* For information on booking,  see below.

Open Stage

Monday,  May 20th 6 – 8 pm 

Music Resource Center Open Stage

Tuesday,  May 21st 7 pm 

The mission of the Music Resource Center is to educate and inspire young people and through music equip them with life skills for the future. We accomplish this mission through music education and performance opportunities, as well as life skills mentoring.

Join Duluth’s main MRC teacher Darin Bergsven as we host this special open stage for middle school and high school students. Enrollment in the program not required to perform.

MRC's Site

Four Mile Portage

Wednesday,  May 22nd 6 pm 

Mark Kroos & Charity Huot

Friday,  May 24th 7 pm 

Mark Kroos plays 2 guitar necks at the same time. Originally from Lansing, MI but currently based in Williamsburg, VA he is one of the only people in the world touring his trade. His primarily instrumental style is characterized by open harmonies, polyphonic textures, incredible tapping technique, and is as entertaining to watch as it is to listen to. Live performances burst with energy and magnetism not typical of solo guitar music. Drawing influence from folk, Celtic, indie, and even punk rock artists as well as other great guitarists such as Michael Hedges, Phil Keaggy, Tommy Emmanuel and Leo Kottke, Mark Kroos has developed his own edge to the acoustic guitar.

In July of 2011 Mark competed in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2011 Guitar Superstar Competition in Nashville for host Larry Carlton and renowned judges Muriel Anderson, Reeves Gabrels and Carl Verheyen, taking 1st place out of 5 invited competitors and thousands of others who had submitted online. Mark also picked up sponsorships from Ovation Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Planet Waves Cables and Kyser Capos.

“Mark Kroos plays with a sensitivity to the music and positive energy that is truly refreshing.”

Muriel Anderson
1989 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion

This October Mark released his second full-length instrumental guitar album, Down Along the Lines of Joy which features Mark on both double and single neck guitars. The album is based on the concept that while happiness is a fleeting feeling that comes and goes with outside influence, Joy remains in the heart regardless. A four-note theme which represents Joy occurs on the album several times throughout the album, during the upbeat songs, but also in some of the more somber songs.

Mark’s debut solo album, And Grace Will Lead Me Home was released in January, 2010. Tracks from the album have been licensed for multiple productions on CNN.

“I love this record. Mark’s combination of impressive technique and memorable melodies create an absorbing listening experience” - Jeff Danna, Film Composer, Guitarist

Photo courtesy of ryandahlberg.com

In May of 2010, Mark embarked a sparsely-booked road trip, giving up his apartment in Williamsburg to play coffee shops and bars, relying on donations, human kindness and the grace of God. This road trip blossomed into a year-long concert tour filled with performances, clinics, and a multitude of new friends.

While on tour Mark wrote and recorded 4 track vocal EP titled The Sound of Snow, released in January, 2011. Themes from the album include traveling, homelessness, and most importantly, hope. The EP is intended as a thank you to all of Mark’s supporters and is available only for free online download at www.markkroos.com/store.

Mark Kroos attended Bowling Green State University’s school of music from 2004-2006, majoring in Jazz studies and guitar performance where he studied under Chris Buzzelli and Matthew Ardizzone. He developed a greater understanding of the instrument and improved his technique immensely but also found that his ability was lacking in the jazz idiom and left the music school to tour with his ska/punk band, The Argonauts. When the band stopped playing regularly in 2009, Mark began teaching and picked up the acoustic guitar. A whole lot of writing, practicing and 2 guitar necks later there was the musical madness that is Mark Kroos.

Mark's Site

Charity is a singer songwriter from Duluth, Minnesota.  Her songs are playful, soulful, powerful, and raw. She is a true artist and a unique musician who has an ability to deliver each song with passion and poise. Her soothing voice, melodic guitar strumming and picking, and lyrical landscape mesmerizes her audience and allows the listeners to connect, relate, and enjoy a moment of music.

In 2000, she sang at the University of Minnesota Duluth in University Singers and both vocal jazz groups; Chill Factor and Lake Effect.  After 3 years of participating in the music groups, she redirected her focus on her own music. She started performing her original music at local coffee shops and bars; often solo and with other musicians.  After five years of writing and performing, she recorded her 1st album.  Tangled Directions was released in May of 2009.  It contains 10 original songs inspired by a variety of experiences from living across seas to a summer day in her hometown.

“Tangled Directions” by Charity Huot

Video courtesy of ryandahlberg.com

The release of her 1st CD opened up many doors for Charity’s music.  She started performing bi-weekly around Minnesota and Wisconsin. She took part in many small music festivals, performed at a variety of larger venues, had several articles and reviews written about her success, and finished in the top 10 for the Midwest Lilith Fair Contest.  In 2010, Charity performed live on “The Playlist” on PBS and sang the National Anthem at the Minnesota State DFL convention.  In 2011,  she finished in 4th place on ourstage.com for up and coming artists to watch. Denver-music.com also picked Tangled Directions for “Song of the Day”.

Charity released her 2nd album, “A New Beginning” in June of 2011 with the help of the Summit Hill Band! She has had concerts in Colorado, California, and throughout the Midwest. She has performed at several Minnesota festivals, a few including: Bella Fiore at Harmony Park, Riversong Folk Festival in Hutchinson, Harvert Fest and Homegrown in Duluth. She is continuing to write new music  and looks forward to sharing new music with you. You may catch Charity performing alone or with the band.  Make sure to check the show listing on the website to follow upcoming events.

Charity's Site

Battle of the Jug Bands Open Stage

Saturday,  May 25th 7 pm 

Hanna Cesario

Sunday,  May 26th 9:30 – 11:30 am on the patio *weather permitting 

Annual Battle of the Jug Bands

Sunday,  May 26th 1:00 – 8:00

If you are interested in performing at Amazing Grace, please contact Mary at amazinggracebooking @ gmail.com with the following information (for spam purposes,  we don’t have direct email link – amazinggracebooking @ gmail.com):

• Name of performer(s)/Band
• Genre/style of music
• Website with links to listen to your music, videos, etc – Reverbnation and Bandcamp are great! Please don’t send CDs to the bakery at this time unless you don’t have a web presence – save yourself the postage.
• Dates you’d like to play, especially if you’re touring through Duluth
• Your favorite muffin flavor

If you are booked at Amazing Grace we’ll need you to send posters 3 weeks early which we’ll hang in the cafe and around town. We’ll also contact local newspapers to put your event in their calenders, but it is up to you to generate a buzz!

*Please note – we are booked usually 4 to 6 months in advance, so please be patient with the booking process. Thank you for your interest!