Three years after the return of outdoor concerts in Vermont, this year’s season returns in a big way with what appears to be more offerings than ever. Here’s a look at some notable events happening this summer:
June 29: Guster
Hit pop-rock group Guster, which includes Vermont residents Ryan Miller and Luke Reynolds, performs in support of their first new album in five years, “Ooh La La,” released last month. Opening acts include James Kochalka Superstar and Zeno Mountain Band.
Shelburne Museum, 6 pm (Higher Ground Presentations). Tickets are $54 in advance, $58 day of show ($1 additional for charities; free for children 12 and under); call 888-512-7469 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com
June 28-30: Solid Sound Festival
Chicago rock band extraordinaire Wilco’s Solid Sound music and arts festival returns for another three-day outing at America’s largest contemporary art museum, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA).
Presented by Higher Ground, the family-friendly festival features artists such as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Dry Cleaning, Nick Lowe & Los Straightjackets, Iris DeMent and John Hodgman’s Comedy Cabaret, among others. And headline performances by Wilco in addition to the band members’ various solo projects.
MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass. (Higher Ground Presentations). For tickets or information, visit solidsoundfestival.com
July 6: moe., Daniel Donato, Vecino
Famous progressive rock band moe. brings his distinctive blend of Americana, intelligent songwriting, and jam band ethics to Jay Peak. Opening the show are fast-rising “cosmic country” artist Daniel Donato and Boston rock band Neighbor.
Stateside Amphitheater at Jay Peak, 7 pm Tickets are $41 in advance, $51 day of show (all ages; general admission); call 800-451-4449 or visit www.jaypeakresort.com
July 6-7: Homegrown in Vermont
The inaugural two-day celebration of local musicians, Homegrown in Vermont, features Troy Millette & The Fire Below, Billy Wylder, Maple Run Band and Wild Leek River.
Village Green on Spruce Peak, Stowe, midday. Passes to the two-day festival are $25; call 802-760-4634 or visit www.sprucepeakarts.org
July 19-21: Jerry Jam
The 26th Jerry Jam, which was scheduled to debut at its new Vermont location at Pransky Farm in Cabot last July but was canceled due to widespread flooding that devastated the area, began in New Hampshire as an informal gathering of some friends who They celebrated the life of Jerry Garcia, the late legendary Grateful Dead guitarist.
This year’s lineup includes Reid Genauer’s Folks and Assembly of Dust, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass with The Hillbenders, The Nth Power, Max Creek, Toubab Krewe, Hayley Jane, Roots of Creation and Marcus Rezak’s Shred is Dead.
Pransky Farm, Cabot. Festival passes are $169 (free for ages 12 and under; price includes parking and tent camping; single-day tickets not yet on sale); go online to www.jerryjam.com
July 19 and 20: Jeezum Crow Festival
The ninth edition of Jay Peak’s beloved Jeezum Crow Festival brings artists like the legendary Del McCoury Band, the Grammy-nominated Virginia-based newgrass band The Infamous Stringdusters, and the funky Baltimore-based jam band to northeast Vermont , Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, among others.
American Amphitheater at Jay Peak. Tickets are $50 for Friday (advance only), $60 in advance for the weekend pass ($70 at the door; free for ages 6 and under); call 800-451-4449 or visit www.jaypeakresort.com
July 25: Jamestown Revival, Kat Wright
Jamestown Revival, self-described purveyors of “back porch folk-rock” and “Southern & Garfunkel” from Austin, Texas, return to Stowe two years after performing at the inaugural Spruce Peak Summer Concert Series.
Village Green at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 for lawn seating ($5 for children 5 and under); call 802-760-4634 or visit www.sprucepeakarts.org
July 26-27: Cabot Music and Arts Festival
Started in 2022 as a one-day, multi-genre music festival, the Cabot Music and Arts Festival was scheduled to expand to two days last year before catastrophic flooding led to a scaled-down one-day event. The third edition is again two days with 12 bands on four stages. Performers include Rose & The Bros, The Mammals, Soggy Po Boys, Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert, and Bob and Sarah Amos.
Cabot Village Common, noon to 10 pm Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door (free for ages 16 and under); call 802-793-3016 or visit www.cabotarts.org
July 27-28: Grace Potter
Mad River Valley-born rocker Grace Potter, who splits her time between California and her home in Moretown, headlines two shows at Burlington’s Waterfront Park as part of the four-day Grand Point North music series, from March 25-28. July. On July 27 she features Michael Marcagi, Henry Jamison and Sarah King, while on July 28 she features Anderson East, Ali McGuirk, Acqua Mossa and All Night Boogie Band.
Waterfront Park, Burlington, 4:30 pm (Higher Ground Presentations). Tickets are $52 in advance, $56 day of show, $92 for two-day pass (free for children 12 and under); call 888-512-7469 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com
July 27: Maple Roots Festival
The fourth edition of the Montpelier Maple Roots Festival features Steady Betty, Cassarino Family Band, Kat Wright, MLS & Friends, Avi Salloway, Eames Brothers, Brett Hughes and Andriana & The Bananas.
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier, noon to 12 a.m. Free ($25 per vehicle for on-site parking); go online to www.maplerootsfest.com
August 2-4: Stowe Jazz Festival
The sixth edition of the free Stowe Jazz Festival moves to early August, bringing together notable New York City artists such as keyboardist Henry Hey and his Forq quartet, Civil Disobedience (bassist David Ambrosio, tenor sax titan Donny McCaslin , trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and pianist Luis Perdomo). and drummer Johnathan Blake, and singer Nicole Zuraitis.
August 7: Ripe, G. Love and The Free Label
Popular Boston-based dance-funk outfit Ripe returns to Spruce Peak in support of their 2023 album, “Bright Blues.” Opening the show is the unique hip-hop blues singer-songwriter G. Love, performing with dance-inducing Toronto sextet The Free Label.
Village Green at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 for lawn seating ($5 for children 5 and under); call 802-760-4634 or visit www.sprucepeakarts.org
August 9-11: One LoVermont Freedom and Unity Festival
One LoVermont brings its annual reggae festival to Pransky Farm in Cabot. The August 10 music lineup includes Jamaican reggae star Jesse Royal, Boston-based reggae/hip-hop/rock artist Mighty Mystic and Jamaican reggae/dancehall duo Runkus + Royal Blu.
Pransky Farm, Cabot. Festival passes are $90, $70 on Saturday only (free for ages 17 and under; camping included); go online to onelovermont.com
August 15-18 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots
The fifth annual Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival features a host of notable artists: Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange), Crooked Still, The Travelin’ McCourys, Rayland Baxter, The Jerry Douglas Band and Aoife O’Donovan with Hawktail, among many others .
Hunter Park, central Manchester. Tickets range from $175 to $400 for weekend passes, $30 to $95 for day passes; call 802-824-3575 or visit www.greenmountainbluegrass.com
August 17: Tyler Hubbard
One half of the multi-platinum country duo Florida Georgia Line, Georgia native Tyler Hubbard performs in support of their sophomore album, “Strong,” released in April.
Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 8:15 p.m. (in association with the Paramount Theatre). Tickets cost between $46.50 and $61.50; call 802-775-0908 or visit www.paramountvt.org
August 29: Brandy Clark, Stephen Kellogg
Washington-born, Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark performs in support of her widely praised 2023 self-titled album, which was produced by Brandi Carlile and nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Best Americana Album.
Village Green at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 for lawn seating ($5 for children 5 and under); call 802-760-4634 or visit www.sprucepeakarts.org
September 1: Goth Babe
Goth Babe, a rapidly rising artist with a tongue-in-cheek name that belies his upbeat sound, aka Griff Washburn, Tennessee native and indie pop wunderkind, makes his Vermont debut in support of his beautiful, brilliant debut album, ” “Lola.” released in January.
Shelburne Museum, 7 pm (Higher Ground Presentations). Tickets are $49.50 in advance, $53.50 day of show ($1 additional for charities; free for children 12 and under); call 888-512-7469 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com
September 7: Imagine Zero Music Festival
Billed as “a zero-waste, zero-carbon music festival” that aims to run entirely on renewable energy and zero waste, Imagine Zero moves from Brandon to Barnard for its second annual festival. Featured bands include Haitian roots group Lakou Mizik, art-rock band Billy Wylder, Boston folk-rock trio The Wolff Sisters and Chad Hollister Acoustic Trio.
Fable Farm, Barnard, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 until Aug. 1, $75 after Aug. 1 ($25 for children ages 3 to 12); Go online to imaginezerofestival.com.
September 16: Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a wildly popular, genre-defying band formed a decade ago in North Carolina, is performing in Vermont for the first time in five years to promote their stellar new album, “Love Hate Music Box,” released last month.
Shelburne Museum, 7 pm (Higher Ground Presentations). Tickets are $58.50 in advance, $62.50 day of show ($1 additional for charities; free for children 12 and under); call 888-512-7469 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com
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