Music festivals, sold-out Shelburne Museum shows lead August arts picks in Vermont
We wait through a long, nasty winter and intermittently chilly spring to get to summer in Vermont, when we can finally go out into the world to relish glorious warm weather and the state’s continually robust offering of arts-and-entertainment events.
Then one of the wettest months of July on record happens, made 100 times worse by flooding that devastated several regions of the state, impacting some of Vermont’s long-running arts organizations. This is a state that knows how to rebound, however, so those arts providers are already finding new ways to stage their events. Those unaffected by the July floods are still hoping August is a little drier so their events don’t get rained out in the last full month of summer.
This is a long way of saying not to waste those fleeting opportunities – get outside of your house, maybe even outside of your comfort zone, to experience some of these arts-and-entertainment events this month that might just move you on the inside.
‘Chasing Light’ in Shelburne
Through Sept. 2, “Chasing Light,” an exhibit of oil paintings by David Smith, continues its run that began July 21, Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne. Free. www.fsgallery.com
Art for (or about) the birds
Through Oct. 31, more than 60 artists contributed to “Spark!,” an exhibit of bird-inspired art that opened May 1, Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington. $4.50-$9 museum admission; free for museum members. www.birdsofvermont.org
Middlebury screens Barry Levinson films
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival presents its 2023 sunset series featuring the films of Barry Levinson, starting on this night with “Diner” and continuing at the same time Wednesday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 5 with “Tin Men,” “Wag the Dog,” “Bugsy” and “The Natural,” under the tent at the Swift House Inn, Middlebury. $13-$15 per film, $60 series pass. www.middfilmfest.org
Kat Wright, Brett Hughes in the park
12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, Vermont musical stalwarts Kat Wright & Brett Hughes combine for a performance as part of the summer concert series presented by Burlington City Arts, City Hall Park. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org
Huntington hosts music series
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, the music series “Over the ‘Hump’” begins its four-week run of Wednesday evenings with The Dimmer Triplets, followed Aug. 9 with The Fog, Aug. 16 with Rik Palieri and William Lee Ellis and Aug. 23 with Red Hot Juba, Huntington Recreation Field. Free. www.huntingtonvalleyarts.org
A show by (M)Organ Fairchild
7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, it’s not ‘70s and ‘80s actress Morgan Fairchild but the New York-based jam group Organ Fairchild that’ll perform a set of Grateful Dead music, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $10. www.zenbarnvt.com
Otter Creek Music Festival continues
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, the Otter Creek Music Festival keeps going with a performance by Vermont chamber-music ensemble Heliand, Salisbury Congregational Church. $25. www.ottercreekmusicfestival.com
Gogol Bordello sells out South Burlington
8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, the international punk band Gogol Bordello, featuring former Burlington-based musician Eugene Hutz, returns to Vermont for a show with Puzzled Panther, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Happy Spangler at Summervale
5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, Burlington garage-rock band Happy Spangler plays the latest food-and-music event known as Summervale, Intervale Center, Burlington. Free. www.intervale.org/summervale
Weston Theater sings in the rain
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, the Weston Theater Company has had to modify its schedule following the July floods that heavily damaged the Weston Playhouse, but the southern Vermont organization will still present its planned take on the ironically-titled musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” now moved through Aug. 20 to the more-intimate Walker Farm theater, Weston. $25-$79. www.westontheater.org
Art opening in Montpelier
4-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, Montpelier was also devastated by the July floods, but two art exhibits running through Sept. 15 – “By Myself with You” by Erickson Diaz-Cortes and “Rock, Paper, Scissor” by Fiona McTeigue – begin with an opening reception, Hexum Gallery, second floor, 16 State St. Free. www.hexumgallery.com
Vergennes hosts artist reception
5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, artist Bonnie Baird will be on hand for a 6 p.m. interview and question-and-answer session at an opening reception for her solo exhibit “Weathering” that runs through Sept. 15, Northern Daughters Fine Art Gallery, Vergennes. Free. www.northerndaughters.com
Burlington gets fooled again
5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, the annual three-day street-performer event known as Festival of Fools returns with more than 20 performers and 100 performances, including this kickoff parade on the Church Street Marketplace and featuring concerts at 7:30 p.m. with Lido Pimienta and Jack Broadbent, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 with Cha Wa and 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 with classical music from the Sitka Trio, all in City Hall Park, Burlington. Free. www.vermontfestivaloffools.com
Waterbury has the blues
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, Vermont Americana-blues musician William Lee Ellis celebrates his new album, “Ghost Hymns,” with a performance at the new Stowe Street art space The Phoenix, Waterbury. $10. www.thephoenixvt.com
Living Colour, live in Vermont
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, rock veterans Living Colour of “Cult of Personality” fame visit the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $29 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Sounds of the south in southern Vermont
6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, New Orleans musician Glen David Andrews and his band bring their funky horns to the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series, The Putney Inn. $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, free for children under 12. www.nextstageartsorg
Shaina Taub returns to Vermont
1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, New York theater star Shaina Taub, a native of Waitsfield, comes back to her home state to lead a masterclass and songwriting workshop with students taking part in Northern Stage’s production of “Twelfth Night,” for which Taub wrote music and lyrics, Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction. Free and open to the public, though tickets must be reserved. www.northernstage.org/taub
Bread & Puppet continues summer run
3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, the Bread & Puppet Circus is back in action with its “The Heart of the Matter Circus & Pageant” that runs every Sunday through Aug. 27, Glover. $10. www.breadandpuppet.org
Melissa Etheridge visits Rutland
7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, veteran rocker Melissa Etheridge brings her high-powered voice to the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. Sold out. www.paramountvt.org
Stowe becomes Cowtown town
7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, the “Music in the Meadow” series offered by Stowe Performing Arts features Texas-based jazz/swing group The Hot Club of Cowtown plus Prydein, the Celtic-rock band from Vermont, Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe. $25-$40. www.stoweperformingarts.com
Keller Williams gets Grateful
7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, guitar genius Keller Williams presents “Grateful Grass,” a bluegrass take on the Grateful Dead, in a show that includes The Hillbenders as part of the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com
‘Back to the Future’ star comes back
6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, on an off-day from his performance in the Broadway musical “Back to the Future,” Colchester native Merritt David Janes leads a “Broadway in Vermont” concert, Moose Meadow Lodge, Duxbury. $26.50-$40. www.moosemeadowlodge.net
Gillett leads indie-rock at Radio Bean
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, an indie-rock night features Scout Gillett, Days of Summer and Vega, Radio Bean, Burlington. $8 in advance, $10 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Joyful night at the museum
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, Americana-rockers Mt. Joy join this summer’s Concerts on the Green roster presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Sylvan Esso draws big crowd
7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, electronic duo Sylvan Esso, featuring Bennington College alum Amelia Meath, follows Dehd at another Concerts on the Green show presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
A day for K. Flay
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, pop-rock musician K. Flay follows Hello Mary in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
New plays in Middlebury
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, Justin Aaron Halle’s script “Cowgirl” kicks off American Dreaming: A New Play Festival presented by the Middlebury Acting Company that includes, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, “Until the Day Is Done” by Jared Michael Delaney; at 7 pm. Saturday, Aug. 12, “Lessons” by Matthew Chong; and, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, an audience-participation improvisational event, “StoryProv Time,” with Andrew Ritter, the tent at the Swift House Inn, Middlebury. $15 per play, $40 for all three; free for “StoryProv Time.” www.middleburyactors.org
Two musicians, 50 states
7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, musicians Devon Allman and Donavon Frankenreiter have an ambitious plan to set a world record by playing shows in all 50 states in less than 50 days, a scheme that will bring them with openers Matt Andersen and Jackson Stokes to the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $39 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Holmes and Watson in Dorset
7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, the Sherlock Holmes-themed comedy “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B” by Kate Hamill begins its run through Aug. 26, Dorset Theatre Festival. $53. www.dorsettheatrefestival.org
Femme fest at Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, the Burlington Femme Fest 2023 features performances by local and regional rockers including Burly Girlies, Rangus, Girl Spit, Squelch and Shy Godwin, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $10 in advance, $15 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Soule Monde in Stowe
3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, the summer concert series Main Street Live continues with Vermont instrumental duo Soule Monde, corner of Park and Main streets, Stowe. Free. www.stowevibrancy.org/events/main-street-live/
Switchback Brewing turns 21
3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, beer maker Switchback Brewing turns 21 – old enough to drink legally – and celebrates the occasion with MC/DJ Craig Mitchell and music that includes, at 4 p.m., Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino and, at 5:30 p.m., Hayley Jane, Switchback Brewing, Burlington. $12 in advance, $17 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.switchbackvt.com
Shelburne show sells out, again
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, another Concerts on the Green performance presented by Higher Ground reaches capacity when Shakey Graves and Lucius share a bill, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Joe Russo, not quite Dead
8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, a Grateful Dead-heavy month in Vermont continues with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak Resort. $25-$70. www.jaypeakresort.com
Indie-pop in South Burlington
8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, New York indie-pop group Wet follows Lucy in a concert at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Bluegrass in the Green Mountains
Thursday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 20, the Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots festival features acts including, on Thursday, Cabinet and Ida Mae Specker & Michael James Wheeler; Friday, the Sam Grisman Project, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius and Caitlin Canty; Saturday, Twisted Pine, Sam Bush, Aoife O’Donovan and Rachel Baiman; and Sunday, Watchhouse, Mipso and the Milk Carton Kids, Hunter Park, Manchester Center. $30-$200. www.greenmountainbluegrass.com
Stowe show with jazz quartet
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, the jazz-club vibe of Jazz at the Lantern on this night features the Marty Fogel Quartet, Brass Lantern Inn, Stowe. $35-$45. www.brasslanterninn.com
Country music at Vermont State Fair
7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, the Vermont State Fair welcomes country performer Gabby Barrett in a performance presented through the Paramount Theatre, Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland. $40-$50. www.paramountvt.org
Brattleboro offers German opera
4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, the Wagner in Vermont festival presented by Tundi Productions begins with a production of the German composer’s “Die Walkure" (also at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22), followed at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20 and Thursday, Aug. 24 by Wagner’s “Siegfried,” Latchis Theater, Brattleboro. $36-$200. www.tundiproductions.org
Foul Contending Rebels stage ‘Nothing’
6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, the Burlington-based Foul Contending Rebels Theatre Collective stages Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” through its prism of non-traditional casting and design, with performances also set for 2 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20 (all at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington) and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25-Saturday, Aug. 26 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27 (Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington). $20 recommended price; free for Aug. 19 matinee with donations accepted. www.foulcontendingrebels.com
Marcie Hernandez unveils video
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, Burlington musician Marcie Hernandez premieres the video for her song "Easy On Me," which she co-produced in Spain this year with Burlington artist Trish Denton, and also plays sets with her band, Nomad Coffee, Flynn Avenue, Burlington. Free. www.facebook.com/marciemusic/
Shelburne Museum hosts Dispatch
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, born at Middlebury College, veteran roots-rockers Dispatch follow Emelise in a Concerts on the Green show presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Vermont rockers play State Fair
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, longtime Vermont rock band 8084 headlines the Vermont State Fair in a show presented through the Paramount Theatre, Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland. $15-$20. www.paramountvt.org
Nashville comes to South Burlington
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, country musician Morgan Wade and opening act Nate Fredrick & the Wholesome Boys visit the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25-$80. www.highergroundmusic.com
Chamber music festival gets started
11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival starts its run through Aug. 27 with “The City of Music: The Revolutionary Tradition of Vienna” presented by resident composer David Serkin Ludwig, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. $10-$25; free for students. www.lccmf.org
Marc Ribot headlines festival
2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, the Sonic Circus Music Festival presents Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog as well as Electric Wire, Amir Ziv, the Binky Griptite Orchestra, Sarah La Puerta, Aisha Burns and Delay 77, 552 Higley Hill Road, Marlboro. $50-$100. www.soniccircusfestival.com
Morrisville has a music festival, too
3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, the Oxbow Music Festival offers entertainment from Dogs In a Pile, the Seth Yacovone Band, Hayley Jane and Woody & Sunshine, Oxbow Park, Morrisville. $30-$40. www.oxbowmusicfestival.com
Country music continues in Rutland
7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, country music performer Jake Owen concludes a busy concert schedule at the Vermont State Fair in a show presented through the Paramount Theatre, Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland. $45-$55. www.paramountvt.org
Sam Morril stands up in South Burlington
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, stand-up comic Sam Morril performs for a seated audience, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $39 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Delight in The Sugarhill Gang
8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, famed for their groundbreaking hit “Rapper’s Delight,” The Sugarhill Gang plays the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com
Tango festival in Stowe
8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, the Stowe Tango Music Festival presents a concert led by Hector Del Curto that also features fellow bandoneon player, bass player Horacio Cabarcos, a 25-piece orchestra and tango dancers, Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe. $30-$65. www.sprucepeakarts.org
Vermont flood-relief benefit
4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, Vermont acts Rusty DeWees, 8084, Jamie Lee Thurston and the Chad Hollister Band take part in “Vermont Rises,” a benefit to support recovery efforts from the July floods, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Middlebury film festival returns
Wednesday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Aug. 27, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival includes an appearance by Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Payne (“Sideways,” “Nebraska”), venues throughout Middlebury. $14-$17 per ticket, $25-$60 day passes, $125 festival passes. www.middfilmfest.org
A show by Old Crow
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, the string band Old Crow Medicine Show joins Brennen Leigh for a Concerts on the Green series performance presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Randy Travis in Rutland
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, country-music veteran Randy Travis takes the stage at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $65-$85. www.paramountvt.org
Ballroom Thieves hit Zenbarn
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, folk-pop duo The Ballroom Thieves follows Vermont musician Troy Millette, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com
Stowe gets all jazzy
1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, the Stowe Jazz Festival begins its three-day run with the Vermont-based Bruce Sklar Sextet and includes The Chico Pinheiro Quartet (4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26), The Jensen Sisters and Project O (5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27) and Manuel Valera & the New Cuban Express (7 p.m. Sunday), The Alchemist brewery and locations throughout town. Free. www.stowejazzfestival.org
Tyler Hubbard brings in the Fair
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, the Champlain Valley Fair starts its busy concert schedule with country musician Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line. $39-$185. www.champlainvalleyfair.org
Boston rockers reach Higher Ground
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, Boston alternative-rock act Slothrust follows pronoun in a concert at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $18 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
A dog day of August for A_Dog
Noon Saturday, Aug. 26, the 10th day-long celebration of A_Dog Day, marking the life of the late Burlington DJ Andy "A_Dog" Williams, includes free admission to an afternoon of skating at the Andy "A_Dog" Williams Skatepark including DJs and food trucks, followed at 9:30 p.m. by "Kings & Queens of Clubs" featuring a DJ showcase and dance-party tribute to Williams, Nectar's and Club Metronome, Burlington. $10 minimum donation for A_Dog Foundation's eduational programs. www.friendsforadog.org/
Country music from Montreal
9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, the Nora Kelly Band, a Montreal-based, queer, country group, joins Two Stroke Motors at Foam Brewers, Burlington. $5. www.foambrewers.com
Daughtry does Rutland
7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, the band Daughtry, led by “American Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry, performs with Ayron Jones, Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $80-$325. www.paramountvt.org
Author reading at Vermont Studio Center
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, though it was hit hard by the July floods, the Vermont Studio Center continues its schedule of events, including a reading by Mexican-American author Vanessa Angelica Villarreal, Lowe Lecture Hall, followed at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 with a talk on the craft of writing, Mason House Library. Free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org
Steve Earle, by himself
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, Americana singer-songwriter Steve Earle brings his solo acoustic tour to the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $45-$65. www.paramountvt.org
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Things to do in Vermont: August offers sold-out concerts, music fests
