ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
BEST INSTRUMENTALIST
Seth Yacovone
Nectar’s regulars know Yacovone well: He’s held down the Friday-night happy hour slot for more than a decade. Fans come for his bluesy guitar licks, growly baritone and prolific songwriting. (Facebook)
Other finalists:
BEST SMALL LIVE MUSIC HOT SPOT
ArtsRiot
Other finalists: • Light Club Lamp Shop: 12 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, 660-9346 • radiobean.com • The Monkey House: 30 Main St., Winooski, 655-4563 • monkeyhousevt.com • Nectar’s: 188 Main St., Burlington, 658-4771 • liveatnectars.com • Radio Bean: 8 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, 660-9346 • radiobean.com
OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Rusty Nail Stage
With a Stowe history dating back to 1969, this rock-and-roll club has hosted music legends from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Muddy Waters over the years. The stage still lights up several times a week — but now it shares space with Tres Amigos restaurant. (1190 Mountain Rd., Suite 1, Stowe, 253-6245 • tresamigosvt.com)
Other finalists: • Billsville House Concerts: Manchester Center • billsvillehouseconcerts.com • City Limits Night Club: 14 Green St., Vergennes, 877-6919 • Facebook • Sweet Melissa’s: 4 Langdon St., Montpelier, 225-6012 • Facebook • Zenbarn: 179 Guptil Rd., Waterbury Center, 244-8134 • zenbarnvt.com
BEST VOCALIST
Kat Wright
As the front woman of an on-the-rise eight-piece soul band and the co-owner of Burlington’s Radio Bean, Kat Wright is a major player in the local scene. She’s got the sultry, powerful pipes to prove it. (katwright.com)
Other finalists:
SEVEN DAYSIES 2018-19
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AliT (Alison Turner): sheisalit.com Devon McGarry: Bandcamp Francesca Blanchard: francescablanchard.com Mariko Gilman-Raymond: Facebook Stephanie Heaghney: Facebook
Bob Wagner: SoundCloud Dylan Berno: Facebook Paul Asbell: paulasbell.com Steve Simollardes: Facebook
BEST FOLK ARTIST OR GROUP
COURTESY OF BRIAN JENKINS
On a mission to “destroy apathy,” this restaurant and event space has become a South End staple for music, performance and art. Catch an eclectic lineup of local, national and international musicians multiple nights a week. (400 Pine St., Burlington, 540-0406 • artsriot.com)
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The DuPont Brothers/ SoundBrother
Thanks to their shared DNA, brothers Zack and Sam DuPont produce gorgeously intertwined harmonies and a contemporary twist on traditional folk in two separate outfits: the DuPont Brothers and SoundBrother. (dupontbrothersmusic.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
Bishop LaVey: Facebook Cole Davidson: coledavidsonmusic.com Eric George: egeorgemusic.com Troy Millette & Dylan Gombas: Facebook
BEST COUNTRY ARTIST OR GROUP
The Starline Rhythm Boys The revered rockabilly stalwarts have been honky-tonkin’ around since 1998 and are one of the hardest-working bands in Vermont. Catch them at festivals, Bluegrass Brunch Scrambles and nightclubs around the state. (starlinerhythmboys.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
Brett Hughes: Facebook Kelly Ravin: kellyravinmusic.com Old Sky: Bandcamp Wild Leek River: Facebook
BEST BLUEGRASS ARTIST OR GROUP
The Tenderbellies
The Burlington-based string band formed at an impromptu show in 2013 and has been serving up fingerpickin’-good bluegrass ever since. Look for the group at hometown venues and on the East Coast festival circuit. (Facebook)
BEST JAZZ ARTIST OR GROUP
Ray Vega
Onstage and on air — as the new host of Vermont Public Radio’s “Friday Night Jazz” — trumpeter Ray Vega gets everyone grooving. Over his decades-long career, he’s performed with some of the most famous Latin-jazz musicians of all time. (rayvegamusic.com)
Other finalists: • • • • •
Brian McCarthy: brianmccarthyjazz.com Dan Ryan Express: Facebook George Walker Petit: Bandcamp Paul Asbell: paulasbell.com Rose Street Collective: Facebook
BEST BLUES ARTIST OR GROUP
Dwight & Nicole
Burlington’s Nicole Nelson performed on Season 3 of NBC’s “The Voice,” but local fans are happy she’s here. Along with guitarist Dwight Ritcher and drummer Ezra Oklan, the group adds a soulful, modern twist to classic blues and roots music. (dwightandnicole.com)
Other finalists: • • • • •
Al Moore Blues Band: Facebook Blues for Breakfast: bluesforbreakfast.com Dave Keller Band: davekeller.com Nina’s Brew: Facebook Seth Yacovone: Facebook
Other finalists:
BEST ROCK ARTIST OR GROUP
• Beg, Steal or Borrow: begstealorborrowvt.com • Eric George: egeorgemusic.com • Hard Scrabble: Facebook
Rough Francis
BEST SOUL/FUNK/R&B ARTIST OR GROUP
Kat Wright
Front woman Kat Wright leads her indomitable soul band with a croon. What started as the house band for a weekly soul night at Radio Bean has grown into one of the region’s most dynamic and popular groups. (katwright.com)
Other finalists: • Funkwagon: Facebook • JUPTR: Facebook • The Renegade Groove: Facebook
One of the loudest and rowdiest bands in Burlington, garage-rock group Rough Francis imbue their live performances with a riotous spirit. The scene staple just released its longawaited third album, MSP3: Counter Attack. (roughfrancis.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
The Devon McGarry Band: Bandcamp Justice: Facebook Raized on Radio: Facebook Strange Purple Jelly: Facebook
BEST SMALL LIVE MUSIC HOT SPOT OUTSIDE CHITTENDEN COUNTY
RUSTY NAIL STAGE
Stowe’s Rusty Nail nightclub recently transitioned from a stand-alone music and events venue to its current form: Tres Amigos Mexican eatery in the front and an intimate concert hall in the rear. After an invigorating day on the slopes or an afternoon of sightseeing, many visitors to the area cap off their evenings in the club. The spot is a staple for locals, too. Jam bands, Americana artists and tribute acts might be the stage’s bread and butter, but its booking agents aim to please everyone with an eclectic entertainment lineup. From local reggae DJs to on-the-rise indie acts to one-of-a-kind supergroup performances, the Rusty Nail has something for every music lover. 1190 Mountain Rd., Suite 1, Stowe, 253-6245 • tresamigosvt.com