Duluth singer-songwriter Kaylee Matuszak has a day job that puts her at the information desk of one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Minnesota.

Matuszak works as a park ranger and museum technician for the Lake Superior Marine Museum – the building that sits adjacent to the Duluth ship canal and its iconic aerial lift bridge.

The museum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and many come to Matuszak with questions.

“I literally give people suggestions of fun things to do for a living,” she says.

But how many Canal Park tourists ask about where they can go in Duluth to hear loud punk rock? Or if Duluth has a tiki bar that occasionally features an experimental noise band? How many visitors ask about the wide-ranging music calendar at a former gas station turned lakeside restaurant? And do they ever want to know about what’s playing in Superior, Wisc., just across the harbor?

These are questions Matuszak and her fellow Duluth musicians know everything about.

Duluth is famous for being a small city with a big music scene. The town has launched more than its fair share of national and international touring acts. Artists like Low, Charlie Parr, Haley, Trampled by Turtles, and Gaelynn Lea have all started their careers in the coffee shops, dive bars, and other music-friendly venues spread across town.

But if you don’t live in the Twin Ports how do you know where to find good local music?

Resources: The arts and entertainment weekly newspaper The Reader provides good local event listings. It is available for free at most bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. For something that fits on your phone, the website perfectduluthday.com bills itself as “Duluth’s Duluthiest website” and features a wide range of Twin Ports entertainment options.

Of course, local musicians are the best source for local music suggestions. They know the hottest stages, the cheapest drinks and the semi-secret, late-night happenings around town because, well, it’s their job. According to these local players, the Twin Ports has a handful of venues that should be on every music lover’s “can’t miss” list along with some special places where timing a visit is a critical factor.

Live music: Wussow’s Concert Cafe, the West Duluth coffee shop launched by ska-fanatic Jason Wussow in 1999, or Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake, a lakeside hot spot east of downtown serving up live music and killer Cuban sandwiches, bookend everyone’s must-do list. 

“Wussow’s is the first place that came to my mind,” says C.J. Hanson, keyboard player for The Latelys. “I think it’s so cool because of the wide range of not only styles of music but also ages and skill levels. One night there will be a high school garage band that’s doing their first gig and the next night it will be a nationally touring artist selling out the whole place.”

“You can see all walks of the music journey there,” he says.

The craft beer on tap, amazing bakery case and low cover charge help, too.

Matuszak agrees. She advises everyone to look west – beyond the tourist-filled Canal Park and booming Lincoln Park – to find the best scene. 

“Wussow’s is an absolute must stop,” she says. “Plus every bar over there is great too. I’m a huge fan of the Jade Fountain and the Kom-On-Inn.”

Bars: The historic Kom-On-Inn features a collection of period-correct murals depicting all the great turn-of-the-century factories that have since disappeared from the Duluth landscape. Across the parking lot, the Jade Fountain, in a former 1970s Chinese restaurant, offers exotic specialty drinks and an eye-popping art collection. The place is a favorite of Sadkin guitarist Nic Hanson (no relation to CJ).

“It’s so funky and weird and fantastic,” he says. “Pete Biasi is one of the bartenders and he’s got his pulse on all sorts of beautiful weirdo music and brings it in. I always try to find those people that got the pulse – because they’re way better at finding stuff.”

The Jade Fountain stages occasional live music as does another Nic Hanson favorite, The Back Alley, a surf shop and clothing boutique located in Lincoln Park. “There’s some cool concerts that happen at The Back Alley,” he says. “There’s some little shows that happen there - they’re great.”

CJ Hanson says the laid-back live shows at Sir Benedicts hooked him years ago. The popular bar and restaurant offers a bluegrass jam on Tuesday nights and Celtic music on Thursday nights. Fiddle and mandolin players sit around a table, call out tunes and jam with anyone who wants to join them. It’s informal, fun and highly entertaining, says Hanson.

“I don’t play that style of music but I wish I did,” he says. “I just like to go and sit at the bar and listen to them and watch them because they’re all just great musicians.”

Breweries: Of course, multiple new music venues have come to life in the wake of the Twin Ports brewery and cidery boom.

Bent Paddle Brewing and Ursa Minor Brewing, both located in Lincoln Park, have built up regular live music calendars. Bent Paddle converted a little used city street into a grassy outdoor concert space in 2020. Ursa Minor expanded its indoor stage during remodeling work this summer. Across the bridge in Superior, Earth Rider Brewery and its Cedar Lounge have developed the most robust music scene in the Twin Ports. An outdoor stage regularly hosts national touring acts and the small Cedar Lounge stage features monthly residencies from artists like Eric Koskinen, Alan Sparhawk, and Marc Gartman. 

“I probably frequent the Wednesday night Cedar Session the most,” says Matuzcak, who will be performing in her band Berserk Blondes with Iron Range polka prince Steve Solkela during a July residency.

Earlier this winter, Hoops Brewing in Canal Park started to feature live, local DJs on Thursday nights.

Evan Tepler, a guitarist for Breanne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners, says the Thursday night scene at Hoops has been a hit with music fans. Tepler operates a vinyl pop-up called Round Here Records and sets up during most Thursday night shows.

“It’s a good time there,” says Tepler. “It’s all over the place. Both (DJ) collections are pretty eclectic. They’ll play a New York punk record song or two, then do some hip-hip and move over to some electronic stuff… It’s just all over the place. It’s really cool to hear.”

Vinyl: Tepler says his pop-up offers lots of Duluth-based music and also features a wide variety of used albums from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. He says other good places to hunt for used vinyl in the Twin Ports include Collectors Connection and Globe News in Superior. Odd LPs, a well-stocked booth, is located in the basement of the Duluth Antique Market Place on Grand Avenue. 

Looking for new vinyl is another story. “Obviously Duluth is lacking a record store at the moment so the only place with a real selection of new vinyl is Barnes and Noble up at the mall,” he says.

After touring all of the great Duluth music sites, Matuzcak recommends a stop at an old favorite: The Lake Superior Marine Museum.

“I would definitely recommend my own museum,” she says. “We’re completely free and what live music fan doesn’t love something that’s free? You can learn about maritime history and even say hello to yours truly!”

She might even sing you a sea shanty.

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.