Duluth Dylan Fest and Song From the North Country Announce Partnership and Songwriting Contest

Duluth Dylan Fest and Song From the North Country will commemorate Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday this year by partnering to create a uniquely local, collaboratively-produced music video.

Now in its 11th year, Duluth Dylan Fest will take place May 22-30 with mainly virtual events but featuring some in-person opportunities following CDC safe social distancing guidelines. A highlight of the annual, weeklong festival is the songwriter contest. 

“We are excited about the new twist on the songwriter contest this year,” said committee member Mark Poirier. “The pandemic has inspired our committee to think creatively and provide new ways to celebrate Bob Dylan and our region’s rich music environment.” This year the winning song will be made into a music video produced by Song From the North Country’s talented group of local and regional musicians. There will be cash prizes for the first, second, and third place winners, with an opportunity for those winners to perform during the fest. 

Song From the North Country began making socially-distanced videos of original, regional music last year as a response to the pandemic and a way for area musicians to connect with one another and their followers. Their videos have drawn isolated musicians into closer community and have been viewed around the world as postcards from home by those who love our region.

In addition to the Duluth Dylan Fest’s Song From the North Country Songwriting Contest, the festival will feature a poetry contest, lecture, tour, and a number of musical events. The Duluth Dylan Fest is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, along other local donors and sponsors. 

Interested songwriters will need to submit an original song. Instructions for the DDF Song From the North Country Songwriter Contest can be found at: songfromthenorthcountry.org/contest. 

Deadline for submitting an original song is April 2nd at 11:59 p.m. Space is limited to 30 contestants.

Contact Zane Bail for more information about the Duluth Dylan Fest and its 2021 Songwriting Contest: duluthdylanfest@gmail.com.

Contact Timothy Soden-Groves for information about Song From the North Country and its upcoming collaborative video project: mothygroves@gmail.com.

About the Duluth Dylan Fest

The Duluth Dylan Fest’s mission is to celebrate the spirit of artistic freedom, intellectual honesty and integrity of Duluth’s native son, Bob Dylan. The Fest is dedicated to showcasing Duluth’s vibrant art scene.

The group of volunteers is committed to providing creative events that tap the talents of artists, poets, and musicians in Duluth and the surrounding region.

www.bobdylanway.com
www.facebook.com/duluthdylanfest/

About Song From the North Country
Since April 2020, Song From the North Country has served local and regional musicians’ need to be in collaborative musical relationships, while also bringing musicians and followers together through music.

Against the isolation of the pandemic, music has become a more tangible bridge between us than ever before. Music is where we make personal connections, realize a common identity in our love for the North Country, and grow our love for one another. Song From the North Country restores a little bit of music and community to us all.

www.songfromthenorthcountry.org
facebook.com/songfromthenorthcountry
www.youtube.com/channel/UCIMxFqJmfffW8ygAOrsDuaQ

Song from the North Country

The final pieces of this year's Duluth Dylan Fest puzzle have been theoretically finalized and a schedule will be shared soon, but you can mark you calendars for May 22-30 for a series of live, streaming and hybrid events as we celebrate the 80th birthday of Duluth's native son.

One of these events will be a variation on the traditional Singer-Songwriter contest, which is a highlight for many over the years. Essentially, competitors perform a Dylan song and a song of their own. Like Dylan, they are singer-songwriters. The judges vote on the best original song, and over the years there have been some fantastic winners.  (Here's my review of the 2018 Singer Songwriter Contest.)

ONE UNIQUE FEATURE of this year's contest will be that the competition will take place online. We'll still have judges, but songs will be recorded and shared from a distance. We won't all be gathered in one place for a show. 

A SECOND UNIQUE FEATURE is even more exciting. A group called Song from the North Country will perform the winning song or songs. (I will be corrected on this in a comment maybe.)

The Duluth Reader this week featured a story by Richard Thomas explaining what this group of musicians has been up to, comparing it to a campfire jam, using contemporary technology. 

"They’re not in the same room or even time frame," writes Thomas. "They’re all in their own living rooms, home studios and back yards. One drums on a woodpile, another tap-dances, another sings while stepping into an outdoor sauna. They’re miles apart but the music and harmonies beautifully blend."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: Song from the North Country

Here's a link to their site onYouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIMxFqJmfffW8ygAOrsDuaQ

TOMORROW I aim to share the Call for Poetry instructions, deadlines and themes for this year's Duluth Dylan Fest Poetry Contest. 

And yes, Song from the North Country is a play on the title of Dylan's Girl from the North Country. 

America's Got Talent. We Know Because We've Seen So Much of It During Dylan Fest

2019 DDF SINGER/SONGWRITER CONTEST RESULTS

A setting with acoustics and ambience.
Photo by Michael Anderson.

One of the highlights of the annual Duluth Dylan Fest is the Singer/Songwriter Contest, a tradition carried over from Hibbing's Dylan Days. The last Singer/Songwriter Contest that I attended in Hibbing stretched two days, the year before Zimmy's folded and many Northland hearts were broken.

Our first Duluth S/S contest was actually an event seeking a home. One year we did it at Beaners Central in West Duluth. The crowd was so small one could hardly call it a crowd, but it was a good first effort. The following year we convened at Red Herring, but the Friday night bar crowd had a different agenda and thought packed, half the folks there were not there for Dylan covers.

Two years the S/S Contest was held at Clyde Iron in the West End, a great venue for events. Except when they are having two events simultaneously. Both years we had to compete with wedding afterparties that interfered a bit with the quieter acoustic performers in our event.

Alas, last year we found ourselves a new home, courtesy the Sacred Heart Music Center. This former Catholic church building has become a real boon to the music community, and will likely become a permanent home for the Singer/Songwriter competition.

Gene LaFond and Zane Bail talk with the other judges.

* * * *

The program last night featured a welcome by host Pat Eliason, which included introduction of our celebrity judges.* Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo performed an original tune to set the stage, and then the show began.

Jim Hall. Photo credit: Michael Anderson

Jim Hall, who won this competition the year it was held at the Red Herring, was first to perform. This own composition was titled "I'm Still a Working Man." His Dylan tune was a heartfelt "Dear Landlord" from John Wesley Harding.

The next on the docket was Josie Langhorst, whom I raved about last year when she performed here at age 12. Her original tune, "Talk To Me," revealed an incredibly mature understanding of relationships, nuanced and subtle. Dylan himself, who wrote such remarkably mature songs at such a young age -- like "Boots of Spanish Leather" and "One Of Us Must Know," would undoubtedly be proud of how advanced this songwriting prodigy appears to be. She sings with force and a confidence that belies her youth.

There were 17 composer performers in all from a variety of places in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the audience we had Dylan Fest visitors from Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and Australia, among other places. I could bore you with details, but will simply cut to the chase.

Shane Nelson of Superior impressed us all. Michael Anderson photo.

The winner of this year's competition was Shane Nelson, of Superior. The judges grade on their original song, and his "I Do What I Do" wowed them enormously. He followed with an equally potent "Positively Fourth Street" that left few of us surprised when he later won.

Mike LaBo of Lansing Michigan. Photo, Michael Anderson

Second place Mike Labo wrote and performed "How Cn A Bird?" followed by a favorite of mine, "New Morning." Third place Jim Hall was noted above.

Hall, Nelson and LaBo. Photo: Michael Anderson

What's distinctive is the variety of styles, the variety of selections, and the breadth of the Dylan catalog. Words are insufficient, which is why we keep listening to the music. What Dylan album have you been listening to today?

* * * *

* Celeb judges this year:
Mriam Hansen, host of Highway 61 Revisited, KUMD 103.3
Gene LaFond, musician
Christa Lawler, Arts & Entertainment reporter, Duluth News Tribune
Jamie Ness, musician
Karen Sunderman, Producer, Making It and The Playlist, PBS 8

Singer Songwriter Contest Attracts Impossibly Good Talent--Again

"Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it." ~Stevie Wonder

From the balcony, John Sonofmel performing.

The English language is lacking superlatives to describe last night's singer/songwriter contest at Sacred Heart. Not that we don't have good words, it's just that they have all been so overused that they've been diluted and sapped of their true power.

Having said that, I will simply note that both the venue and the caliber of talent that was on display last night was simply wonderful, exceptional, full of poignant moments worthy of being enshrined. Thank you to each and every writer/artist performer who came from whatever distance to be with us, to share their pearls. I'm sure you could tell by the audience reactions that every single person who took the stage was extraordinarily appreciated.

The event began with a welcome that included special thanks to Sacred Heart for hosting the event. Having performed here at a few previous Armory concerts, I know that the staff here is unmatched for their dedication to getting every mic and speaker perfectly attuned to capture and reproduce the acoustics and voices, and being a former church designed to impress, impressing it does very well.

The way this competition works is like this. Each performer has to sing two songs. The first is one of their own composition, the second a selection from the Dylan archive. The performers are judged on their own songs. And there were just so many incredibly good songs.

Pat Eliason, who has been involved with this event since its inception in Hibbing two decades past, introduced Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo to open with a song. The North Shore duo chose an endearing Dylan tune to honor the memory of John Bushey who could not be with us,  “I Remember You.”

M.C. Pat Eliason then introduced the panel of judges, comprised of Gene LaFond, Maija Jensen (KUMD producer who shares a birthday with Bob Dylan), Jamie Ness of the Boomchucks and former winner),  Karen Sunderman (host of the Playlist and Making It Up North), and Christa Lawler (Duluth News Tribune journalist who covers the Arts & Entertainment beat.)

The judges. (photo credit: Michael Anderson)
Toughest assignment ever... so much talent.

1. The performers came from a range of locations. Our first was from Peoria, Illinois, also a painter and poet, Daniel Botkin, who sang a fabulous song Destined For Stardom accompanied by two young people. The Dylan selection was actually a medley of five songs he cobbled together with segues beginning with My Back Pages.

2. John Sonofmel from Hayward Wisc. followed, saying, “Wayward, not Hayward” as he took the stage. John has a rich baritone voice which served him well at Wednesday's poetry event. John sang We’re All Refugees. One line that jumped out for me was, “It’s hard not to wonder what could go wrong in every single moment…” His Dylan selection was "Things Have Changed" and as soon as he finished it was apparent these first two performers had set the bar high.

3. Eric & Rachel Cyr were third with another beautiful song titled Calloused. This line captures the message of the song: “I hope that your hands will get calloused but your heart never will…” Their Dylan selection was an incredibly moving rendition of "Boots of Spanish Leather." Heartbreaking and no doubt moistening eyes across the room.

Azure and Aaron

4. Lauren Burton sang next, her original song titled Everything I Need. “I have everything I need now that I’ve got you.” This was followed by a beautifully rendered version of "Emotionally Yours." Thank you for that, Lauren. Great song. You moved us.

5. Azure Daniels and Aaron Tink followed with song titled Landscapes, a reflection on life and the choices we make that bring us to where we are. Here's a line that spoke to me from this beautiful song: “But we’ll keep on rowing like the rivers keep flowing and maybe we, too, will find our way.” Azure pulled out a washboard to deliver a bluegrass funk to "Maggie’s Farm," a Newman family favorite.

6. Walter Lyle of Bear Creek called himself "another old Dylan fan.” With guitar and harmonica he shared a lighter song, “I’m chasing you around the house… Round and round we go… Where we stop nobody knows.” His Dylan selection, "Every Grain of Sand," left me wondering how Dylan could produce so many great songs.

7. Joe Schlafer introduced his song by stating that Dylan wrote topical songs when he started. Here are a couple excerpts: “Listen to the bell sounding the alarm..." and "Fire from the sky took us by surprise, shook us up and knocked us down, didn’t leave us wise.” His Dylan selection was the theme from Billy the Kid  called "Billy" Another great one.

8. The duo Mama’s Stolen Horses  -- Abby and Kris Robin accompanied by Jacob Mahon sang River Carry Me. Jacob Mahon was last year's winner.
"There’s water on the left and water on the right
From the looks of it there’s no end in sight…
Oh river won’t you carry me… put my mind at ease.”
The Dylan selection: "Buckets of Rain"

9. Dave Dvorak of Minneapolis sang Dylan’s Gone Electric followed by "Mr Tambourine Man." Ditto to all superlatives above.

Josie Langhorst. (Photo credit: Michael Anderson)

10. And then Josie Langhorst came to the stage. I spoke with her briefly beforehand and learned that she's 12 years old which brought many thoughts to mind, including being introduced to Dylan via Ed Hilliker, a friend on the school bus in seventh grade who said, "You should listen to this" as he handed me The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

Josie sang A Different Side to Life, a song with some pretty profound lyrics for a youth her age.
“Everyone has those days
when they can’t see through the haze
Confusion overruns your mind
but once it clears you see a different side.” Her rendition of "Mr Tambourine Man" led me to scribble these notes to myself: "Absolutely mindblowing. Dylan's incredibly profound song so powerfully transported to an even higher orb. Audience absolutely riveted."

11. Jerry Esnough followed with Where the Skyline Meets the Road, a traveling song.
“We take our chances out on the highway beyond the comfort zone,
We meet somewhere on the edge where the skyline meets the road.”
Jerry introduced his Dylan selection with “I always wanted to do this song in front of a Dylan-loving audience.” And then he floored us with "It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)." I overheard someone say, “He totally gets it.” Awesome

Photo credit: Michael Anderson

12. Eli Hawthorne grew up 45 minutes North of here. He shared a song about the neighbors out here in the middle of nowhere titled Man Down.
"Maybe we’re all broken and scattered to the wind
and maybe it’s some part of us that will never love again.”
Eli's Dylan selection: "Don’t Think Twice."

13. Peter Klug from Mankato showed that he's a skilled performer and his song was titled I Love This Band about playing shows for money.
“I know what I want and I’m never feeling fed.”
“I love where I’m coming from and I love my band”
He did some very nice riffing, and followed with knockout rendition of "Tangled Up In Blue." Solid.

14. This was Rachel Nunemacher's first singer/songwriter contest. She began by acknowledging all the talent that preceded her. She, too, showed that she had something to offer and like the rest appeared totally comfortable. What a great venue for your first event like this. Her original song was titled Ladder in the Rain.
“I’m holding on to something deeper than faith…
Piece by piece… I can sing to your heartbeat…
I’m hanging on the edge, they say we’re too young...”
“So just forget the rest.”

15. Ryan Lane from Duluth just returned from three years in Madagascar with the Peace Corps. The trigger for this song he wrote in Madagascar came from a moment in a rice field waist deep in mud, a song titled Love Songs to a Ghost.
“No one ever lived by being too cautious”
“Buried heart deep in the mud and losing good sleep over nothing but you.”
“We burned those dreams in the moment…”
He followed by singing the song that made him start listening to what Bob Dylan had to say, “Farewell Angelina.” Thank you, Ryan.

16. Steve Davis, with his faithful Martin guitar, sang My Time, a song for everyone about their dreams. “My time will come…” He closed the competition with "All Along the Watchtower."

* * * *
The points were tallied up and after a few moments interlude Pat Eliason read the final results. There

3rd Place
Eli Hawthorne

2nd Place
Ryan Lane

1st Place
Mama's Stolen Horses

Mama's Stolen Horses courtesy Michael Anderson

* * * *
Thank you to every one of you who worked so hard to make this such a stellar event.

Today at one o'clock Richard F. Thomas, Harvard Classic professor and author of Why Bob Dylan Matters, will be giving a lecture at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum as part of the John Bushey Memorial Lecture Series. Then at 8:00 tonight Cowboy Angel Blue will be performing at Carmody's.

Sunday 11:00 a.m. is a Farewell Brunch at the Zeitgeist Cafe. Join if you can... to say goodbye till next time.

A Quick Chat with 2017 Dylan Fest Singer/Songwriter Contest Winner Jacob Mahon

As many friends of Duluth Dylan Fest know, the annual Northland Dylan Bash originally took place in Hibbing with many memories generated over the years. One of the highlights of the Hibbing Dylan Days celebration was its singer/songwriter contest, a competition which required performers to share a Dylan song and one of their own original creations.

The past two years the Singer/Songwriter Contest took place at Clyde Iron Works. This year the event will convene at Sacred Heart Music Center on Positively Fourth Street. The Valentini's Food Truck will be on site so you can grab a bite. This free DDF event starts at 7 p.m. on Friday May 25.

There are still a few open slots for those who wish to compete. It's not to late to throw your hat into the ring. Sign up here at duluthdylanfest@gmail.com

Last year we once again saw and heard a lot of talented performers. All I can say is that I'm glad not to be a judge for these things because there is so much talent. Jacob Mahon (Pronounced Mann) won our 2017 competition. A few days ago I reached out to learn a little more about the young artist.

EN: You won last year's singer songwriter contest. What were the two songs you sang?

JM: I sang an original song called Gingerbread Man, and a Dylan song called "One Too Many Mornings," track 4 off of "The Times They are a Changing" album.

EN: You're young. 18? How long have you been performing?

JM: I've been performing since I was 12 years old with my brother, Owen, in North Central Minnesotan bars. We played mostly Dylan covers, and "Sweet Home Alabama" over and over again at the start. We just enjoyed playing what the people liked to hear, and in Longville, Minnesota, two young teen boys singing Lynyrd Skynyrd until it hurts was what the people wanted to hear. A passion for writing music started when we moved to Duluth in the Fall of 2016.

EN: What band or bands did you play with in this year's Homegrown?

JM: I played with Kristy Marie as 'Elephant Hotel' at Luce on Sunday and then 'Jacob Mahon Group' played Legacy Glassworks on Saturday. Both instances were a complete and utter gas.

This year's singer/songwriter will be at Sacred Heart on Fourth Street.

EN: What kind of music do you like to play?

JM: I play Original Music. Jacob Mahon Music.

EN: What is your fave Dylan album that you listen to?

JM: Bootleg series Vol. 1

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FOR DETAILS ON THE SINGER/SONGWRITER CONTEST 

AND OTHER DULUTH DYLAN FEST  EVENTS 

VISIT WWW.BOBDYLANWAY.COM

A Visit with Danny Fox: 2-Time Winner of the Hibbing Dylan Fest Singer/Songwriter Contest

Danny Fox at Sir Ben's.

"You gotta hear this kid," I was told. "He's got Dylan down," meaning he'd captured the inflections, the attitude, and the other trademarks of Dylan's style, blues harp hung around the neck, even the patter between songs. So I went to hear what the buzz was about and sure enough that winner of the 2008 Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter Contest did indeed reflect the persona of the Nobel Prize-winning troubadour when the Bard was in his youth.

Since that time, Danny Fox has made several trips to the Northland, most recently in early July, performing a few songs live on KUMD and putting on a show for local Dylan Fest fans and friends at Sir Ben's. A few years ago even the Chicago Tribune gave one of his visits some ink.

Now in his mid-twenties, Fox is a seasoned performer. Like many musicians his creative energies have also found other outlets. Dany Fox has taken up painting. Emulating Bob? Could be.

EN: How did you come to take an interest in Bob Dylan?

Danny Fox: My Bob Dylan story... When I was ten years old, My father and his brother, my Uncle Jim, would get together every Sunday at my uncle's house to watch the football game. My brother and I had NO interest in this whatsoever, so we would wander off and draw, play with toys, and partake in all the food that comes with football games. Uncle Jim had several towers of albums. I liked flipping through them to admire the album art. I randomly flipped to Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume One. I had never heard of Bob Dylan, never listened to any of his music, etc. I just liked the dark blue cover with a man's silhouette surrounded by a halo of light and hair. I asked if I could borrow it. On the way home, I put it in my CD player. I don't think I got passed the first track, "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35." I played it over and over and over and over. I was hooked. Musical heroin.

EN: You've won the Dylan Days singer/songwriter contest twice. How many times did you try and what was your plan the first time?

On the stage in Armory... a Dylan Days rarity.

DF: I heard about the Zimmy's songwriter contest in Hibbing in 2007. I was a junior in high school at the time. Dad and I were going to go, but it was already full. Instead, we had to wait until the summer of 2008. So we went and I was amazed. That's a whole other story, though. So I sang "Mr. Tambourine Man" and my original, "(May Be) The Truth About Love." I had no plan. Just sung what I was comfortable with. Lo and behold, I won! Seventeen-year-old me was ecstatic! And for the next two years of winning, I just came back and gave it my all again. Go in with no expectations. Sing from your heart, with passion. Let Dylan bleed right out of you.

EN: How long have you been painting? What led you in this creative direction?

DF: I have been painting for just about a year. Although art, mainly pencil drawing, I have been doing for over twenty years. Not being able to go to college has sort of stagnated my creativity. I've always admired the old masters and their oil paintings ever since I could remember. So, about a year ago, I just decided, DO IT. On a whim, I picked up some oils and, in the paraphrased words of Dylan, never looked back. I highly suspect this will develop into exploring more artistic mediums and that greatly excites me.

As a follow-up to that, I hope my art propels me into infinite possibilities. I'm currently working on a third album. In that respect, I hope to keep making music, designing album covers, making illuminated Bibles, and maybe dabbling in some sculpture or found object art. I don't quite have a plan. I'm at the mercy of where the art wants to take me and that's a-okay.

EN: How many times have you seen Dylan perform? What was your favorite memory?

DF: I have seen Dylan approximately eight or nine times, my first being Halloween of 2004 when I was 14 years old and my latest in June of 2016.

My favourite concert memory was in the mid 2000s where I saw him at a baseball stadium in Alexian Field. Our "seats" were general admission. We arrived incredibly early and ended up standing about five feet from the stage, ten feet from the man himself. During one of the songs, Dylan and I made eye contact. For a good solid ten seconds. I was crying uncontrollably. He sort of gave me a crooked grin. It felt like I was being rebaptized, that the torch was being passed on. Intimate, magical, and profoundly beautiful.

EN: Do you have a favorite album? Favorite song?

DF: My favorite Dylan album, hands down, is Desire. As for a favorite song, you're better off asking me to count every grain of sand on all the world's beaches! But I've always had an affinity for "Changing of the Guards," "Series of Dreams," and all of his early, early folk circa 1961-1963.

EN: What was the moment when you realized that Dylan wasn't just another performer like other performers?

DF: My most memorable instance where Dylan solidified himself as a god for me was when I was around eleven or twelve years old. I was riding in the back of my family's car on our way to the Countyline Orchard in Indiana to pick apples. I had "Masters of War" playing on my CD player. It froze me to the bone. The marrow curdled into a thick soup of astounding fright. This man spoke of grit and grime, of reality and triumph. I knew he was otherworldly and modern simultaneously. What can you say about Dylan that hasn't been said before, yet describes him perfectly? You can't really say anything. He's rough and soft, old and young, mysterious and perfect. The Shakespeare of my lifetime and in countless eons to come.

* * * *
EdNote: For the record, Desire is one of my own fave Dylan records. Thanks, Danny, for sharing your music this summer and your paintings here.

* * * *
Meantime, life goes on all around you. Get into it.

Even My Droning Lawnmower Was Playing Dylan This Week, Plus a Recap of Friday Night's Singer/Songwriter Contest Winners

"This is in many ways the essence of the blues. It wasn’t my fault, it was fate, it was the drink, it was the woman, the cards were fixed… And all the time there is that gentle voice, the controlled music, pulsating away in the background, unremitting, moving on all the time."
--Tony Atwood 

* * * *

DDF ReCap

There were too many highlights at this year's Duluth Dylan Fest to list them all. For those who joined us at any or all of the events, we hope you will be back. It was very special this year.

Highlights of the week for me, in order of occurrence, included
--Robby Vee & His Rock & Roll Caravan at Karpeles
--The Dylan-Themed Art Show at Zeitgeist
--Poets of the Northland event on Bob's birthday
--The annual Blood on the Tracks Express
--The Singer/Songwriter Contest at Clyde Iron Works
--Phil Fitzpatrick's presentation at Karpeles again
--Cowboy Angel Blue at Carmody's
--and the Farewell Brunch on Sunday, which is alway full of warmth as parties depart for another year.

I lost track of how many people said this year's Singer/Songwriter Contest was the best ever. Every performer/competitor there brought their A-Game and the most repeated comment I heard Friday evening was "I'd hate to be a judge."

Amy Grillo & Gene LaFond (L) with Pat Eliason opened the show
with Dylan's touching "Every Grain of Sand."

Pat Eliason stepped up this year to serve as Master of Ceremonies. Our esteemed panel of judges consisted of Christa Lawler (Duluth News Tribune), Karen Sunderman (the Playlist), Christine Dean and Gene LaFond.

Each contestant is asked to perform two songs, the first one being their own composition and the second a Dylan selection. Daniel Botkin, who went first, came the furthest this year. He sang a heartfelt "Once In A Lifetime" and "Don't Think Twice." There were many impressive moments, though. Oe highlight was the 12-year-old Josie Longhorst's pair, "Don't Let Go" and "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Wowzer.

When all was said and done -- and sung -- the votes were tallied and winners selected. Congratulations to Pat Jacob Mahon, whose original "Gingerbread Man" knocked it out of the park and earned him first place. John Sonofmel took second. Third place went to Eric Lavelle and Shojin Be Alford.

Thanks to all the great performers. Clyde Iron Works has proven itself to be the perfect venue for this event and we hope to see you all here next year.

The Lawnmower Blues Riff

Can you guess what this is?

Dylan once said, "I don't look for things to write about. They just happen to me." To some extent I would have to say the same.

For some reason we've had a particularly dreary spring this year, though many would assert that our lack of sunshine is nothing new. When you get a week of gloomy skies and drizzle you really have to take advantage of those breaks where the sun succeeds in getting its say.

So I was out there Friday morning doing the yard on a ride-around MTD mower when I couldn't help but notice the rhythm my engine was groaning. If you pay attention there are many sounds we hear that could be translated to notes on the scale, and this particular morning the engine was doing just that, winding out a four bar riff that you can hear repeated throughout the duration of Dylan's wonderful blues tune from Modern Times, Someday Baby.

Naturally the entire time I mowed this song was running through me head. I'm not making this up. Open another tab and listen to the how the tune goes here. It's that little quirky descending scribble riff that I am referring to. The lawnmower seemed to grind it out with a perfect tempo, and yes it made me smile and sing for an entire acre.

What follows are the lyrics, but for an insightful breakdown of the song check out Tony Atwood's Untold Dylan.

Someday Baby

I don't care what you do, I don't care what you say
I don't care where you go or how long you stay
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry po' me any more

Well you take my money and you turn me out
You fill me up with nothin' but self doubt
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry po' me anymore

When I was young, driving was my crave
You drive me so hard, almost to the grave
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry po' me anymore

I'm so hard pressed, my mind tied up in knots
I keep recycling the same old thoughts
Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me anymore

So many good things in life that I overlooked
I don't know what to do now, you got me so hooked
Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me any more

Well, I don't want to brag, but I'm gonna ring your neck
When all else fails I'll make it a matter of self-respect
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry po' me any more

You can take your clothes put 'm in a sack
You goin' down the road, baby and you can't come back
Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me any more

I try to be friendly, I try to be kind
Now I'm gonna drive you from your home, just like I was driven from mine
Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me any more

Living this way ain't a natural thing to do
Why was I born to love you?
Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry po' me any more.

Copyright

© 2006 by Special Rider Music

* * * *

Does your lawnmower make music? Do you hear soundtracks in unusual places? I'd like to hear about it.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Listen to the music.

Eli Hebl Nails It. Winner of 2016 Duluth Dylan Fest Singer/Songwriter Competition

Dylan Days in Hibbing had many highlights, but one of the most talked about and anticipated was the Singer/Songwriter contest. When Dylan Days in Hibbing passed, the Duluth Dylan Fest Committee sought to fill in the void. Though last year's effort at the Red Herring was a good first effort, this year's competition at Clyde Iron Works had just the right ambience. The room was packed and the performers were seriously prepared.

John Bushey of KUMD welcomed everyone and thanked Zimmy's for having started this event years ago. He then turned the program over to our hosts Pat and Karen. Pat is a singer songwriter himself and Karen, originally from California, hails from the Iron Range. The judges this year would be Karen Sunderman of the Playlist, musician Jim Hall, Chris Harwood, a TV guy who is also a musician, and Christa Lawler, who covers the arts and entertainment scene for the DNT.

Time does not permit a full replay here, so we'll just share a few highlights. One limitation that I've become painfully aware of is that attempting to write about music has a massive limitation. Music is its own language. To fully appreciate the songs and sounds, you really do have to be there. I can show photos but there's no real correlation.

Daniel Botkin, the artist from Illinois, took the first slot on the slate. Botkin introduced his song by stating that he has six daughters and this was written for them, with accompanying picture cards that he drew. Someone assisted him and held the cards in the manner of Dylan's famous Subterranean Homesick Blues video. "The Ballad of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Priest" was a clever take-off on Dylan's song of similar name, and it made for a memorable opening number last night.

Troy Atkin, wearing a Minnestoa Twins ball cap, took the stage with a guitar and a trombone. He used the brass instrument for the introductory licks of Rain Day Women, and brought smiles with his two songs. John Adler and Iris Kolodji followed and it became apparent that there was a lot of talent in the room.

A young man wearing a blue and white mesh baseball cap took the stage and explained that he grew up about 30 miles North of Duluth in the small town of Two Harbors. His song was written after something of an epiphany in which he realized that if he "didn't do something" this would be his whole life. He sang, "In the morning when you cry beneath the family tree, the fallen leaves and twisted branches, loss will set you free."

This fellow was followed by a singer who said his optometrist is Bob Dylan's cousin. He lives in a town on Highway 61, and the connections were vividly being laid out. A fellow named Terry had a conversational style of singing. Kim Naglin and Joel Wyblode of Hibbing shared how it was fun to play music on the same stage that Dylan played on half a century ago. They did a song from Time Out Of Mind, and the evening was just so perfect for its mix of Dylan and the inventiveness being displayed.

A number of performers clearly have fans here. Dan Lang and Joe Hauge play for a band called Minnesota Buick. Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo have been strengthening their fan base, having moved this past year to the North Shore. Brian Stelmaszewski, better known as the right hand member of the team "Lefty & Stel", was another of the many familiar faces -- and voices -- here.

When all was said and done Eli Hebl, that young man from Two Harbors, was voted the winner. Dan Lang garnered second place and Iris Kolodji third. Congratulations all around and thank you to everyone who came and shared.

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Just a reminder. Today and tomorrow there are still more events. A U.S. Postal Clerk will be at the Armory Annex this morning from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an official Duluth Dylan Fest cancellation stamp. Bring your letters to be mailed and have your stamps "cancelled" here today. Or buy our post cards and stamps on the spot. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat across the street at Valentini's and enjoy the music of Marc Gartman, another talented transplant to the Northland.

Tonight it the Armory Benefit Concert featuring music from the Baement Tapes. You can purchase tickets here, or pay a little extra at the door. It promises to be another great evening of music, all for a good cause. To learn more about the basement tapes, check out my blog post Story of the Great White Wonder -- the Original Basement Tapes Bootleg. There's always more to discover.

Tomorrow we'll do a Sunday morning coming down kind of thing at Zeitgeist Cafe downtown, and exchange farewells with friends old and new. Thank you to everyone who has been so faithful in making this another great week.

Meantime, life goes on all around you... Embrace it.

Momerial Day Weekend: Key Numbers

Danny Fox, Grog Time at Tycoon's

It's Saturday and here are some key numbers as we roll into Memorial Day weekend.

6
Day six of the 2015 Duluth Dylan Fest featured Danny Fox at Tycoon's Restaurant & Alehouse during Grog Time. When I arrived it was a surprisingly quiet and attentive crowd, in contrast to the usual manner in which musicians play in the background while those present enjoy chattering amongst themselves. Fox opened with a set of early Dylan songs that included Hollis Brown, Paths of Victory, Let Me Die In My Footsteps, Lay Down Your Weary Tune, Blowing in the Wind, All I really Want To Do, It Ain't Me Babe, It' All Over Now Baby Blue and many more. Fox has a sense of humor, introducing one song with the line, "This one's going to be a Bob Dylan tune." They were all Bob Dylan tunes.

Addison Israelson of Rochester, warming up backstage.

1
This is the first time the annual Singer/Songwriter Contest took place in Duluth and the first time it was hosted at The Red Herring. Rumor as it that proprietor Bob Monohan was unsure what kind of crowd this event would collect. I think he was pleasantly surprised.

18
The number of performers on the slate for the Singer/Songwriter Contest.

2
The number of songs each person or group sang, one Dylan tune and one of their own.

9
The hour today (a.m.) when the Dylan Fest Bus Tour is leaving the station (boarding at the Armory Annex.) This is an all day affair that will visit points of interest in both Duluth and Hibbing.

7
The hour tonight's Acoustic Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan at Sacred Heart Music Center will begin, featuring Twin Cities and local musicians with headliner Scarlet Rivera.

19
Tomorrow there are a few additional events of note. Amazing Grace down in Canal Park is hosting the 19th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands, which is not Dylan-themed but happens to be happening here and is homespun fun for all. From 1-8 p.m. you can catch it free, if you can get in. If the weather is nice a lot of the musicians will be jamming together outside as well.

99
Tomorrow will also be the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

82
The number on Jimmy Clark's Lotus Ford when he won the Indy 500 in 1965. Clark, from Scotland, was my favorite driver from the era, remembered as one of the greats. He died in a crash in April 1967 at the age of 32.

74
Tomorrow Bob Dylan will be somewhere in the world celebrating his 74th birthday, probably.

17
The number of muscles it takes to smile. Not sure how that works, as it seems so effortless with all the music and good vibes here in the Northland. We've done a lot of it this week.

12
The number of hours till the show starts tonight at Sacred Heart. Hope to see you there.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Engage it.

This Year’s Duluth Dylan Fest Schedule 2015

Blood on the Tracks Concert, Hibbing 2006

Duluth Dylan Fest has become an annual tradition these past several years, held during the season of Dylan’s birthday. After Hibbing's Dylan Days announced in December that their annual celebration had been placed on permanent hiatus, Duluth leadership team chose to incorporate two of the signature events from Hibbing, the Singer-Songwriter Contest and a new expanded Bus Tour starting in Duluth and going to Hibbing and back.

For those interested in participating in some, most or all of the events of this year’s festival, here’s an overview of the schedule along with times and places.

Sunday, May 17 -- Dylan Pub Trivia – 9 PM Carmody’s Irish Pub
Test your wits and knowledge against trivia contest regulars and Dylan fans. It's free, fun and far out.

Monday, May 18 -- tune in to 103.3 FM or www.kumd.org at 5 PM for John Bushey’s Highway 61 Revisited Radio Program

Tuesday, May 19 -- Poetry Showcase at the Red Mug in Superior beginning at 6:30 PM with a reception and then readings by Northland poets, including Duluth Poet Laureate Jim Johnson. A special addition to this year's event. Live music will be performed by local musician Richie Townsend while the poets read.

Wednesday, May 20 – Grog Time at Tycoons Alehouse from 5-7 PM featuring Duluth Dylan Fest favorite Cowboy Angel Blue performing songs from “Blood on the Tracks Express”. Stay for the 9 PM concert of The Basement Tapes Band.

Thursday, May 21 – Blood on the Tracks Express Train Ride from Duluth to Two Harbors and Back, boarding at 5:30 PM from Fitger’s, showcasing a number of up and coming and seasoned musicians from our rich regional music scene. Tickets available at the Fitger’s Beer Store or Eventbrite.com.

Friday, May 22 – Dylan Grog Time at Tycoon’s Alehouse, 5 – 7 PM followed by the traditional Singer/Songwriter Contest in a new venue, The Red Herring Lounge, 7 PM. Free.

Saturday, May 23 – Duluth Dylan Fest Bus Tour: Duluth to Hibbing and Back. Board bus at Armory Arts & Music Center, 9 AM. (Tickets: $40 at Eventbrite)

Evening, Acoustic Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan @Sacred Heart Music Center. Benefit for the Armory Arts and Music Center, 7 PM. Tickets at Eventbrite)

Sunday, May 24 – Bob Dylan Birthday Brunch with the Original Sawtooth Boys @Tycoon’s Alehouse, 11 AM – 2 PM. Free. (74 years, forever young.)

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For what it's worth, as sort of an introduction to the week ahead, a number of local fans will be gathering tonight at VIP Pizza in Superior where Cowboy Angel Blue will be performing. If you're able to get out swing by. Meet John Bushey and a few of the others who help make Duluth Dylan Fest happen. Good music and good times.

Singer Songwriter Contest is an Annual Highlight at Dylan Days... and a Special Treat: The Original Battle of the Bobs

Spring is in the air. Thursday morning it was -28 degrees on my thermometer. At this moment it's 30 above. 58 degrees in the right direction. We're less than two months away from the Homegrown Music Festival and the Northland Dylan Celebration, formerly Dylan Days in Hibbing and Dylan Fest in Duluth. So, I've got music on my mind.

One of the traditional highlights of Hibbing's Dylan Days has been the Singer Songwriter Contest. Bob fans from all over the world have participated in this event.

One of our competitors was Mark Sutton of Sydney, Australia, who wrote the absolutely wonderful "I'm A Bigger Dylan Fan Than You" which is practically an anthem for a lot of us here. Every line is loaded with substance, not one a throwaway. It gives you a sense of the competition when you learn that he didn't win that year. I don't mean to discourage you from throwing your leopard-skin pillbox hat into the ring, but there are some seriously good performers in this even. In past years we've been joined by Dylan performers from England, Scotland and the Continent.

Past winners include Danny Fox (2X), Little Diamonds, a lady from Manchester, England... and many others.

This year's Singer Songwriter Contest is going to be in Duluth for the first time ever. For nearly two decades, the Singer/Songwriter Contest has been one of the most popular events of Hibbing Dylan Days. Due to the absence of the Hibbing event this year, the Duluth Dylan Fest is honored to keep this tradition alive. The singer/songwriter contest is acoustic, with vocal and guitar mics on stage and a house sound system.

There will indeed be some prize money, but more importantly is the thrill of winning the equivalent of a Super Bowl ring, which is to say your name will be cherished in our memories, recorded here at Ennyman's Territory for posterity and talked about back home. And maybe we'll see you forever enshrined on YouTube.

The rules are simple. Perform a Dylan tune and an original song that you have composed yourself.

The event will begin 7 p.m. Friday, May 22 at the Red Herring Lounge here in Duluth. If you would like to perform email duluthdylanfest@gmail.com or visit the Duluth Dylan Fest Facebook page.

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Our Northland Singer/Songwriter Contest wasn't the first of its kind. I wouldn't be surprised to learn they have contests like this in Europe. In fact, someone sent me a link to a video of a similar event in Greenwich Village back in the early 80's. Evidently they were doing "Battle of the Bobs" in New York City. The First Annual Bob Dylan Imitators Contest was held at the Speakeasy Club on MacDougal Street. Here's a recording of this initial Battle of the Bobs, June 22, 1983.

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Meantime, even though our days seem to pass faster than a weaver's shuttle, may you stay Forever Young.