Some of you know I’m spending much of my time these days in Duluth.
Being by the Big Lake has already been a healing experience, and while this means I’ll be missing out of some of the music I love down in the Cities, I’m not far away — and I expect to still be at Bunkers most Wednesday nights.
The partial move is also getting me closer to Duluth’s music scene which I’ve long been fond of and tonight is the perfect example of its strength.
The five-day Pete Fest — an extended birthday party for legendary Duluth music scene doorman Pete Cich — wraps up tonight at Wussow’s Concert Cafe with an extremely amazing lineup including the Mud Puppies, Boss Mama & The Jebberhooch, Tony Petersen from the Social Animals and Saltydog, not necessarily in that order. The ticketed event is $10 at the door, and the music starts at 7 p.m.
Boss Mama & The Jebberhooch tends to get a little Salty, as it did on New Year’s Eve in Duluth. Check it out tonight at Wussow’s. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
This week’s roundup also includes shows from Teague Alexy, Only Every Monday at The Cabooze, Room3, Saltydog at Turf Club with Clayton Ryan and Harlow, Bruce Woodman, Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon, International Reggae All Stars, TWINE, Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimsek, Jaybee and the Routine, Mark Joseph and the American Soul with Tom “Bones” Malone and the Northside Horns paying tribute to the Blues Brothers, Stealing Dan, The Jambronies, Trey Anastasio with Jeff Tanski, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.
Teague Alexy at U.P. Beat Music & Arts Festival in Ironwood, Mich. The Duluth folk musician plays every Monday at Sir Ben’s in Duluth. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA; COURTESY OF TRAVEL IRONWOOD
Monday, June 8
Also in Duluth, is Teague Alexy’s weekly residency at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake. The music is free and is from 5 to 8 p.m.
Down in Minneapolis, Geoffrey Fischbein’s Only Every Monday continues on The Cabooze patio at 6 p.m. Fischbein kicks things off at 6, followed by Jeff Narbeck at 7 p.m., FlowPoetry at 8 p.m., and a special guest at 9 p.m.
L.A. Buckner’s weekly residency is on hold this Monday as the Icehouse is closed for a private event, but it will be back next week.
The International Reggae All Stars are one of several bands with long-running residencies at Bunkers in North Loop. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Tuesday, June 9
Minneapolis jazz fusion quintet Room3 hits the Dakota with a 7 p.m. show.
Saltydog returns to the site of its January sellout show at Turf Club, this time with Clayton Ryan and Harlow as openers. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. with music at 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota’s Ryan is hard to peg, but his Instagram bio reads “Heartland country rock,” and his First Ave bio mentions power funk and soul-country; Harlow is a Minneapolis based band known for folk rock.
Tuesday nights bring up a trio of residencies I try to mention every week:
Up in Duluth is Bruce Woodman’s weekly jam at Carmody’s that is scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m., and often continues until this beloved bar closes at 2 a.m.
In Northeast Minneapolis is Graydon Peterson’s Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon, which runs from 10 p.m to about 1 a.m.
And last but not least is International Reggae All Stars and their long-time Bunkers residency that kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and runs to about 1 a.m.
Domenic Brack brought his light rig to TWINE’s Bunkers show last week, and is planning on returning this week. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Wednesday, June 10
TWINE is coming in hot after a double header last week, including their album fundraiser at The Hook and Ladder June 5.
I’m amazed at what they are able to do each week using the power and energy of improvisation — it’s one of a few things drawing me back to Minneapolis every week.
Thursday, June 11
Turkish psychedelic folk and soul duo Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimsek hit the Cedar Cultural Center for an all ages show at 7:30 p.m.
Jaybee and the Routine keep their long-time Bunkers residency going at 9:30 p.m every Thursday.
Friday, June 12
The Big Wu’s Mark Joseph and his band the American Soul pay tribute to the Blues Brothers, with Tom “Bones” Malone and The Northside Horns, at The Hook and Ladder Theater. Steely Dan tribute Stealing Dan opens with music starting at 7 p.m.
Way up north in Grand Marais, Duluth’s The Jambronies have a show at Up Yonder at Harbor Light, with music from 8 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 13
Phish’s Trey Anastasio returns to Minneapolis for an acoustic show, with Jeff Tanski at the Orpheum Theatre. It’s a 7:30 p.m. show time.
Sunday, June 14
Anastasio takes his acoustic tour to Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wis. on Sunday.
Shotgun Ragtime Band play consecutive Sunday No. 782 at South Minneapolis’ Driftwood, with music kicking off at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Mambo’s Combo, holding down the longest-running residency in the state, play Bunkers at 9:30 p.m.
For more info, including ticket links for these shows and more, head to my Minnesota Music Calendar here.