12th Annual Homegrown Music Festival | 2010 Band Biographies
Bands are listed alphabetically by name. Click a letter below to skip to that secion:
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The Acceleratii
12:30am Thurs 5/6 | Norm’s Beer & Brats
As far as methhead police-chase music goes, the Acceleratii are the best in the business. Frontman Chad Lyons (a.k.a. Bo Bandit) says his group works and parties harder than any other Duluth band. “We’re not the most artsy or innovative, but fuck that,” he said. Along with bassist Ben Marsen, guitarist Steve “Gomez” Mahlberg and drummer Scott “Razzamatazz” Millis, Lyons has been “playing car shows, biker rallies, trailer trash bashes, New Year’s Eve parties, weddings, basement parties, bowling alleys, bars you wouldn’t enter without a gun, gigs in front of City Hall and at least one bris ceremony ... and that was just in one month.”

Teague Alexy Trio
9pm Mon 5/3 | Carmody
Teague Alexy broke into Duluth’s music scene 10 years ago, making a name for himself playing solo and with backing groups Medication and the Feelin’ Band. He’s perhaps best known as a member of Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, which continues to tour extensively to promote its 2009 album <em>Traveling Show</em>. Alexy continues to pile up accolades as a solo artist, though. Last summer he took Best Song honors at the Just Plain Folks Awards in Nashville for his tune “A Good Clean High (Off a Dirt-cheap Bottle of Wine)” from his album The New Folklore. At Homegrown he’ll be backed by Matt Mobley on standup bass and Bryan “Lefty” Johnson on percussion.

The Alrights                                                   
12:30am Fri 5/7 | R.T. Quinlan’s
The Alrights formed about seven years ago when Toby Churchill, Danny Cosgrove and Chad “Chavo” Amborn split from their previous band, Crazy Betty. Their well-crafted pop, highlighted by Cosgrove and Churchill’s tight harmonies, earned them a deal with City Canyon Records in 2005. The Alrights have two albums, High School and Meeting of the St. Louis County League of Volunteer Astronauts: Excerpts from the Keynote Address.

A.M. Herculis
10pm Thurs 5/6 | Thirsty Pagan Brewing
A.M. Herculis is a power trio comprised of Chad Salmela on vocals/guitar, Josh Tesch on bass and Tim Nelson on drums. The sound is thumping, riff-heavy and distortion-soaked, yet can move up and down to invoke moodiness and is at times haunting with Salmela’s cryptic lyrics intertwined with rising and falling vocal phrasing. Salmela has been performing for about a decade and has released several solo acoustic albums. Now he has crossed over to the rock world with A.M. Herculis’ self-titled, nine-song debut, recorded at Sacred Heart Studio.

Dan Anderson & His Silk Sheiks      
10pm Wed 5/5 | Rex Bar at Fitger’s
Dan Anderson is best known for his humungous organ and his gentle touch. He played his first Homegrown in 2001 with the West Duluth funk band American Hip. He later joined the Black Labels and still plays keyboard for the irrepressible Fred Tyson. His Silk Sheiks, formerly known as the Silk Sheet Quartet, is made up of Ethan Thompson on bass, Ben Marsen on guitar, Ryan Jazdzewski on drums and Matt Livingston on saxophone. The group specializes in 1960s esoterica, with neckties, cocktails and low lighting setting the mood.

Mark Anderson Trio
6:30pm Mon 5/3 | Harbor City
Guitarist and jazz trio namesake Mark Anderson says his band plays a few standards, but doesn’t stop there. “I find it more interesting to play songs in a jazz manner that aren’t normally associated with jazz,” he explains. So expect to hear some well-known classic rock and pop gems arranged for a jazz guitar trio. Drummer Marvin Pomeroy and bassist John Thorene round out the trio, giving the band a combined 75 years of playing live music.

The Antmen
11pm Mon 5/3 | Carmody
Over the past five years, the Antmen have played extensively in the Twin Ports and across the state, bringing their original folk/funk/rock to the masses. Even though singer/songwriter Brendan Flynn moved to Fargo a few years back, the band is still holding together with a solid lineup featuring bassist Karl Anderson, renowned guitar player Andy Lipke and drummer Matt Duea.

Atlas Mts.
11pm Tues 5/4 | Twins Bar
Atlas Mts. was born from the ashes of guitarist Jesse Hoheisel’s previous recording project, Holding Pattern. Mixing modern conventions such as keyboards and samples with classic flavors resembling the likes of Pink Floyd and Neil Young, Atlas Mts. is bringing its sound to Homegrown for the first time. That’s not to say the members are fresh to the scene. Though they’ve been “unintentionally shifting,” the Homegrown lineup includes solid veterans Jason Kokal and Mat Milinkovich.

Aurora Baer   
9pm Sat 5/8 | Twins Bar
It’s hard to believe Aurora Baer is only 21 years old. Her sound is rich and soulful beyond what you would expect of someone of this generation. Playing renditions of traditional blues, plus a blend of her own tunes, her voice wails with equal parts Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin, or in her own words, “velvet and whiskey.” A recent show at Carmody Irish Pub featured the whole bar singing and pounding the bar in rhythm. Her shows are high-energy and engaging. And by the way, she plays a mean harmonica.

Ballyhoo
9:30pm Sat 5/8 | R.T. Quinlan’s
From 1998 to 2002, you could noodle-dance your ass off to Ballyhoo almost anywhere in Minnesota. In addition to its four CDs, the band also put out a bouncy, earthy cover of “When I Paint My Masterpiece” on the Duluth Does Dylan compilation. Kids and jobs and whatnot have kept Ballyhoo idle for eight years, but now singer and guitarist Leon Rohrbaugh and his feel-good boys have been called out of retirement by fans and friends for a reunion show at Homegrown. The rest of the crew includes Nate Heydt on congas and other percussion, Andy Krubsak on bass, Sean Erspamer on guitar and Dan “Fitty” Fitzpatrick on drums.

Batteries
7:45pm Sat 5/8 | Teatro Zuccone
Fresh from releasing their second album You’re So Excited, the boys from Batteries are back for more Homegrown ruckus. The band has been playing stompy, cryptic rock since singer/guitarist Dave Frankenfeld and drummer Joseph Paul formed it in 2006. Since then, they’ve added local veterans Greg Cougar Conley on keys and bassist Bryon Gaynor to round out the group. Frankenfeld says “folk, noise, soul and 1960s garage rock” sounds can all be heard in Batteries’ music.

Biochemical Characters
10pm Fri 5/7 | Pioneer Bar
Biochemical Characters play an aggressive style of Americana roots rock that is much in the vein of the Rolling Stones at their loosest. Not afraid to harmonize the vocals, they also have the audacity to add accordion courtesy of Michael Gabler (who also adds bass when needed). Jay Sandal and Jay Walker play guitar and drums respectively, while all three sing. They have played around town for the past five years or so, including the Duluth Does White tribute to the Beatles’ White Album.

The Bitter Spills
9:45pm Sat 5/8 | Teatro Zuccone
With various guitars and their voices, Rich Mattson and Baby Grant Johnson perform original and traditional folk, blues and country tunes, rags and hollers. Mattson is from the Iron Range, by way of Minneapolis. Baby Grant Johnson is from Minneapolis. They’re both big city rock legends — solo and in bands like the Glenrustles, Beyond Zebra, and Ol’ Yeller — who have become adopted Duluth sons. On an average night, they might fingerpick, flatpick or use bottleneck slides on six- and 12-string guitars or Dobros. They perform ancient songs with respect, and new songs with ancient souls.

Blue Water Dance
8:45pm Sat 5/8 | Teatro Zuccone
Blue Water Dance plays music that could soundtrack the upcoming apocalypse. Led by singer and guitarist Ashton George, the band deals in epic minor-key metal — sort of a modern day Black Sabbath with punky undertones. Blake Pekkala’s basslines keep things slow and ominous, while Nate Rendulich’s propulsive drums prevent the songs from growing stagnant. The band is recording and hopes to have an EP out soon.

Boku Frequency
10pm Sat 5/8 | Beaner’s Central
Playing a heady mix of funk, soul and classic rock, Boku Frequency has been getting Duluth hipsters to dance since its debut at the Red Lion on Halloween night of 2002. The band claims Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone as influences, and guitarist Terry Gum plays like a mashup of the two — funky and rhythmic, occasionally launching into a molten, rock-oriented solo. In the rhythm section, Tom Harris sets the groove with melodic bass lines, and Tony Dashel’s clattering freestyle drums keep things spontaneous.

Bone Appetit
12:45am Fri 5/7 | Rex Bar at Fitgers
Through puke breath and a Night Train slur, singer Hot Rod Heartthrob mumbles that Bone Appetit is a “booze-drinkin’, ass-slappin’, sleazy rock-and-roll band that only plays anthems.” Those anthems can be sentimental, like “Drive Away” or “Alyssa,” but are usually hardcore, like “Hepatitis A (Spring Break)” and “Fight to Kill.” “If the crowd doesn’t sing it,” Hot Rod growls, between vurps, “We don’t bring it.” Richie Gunns and Jizzy Young shred guitars, Double Barrel brings the drum thunder and Suddendeath holds a bass guitar and occasionally attempts to keep up. Free MP3s from the band’s 2002 release Love, Lust, and Rock ’n’ Roll are at sexiestband.com.

The Boomchucks
12am Thurs 5/6 | Thirsty Pagan
Jamie Ness and Brad Nelson first teamed up in 2000, when Nelson drummed on Ness’ cover of “Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands” for the Duluth Does Dylan compilation. But they didn’t get together at Homegrown until 2008, when Nelson’s duo Los Besos needed a fill-in for Alan Sparhawk. “Brad and I were rehearsing for quite a while before we had that gig together,” Ness said. “So this was in the works.” Ness and Nelson soon inherited Los Besos’ weekly gig at the Brewhouse, where they’ve been honing their two-piece country/rock sound for almost two years. Last fall they named their band — the Boomchucks — and they released a self-titled debut album in February.

Bradical Boombox
9:45pm Fri 5/7 | Rex Bar
Brad Fernholz farms organic strawberries, vegetables and livestock near Appleton. “The soil out here is awesome,” he says, “yet my art and music family still reside in the Twin Ports.” His music in Bradical Boombox “can be all over the place really: garage opera, folk, indie rock, punk country, electronica. The sound we will have for Homegrown I would describe as experimental folk rock, maybe.” Fernholz expects his Homegrown band to be an assemblage of his sister Diane, friends from Hotel Coral Essex, and other guests (such as Ryan and Patrick Nelson and Amanda Woidyla). No word on whether they’ll sell produce at the merch table.

Bratwurst
12:30am Thurs 5/6 | Main Club
Bratwurst is Tyler Scouton, Ben Tryon and Jason Ratajek — three Krautrock-influenced industrial-punk weirdos who’ve been bewildering the local scene for 11 years now. Fresh from headlining a couple of gigs at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon, the band is ready to “rock your pants off” this Homegrown. Expect lots of jarring samples, pummeling drum loops and noises you didn’t know could come from a keyboard.

The Bricks
9:30pm Sat 5/8 | The Play Ground
After winning Duluth’s Battle of the Bands in 2008, the Bricks went on hiatus, but now they’re back at work. According to bassist Nick Spielman, the group’s sound ranges from heavy funk to something approaching heavy metal, and “is characterized most obviously by Lauren Verhel’s soaring vocals and the sublimely harmonic guitar work of Jason Munns and Reuben Verdoljak.” Spielman teams with drummer Chad Erlemeier to produce the band’s subtle rhythms. They claim Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers, Opeth, Dream Theater and Steve Vai among their many influences.

The Brothers Band
8pm Fri 5/7 | Beaner’s Central
Since forming in Fall 2008, the Brothers Band has been spreading its fuzzy doom generously around the basement punk scene (along with the occasional bar gig). Brothers in rock ’n’ roll Colin Sinz, Brian Wells and Jake Paulsrud grew up together in Eau Claire. After high school they all happened to find themselves living in Duluth and decided to start a band to showcase their dynamic music backgrounds. Their sound includes very heavy blues-driven psychedelic doom-metal guitar riffs accompanied by grooving, heavy, dynamic bass lines backed with drums that are loud as hell, super-tight and not afraid of solos.

Cancer Romancer and the Fortune Friends   
10pm Sat 5/8 | Twins Bar
Raphael Tiller — the Cancer Romancer — returns for his third Homegrown appearance, this time backed by a pair of friends. Guitarist Andy Stern of Fearless Moral Inventory fame, and drummer/guitarist Rich Kangas of Iron River, Mich., complete this new indie-Americana trio. “We’re kind of like your favorite band, but just a little bit better,” says Tiller, who came to Duluth for college and never left, discovering “it’s an awesome place to write awesome music.”

Canine Heart Sounds
12am Tues 5/4 | Twins Bar
Canine Heart Sounds is a four-piece experimental band with roots in Eau Claire, but three of its four members — Zach Hegg, Matt McElroy and Matt Peterson — live in the Twin Ports. Drummer Dan Westerlund will be joining the group for Homegrown after finishing a tour with the Bowerbirds. Canine Heart Sounds combines instrumentals and songs with vocals into an ambient mix that is rich in texture and layers. The band’s first full-length album is in the works.

Cars & Trucks
11:45pm Fri 5/7 | Rex Bar
“We play rock-and-roll you can bob your head to,” says drummer Mat Milinkovich, who since the mid-1990s has been in more good Duluth bands than almost anyone except for his mates, singer-guitarist Tony Bennett and bassist Mat Osterlund. “Try to picture the love child of the Kinks and Led Zeppelin,” Milinkovich says. “We play pop music that’s not afraid to kick a little ass.” The band’s second release, Mere Mortals, came out in October. It’s a concept album about death.

Cellodreams
10pm Fri 5/7 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Cellist Kathy McTavish’s early classical training and studies of composition and musical theory have served as a jumping-off point for the improvised pieces she creates today. An in-demand local performer, she has lent her talents to local band Yeltzi, performs with guitarist Richie Townsend as Cosmic Pit Orchestra, and collaborates with poet Sheila Packa in the project Wildwood River. In 2009, McTavish was awarded an American Composers Forum/Jerome Foundation commission to compose and perform a work for electrified solo cello called “River Icarus: Rusted Bridge/Deep Water.”

Circa A.M.
12am Fri 5/7 | Twins Bar
The hardcore industrial band Circa A.M. brings an original blend of technologically advanced patterns and hard-pounding garage metal. The members — Kent Paulsen on drums, Don Lisdahl on bass and Allen Cragin on guitar and programming — all share vocal duties. Circa A.M. has a few very interesting songs to listen for, including “He Stepped Down” and “Fear of Collecting,” which join the techno and basement party band worlds in an unholy matrimony. 

Circadian Nations
9:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Norm’s Beer & Brats
The members of Circadian Nations have been playing together at parties and coffee shops for a few years, but finally decided to form a proper band in 2009. “We tried to meld our common influences — old-school goth like Joy Division, Nick Cave, Cure and Sisters of Mercy, and old-time country like Johnny Cash, Roger Miller and Hank Williams — and ended up with something we find interesting and unique,” says guitar player Rob Fernquist. He teams with David Aldridge to produce the band’s fluid, folky guitar playing. Joshua Jordan adds deadpan vocals and Luke Olson rounds out the group on bass guitar.

Clyde Iron
11pm Fri 5/7 | Burrito Union
Jessica Myshack and Jason Koski have been playing folk music together as Clyde Iron since 2007. Myshack handles rhythm and bass guitars and Koski plays the lead. Their group has been through a few lineup changes, but remains a trio with the recent addition of guitarist Nick Hanson. Myshack and Koski have been working on solo albums in addition to their work in Clyde Iron.

Coal Car Caboose
10:30pm Fri 5/7 | R.T. Quinlan’s
Lead singer and guitarist Brian Schanzenbach calls his ska band’s sound “very upbeat reggae meets punk rock, with three horns. Very danceable and high energy!” If a band with seven members can’t whip up some energy, what band can? Dave Adams and Patrick Sunderland sing and play trumpet. Alex Nordehn sings and plays trombone. Keith Yanes plays bass. Luke Nyen sings and plays guitar. Steve Lueck drums. “Homegrown is very different than our normal gigs,” says Schanzenbach. "We get to play to crowds that may not normally come to our shows, and the energy of the whole event is amazing and we absolutely feed off of that.”

Coyote           
8pm Wed 5/5 | Amazing Grace
Banjo player and singer Marc Gartman says Coyote plays “hypnotic acoustic folk songs.” His perspective on Homegrown is unique: “We’re all part of a larger beast,” he says. “Like Voltron.” Which isn’t to say Gartman and his mates — singer and guitarist Jerree Small, stand-up bass player Matt Mobley and percussionist Bryan “Lefty” Johnson —sound like 1980s animated robots. Coyote’s second album, <em>When it All Comes Down</em>, builds on acoustic folk and its 20th Century backwoods Americana flavors, with strains of Middle-Eastern harmony and other elements. Expect a hushed crowd, meticulous harmonies and a pleasant, rustic vibe.

Crew Jones
2am Sat 5/8 | Pizza Luce
Ben Larson and Sean Elmquist have “outsized egos stemming from outsized talent,” according to Larson, who raps by the name Burly Burlesque. Elmquist, who provides the beats under the name Mic Trout, provides the signature barncore hip-hop sound behind Larson’s bizarre rants. “We are sure that art is not the ‘excavation of the self,’” Larson says. “That is, there actually is no self — no tiny you-ness hidden somewhere inside like a tiny homunculus. You are merely a network of texts. Art, then, is the successful combinatory recapitulation of these texts in a world that is always already full, as is the ‘canvas’ upon which one is shuffling, rehabilitating and revivifying previously existing texts.”

Shana David
9pm Fri 5/7 | Red Star Lounge
Shana David arrived in Duluth about a year and a half ago via Jacksonville, Fla. She will be lending her minimalist pop style and wry sense of humor the Associated Press calls “absurd, yet poignant.” Though she can be heard with a mini moog on her debut EP Terminally Bourgeoisie she pairs her voice with a piano in the live setting. Her moog-laden track “I Fucked Up” (which has garnered the attention of Minor Threat/Fugazi/Dischord mastermind Ian MacKaye) can be heard on her page at shrugrecords.com.

Dead Man Winter
10pm Fri 5/7 | Twins Bar
Dave Simonett, best known for his work with Trampled by Turtles, is the frontman of this Americana folk-rock side project. Dead Man Winter’s lineup is a bit inconsistent, but generally features Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank drummer Paul Grill, multi-instrumentalist Erik Koskinen of Erik Koskinen Band, and Ryan Young and Tim Saxhaug of Trampled by Turtles. The band released an EP called Wolves in February.

Dewskiwater Grooves           
10pm Wed 5/5 | Lake Avenue Café
Dewskiwater Grooves is a new quintet that’s quickly carving itself a niche in Duluth’s crowded jam-band scene. The emphasis here is on groove: Ian Kvale’s bass and Matt Reed’s drums lay the rhythmic groundwork, while guitarists Kai Goellner and Dewey Poncelot trade melodic solos and Jamie Varner wails away on harmonica. Imagine a mash up of Led Zeppelin, Phish and new-age philosophy to get some idea of the group’s sound.

Die[ode]
9pm Sat 5/8 | Beaner’s
The members of Die[ode] pride themselves on “staying true to the fundamentals of hip hop,” according to emcee Brandon “SikCense” Hermsen. But he says they’re also “not afraid to branch out and take influences from all genres of music.” Fellow emcees Doug Lefebvre and Jon “Former Fetus” Peterson meld their individual styles into a cohesive form that Hermsen says is “believable and refreshing.” They’ve shared a bill with Twin Cities rap heavyweights Heiruspecs and Unknown Prophets, and they’re working on a mixtape and a full-length album.

Dios Mio
1am Fri 5/7 | Pizza Luce
Punk quintet Dios Mio plays thrashy, anthemic hardcore songs about touring, drinking, and fishing pizzas out of trash containers. Colin Sinz and Chito McFlurry slash at their guitars, Jack Gribble pummels his drums, Isaiah Davis keeps a sort of order on bass, and Ryan Sinz screams about life among the young and inebriated. Think the Replacements before they found maturity, or the Dead Kennedys without all the politics. Also, if you get Dios Mio drunk, they’ll play songs by British reggae-hitmakers, UB40.

The DTs
9:45pm Sat 5/8 | Rex Bar
Spawned in Willmar in 1996, this punk trio has been rocking the Twin Ports since 2001, playing its first Homegrown in 2003. Guitarist and vocalist Jedd Olson and drummer Seth Gronli are founding members; Jeremy Ehlert, who joined the band before last year’s Homegrown, is bassist number three. The band has released a full-length album and a split 7-inch with the Keep Aways.  Olson is also a member of Mr. Kickass, and Ehlert plays in Total Freedom Rock.

Duck Duck Punch      
8:30pm Sat 5/8 | The Play Ground
If you like keytars, synthesizers, drum machines and screen savers, there is a good chance you will like Duck Duck Punch. Bryan Rudell and Trent Waterman met several years ago while attending UMD. They both felt 1980s synth pop needed a revival, so they started a band with that goal in mind. Duck Duck Punch made its debut opening for famous keytar-heroes Freezepop at UMD last year and have been keeping busy ever since. The band’s live setup is unlike any others at Homegrown, with six large video monitors running behind them during their set.

Duray and Green
9pm Fri 5/7 | Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake
Paul Duray and Thomas Daniel Green are an acoustic duo that blurs the lines between alt country, blues and folk. “We’re kind of ‘adult alternative’ for the 40-something crowd,” Duray says. He and Green got together in 2007 as a couple dads “who like to perform and write songs about life, love and family.” They played some open-mic nights at Beaner’s Central and released a self-produced CD called Anything and Everything. Duray said he appreciates that Homegrown provides an opportunity to “be placed in an unfamiliar, non-hostile environment with a totally new audience. That keeps things exciting.”

Eeriearq
10:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Norm’s Beer & Brats
Eleven years and ten albums later, Eeriearq is still going strong. The band’s main musical focus has been on writing and recording original, dark-tinged alt-rock music. “Although our general genre is rock, we don’t stick to one style,” says drummer Amy Ugstad. “Our tunes range from edgy rock to melodic mope to old-school punk.” Ugstad says her bandmates — singer/guitarist Bret Walczynski and bassist Jason Szumowski — each bring their own diverse musical tastes into the band’s sound. “A common thread is the darker punk/pop/rock sound from the late 1970s and ’80s to the harder rock of the ’90s,” she says.

Equal Xchange
10:45pm Sat 5/8 | Rex Bar
It’s been a tough year for Equal Xchange. Three weeks after playing the 2009 Homegrown, drummer Brad Rozman died unexpectedly. “But the Xchange is coming back together,” says frontman Rain Elfvin. “We will be using a Dr. Sample, which will provide break beats for nine brand new songs. That is my Homegrown guarantee — a set of nine brand new songs.” Joining Elfvin and Dr. Sample will be guitarist Jesse Hoheisel and bassist Jason Kokal. “Just don’t call us hip-hop,” Elfvin cautions. “It’s rock music with rapping. Kind of.”

Excuse Me Princess
6:30pm Sat 5/8 | The Play Ground
Jack Campbell and Sam Wattrus of the band Completely Random formed Excuse Me Princess last summer as a duo playing nuanced chamber-pop music. Their first show was at the Acadia Café in Minneapolis with musical friends Courtney Yasmineh and Bill Mike. In December, Greta Konkler joined the group on vocals. For Homegrown, they’ll be adding keyboardist Andrew Florestano and drummer Beau Raymond. Band members are ages 15-17.
                       
Father Hennepin
12:30am Sat 5/8 | R.T. Quinlan’s
Homegrown is not only Scott Lunt’s birthday party, it’s the anniversary of his band Father Hennepin’s first gig. Since the alt-country group only performs about once a year, they tend to go all out. Last year’s Homegrown show featured numerous cameos and unrestrained revelry. The regular cast includes Ted Anderson, Bob Olson and Suzie Ludwig, with either Brad Nelson or Jim Hagstrom on drums.

First Class Failure
8:30pm Fri 5/7 | The Play Ground
Guitarists Zac Abukhodair and Grant Murray are both fulltime students who have succeeded in touring the upper Midwest while consistently playing local venues as First Class Failure. They will bring their brand of blithe, acoustic pop to this year’s Homegrown with new songs and their familiar, amiable attitude. A new EP is in the works, tentatively set for a release in the summer. The band is planning to hit the road again in June.

500 Million Society    
9:30pm Fri 5/7 | R.T. Quinlan’s
The group formerly known as the 550 Million Society is now 500 Million Society. What happened to the other 50 million? “It went to the banks to keep them ‘afloat,’” says keyboardist Paul Broman. Led by Tim Nelson’s Zeppelinesque guitar and Broman’s burbling synth, the band’s songs are a noisy blend of 1960s pop and ’70s stoner rock. Anchoring the rhythm section are Jim Hagstrom, who batters his drums as though he’s nursing a grudge, and Dicky Brooks, whose nimble, nuanced bass lines keep the group from drifting into the stratosphere. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in February.

The Fish Heads
10pm Fri 5/7 | Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake
The Fish Heads mix 1970s and ’80s rock with traditional bluegrass music. “You’ll hear everything from the Doobie Brothers to the Beatles, as well as Old Crow Medicine Show and Gillian Welch, mixed with original and high-energy traditional bluegrass music,” says Kim Curtis-Monson, who fronts the band with her husband, Mike Monson. The multi-instrumentalist couple is joined by Brian Ford on banjo. The Fish Heads have produced one album, 2004’s Tales From the Dock Side.

Bill Flannagan
10pm Sat 5/8 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
There’s nothing much complicated about Bill Flannagan, but don’t misunderstand him. “I play rockin’, honky-tonkin’ blues,” says the local-scene vet who has played almost every venue from Superior to Two Harbors and is recording a CD with Eric Swanson at Sacred Heart Studio. “Even though this is a solo acoustic show, think loud, not quiet. The guitar is plugged in and it ain’t no folky hummin’ and strummin’ stuff.” This is Flannagan’s eighth Homegrown. He says a few friends might sit in “if they’re in town.”

The Fontanelles
1am Sat 5/8 | Pizza Lucé
The Fontanelles will be making their Homegrown debut this year, though most of them are familiar faces in the Duluth music scene. The band’s formation sounds more like an awkward hookup — members Gabe Douglas, Dave Mehling, Darin Rieland, Woody Sulberg and Dano Sauter had several drunken encounters at bars with each other and decided to form a band. The result: lots of dirty rock and roll and lots of empty beer cans. Show goers can look forward to hearing the debut of two new songs “You Can Call Me Al — Sparhawk” and “The Duluth Homegrown Rock.”

The Fractals
11pm Thurs 5/6 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Although everyone in the Fractals has played Homegrown, and the band has been around since the fall of 2003, this year marks the group’s first entry into the festival. Led by guitarists Barry Pirkola and Jimi Cooper, the Fractals play a wide variety of original music and classic rockabilly, rock, surf, old-time country and nearly everything in between. The rhythm section is made up of bassist Larry “Lefty” Sandmann and drummer Marvin Pomeroy. They’ve held a standing gig as the Thursday-night house band at Thirsty Pagan Brewing Co. for over six years.

The Fromundas
10:30pm Sat 5/8 | R.T. Quinlan’s
Pioneers of the Duluth music scene, the Fromundas haven’t been heard from much in the past 13 years, but the band’s reunion is sure to be regarded as welcome and triumphant. With a stellar staff of seasoned musicians, including Tina Ludwig-Laxen on vocals, Scott Cover on rhythm guitar, Jimmy Myers on lead guitar, Paul Wilson on drums and Chris Bacigalupo (of Tangier 57 fame) on the bass, the electricity these folks generate is off the grid! Expect to hear a mix of old favorites and new inflections for a new century.

The Good Colonels
8pm Sat 5/8 | Beaner’s Central
Codie Leseman and Curtis Mattson formed the Good Colonels in 2008 as a duo and expanded in 2009 to include bass player Joe Conaway. The band is influenced by musicians such as Modest Mouse, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Battles. The Good Colonels combine these influences to create a unique blend of post-rock, indie and psychedelic rock, performing with an upbeat party attitude.

Group Too
7:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Red Mug Coffeehouse
Blues band Group Too was formed nine years ago by guitarist Bob Flatt and bassist Carol Flatt. Drummer Greg Tiburzi joined in 2009. The group has produced one album, Life and Marriage and is working on a follow up. Tiburzi can also be found at Homegrown performing with Wes Hadrich and Sweetgrass.

Wes Hadrich & Greg Tiburzi
12pm Sun 5/9 | Pizza Luce
Attention fans of alt-country, Uncle Tupelo and Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album: Wes Hadrich and Greg Tiburzi’s songs are plaintive and sad, rife with drunks and drifters and hard-luck women. But Hadrich’s fluid guitar playing and emotive vocals keep even his most desolate stories anchored in hope. The new duo is working on its first album.

Healthy Band Music Club
10:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Main Club
Three members of the now-defunct Deathblade Epic’s Champions — Luke Holden, Nick Sunsdahl and Chelsy Whittington — teamed up with Molly Josefson to form Healthy Band Music Club last year, playing Deathblade’s slot at Homegrown. Since then they’ve added Grace Holden on trumpet. “She just moved to Duluth a few months ago and we snapped her up to do trumpet and ukulele — and dancing,” says Whittington. “We’re just your really average band/music club. We play together every week. Sometimes twice a week. We really love playing.”

Shaunna Heckman
9pm Wed 5/5 | Amazing Grace & Café
Shaunna Heckman has been involved with the Duluth music scene since 2000. She has collaborated with a number of local artists over the past decade in the singer/songwriter format, but she has also dabbled in trip hop, down tempo and electronica. Recently, Heckman has reworked her act and is sporting a new, simpler sound that features Kyle Keagan on drums and Matt Mobley on bass. Assisting Heckman with vocal effects is Dan Nelson of her former project, Gleam. Her new music is best described as piano-based chill, with ambient vocals. Fans of Imogen Heap or This Mortal Coil should take note.

Hidden Roots
2pm Sun 5/9 | Sacred Heart
Adam and John Sippola have been fixtures in the Duluth music scene since 1981. The father-and-son duo has been making music since Adam was 5 years old. As the experimental-folk duo Hidden Roots they connect their structured songs with rich, operatic vocals and improvised bridges. Adam also performs solo and with his rock band, Cold Current.

High Volt Rustler
10pm Sun 5/2 | Pizza Luce
Utah native Pauline Russell’s dad encouraged her to play and sing from a young age. She performed as a solo artist after moving to Duluth in the late 1990s, but single motherhood gave her limited time to pursue music. After she married guitarist Allen Klingsporn, the two started jamming together at home, then invited good friend Rich Taylor to join on bass. Russell recruited co-worker Brad Rozman to play drums, and High Volt Rustler was born. The band recorded its first album, No Longer Blue, at Sacred Heart Music Center. Sadly, Rozman never heard the finished product; he died in 2009, well before the disc’s release this past March. Veteran Duluth musician Christopher Modec-Halvorson now rounds out the rhythm section.

The Hotel Coral Essex
10:45pm Fri 5/7 | Rex Bar
Hotel Corral Essex was formed by former Giljunko members Tony Derrick and Patrick Nelson in late 2006. Drawing from their shared love of 1960s psychodelic music as well as ’70s power pop à la Big Star and the New York Dolls, the two soon recruited Nelson’s brother Ryan to play drums and Derrick’s longtime friend Jason Kokal to play bass. Soon after, the band recorded its debut album Glisten, which helped expand on an already growing fan base. The band briefly disbanded in 2008 while Derrick and Kokal formed the Tisdales, but they marked their return with the addition of saxophonist Brad Fernholz in 2009.

Humanoid
10:15pm Sat 5/8 | Carmody
Humanoid began its musical journey in 2001. What started as an acoustic solo act for Kyle Alan Maclean eventually turned into a full-fledged rock and roll band. Humanoid has since been stripped back down to a solo act, with Maclean returning to his roots of playing solo, quiet pop-rock songs as he once did not only with Humanoid, but also his old band Sleepfarmer. Drawing inspiration from daily life, love, lost love, struggle and peace, Humanoid has something to say that just about anybody can relate to and enjoy.

Charity Huot
11pm Sat 5/8 | Burrito Union
Singer/songwriter Charity Huot grew up in a home filled with music and has been a writer since she was in middle school. She learned how to play guitar in college and quickly combined her love for all things creative. Her debut album, Tangled Directions, contained 10 songs about 10 distinct life experiences. Her music is influenced by jazz, alternative folk and bluegrass. Charity has performed around much of Northern Minnesota and is currently writing music for her sophomore album, which she hopes to record later this year.

Indulge
11pm Sat. 5/8 | Pizza Lucé
Indulge made its debut at last year’s Homegrown, pummeling the audience to near submission with sludge- and speed-fueled hardcore. The band, which consists of Mike Wilson, Kyle O'Leary and Ryan and Colin Sinz, often engage in, well, indulgent rituals of food and drink prior to brutalizing the often unsuspecting crowd. On one occasion, drummer Ryan Sinz shotgunned five Mountain Dews before their 10-minute set was over. Rumor has it he will be attempting to down an entire 12-pack in half the time at this year’s festival. Paramedics will not be standing by.

Iron Range Outlaw Brigade
11:15pm Sat 5/8 | Carmody
The sound of Iron Range Outlaw Brigade recalls a time when country music wasn’t sung by men with gelled hair. This is gutbucket country — rowdy, hard-luck songs featuring banjo by Bearclaw Jay and petal steel guitar by John Peterson. Rounding out the group are Kirk Kjenaas on acoustic guitar, Dustin Savela on bass and Dave Stickney on drums. Go to the show, down a shot of Wild Turkey and pretend that Rascal Flatts never existed.

Steve Isakson
10pm Sat 5/8 | Burrito Union
Steve Isakson has been a fixture in the local scene since the mid-1990s. Aside from recording and playing guitar with artists as diverse as Sara Softich, Lookdown Moon and Max Dakota and Modern Life, Isakson has been busy honing his own material. In 2008, he won the Beaner’s Central singer-songwriter competition, and has lately recorded more than 20 demos. He describes his style as bluesy folk-rock, and lists among his influences Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen. Backing him at Homegrown will be John and Rory Isakson on bass and percussion.

James and Younger
11am Sun 5/9 | Pizza Luce
The members of James and Younger have known one another or have played music with one another for many years, being parts of such bands as the Alrights, Port Authority, Crazy Betty, the Very People, Accidental Porn and Knockout Jones. The group features Rochelle Luoma on vocals, Ethan Thompson on bass, Chad Chavo Amborn on drums and Nate Mattson on guitar. They play soul and rhythm and blues, and cite a long spectrum of influences that includes artists, Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, Thelonious Monk and J.J. Cale.

Rory James
10pm Tues 5/4 | Chester Creek Café Wine Bar
Rory James’ rough baritone voice and old-time songs sound like they are sung from a lost northwoods cabin. A singer/songwriter whose guitar work ranges from intricate finger picking to rumbling acoustic blues riffs, James occasionally augments his songs with dobro, drums or bass guitar. He performs regularly at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake and Fitger’s Brewhouse, and recently returned from a stint of gigs in Oregon and Washington.

Kip Jones
10pm Wed 5/5 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Violinist Kip Jones describes his music as “traditional fiction” — that is, “traditional music from regions or people that don’t exist.” Having dragged his violin across the Americas from Cape Breton to Tierra del Fuego, and across Asia from Kanyakumari to Jeollanamdo, years of travel have shaped Jones’ music into something structurally foreign and profoundly American. He fiddles, stomps and sings, handing off the responsibility of melody from his voice to his violin. This style pervades almost all of his original material, to say nothing of reinterpretations of Foo Fighters, Björk or Mississippi John Hurt, among others.

Tim Kaiser
6:45pm Sat 5/8 | Teatro Zuccone
Born and raised in Duluth, Tim Kaiser has been creating music for for 30 years. As a “crazy Frankenstein” instrument builder, he has been profiled in various publications as well as the nationally broadcast PBS series, Make TV. Reviews have depicted Kaiser’s work as “atmospheric,” creating “sonic landscapes” with his unique sound. Musically, Kaiser has presented his electro-acoustical/experimental music all over the world, including Brazil, Germany and Hong Kong. He has various projects with record labels Canada Goose, Housepig and Innova.

Lisa Kane
11pm Fri 5/7 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Lisa Kane sings her plaintive, no-fuss songs with the authority and grace of a born storyteller. Since breaking from funk/fusion band Zelpha Trippe in 1997, she has made a name for herself as a solo performer, releasing three albums. Kane has been nominated for a Minnesota Music Award and had her songs featured on Minnesota Public Radio. Think Lucinda Williams or Kathleen Edwards — rootsy, acoustic rock with lilting melodies and smart lyrics. Joining Kane for Homegrown will be violinist Rachel Nelson.

The Keep-Aways
9pm Fri 5/7 | Twins Bar
At last year’s Homegrown, the Keep Aways rocked the late-night slot, bringing out special guests Maya Galvin and Cory “Hot Rod” Ahlm at around 3 a.m. to rip out a version of “Hepatitis A.” This year, they’re helping get the Friday night party started at the Twins Bar. The power punk trio of Mindy Johnson, Nikki Moeller and Chris Warne haven’t played much lately, but are considering Homegrown their launch into a busier summer. They’ve been working on new songs for the follow up to their 2008 album, Decay.

Rachael Kilgour
3pm Sun 5/9 | Sacred Heart
Rachael Kilgour sings about love, heartache, family and social justice with determination and charm. Born and raised in Duluth, she is a multi-instrumentalist who has toured throughout the Midwest as a backup singer and violinist for Catie Curtis. Kilgour released her self-titled debut CD in December 2008. Produced by Haley Bonar, the album has received considerable radio play in the region. Kilgour will be joined on stage by backup vocalist Adeline Wright and bassist Matt Mobley.

Kritical Kontact
12am Thurs 5/6 | Rex Bar at Fitger’s
Kritical Kontact has been bringing its brand of spiritual, positive and occasionally political hip hop to the masses for seven years. Concerned more with having fun and sharing their music with the masses than ego stroking and chest thumping, MCs Jesse “Jaze” Unger, David “Bliss” Kittelson, Larry “Legitimit” Letourneau and DJ Derek Delgado have spent much of the past year touring the country, including a memorable benefit show for first responders in New York City on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Their most recent album is 2008’s Evolution of Revolution.

Sarah Krueger
8:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Red Mug Coffeehouse
Sarah Krueger may be best known for her performance on American Idol. The Eau Claire native made the trip to Hollywood in 2007 for the Fox TV show. She broke into Duluth’s music scene shortly after, as a vocalist for Heavy J and the Fantastics. Lately she’s been honing her skills as a solo folk-based acoustic artist. “The band is still together, but everyone kind of has their own projects now,” she said. “Some of the guys are in Two Beat Band, some of them are in Bigtree Bonsai … a bunch of different things.” Kruegar might not be totally solo at Homegrown, however. “Maybe some friends will join me on banjo, bass, mando, other guitars, or some occasional spoons and trinkets,” she says.

The K-Tones  
9:15pm Sat 5/8 | Carmody
A K-Tone’s set reads like the playlist of a classic rock station too good to actually exist. “Dead Flowers” followed by “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” followed by “Jenny Jenny Jenny” and on and on until the end of the night. Expect a wide variety of songs, lots of boozy sing-alongs, and a sound the band describes as “old vinyl playing on a jukebox in a small-town bar.” Guitarists Steve Malberg and Jan Miller trade fiery solos while Tom Kiminski handles percussion and lead vocals. Chris Wellumson anchors the rhythm section on bass.

Leif Acoustic 
10pm Fri 5/7 | Burrito Union
Leif Acoustic is singer and guitarist Leif Hinkel’s indie-folk project. His songs are fast-paced and frantic, with feverish guitar strumming and emotive vocals reminiscent of the Shins and Neutral Milk Hotel. He’s currently finishing up his half of a split CD with Tanner Groehler, and working at putting together a backing band.

The Little Black Books
11:30pm Sat 5/8 | R.T. Quinlan’s
Since frontman Mark Lindquist became a daddy in 2008, the Little Black Books have been on hiatus. In the song “Hey Buddy,” released on the Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Lindquist’s Mix compilation, Lindquist sang his farewell: “Goodnight to all my barroom friends. I got some kids to raise, and I’ll be back again.” Well, he’s back again. “Yes, it is a return,” says Lindquist. There will be “shows, a new CD, a new 7-inch record, a Harbor City Rollerdames tribute song, and a new Christmas song.” Lindquist and the band’s original guitar player, Bob Olson, are joined by new members Ethan Thompson and Jim Hagstrom. The previous lineups released three albums: Only One Name in My Little Black Book, Black Out and Sparta Circle Drive.

Lookdown Moon
10am Sun 5/9 | Pizza Luce
Jason and Anne Loop, the founders of Lookdown Moon, have been active participants in the Duluth music scene for more than a decade, collaborating with artists on live shows and recordings. They began as an acoustic group, writing and playing as a duo with Jason on guitar and Anne on vocals, until they added various members to create a full band. Anne describes the group as “an eclectic mix of sounds and genres, with powerful vocals and skeletal, guitar-driven melodies.” These veterans to Homegrown are joined by drummer Dan Westholm, bassist George Ellsworth and guitar player Steve Isakson.

Jesse Luoma   
11pm Tues 5/4 | Burrito Union
Jesse Luoma has been connected with Duluth’s music scene since 2004, when he assembled the Very People, piecing together members of Soul Prophets, Port Authority and Accidental Porn. Now, Luoma is a solo artist, playing what he calls “acoustic non-folk folk.” He’ll be joined by bassist Steve Garrington of Low and Retribution Gospel Choir.

Malec
12:45am Sat 5/8 | Rex Bar
Guitar player Shawn Burr says his metal band Malec just loves to play music. “Each of us brings our own individual influences to each song, which makes for what we hope is an enjoyable listening experience,” he says. “Our music can jump genres while always staying in the general hard-rock category.” Burr has been shredding strings with fellow founding members Kevin Malec and Will Stensby for almost a decade. Josh White joined the band about five years ago, and Sam Malec was added about 18 months ago.

Manheat
10pm Fri 5/7 | Pizza Luce
Punk rock trio Manheat is an onslaught of sound from start to finish. Jay Whitcomb sings and plays bass, Brennan Atchison is the drummer, and new recruit Jake Larson has taken over guitar duties from former member Brandon Helberg. Their songs are a bit catchy, but they also have a rough edge that holds their shows in a punk rock full-nelson. Although they cite Barbara Streisand movies and Thomas Kincaide paintings as influences, these guys like to play thunderously loud and not let up all show long.

MC1980
11pm Sat 5/8 | Twins Bar
Former Number One Common frontman Cory Jezierski has made the transition from heavy metal to hip hop with his new persona, MC1980. A full-length album Public Transportation is already out. He teams with Bliss from Kritical Kontact for a side project, Modern Gentlemen, which toured with Kritical Kontact and Nobuddie on the Search for Bigfoot Tour in January and February. Future plans include a few short Midwest tours and a Modern Gentlemen album.

Bill Meier & Poetry Motel
9pm Tues 5/3 | Chester Creek Café Wine Bar
For almost 20 years, Patrick McKinnon was editor of the Duluth-based poetry magazines North Coast Review and Poetry Motel. He left town for awhile, and since returning has been busier that ever. In addition to having a large non-cancerous brain tumor removed, he’s put out a poetry chapbook called The Save My Life Book, collaborated with a handful musicians, spent longs hours on the telephone with John Holden for a video blog (poetrymotel.org) and teamed up with Bill Meier and Ryan Jazdzewski to form a band that integrates slam poetry with music. “This band sets new beatnik boundaries for poets and musicians,” McKinnon said.

Robi Meyerson
1pm Sun 5/9 | Sacred Heart
Hailing from Richfield, acoustic musician Robi Meyerson has seemingly exploded with songs since moving to Duluth in 2000. She has performed at an eclectic array of venues, including coffee houses, bars, nursing homes and children’s events. With more than seven albums completed, including Christmas and children’s albums, it’s clear that her passion is making and sharing music. Recent funding from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council supports her most recent effort, volume two of her children’s recordings, Little Treasures Sing and Dance.

Mikey Talented
12:15am Sat 5/8 | Carmody
This year marks the fifth and perhaps last Homegrown appearance for the ska ensemble known as Mikey Talented. Guitarist Matt Stroozas, drummer Joe Buchanan, bassist Keir Gellatly and singer Dan Fuhs intend to break up the band before the end of 2010. Influenced by Saves the Day, Less than Jake and Weezer, Mikey Talented is known for danceable music with an unpredictable style.

The Moon is Down
12am Fri 5/7 | Pizza Lucé
The Moon is Down is the mastermind of Milwaukee transplant Glenn Maloney, who has not only made a name for himself playing music, but also by starting a record label (the Automaton Records Media Conglomerate) and a silk screening business (Moon Robot Screen Printing). Why is this mentioned? Because Maloney’s ability to multi-task has aided in the self-release of his ambitious new album The Moon is Down’s Excellent Adventure — an album Maloney promises is the most brutal folk album ever released. He is joined live by bassist Mark Thiel, drummer Luke Holden, guitarist Mark Poe and percussionist Jennifer Poe.

James Moors
7:15pm Friday 5/7 | Harbor City
James Moors has been playing Homegrown since the festival’s band count was still in double digits. These days the rootsy singer-songwriter spends his time touring nationally and internationally, including annual performances at the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to solo shows, Moors recently began performing as a duo with a friend from Colorado, fellow acoustic musician Kort McCumber. In 2009, the duo released an album, Moors and McCumber. Moors cites artists such as Steve Earle and Gillian Welch as influences, and was a Big Top Chautauqua songwriting competition finalist in 2008 and ’09.

Mr. Kickass
12am Sat 5/8 | Pizza Luce
Never absent from the lineup of local punk shows for too long, Mr. Kickass marches onward. With Jedd Olson and Nick Swenson on guitars and vocals, Mike Fradenburgh on bass and vocals, and drummer Kevin Hall, the quartet was founded on short, fast, loud songs. They have been known to throw in punked-up Cure covers at live shows. Cheap beer is their mantra, and good times are at the heart of their raucous sound. With any luck, the band still has a few of its infamous T-shirts hanging around.

Nobuddie with Nimo the Hooligan
12am Sat 5/8 | Twins Bar
Underground hip hop artist Matt Dreher started rapping in Duluth as Nobuddie about three years ago. His debut album The Start of Something was released in November. It showcases Dreher’s calm, storytelling style of rap. Lately, Dreher has been splitting his time between Duluth and the Twin Cities as he prepares to attend the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis this fall. A new Nobuddie album is also in the works for a late 2010 release. Joining Dreher on stage for Homegrown will be DJ Nick Morris, a/k/a Nimo the Hooligan.

Ariane Norrgard
6:15pm Fri 5/7 | Harbor City
Singer/songwriter Ariane Norrgard released her first album, We are Intrepid, at the age of 16. Now 20, she is collaborating with a small group of other young local musicians: Nick Spielman (bassist for the Bricks), Chad Erlamier (drummer for Lee Peterson and the Melodramatics) and newcomer Jillyan Rosenthal on keys. Norrgard believes each musician in the group brings a differing musical background, creating a unique indie/folk sound.

North
12am Sat 5/8 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Former Duluthian Leane Perius now lives in Brainerd, but her new folk band is a fixture of the local scene. In North, she teams with drummer Jeremy Johnson and guest vocalist Caitlin Robertson to deliver haunting melodies that she says “tell stories about how others find their way, whether they are restless spirits, lonely cowboys or clever coyotes.” Perius is working on an album at Sub Central Records in the basement of Beaner’s Central.

Ashley Northey
11pm Fri 5/7 | Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake
Ashley Northey’s ethereal voice and muscular acoustic guitar have gained her friends in the local singer-songwriter community. She’s recently been playing with a band (Eric Martin, Jason Wussow, Jillian Lantry and Matt Mobley) but her Homegrown gig will be solo. Northey jokes about the “angsty-ness” of some of her tunes but there is no self-indulgence in what she does. After playing around town for more than seven years, her music has been honed into an intriguing combination of raw emotion, dark wit, musical intelligence, and a presence that’s surprising given her light and subtle voice.

North Shore Trio
11pm Thurs 5/6 | Thirsty Pagan Brewing
Duluth music scene veteran Andrew Lipske put together this powerhouse jam trio two years ago. Despite the simple name, this band weaves extremely complex sonic tapestries with only three musicians. Bassist Luke Busta and drummer Todd Gremmels join with Lipske’s guitar work, alternating between jazz-rock fusion, raw electric blues and good old-fashioned hard rock.

Old Knifey and the Cutthroats
8:45pm Fri 5/7 | Teatro Zuccone
Wielding an up-north country folk sound, endearing lyrics, and tight vocal harmonies, Old Knifey and the Cutthroats seemed to be everywhere an honest Duluthian might have turned this past year. Old Knifey himself, Adam Depre, sings many of the lead vocal parts and plays guitar. Various Cutthroats take leads and harmonies throughout the band’s repertoire, such as pianist and harmonica player Caleb Anderson and guitarist Nate Case. Though the band is amendable enough to often perform as a three-piece, one can expect Ben Berg to join them on bass and either Kyle Keegan or Dano Sauter to play the drums for Homegrown.

Jeffrey James O'loughlin
10:15pm Fri 5/7 | Carmody
A Jeffrey James O’loughlin performance is a living thing. He has the ability to churn up an emotional hurricane from a simple melody. Sometimes he performs solo, sometimes with his wife, Janeice Prestidge, on bass, and sometimes with an entire band. Whatever the line-up, the result is the same: sheer brilliance. Two of his best songs are “Happy Cow,” a commentary on contentment, and “Rough,” an amazing lyrical blend of hip-hop-folk at its level best.

Paradigm Collapse
7pm Sat 5/8 | Beaner’s Central
Guitarist Jon Radtke and drummer Krist Whelan describe their sound as “God having unusual sex.” The instrumental duo paints dense, noisy soundscapes that stretch out, suck listeners in, and escort them on a journey into their deepest inner consciousness. The band’s latest track, “A Ploy for Hierarchy,” is available on myspace.com/paradigmcollapse. This band is especially recommended to fans of Sonic Youth, I Am the Slow Dancing Umbrella and psychotropic mushrooms.

Charlie Parr
11pm Wed 5/5 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Charlie Parr plays original and traditional folk and Piedmont-style blues, accompanying himself on National resonator guitars, 12-string guitar and sometimes banjo. He’s released six albums and toured the world while maintaining a steady gig at Fitger’s Brewhouse, playing the Wednesday night Midweek Bracer show to a consistently full house. His most recent album, Roustabout, is a field recording in true monophonic sound recorded in a variety of locations, including living rooms, garages, barroom basements and empty storefronts.

Peer Precious  
7pm Fri 5/7 | Beaner’s Central
Peer Precious has been around since October, playing mostly basement shows. The aggressive, gritty, pop-punk trio is fronted by Mike Wilson, whose résumé includes work with Indulge, the Moon is Down, Nordic Waste, Bad Cop Bad Cop, Cowards!, Jackie & the Ripoffs, the Hell Ass Nasty Bastards, Dios Mio, Cheney’s Dick and probably a few others. Joining him in Peer Precious are drummer Kyle O’Leary and bassist Connor Lynch. Homegrown will be the first chance to see these basement rockers above the Earth’s surface.

Pennies for a Dime
11:30pm Thurs 5/6 | Norm’s Beer & Brats
Pennies for a Dime guitarist Mikey Trifillette puts a spin on traditional heavy rock riffing by combining lighter shades of acoustic guitar.  This is not stock Duluth acoustic-based rawk; you just don’t see many acoustic guitars jacked into full stacks on stage.  Bassist/vocalist Dustin Fennessey and drummer Faye Baron round out the trio, which has developed a style in recent years that straddles progressive metal, alt rock and the experimental.

The People Say Fox
7:30pm Sat 5/8 | The Play Ground
The People Say Fox was formed in 2009 by four members of the experimental folk band Erth. The line up includes Nathan Holte on guitar, drums and violin; Mike Billing on bass; Steve Hamlin on drums, guitar and glockenspiel; and Lydia Komatsu on violin. Their debut self-titled album was released in September. A possible EP and Midwest tour are in the works for Summer 2010.

Hattie Peterson
7pm Wed 5/5 | Amazing Grace
Hattie Peterson is a Minneapolis transplant with a decade of experience performing her experimental folk-rock. Her debut album, Twenty3 Years into 4teen Songs, was released in 2001 as part of a McKnight Foundation grant. During the winters of 2002 and 2003, she was part of the How Far is Home tour, with Annie Humphrey, the Long Hairz Collective, Keith Secola and others, spreading awareness of homelessness in Minnesota. She made her Homegrown debut in 2007 with the band Hattie & the Black Frames, but shortly afterward returned to playing solo folk-rock with her acoustic guitar.

The Plow Boys
9:15pm Fri 5/7 | Harbor City
The Plow Boys are a jazz/rock group featuring musicians with decades of experience.  Led by guitarist Jim Rogers, the group also features Mark Sjelin, Steve West, Matt Munter and Chad Thieling. Expect lots of intricate instrumental passages and a score of new songs that the band has been working on since last year’s Homegrown.

Phillip of Nazareth
9:30pm Fri 5/7 | The Play Ground
Phillip of Nazareth is a group strongly affiliated with Duluth basement party rock, playing shows that happen in places with names like “The Maxi Pad.” Singer and guitar player Josh Mutchler has the band’s priorities in order: “We like to party fucking hard,” he says. “We like our rock ’n’ roll the same. We don’t give a fuck if we burn out or fade away ... or do we?” Joining Mutchler on guitar and vocals is Eric Busker. They played together previously in the Delaneys. Their rhythm section is made up of drummer Cory Coffman, auxiliary percussionist Dane Peterson and former Burn! Dollar! Burn! bassist Andy Pletcher,

Poor Howard
12am Sun 5/2 | Pizza Lucé
Vincent Cadillac and Howlin’ Andy Hound promise to bring back in-your-face garage rock with a flair for the psychedelic in their new band, Poor Howard. Formerly a busking duo, Cadillac and Hound added Jamie Ness on drums and Matt Livingston on bass over the winter to round out their sound and create a rock and roll experience.

Portraits for Judith
11:45pm Sat 5/8 | Rex Bar
This progressive hard rock band is now a trio following the amicable departure of guitarist Alister Quade. Original members Nick Kosobuski (guitar, vocals) and Dustin Fennessey (bass, vocals) and longtime drummer Tom Anderson continue to blend intense guitars with brooding vocals and tribal beats. The group has been working on a second album that Fennessey says will be a concept album like the previous one, but a lot darker and denser. Titled The Augury, the band is hoping to release it by late spring. Fennessey is also in the group Pennies for a Dime.

Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses
11pm Sat 5/8 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Embarrass native Matt Ray combines traditional roots music with elements of blues, ragtime, folk, jugband, jazz and rock. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, he plays acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, percussion, harmonica, jug and more, while filling his performances with storytelling and musical history. His album Old Crow was released a year ago. His traveling band, Those Damned Horses, features Al Ranfranz, Eric Krenz, Ian Koivisto, Flea and Kyle Ollah. Ray and Koivisto tore up Carmody Irish Pub last year during Homegrown in the band Toasted Roosters.

Bill Reichelt
6:45pm Fri 5/7 | Teatro Zuccone
In the 1980s and ’90s, Bill Reichelt was into folk psychedelia as a member of the St. Cloud-based band Dog Pookah. At the turn of the millennium, he formed the electronic folk band Cheer Up Poems. Last year he played Homegrown solo as a folk artist. What’s he up to now? “I play Delay Trios on the Spatial Ambient Music Generating Machine,” Reichelt says. “It’s a three dimensional interface for a bank of algorithmically controlled synthesizers and delays, resulting in a particularly quiet music.”

Retribution Gospel Choir
7pm Sat 5/8 | NorShor Orpheum
When Retribution Gospel Choir debuted at Homegrown 2005, it was considered a side-side project for Alan Sparhawk, who already had his hands full touring with two successful bands — Low and the Black-eyed Snakes. Five years later, the RGC is soaking up the limelight, hot off the release of the album 2 and a European tour. Sparhawk and his rhythm section — bassist Steve Garrington and drummer Eric Pollard — have waited a while to play the NorShor. They were scheduled there for Homegrown in 2008, but had to cancel to pick up a last-minute tour with Wilco

The Rez
10pm Sat 5/8 | Bev’s Jook Joint
The Rez is a funked up, psychedelic septet consisting of Patrick Bowen (drums), Eric Bong (auxiliary percussion), Matt Granmoe (bass), Sean Mahoney (saxaphone and trombone), Partrick Arden McNally (keyboards), Johnny “Blaze” Peterson (trumpet) and Dave Wiig (guitar). All seven of the members share vocal duties. This will be the Rez’s fourth time bringing its danceable, yet experimental, jam-band style aesthetic to the Homegrown Music Festival.

Road Warrior
10pm Sat 5/8 | Pizza Lucé
Some bands start out with objectives and a list of goals. Road Warrior is not one of those bands. Instead of setting their sights on record deals and constant touring, bassist Everett Groves, drummer Tanner Groehler and guitarist Sam Niemi have set their sights on something more important: creating cathartic walls of sound capable of swirling through different moods and levels of aggression over the course of a single composition. The band recently got back together after a recent break while members concentrated on school. For fans of bands like Explosions in the Sky and Isis, this is truly excellent news. 

Rocketship to Nowhere
11pm Fri 5/7 | Twins Bar
Rocketship to Nowhere’s Todd Gremmels is irrepressible. At Rocketship to Nowhere’s 2009 Homegrown gig, the wild-eyed singer and keyboardist wandered through the crowd bellowing Beatles’ covers like a street-preacher while the band roared behind him. At a previous gig, he strapped a snaredrum to his chest and roamed the bar while screaming Led Zeppelin songs. Expect lots of intricate, extended jamming between guitarists Jim Vokovan and Steve Isakson, drum solos from Jeff Peabody, and steady bass from George Ellesworth. Wish Todd a happy birthday on your way out. He’s 53 this year.

Eric Rhame’s Timber & Steel Band
10pm Sat 5/8 | Sir Benedict’s
Eric Rhame fronts a band of folk veterans: Steve “Chief” Johnson on fiddle and mandolin, John Erickson on upright bass and Greg Tiburzi on drums. Johnson and Tiburzi also play with Sweetgrass, a “power folk” outfit that takes a more impure stance with regard to its folk music. The Timber and Steel Band strides down a more traditional road, with its selection of up-tempo string-driven original and traditional tunes. A new album is expected to be out this summer. The group recorded together in 2008 for an Eric Rhame solo album titled Timber & Steel.

Rock Brigade 
11:30pm Web 5/5 | Hell Burgers
Last year’s Homegrown was the final performance of local rockers the SuperTacks. The band’s members had already formed Rock Brigade by adding guitarist Matt Le Bard to their veteran lineup, which includes guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Ryan Van Slooten, guitarist Aaron Ashley, bassist Jeremy Craig and drummer Ben Craig. Rock Brigade has made a name for itself as one of the area’s premiere cover bands, concentrating mainly on 1980s rock and metal, but the band also works in some originals. “For Homegrown we will play our original set in its entirety for the first time,” Ashley says. “The songs are a mix of pre-Pyromania Def Leppard and early ’80s Canadian hard rock such as Helix, Kick Axe and Aldo Nova.

The Rosebud Social
12am Sat 5/8 | Pioneer Bar
Starting out as a cover band about 18 years ago, the Rosebud Social began working  originals influenced by the likes of the Replacements and Social Distortion. Over time, they began playing fewer covers, concentrating more on original tunes. After years of honing their craft, the Rosebud Social had dedicated all of its efforts to playing nothing but originals. Their sound has also grown, now incorporating influences ranging from alt country to Bowie-era rock. The band is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Thomas Keteri, guitarist Dylan Carlson, drummer Pat Olds, bassist Joel Moede and keyboardist Jim Matteson.

Rusty Borealis
7:45pm Fri 5/7 | Teatro Zuccone
Before moving to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a few years ago, Andy Smentkowski was a fixture at Homegrown. He’s played five festivals, including one stint with Father Hennepin, one solo show and three gigs with Party Store Minnows. He’s back this year with a new project, Rusty Borealis. It’s a joint venture with multi-instrumentalist Ted Appert.  If Modest Mouse and George Jones ever procreate, their progeny will write songs that sound like this — sweet, literate indie-rock with bursts of noise, banjo plucking, lap-steel solos and the occasional Pixies cover. 

Sing! A Women’s Chorus
7pm Tues 5/4 | Sacred Heart
Director Mags David brings a unique act to the Homegrown Music Festival, leading a women’s singing group created from Duluth Public School’s Community Education program. The group’s repertoire includes original songs, as well as traditional tunes from the United States, Europe and West Africa, all learned through the oral tradition. Members of the fluctuating cast of singers include: Kathy Maki, Jessica Roskoski, Sue Doering, Debbie Reier, Shannon Haaser, Emme Sjoberg, JoAnn Stanley, Joyce Parker, Theresa Neo, Bev Berntson, Jeanne Filiatrault Laine and Lisa Mahoney.

Sitter
7:30pm Fri 5/7 | The Play Ground
Kyle Sitter played a solo acoustic set that was the final echoing sound of Homegrown last year at Pizza Lucé. This year he’s got a band together and plans to “pack in a bunch of hippies who want to dance.” His three-man guitar-and-bass rock and jam band includes Kyle Ollah and Dave Mennes. They list as influences Hendrix and Umphrey McGee, and have honed their line playing Sir Benedict’s, Rex Bar, Fitger’s Brewhouse, Amazing Grace and the Twins Bar.

Somewhere But Who 
8:15pm Fri 5/7 | Harbor City
Although the band is playing its inaugural set at Homegrown, Somewhere But Who is not new to the Duluth music scene. All three members have been and are consistently seen (and heard) on the local market. Singer/songwriter Bryce Willet catches ears with his acoustic desert-style rock and roll, oozing sensuous sounds of jazz and psychedelia from his powerful voice. Willet’s collection of works are enhanced by “Black Top Jesus” (Andy Lipke of North Shore Trio, the Rez and the Antmen fame) on lead electric guitar and Guy Merolle (of the Escapists and Bended Oak) on hand drums and kit.

Southwire
9pm Tues 5/4 | Sacred Heart
The combination of pansy folk-singer Jerree Small with Ben Larson and Sean Elmquist of the barncore rap act Crew Jones has produced something that is not at all the sum of its parts. Call it secular gospel for lack of a better term. “We are a supergroup of loser-winners whose names ring out,” says Larson. For a sample, check out the song “Bell,” on the compilation CD Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Lindquist’s Mix.

Sports!
11pm Fri 5/7 | Pizza Lucé
With Anders Lundahl’s kinetic guitar playing, Ben Butter’s howling punk yelp, and newly enlisted brother/drummer Andy Butter on board, Sports! returns to forge through a set of twisty, loud barnstormers in an appropriately sweaty manner. With all the calories burned at a Sports! show, it’s a little surprising that members had enough energy to create a folk-rock side project, Wyatt Famous, in the meantime. Sports!, however, has done the scouting report and feels that the gap in their offensive line has been appropriately filled. The band released an EP, Game On, recorded by Rich Mattson in 2008.

Stel & Lefty
10:30am Sat 5/8 | Chester Creek Café
Guitarist/vocalist Larry Sandmann describes the sound of Stel and Lefty as “impromptu jazz folk.” With an eclectic mix of originals, instrumentals and covers from Hank to Hendrix, he may be right. With fellow guitar/vocalist Brian Selmaszewski, Stel and Lefty have been playing locally for over a decade. Rounding out the group is Neil Inglebert on accordion.

Sweetgrass
12am Fri 5/7 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
Sweetgrass started as a four-piece acoustic string band, but thousands of gigs have wired them up. Even though Steve “Chief” Johnson has some gray hair and five decades under his hat, his mandolin has gotten younger. Nowadays it’s a like pudgy little Fender, plugged in and wailing.  Johnson describes what Sweetgrass does as “power folk” and electricity does have a lot to do with it. Anne  “Magic” Fisk’s acoustic guitar is paired with John “J. Otis” Engstrom’s electric; Diane “Dixie” Eck plays bass and Greg “The Radiator” Tiburzi is on drums and harp.

Spotted Mule
9pm Thurs 5/6 | Bev’s Jook Joint
Jim Hall has been playing folk and blues for over four decades, and is perhaps best known for his work with the blues band Azure du Jour. He formed Spotted Mule a few months before the 2008 Homegrown. “We play mostly old-timey stuff, with fiddle and Dobro and mandolin,” Hall said. “We do a little bluegrass and maybe some swing.” Joining him in the band are Mike Mattson on guitar and Dobro and Rick Olson on mandolin and guitar.

The Surfactants
9:45pm Sat 5/8 | Teatro Zuccone
The Surfactants is a dark new-wave electro rock band formed from barren Minnesota ice and snow. Twin Ports whiz kids Zac “Dirty Knobs” Bentz and Eric “Gonolius” Anderson form the band’s rhythm section with Anderson on bass and Bentz providing drums and creating the synthetic flourishes. Marcus Matthews is back, front and center providing lead vocals for the Surfactants as well as writing much of the group’s lyrics. Guitar wizard Brett Molitor and Duluth luminary Greg Cougar Conley on keyboards round out this well-oiled rock machine.

Tangier 57
9pm Wed/ 5/5 | Lake Avenue Café
Tangier 57 specializes in “ultra lounge mondo exotica psychedelic tango-infused tiki-jazz mash up with a twist of lemon,” according to the band’s most vocal vocalist, Chris Bacigalupo. “We’re Laura Ness’ favorite band.” Joining Bacigalupo are Brian Barber, Darin Bersven, David Syring, Rob Linnemann and Paul Wartman. Together they are more than a band. They are a vibe.
           
The Temporary Service
10pm Mon 5/3 | Carmody
First things first: The Temporary Service is led by local wild man Todd Gremmels on drums. That is reason enough to expect eclectic, wide-ranging musical styles within each set. Will Gremmels play drum set or marching drums? Maybe keyboards? Either way, he has brought bassist Deborah JS Collins and guitar slinger Israel Malachi along for this ride. You may hear jazz or possibly Led Zeppelin-style blues rock. Heck, maybe punk rock. You won’t know unless you go; these guys love to mix it up.

Theft by Swindle
11:30pm Fri 5/7 | R.T. Quinlan’s
Duluth newcomers J. Steve Nys and Nate LaCoursiere team up with Tony Rubin (formerly of Pacific Phonograph Co. and AM Rubin) in this recently formed rock band. In an “underground laboratory in Upper Smithville,” Nys says Theft by Swindle has been honing its craft as “an art-as-dance band featuring indie-rock execution illuminated by classic tones.”

This is Now
1am Sat 5/8 | Twins Bar
The rhythm section of Number One Common continues to carry the heavy-groove metal torch. Bassist Jesse Johnson and drummer Dan Holmi teamed this winter with guitarists Garett Schroeder and Jeremy Malecki to form This is Now. In late February, a mysterious man known as Richie Redbeard took on the role of lead vocalist. Redbeard purportedly “sings like an angel … caught in a bear trap.”

Three Song Sunday
11:15pm Fri 5/7 | Carmody
After they played three songs — and only three songs — one Sunday night at the Thirsty Pagan Brering Co., Stephanie Dykema and Dan Dresser heard their project tagged “Three Song Sunday.” The name stuck and they’ve been playing around town with it for a while now, since their former band, the Brushstrokes, broke up. They call what they do “emotionally unstable pop.” They have the sensuous adventurousness of the Brushstrokes, but the current project showcases Dykema’s austere harmonica lines and Dresser’s grown-up emo voice. It’s finely articulated Duluth-style songwriter folk.

Thunder Brothers
12am Fri 5/7 | Pioneer Bar
These brothers bring hot, psychedelic guitar rock to Homegrown. Taking cues from everyone from ZZ Top to King Crimson, guitarists Bill Berguson and Walt Beier literally have their hands full with their six string licks. Drummer Jason Noe is the timekeeper and Mark Eskola provides the bass lines for this stormy quartet.

The Tico Three
11pm Tues 5/4 | Chester Creek Café Wine Bar
Bandleader Israel Malachi says he writes songs of love and loss, but with a smile. Irony abounds with the Tico Three’s quirky mix of Chicago blues and electronica. The band has been a regular revolving host of Open Mic Night at Beaner’s Central. Malachi will be hitting the stage at Homegrown with guest musicians Matt Mobley, Lane Prekkar and Todd Gremmels.

The Tinsel Fairies
11:30pm Thurs 5/6 | The Main Club
Despite the name Tinsel Fairies, the members of this band come from some of the weirdest, loudest and more brutal acts in the area. Guitarist Justin Kervina, bassist/guitarist Jim Conner and keyboardist Ryan Rusch are all veterans of the metal/post rock/hardcore/holy-hell-that’s-loud scenes. Not to mention lead vocalist Benji Lais of Lulla. They have added Betsy Wiedell on violin and Patrick Hannu — instrumentally credited as “Science” — for this project. Expect a lot of sounds happening at once, including multiple guitars, sequences, vocals and violin.

The Tisdales
10:30pm Wed 5/5 | Hell Burgers
You don’t get to play music professionally for over 20 years by not working hard. The Tisdales’ Rich Mattson has spent much of his life playing in rock bands including the Glenrustles, Ol’ Yeller and the Bitter Spills. Mattson lives and breathes music as the owner and operator of Sparta Sound recording studio, where the Tisdales finished work on their recently released album Out With the New. The other guitar/vocalist in the Tisdales, Tony Derrick, also boasts an impressive résumé spending time in Giljunko, the Black Labels and currently the Hotel Coral Essex alongside Tisdales bassist Jason Kokal. Drummer Derek Rolando has spent time as a Sparta session drummer as well as playing in a variety of bands on the Iron Range.

Total Freedom Rock
8pm Tues 5/4 | Sacred Heart
The name says it all. Led by Bob Monahan on keys, voice and things, Total Freedom Rock never plays the same show twice. They might sing, they might not. Guitarist Jeremy Ehlert could play loud, or he may play gentle and quiet. Drummer Luke Holden may actually keep time or may simply play around with the concept of time while Brian Ring fiddles with electronic bric-a-brac and Pete Biasi handles the electric bass machine. Anton Jiminez-Klockel provides the “paper, cream and mods,” whatever that means.

Trampled By Turtles
8pm Sat 5/8 | NorShor Theater
Trampled by Turtles is one of the shining success stories from the Duluth music scene. The band’s genre-bending brand of bluegrass has been packing the house at venues around the country. TBT formed in 2003 when vocalist/guitarist Dave Simonett began playing with Erik Berry (mandolin) as an acoustic duo. They later met banjoist Dave Carroll and picked up bass player Tim Saxhaug and fiddle player Ryan Young to round out the band. What started as a basement jam has grown to the redefinition of a genre. The band’s new album, Palomino, should be in stores by the time you read this.

Tryke  
11pm Sat 5/8 | Pioneer Bar
Tryke is a garage/jazz/lounge/spaghetti-western trio that writes music for movies, only without the movies. Tim Nelson’s guitar — sometimes sunbaked and drenched in reverb, sometimes knotty and distorted — conjures deserts and darkened alleys. Dicky Brooks’s keyboard sounds are ripped from a Star Trek or Rat Pack movie, depending on the song. John Rensink keeps things anchored with his jazzy, intricate drumming.

Turbo Rathvon
9:30pm Wed 5/5 | Hell Burgers
Turbo Ravthon began as an outlet for Keith Nelson to play his indie-folk songs with a rock band. Now the group includes five members and has become far more than a folk-singer with a backing band. Nelson’s words are sad and vaguely apocalyptic, his voice quavering. Behind him, Jordan Curtis and Carl Olson’s guitars crunch, Adam Metzer’s bass throbs and Ken Nyber’s drums gallop. The world is ending all around us, these songs say, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dance.

Two Beat Band
9pm Sat 5/8 | Sir Benedict’s
Having previously brought the funk to the party playing in Heavy J and the Fantastics, the trio of guitarist and harmonica blower Jordan Taylor, bassist Nate Case and drummer Kyle Keegan were excited to try something new. So they formed Two Beat Band in 2008. “We play folky music, but don’t call it folk,” says Taylor. “It’s too much rock to be folk. It’s folky-rock, but don’t call it folk rock. It’s rock, but there’s some folk in there.” Taylor moved out of Duluth a few months ago, but returns frequently to perform.

Two Many Banjos
11pm Thurs 5/6 | Bev’s Jook Joint
Marc Gartman, like Robert Pollard, can’t help but make music. He writes songs. He collaborates. He does this with a proficiency that would make the average Guided by Voices fan take notice. Two Many Banjos, one of the half-dozen bands Gartman has formed since coming to Duluth, features a double dose of banjos provided by Gartman and Trampled By Turtles picker Dave Carroll, who both sing in the group as well. The full band, including bassist Matt Mobley, Lane Prekker on washboard, and fiddle playing and vocal contributions by Jillian Lantry, continues to push folk/bluegrass boundaries. Two Many Banjos recently released its fourth album in two years and is currently readying its fifth.

Fred Tyson
11pm Wed 5/5 | Rex Bar at Fitger’s
If you took some impish hip-shaking, soul-yelping, and the rejected wardrobe of Earth Wind and Fire and found a way to fit it all into a 5-foot, 4-inch (5-foot, 7-inch with the afro) frame, you would call it “Freddy Tyson.” Hatched from the legendary Wednesday nights with the Black Labels at the Red Lion, the Fred Tyson project promises to promote “mind blistering sex funk for a nasty new millennium.” Along with having his single “I’m Free” featured on last year’s Homegrown mix CD, Fred and his “mystery band” have released a full-length album titled Thank You Fans.

Uncle Kenny
11pm Sat 5/8 | Sir Benedict’s
Kenny Kalligher lives and breathes Duluth music. He has played in a variety of bands including Fat City Brats, Glen Thomas Band and the Head Babies and has been playing in the Twin Ports more than 10 years longer than Mike Wilson has been alive. Check out Uncle Kenny’s acoustic set of original songs highlighting his experiences living at the shores of the big lake.

The Undesirables
2am Fri 5/7 | Pizza Lucé
The Undesirables play an exceptionally good version of country-infected punk rock. You could call it amped-up rockabilly, old fashioned rock and roll, or whatever. The band features three guitar players: Seth Borovsky, Pat Laney, and Jay Rahman. All three of them sing as well as share bass duties. Shanna Willie is the timekeeper. The band’s recent CD releases include the full-length World Wide Web and the EP Friends to the End. In 2009 the Undesirables played an amazing set at Pizza Lucé’s Ides of March cover showcase performing Violent Femmes songs, showing off the versatility of this band.

Uprising
10pm Sat 5/8 | Pioneer Bar
Uprising is a reggae band that fuses traditional reggae and Caribbean music with rock and blues. The lineup includes Andrew Perfetti on guitar, Tal Lindblad on bass, Janna Dreher on keyboard, Dexter Baxter on vocals and Tom Weinmann on drums. They have been performing at local clubs for the past three years and also took the stage at last year’s Bayfront Reggae Festival .

Ryan Van Slooten
8pm Wed 5/5 | Lake Avenue Café
When firing off solos for Bone Appetit, Ryan Van Slooten goes by Richie Gunns, Duluth’s sweaty, feather-boa wearing answer to Mick Mars. In 1980s-pop revivalists the Rock Brigade, he covers the Knack and strains his voice to a falsetto. But his solo work is something entirely different: diverse, often acoustic-based, a little Tom Petty, a little Ryan Adams, full of chiming guitars and soaring, heartfelt choruses. Joining him this Homegrown are fellow Rock Brigaders Jeremy Craig and Matt Le Bard on bass and guitar, with the Keep Aways’ Chris Warne on drums.

Vintage Val
10pm Tues 5/4 | Burrito Union
Val Turcotte is a retired Esko resident who spends much of his spare time performing with his guitar at local nursing homes. His bailiwick is generally Johnny Cash and other classic country, but he often performs rich, soulful versions of ageless classics such as “Down in the Valley” and “You are my Sunshine.” Turcotte has been delighting audiences around the Northland for many years, including a performance at Bayfront Festival Park on the bill with Brad Paisley.

Voyages
10pm Fri 5/7 | Beaner’s Central
This new metal band writes all its music around the concept of space travel and the nature of the universe, according to drummer Cody Paulson. “The songs are short, fast and erratic, and are broken up with audio clips from movies and science shows,” he says. “The overall sound is reminiscent of cinema-grind band Graf Orlock.” The band teams Paulson and bassist Ben Butter, formerly of Books on Tape, with vocalist Jesse Conaway and guitarists Rock Bokusky and Clavin Waddell. They are working on an EP with Glenn Maloney of the Automation Records Media Conglomerate.

The What Four                                   
11pm Fri 5/7 | Pioneer Bar
The What Four’s members are all veterans of the Twin Port’s club scene. Frontman Paul Newberg (One-hitter, Blameless Days) released a solo album, Lifted Weight, in 2007. He was joined shortly after by bassist Tom Berrigan (Average Sun and Mooshy Cookie), guitarist Andy Hauswirth (Average Sun) and drummer Luke Perry (Port Authority and Max Dakota and Modern Life). The band’s feel-good, infectious sound is created with the combination of a groovy, funky backbeat, tasty guitars, and the easy-on-the ears harmonies of Newberg and Hauswirth.

A Winter Downpour
11pm Sun 5/2 | Pizza Lucé
As the name may suggest, Winter Downpour is “a force of sad-bastardness” that emerged from a long winter of hard drinking and passing out to sad songs. Now settled in Duluth and armed with a mellow, folk/rock sound influenced by bands such as Low and Neutral Milk Hotel, Alberto Serrano Rivera (vocals/acoustic guitar), Chris Barnholdt (bass), Jesse Hoheisel (drums) and Paul Connolly (electric guitar) are pushing their sad-bastard aura and minor-key tonality to the foreground at this year’s Homegrown.

Words to a Film Score
10pm Tues 5/4 | Twins Bar
The history of Words to a Film Score reads a bit like a soap opera. Since forming in 2002, the band has been an exercise in playing, recording, breaking up and reforming. The band will reunite for the first time in two years at Homegrown, debuting its first new songs in five years. The reunion includes Tim Curtis on guitar/vocals, Nic Patullo on guitar/keyboards, Matt Osterlund on bass and Mat Milinkovich on drums.

Wurm
9pm Fri 5/7 | Beaner’s Central
Wurm is a metal band made up of six Harbor City International School students who have played together less than a year. Sam Fuller plays keyboard, an instrument rarely found in modern metal acts. Joining him are two guitar players, Simon Hamel and Max Russo, with Joe Sannes manning the bass at the lower octaves. David Getten plays the drums, and fronting the band is lead vocalist Tyler Brandenburger.

Wyatt Famous
10pm Thurs 5/6 | Fitger’s Brewhouse
The basement show veterans in Wyatt Famous are taking a break from the hardcore guitars and crazy-ass time changes to bring something more along the folk genre. They still vigorously play guitars and drums, but top it off with catchier sing-along style vocals. Sports! alums Anders Lundahl and Ben Butter play guitar and bass, respectively. They are joined by guitarist Alexandra Evens and drummer David Mold. Each of these players sing, though Lundahl and Evens take the leads.

Xhaust
1am Fri 5/7 | Twins Bar
Led by two Les Paul-wielding guitar players — Tom Hoogenboom and Dan Krause — Xhaust continues to dish out heaping spoonfuls of heavy metal down the throats of Twin Ports music fans. Bass player John Teshner and drummer Jake Alvar round out the group. Xhaust released its third album this past year and is already working on the next.

Yeltzi
9:15pm Fri 5/7 | Carmody
If the Duluth music scene has a First Couple it’s probably Jason Wussow and Sara Softich. As the owner of Beaner’s Central coffeehouse in West Duluth, Wussow has his finger on the pulse of the talent flow that courses through the veins of the city. Softich is a well-respected music teacher and fiddle player extraordinaire. They formed Yeltzi as a duo, but have had local musicians sit in with them. Recently, Danny Cosgrove of the Alrights has played upright bass to fill out the band’s gypsy-swing-bluegrass-folk-ska-Americana sound. Yeltzi’s had produced one album, 2008’s Snow in August.

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