Last week, I wrote about tons of offbeat and lesser-known cool places to catch live music in Vermont. Spurred by some prominent venue closures, I wanted to highlight that there are more live shows happening than most people realize.
I’m not going to lie: I strongly suspected that I’d hear from a lot of readers, either sore that their own favorite spot didn’t get a shout-out or just eager to throw other establishments into the conversation. You did not disappoint!
While the piece was never intended as a comprehensive roundup, I’m glad it has us all looking for more places to see music. I heard from fans of clubs like the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge in Burlington and newer spots such as Vermont Cider Lab in Essex. As for those few readers who asked why I didn’t talk about South Burlington’s Higher Ground, the largest and most established club in the state: Well, I think you missed the point of the article, homies.
One thing I didn’t track in the piece were underground, basement and DIY shows, such as those thrown by Burlington Electronic Department, the brainchild of Roost.World‘s Zaq Schuster. Their latest party takes us to a most unconventional venue: the Marketplace Garage in downtown Burlington. Featuring Acqua Mossa, Amelia Devoid, Marie Hamilton and Roost.World, the rave goes down on Thursday, July 3, 6 to 10 p.m., on the rooftop of the city’s most visible parking garage. Find tickets through Roost.World’s Instagram. You shouldn’t have trouble figuring out where to park.
From July 19 through 27, Otter Creek Music Festival returns for its 46th season of world-class chamber music. Originally founded as a summer series by Middlebury College professor Glenn Andres and held in the Salisbury Congregational Church, the event has evolved quite a bit over the years. It became a nonprofit under arts administrator Joshua Glassman, who took over from Andres in 2022. The shindig has grown into a full-blown festival spread across multiple locations, including Town Hall Theater and the Mahaney Arts Center in Middlebury, the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland, and Red Clover Ale in Brandon.
This year’s lineup is loaded with talent. Vocal quartet Windborne is joined by the likes of the Toomai String Quintet, Skylark string ensemble, Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Maren Montalbano with guitarist Thomas Schuttenhelm, and baritone Nicholas Tocci with pianist Claire Black. Tickets can be purchased at ottercreekmusicfestival.com.
Not being a particularly nautical dude, I saw a new track in my inbox titled “Poop Deck Dance” and envisioned a pretty nasty scenario — cue the worrying over how I might cover such a track. Fortunately, before I brainstormed too many juvenile puns, I realized the song had come from our old friend Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate, the noted local kids’ musician with a penchant for sea shanties. As he explained in the email, a poop deck is the roof of a ship’s cabin built near the aft of the boat — not a German expressionist video you found on the dark web. (C’mon, Chris.)
The song was originally cut for Ron’s 2021 album Captains and Sea Monsters. The new track, a remix by Joshua Clinger of River Road Productions, gives the kids’ tune a trance makeover for when it’s time to get the galleon grooving. Ron also shot a video for the song at Cambridge Elementary School, aided by its Technology Ambassador program, which handled set production, videography and choreography.
“Poop Deck Dance” is on major streaming services, and the video is on YouTube. Right on, matey.