Toward the tail end of the pandemic, it seemed like live music rebounded in a major way. Massive tours by the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and other superstars sold roughly a gazillion tickets, and ticketing site Live Nation reported a 36 percent rise in revenue from 2022 to 2023, reaching $22.7 billion.
Outside the giant stadiums and household names, however, things have looked bleaker. In the United Kingdom, a study discovered that an independent music venue closed, on average, every two weeks in 2024. The same study found that 84 percent of independent artists in the UK can’t even afford to tour.
Things aren’t any rosier in America. Last year, famous indie venues the Phoenix in San Francisco and Rockwood Music Hall in New York City went dark, joining dozens of other shuttered venues around the country, including in Vermont.
Earlier this month, Nectar’s, the iconic Burlington venue that helped launch Phish, closed for the summer — and possibly for good. In May, the city lost both the District VT (formerly ArtsRiot) and Despacito; the latter was one of the only Queen City venues to regularly host metal and punk shows. Even mainstays such as the Monkey House in Winooski have seen greatly reduced live music schedules as they struggle with the one-two punch of soaring insurance costs and an unpredictable customer base.
And so the local music community has begun to adapt and find other places to play across the Green Mountains. Restaurants, breweries, new music series and off-the-beaten-path clubs are filling the void.
Read on to discover some lesser-known music venues in Vermont — many have been quietly holding it down for years; others are brand-new. And while this is a good road map, it’s hardly comprehensive, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for hidden gems around the scene. Who knows? You just might find your new favorite hot spot this summer.
Clubs and Restaurants
If rock is your religion, Stone Church in Brattleboro is not to be missed. Set inside a renovated, 140-year-old Gothic Victorian church, the club has an unparalleled atmosphere, thanks to its stained-glass windows and historic stonework. It’s a bit of a drive for those not in the southern part of the state, but the pilgrimage is worth it for some of the coolest programming around.
For example, on June 25, New York City punk legends Murphy’s Law hit the stage. In the months ahead, highlights include Toronto indie rockers Ducks Ltd. on July 18, Chicago’s Whitney on August 6 and Los Angeles singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart on September 13.
In Waterbury Center, Zenbarn hosts local acts multiple nights a week. For Deadheads feeling down about Nectar’s and the end of its weekly Grateful Dead cover night, Zen hosts Dobbs’ Dead every Wednesday with an all-star lineup of local musicians. The club strikes a nice balance of touring artists such as Malian guitar whiz Vieux Farka Touré, playing on July 15, and Vermont favorites — catch bluegrass outfit Beg, Steal or Borrow on August 1.
The twin venues of Moogs Place and Moogs Joint in Morrisville and Johnson, respectively, have flown the Vermont music flag for years. The restaurants have long featured some of the Green Mountains’ best jam and folk acts — TallGrass GetDown, the Wormdogs and Named by Strangers, for example. But both venues also champion other local scenes, with Moogs Place regularly hosting rapper Big Homie Wes’ hip-hop series, which often features a slew of other 802 MCs.
Bent Nails Bistro in Montpelier also showcases hip-hop and local DJs with its brand-new Third Chamber Sessions series. The monthly installment kicks off on June 28 and is hosted by local mainstays SED One of Boomslang, DJ Kanga, I Rhymes and Odd Paco. The club, formerly Sweet Melissa’s and the much-loved Langdon Street Café, books Vermont music multiple nights of the week, including house band the Nailers.
And, of course, just a few blocks away is the greatest dive in all the land, Charlie-O’s World Famous. The bar brings in any and every kind of music you can think of, from EDM to speed metal to country. Rockers DC & the Disconnects and Pluto Rising play there on June 28.
With so many venues closing, it’s nice to see new ones appearing, such as Afterthoughts. The Waitsfield spot popped up in 2024, sporting a scenic view of the Mad River Valley and some surprising shows, such as hip-hop legends Afroman and Murs. The little club books a healthy dose of Vermont music, as well as some touring acts. It features drag shows, too, with the Summer Sparks: Drag and Burlesque Show coming up on July 5, featuring a gaggle of local drag queens and DJ Craig Mitchell.
The Phoenix, a gallery and music hall in Waterbury, opened its doors in 2023 and hosts TURNmusic, a nonprofit founded by composer Anne Decker. Under Decker’s curation, the venue specializes in booking artists who perform original works — jazz, chamber music and electronica composers, in particular.
And don’t sleep on the Mill, across the lake in Westport, N.Y. It’s a quick excursion to visit the venue and art gallery founded by jazz trumpeter Taylor Haskins. Funk duo Paris Monster play there on July 5, followed by Cibo Matto founder Yuka Honda’s Eucademix project on July 12.
Local eateries offer plenty of chances to catch great music, as well. Halvorson’s Upstreet Café in downtown Burlington has kicked off its summer Courtyard Music Series, showcasing Vermont artists on the outdoor back patio. Upcoming performances include the Arty LaVigne Band on July 2 and indie rockers Osange Orange on August 20. All shows of the series benefit different charities.
Other restaurants that routinely host music include Hugo’s in Montpelier, Jericho Café & Tavern, Blue Paddle Bistro in South Hero, Orlando’s Bar & Lounge in Burlington, and On Tap Bar & Grill in Essex Junction. There are plenty of others. Have yourself a food and music road trip!
Breweries and Vineyards
Ask a tourist why they’re in the Green Mountains, and the likely answer is: beer. The state boasts more than 70 craft breweries, the most per capita in the nation, providing some 350,000 barrels of tasty suds every year. Besides providing Vermont with tons of jobs and all the beer we could dream of, our craft breweries are also filling our cups with plenty of music this summer.
Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield has been at it for a while with its Tuesday Tunes series. In the summer, the brewery doubles its offerings, booking music on Sundays, as well. Nashville folk duo the Twangtown Paramours visit on July 8, and then local bluegrass band Hard Scrabble plays the following weekend.
1st Republic Brewing in Essex is picking up the slack for heavier acts displaced by Despacito’s closure, not to mention the general dearth of metal and punk nights at area clubs. The brewery hosts a metal night on June 28, with Boston’s Aversed headlining and Vermont thrashers Hell Priest and Northern Citadel opening. The following week, on July 2, it’s an all-punk showcase with former Pavers front man Scott Reynolds and Green Mountain acts Slob Drop and Violet Crimes.
In Burlington, Foam Brewers has become an integral part of the Queen City music scene. The waterfront watering hole is every bit as vital as Nectar’s was and Radio Bean remains, with weekly offerings from the area’s best. Rock collective the Bubs bring their garage-punk rave to the brewery on June 27, followed by Burlington guitar guru Bob Wagner on June 28.
Not to be outdone by their less sophisticated beer-swilling cousins, local vineyards also have great tunes on tap during the outdoor season. Shelburne Vineyard hosts a slew of local artists throughout the summer, including Shane Murley, Ali T, the Cold Creek Pickers and Reid Parsons. It also hosts Wine & Jazz Sundays, featuring many of the area’s beboppers. And if that isn’t highbrow enough for you, catch the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival Benefit concert on July 12 and bring some culture to your drinking.
In South Hero, Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery offers its summer Music in the Vineyard series. The island spot has a great lineup of local blues and rocks acts — think Blues for Breakfast on June 26 and the Hitmen on July 3.
Don’t forget Lincoln Peak Vineyard in New Haven and its Friday-night music series — next up is swing and jazz band Tournesol on June 27. Isle La Motte Vineyard is celebrating its fifth birthday on August 2, featuring music from singer-songwriters Blake Mattesen and Taylor La Valley. And the Maquam Barn & Winery in Milton supplies music in the summer, including a show by Nashville’s Conner Sweet on July 3.
Miscellaneous (Or: Wow, That’s a Weird Place for a Show, but OK)
When traditional music venues start to struggle and fold, the weird places begin popping up. Basements, barbershops, Moose Lodges, bookstores — you never know where you might find a pop-up show.
Junktiques Collective in Burlington is usually a solid bet. The antique and curiosities shop in the Old North End routinely hosts shows, including a post-rock rager on June 28 featuring Brunch, Tabarnak and DJ Kate Kush. Bonus points if you end up seeing owner Phinn Sonin do his infamous blow-himself-up-into-a balloon trick in a Speedo.
And don’t overlook Old Soul Design Shop in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Yeah, you have to get on the ferry, but it’s more than worth the little lake jaunt to check out this wacky shop and bar. Besides hosting a family-friendly karaoke every Sunday, Old Soul presents plenty of shows featuring Vermont and upstate New York musicians. Hip-hop and lo-fi jazz artist Morris-Yedid performs on June 26.
There are some other intriguing places spread out around Vermont worth making the time to visit. Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls is a wonderfully unique venue with no bar, no kitchen — just music in a tiny, 40-seat theater, set in a retrofitted industrial factory. Similarly, the Underground — Listening Room in Randolph is a cozy little venue complete with a recording studio. The shows are sporadic but absolutely worth keeping an eye on.
And lest we forget, Billsville House Concerts in Manchester Center has been doing its thing for a decade now. Founded by Doug Hacker and his wife Caroline Schneider and held in their family’s 800-square-foot living room, Billsville offers an intimacy that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s an “artist’s venue” if ever there were one. The Hackers put up the artists, cook for them and give them 100 percent of the door fee. Next up, they welcome Seattle singer-songwriter Dean Johnson and Nashville folk artist Erin Rae on July 16.
Correction, June 25, 2025: An earlier version of this story contained an image from a venue not featured in this story. It has been replaced.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Searching for the Sounds | As some of Vermont’s music clubs struggle, other venues fill the void”
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2025.
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