Summer Sounds
Listen up for Vermont’s outdoor music festivals BY DAN Bo ll E S
S
ummer in Vermont is kind of like a rubber band. Over the winter, the ten sion and anticipation of warmer times to come build as the cold stretches on. Then, just like that, there’s a release, and the state’s shortest season seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. Because the season is so short and sweet, we take our summer shenanigans pretty seriously and cram as much into those blissf ul three-ish months as we can. That approach extends to any number of recreational pursuits, but especially applies to music. From early June through September, there’s hardly a weekend without at least one outdoor music festival — and often several are happening. 2014 is no exception. This summer’s calendar is chock-full of festivals large and small, offering a cross-section of styles and genres to suit virtually any musical taste. What follows is a primer on some of the festivals that will provide the soundtrack to this summer in Vermont.
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green,
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SEVENDAYSVt.com
Sh El Bur NE muSEum, VAriou S DAt ES
The long-running Concerts on the Green series at Shelburne Museum is something like Vermont’s answer to Tanglewood, only without the classical music. Instead of Mozart, Beethoven and Bach, visitors to the museum’s pastoral lawn will be treated to the contemporary sounds of folk-soul crooner Ray LaMontagne with Jason Isbell and the Belle Brigade (May 28); renowned roots-rockers Tedeschi Trucks Band and the London Souls (June 6); blues-rock icon John Hiatt and the Robert Cray Band (July 10); mandolin ace Chris Thile’s reunited old band Nickel Creek (July 25); and pop-bluegrass darlings Old Crow Medicine Show with Hurray for the Riff Raff (July 29).
Jazz Band. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as numerous perf ormers of local, national and international acclaim descend on Burlington to get our jazz hands swinging.
SolarFest at the Forget-Me-Not Farm in Tinmouth is more than just a music festival. Entering its 20th year, the three-day party is also an exposition and celebra tion of sustainable-living practices. And what better way to educate yourself on the latest in green gizmos and gadgetry than to a soundtrack f rom the likes of Barika, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Eastbound Jesus and Waylon Speed? solarfest.org
nvmradio.com
The Manifestivus, Pr ANSk Y FAmil Y FArm, cABot, Jul Y 25 to 27
For 11 years now, Manifestivus in Cabot has billed itself as a “local f estival with Pro SPEct mou Nt AiN, a global vibe.” This year that worldly Woo DFor D, Jul Y 25 AND 26 aesthetic takes a spicy turn with a LatinAs we well know in Vermont, the hills themed f est dubbed “La Fiesta Loca.” are alive with the sound of music. But on Our Spanish is rusty, but that roughly July 25 and 26, the hills around Prospect translates to a lineup of bands and DJs Mountain Nordic in Woodf ord will be who cross south-of -the-border sounds alive with sounds that might give the with more northerly pursuits, includ entire von Trapp f amily nightmares. ing Grammy-nominated Latin band That’s because the folks from online radio Locos Por Juana, jazz trumpeter Charles station New Vermont Music (nvmradio. Lazarus and jazz-f unkf usion band com) are hosting the NVM Metal Fest, a the Nth Power. From the local scene, two-day concert featuring some 14 inde- expect appearances from Latin jazz band pendent metal bands from New England Afinque, Afrofunk outfit Afri-VT, rockers
NVM Metal Fest,
Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival,
BEl ViDEr E cENt Er, Ju NE 21 Now in its 31st year, the tiny Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival is among the longest-running musical events in Vermont. This one-day hootenanny — or is it a hoedown? — will feature fine local picking talent, including the Reunion Band, Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing, Big Spike Bluegrass, Cardigan Mountain Tradition, the Woedoggies and the Modern Grass Quintet. Also, we’re told, amazing French fries. Check Facebook for the Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival page.
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival,
The Frendly Gathering,
The state’s largest and most prominent music f estival needs little introduction. For more than 30 years, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival has ranked among the most respected and prestigious jazz festivals in the country. For 10 days, the Queen City becomes a virtual jazz club, with all manner of sounds — jazzy and otherwise — emanating f rom countless nightclubs and stages large and small. This year’s headliners include Tony Bennett, Maceo Parker, Big Chief Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Benny Golson, Regina Carter, and Eddie Palmieri Latin
Forg Et- mE-Not F Arm, t iNmouth, Jul Y 18 to 20
and the East Coast. Those include Half Past Human, Indecent Exposure, King Pariah, Red Equals Meltdown and headliners Dragon’s Bane. Proceeds from the fest benefit the Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington and the Music Empowers Foundation, a national orga nization that helps bring music educa tion to impoverished kids.
discoverjazz.com
highergroundmusic.com
VAriou S loc Atio NS, mAY 30 to Ju NE 8
SolarFest,
Nickel Creek, who will perform at Ben & Jerrry’s Concerts on the Green
t imBEr r iDgE, WiNDh Am, JuNE 27 AND 28
The Frendly Gathering is a f estival started by a group of pro snowboarders who live by the cheeky motto “There is no I in frends.” There is, however, an I in Delta Spirit, Deer Tick and Lake Street Dive, all of whom will take the stage at this year’s f est. There’s no I in Shakey Graves, but he’ll be there, too, along with an eclectic mix of regional and local bands and DJs. They include the likes of Twiddle, Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band, Jatoba, Gold Town, Quiet Lion and Disco Phantom, among many others. frendlygathering.com
Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who will perform at SolarFest