Teague Alexy had a memorable week at The 20th Annual Duluth Homegrown Music Festival concluding with the smashing of a ceremonial guitar as his band brought the twentieth annual Festival to a close.
Teague Alexy Band at Canal Park Brewery as part of DHGMF 2018 - photo by Nadia Walchuk
Teague, alongside Erik Berry and Ryan Young, kicked off the opening Sunday of DHGMF 2018 with an all-ages set outside Great Lakes Aquarium on the banks of Lake Superior before later headlining the opening ceremony Sunday night inside Hoops Brewing Company. The trio mixed Teague’s originals with a heavy dose of the Irish traditionals from the new Teague Alexy and Erik Berry album Irish American.
Erik Berry, Teague Alexy and Ryan Young at the all ages Homegrown Kick-off Show outside Great Lakes Aquarium as part of DHGMF 2018 - photo by Michael Mayou
On Monday night, Teague, accompanied by only his own snapping fingers and clapping hands, debuted a new song ‘Rock Bottom’ at the annual Duluth Homegrown Poetry Showcase.
On Tuesday evening, Teague sat in on harmonica with two different bands at Grandma’s Sports Garden. First, Teague joined Woodblind for “Doobie Dubla” and took over lead vocals for Woodblind’s rendition of Teague’s “Working Man Song.” Later, Teague came back on stage to join Black River Revue on their rendition of the Johnny Cash song “Cocaine Blues.”
Teague Alexy sitting in on “Working Man Song” with Woodblind at Grandma’s Sports Garden as part of DHGMF 2018
Wednesday morning Teague and surprise guest Ian Alexy joined Actual Wolf’s annual Homegrown morning residency at Duluth Coffee. The unplugged set went for over two hours mixing Hobo Nephews originals, Teague’s songs from his album Circuit Sessions (produced by Actual Wolf), and rousing versions of Actual Wolf’s “Thinking of You,” Ian’s new song “21st Century Troubadour” and a cover of Erik Koskinen’s “Six Pack of Beer and a Pack of Cigarettes.”
Ian Alexy, Actual Wolf and Teague Alexy at Duluth Coffee as part of DHGMF 2018 - photo by Richard Narum
Ian Alexy, Actual Wolf and Teague Alexy at Duluth Coffee - photo by Terry McCarthy
On Thursday, Ian and Teague Alexy joined up for a surprise Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank afternoon set at Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake.
Teague didn’t play Friday or Saturday night, but he was out and about passing around a broken acoustic guitar with the Homegrown chicken logo on the front and having it signed by musicians, fans, bartenders, food truck vendors, bouncers and anyone else who played a part in the 20th Annual Duluth Homegrown Music Festival.
Sunday at Canal Park Brewery, Teague Alexy Band took the stage as the last act of the eight day festival. Tyler (T-Dub) Dubla on drums, Brian (B-Wells) Wells on bass and Marc Gartman on banjo backed Teague through an all-original set in front of a packed house. “Quarter To Four” was the last song. Teague eventually put down his guitar and leaned into his distorted mic for a five minute harmonica solo before picking up the ceremonial chicken guitar. Teague kissed the guitar, held it high above his head and danced around for a few moments before slamming the ceremonial chicken guitar into the floor with a loud crash and leaving splinters all over the stage. Twenty years of Duluth Homegrown Music Festival was over. A smashing success!
The remnants - photo by Dusty Keliin