July arts scene in Vermont goes from music of John Denver to Noah Kahan, lots in-between
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July is here, which means summer really gets on a roll now. Everything heats up just a little more, from the temperature in the air to the hot dogs on the grill to the arts-and-entertainment scene across Vermont.
This isn’t a weather analysis or a food feature, however, so let’s stick with the arts-and-entertainment scene. The creative juices are always flowing in our fair state, but the first full month of summer is when everything comes together. Cool shows take place in air-conditioned spaces, outdoor venues practically explode with artsy activity and people are just ready to embrace it all and have a great time.
Does a great time sound fun to you? Well, then approach some of these upcoming events with all the excitement they deserve. (And you deserve some excitement too, gosh darn it!)
‘Almost Heaven’ with John Denver
Through Saturday, July 8, the first production of the summer season of St. Michael’s Playhouse continues its run that began June 28 with “Almost Heaven,” a musical tribute to John Denver, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. $39.50-$45.50. www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org
‘Buddy Holly Story’ plays Weston
Through Sunday, July 16, the Weston Theater Company features “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” in a production that opened June 28, Weston Playhouse. $25-$79. www.westontheater.org
‘Willy Wonka’ in Waitsfield
Through Sunday, July 16, the Valley Players continue their run of “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” that began June 29, Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield. $18-$22. www.valleyplayers.com
‘Blueprint portraits’ on display
Through Aug. 18, “Cyanotypical: Blueprint Portraits by Benjamin Aleshire,” in which the photographer uses a technique invented in 1842 to create architectural blueprints, remains on display at Waterbury Studios. Free. www.waterburystudios.com
‘Red Dress Project’ in southern Vermont
10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, “The Red Dress Project,” a multi-museum U.S. tour conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod that provides an opportunity for women around the world to tell their personal stories through embroidery, begins its run through Sept. 24 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester. $5-$10; free for members and ages 10 and under. www.svac.org
Circus Smirkus returns
1 p.m. Saturday, July 1, the youth-driven troupe Circus Smirkus starts its 36th summer tour of New England with a performance in its hometown of Greensboro, followed by Vermont dates including July 4-6 in Waterbury, July 11-13 in Milton, July 15-16 in Rutland and Aug. 18-19 back in Greensboro. $20-$35. www.smirkus.org
Lorrie Morgan in Essex
7 p.m. Saturday, July 1, veteran country-music performer Lorrie Morgan performs at the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $40. www.essexexperience.com
A Phish-y home-state show
8 p.m. Sunday, July 2, the bass player for Phish and a Chittenden County resident, Mike Gordon plays a solo show with his band, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival concerts
6:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, “Amazing Grace,” the latest performance in the artist faculty concert series of the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, features works by Beethoven, Dvorak and more, with concerts featuring other composers to be held July 7, 11, 14, 18 and 21, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. $35; free for students. www.gmcmf.org
Musical fireworks in Shelburne
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s summer festival tour ends with a bang when Vermont trumpeter Ray Vega joins the VSO for a program of swing, jazz, spirituals and marches, to be followed by fireworks, Shelburne Museum. $5-$35; free for ages 5 and under. www.vso.org
Waking Windows presents Winooski show
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, the festival folks from Waking Windows present a show featuring Portland, Maine band Dead Gowns as well as Eliza Edens and Vega, The Monkey House, Winooski. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. www.wakingwindows.com
Summervale starts its season
5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6, the summer celebration known as Summervale unites food and music – in this case, the music comes from local rockers Paper Castles – at the Intervale Center, Burlington. Free. www.intervale.org
Ziggy Marley brings legacy to Burlington
8 p.m. Thursday, July 6, reggae performer Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, mixes funk, blues and rock into his sound that he’ll featuring following local opener/producer/drummer Urian Hackney, the Flynn, Burlington $50-$76. www.flynnvt.org
Vermont celebrates Dead of Summer
Friday, July 7-Sunday, July 9, though it’s still early summer, the Dead of Summer Music Festival celebrates music inspired by and adjacent to the sounds of the Grateful Dead, with performers including Hayley Jane (3 p.m. Friday), Pink Talking Fish (8 p.m. Friday), Bella’s Bartok (11 p.m. Friday), Deadgrass (2 p.m. Saturday), Dead Man’s Waltz (6 p.m. Saturday) and Melvin Seals and JGB (8:30 p.m. Saturday), Hunter Park, Manchester. $10-$165. www.deadofsummermusicfestival.com
Jeezum Crow in northern Vermont
Friday, July 7-Saturday, July 8, festival season really gets cranking this weekend, with the eighth Jeezum Crow Festival featuring, on Friday, the Sam Grisman Project presenting Garcia Grisman at 7:30 p.m. and Leftover Salmon at 9 p.m.; and Saturday with acts including Soulshine Revival (1 p.m.), Charlie Parr (4 p.m.), Yonder Mountain String Band (7 p.m.) and The Devil Makes Three (9 p.m.), Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak. $25-$65; free for ages 6 and under. www.jaypeakresort.com
Art reception in Vergennes
5-7 p.m. Friday, July 7, the opening reception for “The Past Is Fighting Itself Again/Las Cuentas de Mi Abuela,” the duo exhibition featuring visual artists Maria Flores Galindo and Peter Walls that is on view through July 31, includes an artist interview and question-and-answer session, Northern Daughters Fine Art Gallery, Vergennes. Free. www.northerndaughters.com
Middlebury College carillons ring again
6 p.m. Friday, July 7, the 38th summer carillon series at Middlebury College resumes its bell-ringing schedule on most Friday evenings through Aug. 18, starting with Sydney Nguyen, assistant carillonneur at Wellesley College, Middlebury Chapel. Free. http://go.middlebury.edu/carillon
Electric fest is free of charge
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, July 8, the second-annual Davenport Electric Fest, which celebrates the legacy of Vermont inventor Thomas Davenport, who constructed the first patented electric motor, includes interactive displays, a movie about Davenport and his wife, Emily, and a vehicle parade that ends with the laying of a bouquet at Thomas Davenport’s grave, Otter Valley High School, Brandon. Free. www.davenportelectricfest.com
Ariel Zevon starts Stowe series
3 p.m. Saturday, July 8, Vermont musician Ariel Zevon begins the weekly Main Street Live Music Series, which runs through Aug. 12, village green, Stowe. Free. www.facebook.com/events/248631454481135/248631474481133/
Caitlin Canty comes home
7 p.m. Saturday, July 8, Proctor native Caitlin Canty, now based in Nashville, returns to Rutland County to perform with Noam Pikelny and special guests at a concert presented by the Paramount Theatre at the Pittsford Village Farm. $40; free for ages 12 and under. www.paramountvt.org
That’s Hans, not Hank
5 p.m. Sunday, July 9, young singer-songwriter and Vermont native Hans Williams plays as part of the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series at Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury. Free. www.catamountarts.org
Camp Meade is back in session
5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9, the Latin music of Burlington-based Mal Maiz keeps the good times rolling at the sprawling outdoor space known as Camp Meade, Middlesex. Free. www.campmeade.today
‘A Play on the Plague’ revival
4 p.m. Sunday, July 9, Burlington artist David Schein is holding a reading and musical performance to celebrate the publishing of the script he wrote for the AIDS-themed production “Tokens: A Play on the Plague,” Mothership (formerly Swan Dojo), Burlington. Free. https://mothershipvt.com/
Middlebury festival returns to the green
7 p.m. Sunday, July 9, the 44th Middlebury Festival on the Green is back on (you guessed it) the green in Middlebury with two sets by Canadian blues band Durham County Poets, with performances to follow including The Faux Paws (7 p.m. Monday, July 10), the Yacouba Sissoko Trio (7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11), The Garifuna Collective (7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12), Vermont musician Jon Gailmor (noon Thursday, July 13), the Krishna Guthrie Band (8:30 p.m. Friday, July 14) and the Vermont Jazz Ensemble street dance (7 p.m. Saturday, July 15). Free. www.festivalonthegreen.org
Visiting artist from Muscogee Nation
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, Joe Harjo, an artist from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, delivers an artist talk in the Lowe Lecture Hall, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson. Free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org
Playhouse stages ‘Popcorn Falls’
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, the St. Michael’s Playhouse presents the small-town comedy “Popcorn Falls,” McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. $39.50-$45.50. www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org
Ukraine comes to Vermont
6 p.m. Thursday, July 13, the Ukrainian foursome DakhaBrakha performs in concert as part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series, The Putney Inn. $20 in advance, $25 day of show, free for ages under 12. www.nextstagearts.org
Guster, Bread and Puppet in Shelburne
6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, veteran rockers Guster (featuring Vermonters Ryan Miller and Luke Reynolds) follow the political protest pageantry of Bread and Puppet Theater as part of the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. $52-$56. www.highergroundmusic.com
Montpelier hosts photography exhibit
4:30-7 p.m. Friday, July 14, the opening reception for “At a Crossroads,” an exhibit of photography and mixed media by Weybridge artist Victoria Blewer that runs through Sept. 29, takes place at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier. Free. https://curator.vermont.gov/vermont-supreme-court-gallery
Cracker comes to Essex
7 p.m. Friday, July 14, ‘90s alt-rockers Cracker play the Old Stage Summer Series with Vermont-based opener Troy Millette and the Fire Below, Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com
All the way from Australia, it’s Julia Jacklin
8:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin joins Black Belt Eagle Scout for a show in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Music, renewable energy at SolarFest
Saturday, July 15-Sunday, July 16, the music-and-renewable-energy event SolarFest is back with performers including Dar Williams, Etana & the Raw Soul Rebels, House of Hamill, Ray Vega’s Latin Funk, Phil Henry, Erin Ash Sullivan, the Maple Run Band, Pamela Means, Tom Pearo and many more, 144 Steinberg Road, Brandon. $40. www.solarfest.org
Peace.Fest in Lincoln
11 a.m. Saturday, July 15, the day-long Peace.Fest includes music from Andriana & the Bananas, The Tenderbellies, No Fun Haus and more, Sunray Peace Village, Lincoln. $25 suggested donation. https://sunray.org/peacefest/
Plain White T’s at Do Good Fest
1 p.m. Saturday, July 15, rock band Plain White T’s headline the Do Good Fest that also includes lovelytheband, Fastball and Vermont act the All Night Boogie Band, lawn at National Life, Montpelier. Free, with donations going to the Branches of Hope cancer patient fund. www.dogoodfest.com
Women in Music with Myra Flynn
6 p.m. Saturday, July 15, the Women in Music series presented by the Middlebury-based Town Hall Theater continues its summer run with singer-songwriter Myra Flynn, Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven. Free. www.townhalltheater.org
Essex gets funky with Dumpstaphunk
7 p.m. Saturday, July 15, New Orleans funk merchants Dumpstaphunk follow Waiting on Mongo at the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com
Flute, piano concert in Calais
7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15, Michael Avitabile on flute and Adam Tendler on piano play in concert at the Frank Suchomel Memorial Arts Center, Calais. Free. www.fsmac-quarryworks.org/
Kevin McDonald: Super Star
7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15, Canadian comedian Kevin McDonald, known for his work with Kids in the Hall, brings a staged reading of his original rock opera “Kevin McDonald: Superstar” to the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Garden tour benefits concert venue
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 16, the Westford Common Hall holds its summer fundraiser, a tour of half a dozen gardens throughout town, to benefit the venue that holds regular concerts. $25. www.westfordcommonhall.org/events
Stowe welcomes John Pizzarelli
7 p.m. Sunday, July 16, jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli joins Jessica Molaskey in a performance in the meadow at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe. $25-$40; free for children 5 and under. www.stoweperformingarts.com
Big Thief steals into Shelburne
7:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, rising indie-rockers Big Thief follow Nick Hakim at the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground at the Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Nanna, Indigo Sparke at Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, known as one of the vocalists with Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, Nanna goes solo after evocative singer-songwriter Indigo Sparke performs, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $31 in advance, $36 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Lisa Loeb stays in South Burlington
8 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, ‘90s hitmaker Lisa Loeb and openers Peter Muller and the Kindred Souls for a seated show in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $40 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Nectar’s welcomes roots musician
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, singer-songwriter-guitarist John R. Miller brings his rootsy sound (after opener Long Gone John) to Nectar’s, Burlington. $15-$25. www.liveatnectars.com
Sweet harmonies from The Sweet Remains
6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, harmonic trio The Sweet Remains hit the Old Stage Summer Series at the Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com
‘The Addams Family’ moves to Montpelier
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, Lost Nation Theater begins its production of “The Addams Family - The Musical” that continues through Aug. 6, Montpelier City Hall Arts Center. $10-$35. www.lostnationtheater.org
The Bubs play at twilight
7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21, raucous Burlington band The Bubs heats up the Twilight Series presented by Burlington City Arts, City Hall Park. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org
Tim Daly stars in Dorset play
7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21, television actor and part-time Vermont resident Tim Daly and his fellow “Madame Secretary” cast member, Jayne Atkinson, star in the world premiere of the Lia Romeo comedy “Still” that runs through Aug. 5, Dorset Theatre Festival. $51. www.dorsettheatrefestival.org
Akaash Singh brings comedy to Vermont
7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21, comic/actor/podcaster Akaash Singh goes for the laughs in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Country music at the Old Stage
8 p.m. Friday, July 21, country musician Keith Anderson continues the Old Stage Summer Series at the Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com
Maple Roots Festival back in Montpelier
11 am. Saturday, July 22, the third-annual day-long Maple Roots Festival features mostly Vermont acts including Soule Monde, Nick Cassarino and Erin Boyd, High Summer, the MLS Coalition, Ray Vega and the Vermont Jazz Ensemble and the Maple Roots Kids Zone with Linda Bassick and the Busy Morning Band, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier. Free admission; $25 parking fee. www.maplerootsfest.com
Lyman Orton shares art collection
3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22, opening festivities for a new exhibition running through October at the Bennington Museum and Southern Vermont Arts Center of more than 200 works of art collected by Vermont Country Store proprietor Lyman Orton feature a “Meet the Collector” program, Arkell Pavilion, followed by a reception at Yester House, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester. $5-$10; free for members and ages 10 and under. www.svac.org
Honey and Soul plays East Fairfield
5 p.m. Saturday, July 22, the harmonizing Burlington trio Honey and Soul becomes the latest act to play The Meeting House on the Green outdoor summer music series, East Fairfield. $10; free for ages under 12. www.meetinghouseonthegreen.org
Two shows by Billy Strings
7 p.m. Saturday, July 22-Sunday, July 23, bluegrass phenomenon Billy Strings settles in for a pair of shows presented by Higher Ground, midway lawn, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Folk singer visits Higher Ground
8 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, folksinger/poet Willi Carlisle headlines a show that includes Vermont-based Americana musician Reid Parsons, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Summer show by Vermont Stage
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, a new tradition that grew out of the pandemic, Vermont Stage takes its show on the road when it brings the Lanford Wilson play “Talley’s Folly” for a run through Aug. 6 at Isham Family Farm, Williston. $24-$64. www.vermontstage.org
Italian-American comedy in Colchester
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, the next production by the St. Michael’s Playhouse, the Italian-American comedy “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Joe DiPietro, starts its run through Aug. 5, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. $39.50-$45.50. www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org
Off Center hosts comic theater
7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, The Vermont Suitcase Company brings its touring production of the comedy piece “The Feeble Fantastical” to the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington. $15; free for children. www.offcentervt.com
Backseat Lovers kick off busy weekend
7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, though the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival is no more, Higher Ground is still producing concerts on the weekend the festival typically would happen, starting with young rock band The Backseat Lovers and opening act Bendigo Fletcher, Waterfront Park, Burlington. $49 in advance, $53 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com
Thea Wren in City Hall Park
12:30 p.m. Friday, July 28, Burlington City Arts presents the pop-jazz-soul of Thea Wren as part of its summer concert series, City Hall Park. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org
Anthony Jeselnik gets funny at the Flynn
7 p.m. Friday, July 28, comedian and podcaster Anthony Jeselnik takes the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $35-$59. www.flynnvt.org
Colin Jost gets funny in Rutland
8 p.m. Friday, July 28, Colin Jost, head writer at “Saturday Night Live” and co-anchor of the show’s “Weekend Update” segment (and husband of Scarlett Johansson, BTW), performs at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $39-$59. www.paramountvt.org
Isakov, Ritter on the waterfront
8 p.m. Friday, July 28, it’s a singer-songwriter night presented by Higher Ground when Gregory Alan Isakov and Josh Ritter play Waterfront Park, Burlington. $50 in advance, $54 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com
It’s time to ramble
8:30-11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, yoga at Pomeroy Park helps kick off this year’s offbeat community celebration of The Ramble in Burlington, which includes an Old North End walking tour (10-11 a.m., starting at Battery Park), field days at Battery Park (10 a.m.-noon), the Decaturfest bee-themed block party on Decatur Street (11 a.m.-4 p.m.), open-mike “Tiny Yard Sessions” (noon-2 p.m., 157 North St.), the EPIC Bike Ride (4:30-5:15 p.m., starting at Roosevelt Park), The Ramble Round-Up featuring live music, food trucks, a beer garden and more (5:30-10 p.m., ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St.) and an after-party featuring DJ Taka (11 p.m.-2 a.m., Radio Bean/Light Club Lamp Shop). Free. www.theramble.org
North Mississippi Allstars come north
7 p.m. Saturday, July 29, blues-rockers the North Mississippi Allstars perform with John Fusco, the Vermont-based screenwriter and musician who has recorded with the band, for the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com
Noah Kahan’s magical year continues
8 p.m. Saturday, July 29-Sunday, July 30, Strafford-raised musician Noah Kahan, whose career has exploded thanks to his latest album, the Vermont-inspired “Stick Season,” joins opener Joy Oladokun to conclude the weekend’s concerts presented by Higher Ground at Waterfront Park, Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Bela Fleck’s ‘Bluegrass Heart’
7 p.m. Sunday, July 30, banjo master Bela Fleck presents a concert titled “My Bluegrass Heart” that includes Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton, meadow at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe. $25-$40, free for children 5 and under. www.stoweperformingarts.com
Harriet Tubman inspires chamber opera
8 p.m. Monday, July 31, “Harriet, Scenes from the Life of Harriet Tubman” pays tribute to the abolitionist with the piece written by composer Hilda Paredes as well as a selection of spirituals, Yellow Barn, Putney. $17-$35. www.yellowbarn.org
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Noah Kahan, music of John Denver and Buddy Holly, top July arts picks
