Homegrown Music Festival is the biggest spring music festival in all of the Twin Ports and it starts today. April 27 through May 4, the Twin Ports' over 30 venues will be bustling with around 200 acts, 3,000 plus fans and almost every music genre imaginable.
Every year, new bands are featured during the festival's first night, "New Band" night.
“It just keeps on getting better and better each year,” Walter Raschick said, the director of Homegrown.
One of this year's new bands is the alternative rock/folk group Vivielle. The band's four Duluth high school students will be playing tonight, April 27, at the Teatro Zuccone in downtown Duluth starting at 10:30 p.m.
For Vivielle - and many new bands - traveling to play a show brings some issues. Not having groupies requires them to transport their amps and heavy equipment themselves. Nevertheless, they're excited to play.
“We’re really lucky and fortunate to be playing in the Homegrown fest this year,” Nathan Harvie said, the band's guitarist.
For returning bands, playing at Homegrown is a great opportunity to play and not worry about competing with other musicians.
“My whole goal is to connect with the audience and meet new people,” said solo artist Ryan Van Slooten.
Van Slooten is playing on May 1 at Red Mug in Superior at 7:30 p.m.
Cliff Lavigne from the "progressive grunge" band The Resonance is excited to show their unique genre to the crowds at Clyde Iron Works in West Duluth on April 30 at 11:15 p.m.
“Homegrown is a huge deal. If you are lucky enough to go, you’ll never stop going,” LaVigne said.