Thousands of festival-goers flock across the streets and parks of Duluth, Minn. and Superior, Wisc., with friends and a beer in hand. Some are in pursuit of their favorite local bands, and others are on their way to discover the new and upcoming music of the north.
For eight days, parks, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops will become music havens and open their doors to the public. Taking place April 27 through May 2, this is Duluth’s 16th Annual Homegrown Music Festival.
“My favorite part of the festival is the variety of bands that play. There isn’t a single genre that Homegrown focuses on. You get a great mix of music from hip hop to bluegrass,” Duluth resident and Senior Andrew Choquette said.
The Duluth Homegrown Music Festival features over 180 bands from across Northern Minnesota. It also features a few filmmakers and artists who display their work in the streets and parks. Much of the artwork is also available to purchase.
“Homegrown is unique because the talent and venues are local. Friends and neighbors perform at distinct Twin Ports venues: Duluth and Superior,” Choquette said.
Some notable artists to have performed at the festival includ: Trampled By Turtles, Low, Charlie Parr, and the Retribution Gospel Choir.
“Homegrown showcases talent from the area. People in the area may not realize the community talent of local musicians and artists without this festival. With so many venues and acts, there is something for everyone,” Choquette said.
The festival was founded in 1999 by Scott “Starfire” Lunt, which began as a celebration for his 30th birthday party. Lunt became a prominent figure in the music scene in 1997 when he founded Random Radio, a local music radio station. Through the radio station, he became acquainted with local artists around the Duluth area.
“It began as a simple birthday party with a handful of bands and a bunch of beer. Now it’s a complete bureaucracy, run by a volunteer steering committee and a fiscal agent, featuring about 150 musical acts, along with a few filmmakers and other artists — and a bunch of beer,” the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival’s website said.
The festival originally began by hiring only ten bands and, overtime, grew from 10 to 70 to 150 bands. In 2005, Lunt sold the festival to Brad and Tim Nelson, who then donated it to the Bridge Syndicate, a nonprofit organizing committee in the Twin Ports after the festival became too big to maintain.
“Just from seeing how the festival has expanded, you can really tell that it has brought a lot of people together in a positive way that celebrates these local musicians’ music. It has helped to engage the local community in supporting these artists and it provides a great musical setting,” Duluth resident and Senior Tony Squillace said.
The festival offers a variety of ticket packages and a single wristband for festival-goers is also available to purchase, which allows access to any of the countless music venues in Duluth and Superior. The festival is a huge event, drawing in more than 2,500 people.
“Everyone, both artists and audience members are very cheery and are excited to join together as northlanders, and enjoy some good music, food and fun. The event is usually packed, as the Homegrown festival creates a pride and community among all who are involved,” Thirsty Pagan Brewery employee and First-year Luke Israel said.
It is a festival jam-packed with art and music that showcases the outstanding talent within the community of Duluth. Both community members and non-community members are brought together in their love for the arts, and their support of the young artists and musicians coming from the Duluth/Superior area.
“This is such a great event because it kicks off the spring. It gets people out and brings old friends together. It is the beginning of all the wonderful summer music that is part of the few, short months of warm weather. Like spring, it brings hope, as well as displays the talent from our own backyard,” Israel said.