Another day means more arts and entertainment events for a leap-year February
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Every four years, Vermont endures just a little extra taste of winter thanks to leap-year day. For some that’s a blessing – it’s another day to squeeze in a few more runs down a favorite ski hill. For others, though, it’s a cruel twist to add another dark 24-hour stretch to what’s already an interminably long season.
Those in the latter camp should take heart in this: Leap year provides an extra day of arts-and-entertainment events. February is still the shortest month, but this year’s extension into Feb. 29 means there are a few more concerts, plays and the like than there would be in a regular-old 28-day month. Here’s some of what Vermont has to offer in this fattened-up February.
Oil, watercolor paintings in Middlebury
Through Feb. 17, the exhibit of oil and watercolor paintings titled “Thomas Munschauer, A New Path” continues its run that began Jan. 12, Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. Free. www.townhalltheater.org
Stowe exhibit ‘In the Garden’
Through April 11, using the garden as a motif, the group exhibition “In the Garden: a platform for artists, poets, and performers” opened Jan. 18 and remains at The Current, Stowe. Free. www.thecurrentnow.org
Patrick Leahy photos on display
4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, an opening reception will be held for “The Eye of Senator Patrick Leahy,” a collection of photographs by the former U.S. senator from Vermont that will be on display through March 29, Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier. Free. www.vermont.gov
AI (sort of) from Stealing from Work
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1-Saturday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 4, the Burlington sketch-comedy group Stealing from Work creates actual irreverence for its latest show, “Artificial Irrelevance,” Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington. $17 or “pay what you can.” www.offcentervt.com The group then delivers a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at the Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $20. www.townhalltheater.org
Lily Seabird reschedules show
8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, Burlington indie-folk-rock act Lily Seabird – just selected by the online pop-culture publication Consequence as one of its 15 rising artists to watch in 2024 − has rescheduled its postponed January album-release show, to be joined by Closeby and Robber Robber, Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. www.radiobean.com
‘Righty Tighty’ in Montpelier
4-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, the group exhibition “Righty Tighty, Black and Whitey,” on display through March 15, features visual art done in black and white, Hexum Gallery, Montpelier. Free. www.hexumgallery.com
Strings are the thing at UVM
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, the University of Vermont Lane Series presents acoustic musicians Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Eugene Friesen with the Berklee World Strings, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.50-$50.50. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Josiah and the Bonnevilles in Stowe
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, Americana act Josiah and the Bonnevilles plays the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe. $40-$125. www.sprucepeakarts.org
‘Birdland’ lands in Middlebury
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, The House of Jazz series continues with “A Night at Birdland – The Bepop Years,” a concert led by horn player and Middlebury College music professor Miles Donahue, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $25-$35. www.townhalltheater.org
Montpelier hosts free concert
1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, Capital City Concerts presents the musical sister group Sibyl, Unitarian Church of Montpelier. Free. www.capitalcityconcerts.org
Joy Clark at P.M. Sundays
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, New Orleans-born singer-songwriter Joy Clark plays this month’s P.M. Sundays concert presented by Valley Stage, Richmond Congregational Church. $17.50-$27.50. www.valleystage.net
Cajun sounds in Mardi Gras month
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, the Vermont-based Pointe Noir Cajun Band gets the Mardi Gras season rolling with a Cajun dance event, Plainfield Opera House. $20 suggested donation. www.plainfieldartsvt.org
Josh Ritter returns to Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band celebrate 20 years of Ritter’s breakthrough album “Hello Starling,” Higher Ground, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $39 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Bulgarian music comes to the Kingdom
7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, based in Bulgaria, the 80-piece Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra plays a concert in the Northeast Kingdom, Lyndon Institute Auditorium, Lyndon Center. $16-$58. www.catamountarts.org
Ali McGuirk concludes residency
7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, the soulful Burlington-based musician Ali McGuirk concludes a four-week residency with this show including members of the All Night Boogie Band and the finale at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 with local singers Giovanna Bucci and Andriana Chobot, Radio Bean, Burlington. $8 in advance, $10 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Global Roots Film Festival starts
Thursday, Feb. 8-Sunday, Feb. 11, the annual Global Roots Film Festival focuses the bulk of its dozen films this year on work by young women filmmakers and unveils a new intimate screening room in addition to The Film House at Main Street Landing, Burlington. $5-$12 per film, $36-$45 for festival passes. www.vtiff.org
Dana Robinson plays pair of concerts
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, Cabot-based singer-songwriter Dana Robinson plays a hometown show with his trio, Willey Building Auditorium, Cabot. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. www.cabotarts.org. He also performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Ripton Community Coffee House. $15-$25. www.rcch.org
BCA Center hosts opening reception
5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, the opening reception begins for the winter/spring exhibitions “Here Now: Art and Migration” and “Margaret Jacobs: Kinship,” BCA Center, Burlington. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org
Country-blues in Burlington
7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, country-blues performers Jontavious Willis and Vermont-based Paul Asbell perform in concert, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $25. www.jontaviouswillis.com
Kat Edmonson sings jazz at UVM
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, jazz singer Kat Edmonson, in a show presented by the University of Vermont Lane Series, brings the pre-Valentine’s Day romance to the UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.50-$45. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
President Randy Rainbow?
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, comedian and musician Randy Rainbow brings his “Randy Rainbow for President” tour – just in time for this year’s big nationwide election – to the Flynn, Burlington. $42.50-$177.50. www.flynnvt.org
Black Opry in Barre
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, the Black Opry Revue features musical performers Mehuman, Grace Givertz, LW Watterson, Sug Daniels and Tylar Bryant, Barre Opera House. $35. www.barreoperahouse.org
Chandler Center reopens for season
3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, the orchestra Upper Valley Baroque presents a matinee concert featuring the music of Handel to reopen the just-renovated Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph. $15-$45. www.chandler-arts.org
‘Afternoon Enchantment’ in Waterbury
3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, the Eleva Chamber Players present Vermont musicians Laurel Ann Maurer on flute and pianist Michael Sitton in a matinee concert titled “Afternoon Enchantment,” United Church of Christ/Waterbury Congregational Church $20-$25. www.elevachamberplayers.com
Guster sells out small room
5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, before heading out on tour next month, rock vets Guster -featuring Vermonters Ryan Miller and Luke Reynolds – join DJ Tad Cautious inside the 225-capacity room Apres Only inside the Field Guide Lodge, Stowe. Sold out. www.apresonly.com
Doubleheader for VSO Jukebox
7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s Jukebox Quartet plays a concert titled, “Hammer & Glass,” Paramount Theatre, Rutland, and follows that at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $15-$35. www.vso.org
Marsh Lights light up Lincoln
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, built out of the former Vermont folk/bluegrass band PossumHaw, Colby Crehan and her group Marsh Lights play a Burnham Presents concert, Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $15-$25. www.burnhampresents.org
Join the crowd at Pardyalone
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, hip-hop artist Pardyalone, plus openers John Wilde and Malcolm Miller, plays the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Middlebury marks Lunar New Year
12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, a Lunar New Year celebration includes performances and demonstrations of Chinese fan dancing, Korean pungmul drumming and Chinese wushu and concludes at 5:30 p.m. with a conversation on Asian-American identities with The New Yorker contributor E. Tammy Kim, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. Free. www.townhalltheater.org
VYO plays winter concert
3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, the Vermont Youth Orchestra performs its winter concert, the Flynn, Burlington $22-$25. www.flynnvt.org
Cirque Mechanics at the Flynn
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, the modern circus group Cirque Mechanics visits the Flynn, Burlington. $20-$45. www.flynnvt.org
Mardi Gras in Burlington
7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Vermont groups Yankee Chank and Mango Jam play a Mardi Gras dance party on Fat Tuesday itself, Hotel Vermont, Burlington. $15. www.aflcr.org
Free jazz for Black History Month
7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, touring in honor of Black History Month, the free-jazz trio Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble plays Radio Bean, Burlington. $18 in advance, $22 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Death metal for Valentine’s Day
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, it might not sound like the most romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day night, but Arizona death-metal specialists Go Ahead and Die join Bodybox, Half Heard Voices and Split in Half for a performance in the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $28 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Jazz at the Lantern continues
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, the Jazz at the Lantern series resumes with Bill Pierce of the Jazz Messengers, Brass Lantern Inn, Stowe. $35-$45. www.facebook.com/fireflyproductionsvt
Laugh at Bored Teachers
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, a group of educator/comedians presents a show known as Bored Teachers, the Flynn, Burlington. $55. www.flynnvt.org
Wynton Marsalis comes to Stowe
7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe. $65-$150. www.sprucepeakarts.org
Bach courtesy of Jeremy Denk
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, renowned pianist Jeremy Denk delves into the keyboard works of Bach as part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.50-$50.50. www.uvm.edu/laneseries.
Eric Tobin retrospective in Stowe
5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, a retrospective featuring the artwork of Vermont artist Eric Tobin, on display through March 16, kicks off with an opening reception, Robert Paul Galleries, Stowe. Free. www.robertpaulgalleries.com
Two shows from Shen Yun
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, the Chinese dance show Shen Yun returns for two performances at the Flynn, Burlington. $87.50-$157.50. www.flynnvt.org
Middlebury College is ‘United for Ukraine’
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, the benefit event “United for Ukraine” features the New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble, the Middlebury College Choir, the student band Chapel Hill and appearances by Middlebury College’s Ukraine students, Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. Free, with information available about suggested charities. www.middlebury.edu/arts
Two Vermont Philharmonic concerts
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, the Vermont Philharmonic performs its concert “Love’s Riddles,” Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, followed at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, Barre Opera House. $5-$25. www.vermontphilharmonic.com
Have a ball as winter drags on
8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, the 22nd soiree known as the Winter Is a Drag Ball − a benefit for Vermont CARES and the final one to be hosted by Vermont drag troupe The House of LeMay – features entertainment and dancing and a midnight costume parade, Higher Ground Ballroom and Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $32 in advance, $37 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Brattleboro welcomes Makaya McCraven
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, jazz drummer Makaya McCraven plays the Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro. $26-$61. www.vtjazz.org
Trombone Shorty sells out twice
8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18-Monday, Feb. 19, New Orleans favorite Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, joined by Kimaya Diggs, plays two shows at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Playwrights welcome at Off Center
7 p.m. Monday, Feb 19, the next Playmakers session for playwrights’ works-in-progress takes place at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington. Free. www.offcentervt.com
Montpelier author launches new book
7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, central Vermont author Thomas Christopher Greene celebrates the release of his new collection of essays, “Notes from the Porch: Tiny True Stories to Make You Feel Better About the World,” at the restaurant he owns, Hugo’s Bar & Grill, Montpelier. Free. www.hugosbarandgrill.com
Singer-songwriter night at Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, singer-songwriter acts Matt Pond PA and Alexa Rose join forces following Bathtub Cig, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Dance Theatre of Harlem heads north
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Dance Theatre of Harlem fills the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $35-$65. www.flynnvt.org
Indie-rock from Philly
8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, Philadelphia indie-rockers Sadurn, with local opener Greg Freeman, play the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
A Baroque night in Middlebury
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, the Middlebury Performing Arts Series offers “Hidden Treasures of the Baroque,” a concert program by Le Consort, Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/college/arts/performing-arts-series
Last call for haikus
Friday, Feb. 23, the deadline arrives for short-poem writers to enter the sixth-annual Weybridge Haiku Contest, which is open to residents of that Addison County town as well as Vermonters at large, with prizes including books from Vermont writers Julia Alvarez, Jay Parini and Chris Bohjalian. For more information email contest administrator George Bellerose at georgebellerose@gmavt.net.
Not-so-late night with Seth Meyers
7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23,, late-night talk-show host Seth Meyers takes the stage for two performances at the Flynn, Burlington. $54.50-$96.50 for 9:30 p.m. show; 7 p.m. show is sold out. www.flynnvt.org
Four shows from Matt Braunger
7 and 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 24, just down Main Street from Seth Meyers, fellow comic Matt Braunger settles in for a run of four shows, Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
A wintertime ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 24, the University of Vermont Lane Series hosts two performances by Actors From the London Stage of Shakespeare’s lighthearted play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.50-$39.50. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Blues from Robert Cray
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, things get bluesy when The Robert Cray Band comes to the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $40-$70. www.paramountvt.org
Essex Community Players stage farce
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, the Essex Community Players begin their run through Sunday, March 10 of Don Zolidis’ theater-themed farce “Long Live Love,” Memorial Hall, Essex. $14-$18. www.essexplayers.com
Talib Kweli leads ‘Black Experience’
6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, “The Black Experience 2024” features hip-hop artist Talib Kweli and vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock, plus keynote speaker and author Robert Livingston, the Flynn, Burlington. Free; registration recommended. At 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, Sweet Honey in the Rock delivers a full performance at the Flynn. $20-$45. www.flynnvt.org
Bill Frisell reaches Higher Ground
8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, the jazz-guitar-driven Bill Frisell Three arrives at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $39 in advance, $45 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Get soulful with St. Paul
8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, the soulful ensemble St. Paul and the Broken Bones follows Sugadaisy at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $40 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
A2VT at Farmers Night
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, the months-long Farmers Night schedule on this evening features the music of Vermont-via Africa hip-hop act A2VT, Vermont State House, Montpelier. Free. www.legislature.vermont.gov/the-state-house/events/farmers-night-concert-series/
Stand-up from ‘Letterkenny’ crew
8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, performers from the Canadian show “Letterkenny” deliver a night of stand-up comedy, Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $38.50. www.paramountvt.org
Waking Windows presents This Is the Kit
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, local concert promoters Waking Windows present a Leap Year Day show featuring songwriter/banjo player This is the Kit with Vermont native Sam Amidon, University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington. $30. www.wakingwindows.com
‘The Tempest’ lands in Burlington
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” gets a five-show run through Sunday, March 3 by Vermont Repertory Theatre, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $20-$40. www.vermontrep.com
Christopher Durang play in Middlebury
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, the Christopher Durang family-dynamics comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” begins its run through Sunday, March 3 courtesy of The Middlebury Community Players, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $17-$18. www.middleburycommunityplayers.org
Midnight North plays Nectar’s
9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, San Francisco band Midnight North, featuring Grahame Lesh (son of Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead), visits Nectar’s, Burlington. $20-$25. www.liveatnectars.com
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Things to do in February: Vermont arts options increase for leap year
