Duluth Homegrown Music Festival collection

The Homegrown Music Festival was originated in Duluth, Minnesota by Scott “Starfire” Lunt. In 1998 Lunt lined up bands to play at his 30th birthday party. The five bands that played at that event were Lunt’s new band Father Hennepin, Jon Olson, Amy Abts, Mark Lindquist, and Gild.

In 1999 Lunt combined forces with Brad Nelson and Cord Carbert (aka ©rd R. Dada), publishers of a new (then monthly) newspaper the Ripsaw and Tim Nelson owner of Duluth brewpub the Brewhouse. The group was specifically interested in building a local music scene in Duluth.

Using Lunt’s idea to turn his birthday party into an annual music festival during the first week of May, the first Homegrown Music Festival was held over two nights at the NorShor Theatre in 1999. The bands who performed at this first festival were Amy Abts, the Black Labels, Giljunko, and Father Hennepin on the first night; and First Ladies, 2 Sleepy People, Ballyhoo, Crazy Betty, and Gild on the second night. The bands represented musical styles from rock, to hip hop, jazz, and lounge music. This first festival drew about 700 people.

Homegrown expanded with each year, increasing the number of venues and acts. In 2001 Duluth cartoonist Chris Monroe drew the Homegrown’s chicken mascot for the cover of the Ripsaw; Monroe’s drawing became the iconic logo of Homegrown.

In 2004 Scott Lunt organized the festival for the last time, in collaboration with the Ripsaw and the Twin Ports Music and Arts Collective. The following year the Ripsaw, now including Tim Nelson, bought out Lunt and took ownership of the festival. Beginning with the 2006 festival Homegrown became a nonprofit, fiscally managed by the Bridge Syndicate, and directed by future Duluth mayor Don Ness through the 2007 festival. By that year, the festival had grown to eight days, and the first Field Guide was published (prior years were publicized in the Ripsaw.) The first CD compilation of Homegrown music was released in late 2007, Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Starfire’s Mix.

The Duluth Homegrown Music Festival continues as a yearly event in Duluth, held during the first week of May. In 2019 it spanned eight days and included over 200 bands.