Live-music venues worth the trip in Duluth, Minnesota

AMSOIL Arena is one of the DECC’s venues in Duluth and home ice for UMD men’s and women’s hockey. It doubles as the complex’s arena-scale concert room and publishes seating plans and tech specs for touring productions.

Its own site describes it as one of Duluth’s most beautiful public parks on the shores of Lake Superior, with festival grounds and a stage where ships pass under the Aerial Lift Bridge. It promises “an exciting array of festivals featuring music, entertainment, art and food” alongside standalone ticketed concerts.

Symphony Hall is the DECC’s seated concert hall in Duluth, where the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra plays its season. It takes touring concert, Broadway and comedy bookings alongside that resident season.

Its own site describes a 400-seat venue built in 1896 as the Sacred Heart Cathedral with gothic beauty and renowned acoustics, and it still holds the 1898 Felgemaker organ. It books touring singer-songwriters and international folk acts alongside local tribute nights and silent films with live organ.

Its own site describes rotating musicians performing throughout the week in the Yard at the Lincoln Park taproom, from laid-back acoustic sets to high-energy bands. It adds HighKey Mondays as a weekly live-music night and a Wednesday reggae party in what its own site calls a family-friendly taproom.

Its own site describes a downtown pub and brewery at 308 East Superior Street open since 2006, pouring house beers such as Agnes Irish Red and Black 47 stout and bringing back live music to revitalize downtown.

Its own site describes an authentic English pub atmosphere with Lake Superior views at 805 E Superior St, live musicians five to seven nights a week and over 20 beers on tap.

Its own site describes an underground speakeasy-style bar in The Oliver Inn at 132 E Michigan St, with craft cocktails and no-cover Thursday jazz nights from rotating local musicians.

Its own site describes a restored Art Deco theatre in West Duluth serving the community with movies and entertainment, at 319 N Central Avenue. It books touring national acts across folk, blues, roots and Americana.

Its own site describes a locally owned Duluth coffeehouse open since 1999 with live music, a full espresso bar and beer and wine, whose stage hosts local musicians and regional and national touring acts. It runs a Wednesday open mic plus free Thursday nights of spoken word and art openings.