About Us
The Parasol is worker owned concert venue
in Duluth, MN
an umbrella of inclusion, equity, & community
The Parasol is a worker owned & operated concert & event venue showcasing local, regional, & national musicians of all genres, as well as theatre, dance, & performances. The venue is dedicated to promoting artistic expression in diverse voices, uplifting emerging artists, welcoming both new & familiar artists, providing high caliber experiences to artists & patrons, & providing a space for artists & fans to build community.
Meet the Team
Kristi Olson aka That Sound Lady
Kristi is a music teacher turned audio engineer. She holds degrees in Music, Music Education, & Psychology & has 15+ years of music training, leadership, & teaching expertise. She honed her audio engineering skills & knowledge working at multiple local venues & contracted services. In her current role as audio engineer & booking agent at Bent Paddle Brewing, she regularly books lineups of diverse performers while coordinating event promotion, payment, & logistics between the artists & staff. She worked previously in public school education, nonprofit development & events coordination, marketing, tax preparation, & customer service.
She is the founder of On The Record LLC, whose primary operation is the self-titled Duluth-Superior music & arts publication. This independent biweekly publication - delivered in both print & online - is a key piece of local art infrastructure. It has been kept self-sustaining by Kristi for three years, without requiring loans or personal investment since the 2nd edition. The purpose of On The Record is to reignite the live music & arts scene post-pandemic, to gently push people toward community spaces to connect with others, to host a platform for discourse about the arts & opportunities for discovering new musicians. Other major cities have identified these types of publications to be vital elements for keeping live music & venues thriving.
Co-founder & Chief Audio Engineer
Sabrina Wertman aka Swertyman
Sabrina “Swerty” Wertman is a lighting tech & graphic designer. She holds a fine arts degree in Theatre Design & Technology with a minor in Film Studies & has 9+ years of theatre design, leadership, teaching, graphic design, concert AV, & construction experience. She is currently on tour working for Christie Lites as a lighting tech & has been freelancing in lighting & audio-visual spaces in various places, including the regional production companies of Sound Central, T&E Productions, Duluth Playhouse, & Big Top Chautauqua.
They provide support as a graphic designer, providing layout & illustration services for local musicians & publications, including Duluth-Superior Pride, the Duluth Poetry Chapter, Mara Lovejoy, & Dirt Magnet. Since 2025 she has supported On the Record through layout, artwork, & editing.
They also have experience teaching, having been an adjunct professor of stagecraft at Cypress College & acting as crew head for four interns at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival.