musicians in tow for what’s sure to be a rockin’ set. Alexy looks forward to
closing out the fest but vows not to do it quietly.
“We’re excited to take all that energy and the spirit from the whole week to celebrate what a great festival we have in Duluth — and the great thing that Homegrown has evolved into,” Alexy says. “It will be a celebration not just of the city and the festival but of the people who put all the work into it to make Homegrown what it is.”
DAY SEVEN: ROLL NIGHT
Since Saturday’s schedule boasts 52 acts spread across 15 venues, it’s best approached like a marathon, not a sprint. Jumpstart the day with the Rock ’n’ Run, led by Alan Sparhawk. If you don’t want to be left behind, Sparhawk suggests being at Chester Bowl’s ball field at 10:30 a.m. sharp.
The Homegrown Kickball Classic is scheduled for noon. It’s always an interesting mix of team spirit, athletic ineptitude, and general shenanigans. This year is sure to be a competitive spectacle, with the Rawkers and Rollers tied in the all-time series.
After the game, there’s time for a power nap before the big show at the newly restored NorShor Theatre. Scott “Starfire” Lunt, the person whose birthday bash spawned Duluth’s finest rawk fest two decades ago, curates it.
“It’s 20 years of Homegrown. The NorShor is back. Music needed to happen there,” Starfire says. “So I willed it into being.”
The variety show harkens back to early days of the fest, with short performances by Ballyhoo, Mark Lindquist, and Father Hennepin, as well as plenty of surprises.
Later in the evening, Tribal Alchemie belly dancers and the Spin Collective fire dancers will heat up the Minnesota Power Plaza.
The Owls Club Big Band will dominate the stage at R.T. Quinlan’s, with its 18 members and improvised big-band jazz numbers.
“As far as we know we’re the only jazz big band to appear this year, and we’re not sure when the last time was, if ever,” says trombonist and band manager Alex Nordehn.
DAY SIX: RAWK NIGHT
Friday night is nothing but music. Beaner’s Central has an eclectic lineup that starts light and ends heavy. Teatro Zuccone and Legacy Glassworks host similarly disparate lineups.
Travel between venues along Superior Street is made easier by the free DTA Trolley, which will feature performances by Cyr and Mel Annala.
A new venue this year is the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. The auditorium in the American Indian Community Housing
Organization’s Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin building has an expansive stage that will be well used by Sing! A Women’s Chorus, #theindianheadband and A Band Called Truman.
Those looking for a more intimate experience can check out another new venue, Blush. The collectively run bar and concert room will have a mix of genres, from hip-hop to indie rock.
The Latelys play the Rex at 10:30 p.m. The trio, led by Jenna Harting’s powerful vocals, was one of the surprise hits at Homegrown last year. It was the band’s first gig in front of a large audience, having only played together for four months.
“We were really thrilled to hear people enjoyed listening to us as much as we enjoyed playing as a group,” says pianist C.J. Hanson.
Fans can expect some new songs; the Latelys hope to release a full-length album in the next year.
Late night rawkers have a tough choice to make. Will it be Mary Bue, Gaelynn Lea or Àlamode? Post-midnight, they’ll be commanding the stages at Rex Bar, Pizza Lucé and R.T. Quinlan’s, respectively