Old Knifey and the Cutthroats at Beaner's Central
Video Courtesy of Youtube
Beaner's Central Coffeehouse is known for its music. With nationally touring artists taking the stage, some may wonder how they began to hear about the two-roomed coffee shop.
The first bands to play on the stage were owner Jason Wussow’s friends, but that quickly changed.
“As time went on more people would ask me if they could play and it just kept expanding,” he said. “Everyone was spreading good vibes around about my place, now I just sit back and they contact me.”
Many artists played their first shows inside Beaner’s walls, including Trampled by Turtles, who played a free show, and Scott Lunt, who started Homegrown Music Festival
When asked how he knew he had something special, Wussow was very modest.
“When Mason Jennings had his Birds Fly Away CD release party here, we were the first people to have him,” he said. “Tickets were only six dollars.”
“It’s a constant growing process though, after a show I have to go back to reality,” Wussow said. “I still have bills to pay and rent to make.”
With live, local music strumming an average of five days a week, it would be hard to miss an opportunity to hear someone playing.
If you are interested in playing on the stage where many great artists have played, Beaner’s also has an open mic night every Wednesday.
Related story: West Duluth Beaner’s Central started as a 16-year-old’s dream