Brighten your November with these Vermont arts-and-entertainment events
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It’s easy to hold November in northern Vermont in disdain. It’s the month where the skies stay dark and the ground wears tired shades of brown and gray rather than the bright green of summer or shiny white of winter.
November is, of course, also the month that reminds us to be thankful. We can be thankful for the health and happiness of friends and family, we can be thankful for the fact that we live in such a beautiful place (even if this month doesn’t show Vermont at its loveliest), and we can be thankful that we’re surrounded by so many artists and arts venue bringing us moments of joy and illumination all year round.
Speaking of which, here are a few arts-and-entertainment events happening this month in Vermont that could just give you one or more new things to be very thankful for.
Video salon in Montpelier
Through Nov. 19, the “Montpelier Video Salon" presents five-minute videos by 11 artists responding to the theme “We Wonder,” Susan Calza Gallery, Montpelier. Free. www.susancalza.com
Vermont landscape artist in Vergennes
Through Nov. 30, Vermont landscape artist Bonnie Baird displays her work in an exhibit titled “Tethered,” Northern Daughters Fine Art Gallery, Vergennes. Free. www.northerndaughters.com
New conductor leads Me2 orchestra
8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Me2/Burlington orchestra, created for musicians living with mental illness and the people who support them, performs a concert led by new music director Michael Colburn to benefit Josh’s House, a wellness and recreation center in Colchester that supports the mental health of veterans and active-duty service members, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. Free; donations encouraged. www.me2music.org
Vermont native who played for presidents is back home to lead Me2 orchestra
Rug hooking moves to Montpelier
5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild has held most of its previous 19 shows in the Burlington area, but for this one holds its opening reception in Alumni Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier. $15. www.gmrhg.org
St. Michael’s College hosts ‘End of the World’
7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2-Saturday, Nov. 5, the St. Michael’s College Department of Fine Arts presents the Bekah Brunstetter high-school-set comedy/drama “Nothing Is the End of the World (except for the end of the world),” McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Free. www.smcvt.edu
New Orleans comes to Burlington
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, the house band for a legendary New Orleans jazz club, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, takes the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $20-$59. www.flynnvt.org
California band drops in to Higher Ground
8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, funky, soulful band The California Honeydrops follows AJ Lee & Blue Summit at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Sculptor gives talk at St. Michael’s College
5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, former Shelburne artist Sam Bartlett, now based in Indiana, gives a talk about his sculpture exhibit that will be in place for a month at the McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Free. www.sambartlett.com
West African Dance & Drum Festival returns
Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 6, the Jeh Kulu Dance & Drum Festival is back with classes and other events primarily at Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall. $10-$170. www.jehkulu.org
Bass player headlines Higher Ground
8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, New York bass player/vocalist Blu DeTiger joins Tiffany Day at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20-$30. www.highergroundmusic.com
Stealing from Work roars into Burlington
6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, the Vermont-based sketch-comedy group Stealing from Work performs two shows at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Fall concert by Burlington Civic Symphony
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, the Burlington Civic Symphony delivers its fall concert featuring works by Beethoven, Bach and Dvorak, Lyman C. Hunt Middle School, Burlington. Free; donations accepted. www.bcsovt.org
Caribbean music in Randolph
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, the Caribbean musical ensemble known as The Garifuna Collective plays the Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph. $10-$45. www.chandler-arts.org
Acoustic foursome in Lincoln
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, the Ripton Community Coffee House presents the eclectic quartet Corner House playing two sets at Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $15-$25. www.rcch.org
Higher Ground hosts Dopapod
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, New England rockers Dopapod return with Strange Machines to the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $21 in advance, $26 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
The return of Supaman
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, Native American hip-hop artist Supaman, who played a sold-out show at the same venue last year, is back at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com
Foam Brewers presents jazz
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, the Vermont-based Jake Whitesell’s Cannonball Quintet pays tribute to the music of Cannonball Adderley, Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com
Tiny Desk winner comes to Vermont
4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, singer-guitarist Alisa Amador, winner of this year’s Tiny Desk Contest presented by NPR, takes part in the “P.M. Sundays” series presented by Valley Stage, Richmond Congregational Church. $23 in advance, $25 day of show. www.valleystage.net
Trampled by Turtles sell out
8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, bluegrass-inspired folk-rockers Trampled by Turtles follow Amigo the Devil in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Steve Kimock leads Zero
8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, Bay Area guitar legend Steve Kimock leads the band Zero into the Double E Performance Center, Essex Experience. $40 in advance, $45 day of show. www.doubleevermont.com
L.A. rockers hit South Burlington
8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, Los Angeles rockers Starcrawler are joined by local psychedelic rockers The Dead Shakers, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Monday music with Courtney Marie Andrews
8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews is back in Vermont for a show with The Dead Tongues, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $17 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Pop-rock from The Happy Fits
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, New Jersey pop-rock trio The Happy Fits are accompanied by Daisy the Great and Phoneboy for a show in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Scout Gillett plays Winooski
8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, Brooklyn-based indie-rocker Scout Gillett — signed to independent label Captured Tracks, which recently released the debut album by Vermont rock band Thus Love — plays with Lily Seabird and Hope Deluca, The Monkey House, Winooski. $10-$15. www.monkeyhousevt.com
Poetry events in Johnson
7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, Native American poet Jennifer Foerster delivers a reading at the Red Mill Building, followed from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 by a writing craft talk, Mason House Library, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson. Free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org
Girls Nite Out Productions stage ‘Vanya’
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Vermont-based theater troupe Girls Nite Out Productions open their presentation of the Christopher Durang comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” that runs through Nov. 19, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $23-$25. www.girlsniteoutvt.com
Blues-rock rocks Higher Ground
8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, blues-rock band Andy Frasco & the U.N. follows Little Stranger, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $22 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Artist talk at BCA Center
6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, photographer Bill McDowell gives an artist talk about his new installation “Roxham Road to North Elba,” BCA Center, Burlington. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org
Kurt Vonnegut film in Middlebury
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, the documentary “Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time” pays tribute to the author’s life and continues the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival’s “MNFF Selects” series that runs through April 13, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $14 in advance, $16 at the door, $90 for series pass. www.middfilmfest.org
Vermont Studio Center holds artist talk
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, Vermont native William Ransom, part of the Vermont Studio Center Visiting Artist Program, delivers an artist talk, Red Mill Building, Johnson. free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org
Lyric Theater goes ‘Into the Woods’
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10-Saturday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12-Sunday, Nov. 13, Lyric Theatre stages the Stephen Sondheim fairy-tale musical “Into the Woods,” the Flynn, Burlington. $19-$45. www.lyrictheatrevt.org
Free concert by string quartet
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, the Castalian String Quartet presents a concert featuring works by Beethoven, Sibelius and Janacek, Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. Free. www.middlebury.edu/arts
Indie-folk duo at Zenbarn
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, the indie-folk duo Sway Wild plays a show with Vermont singer-songwriter Marcie Hernandez, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $15. www.zenbarnvt.com
Carbon Leaf heads to Higher Ground
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, veteran folk-rockers Carbon Leaf join Cody Nilsen on a return trip to the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $29 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Chamber group pays tribute to founder
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, the Eleva Chamber Players celebrate violinist and founding concertmaster John Lindsay as he retires from the orchestra after 17 years, in a farewell concert at the United Church of Christ/Waterbury Congregational Church. (The program will be repeated at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, Inn at Round Barn Farm, Waitsfield.) $20-$25; free for students of the Green Mountain Youth Symphony. www.elevachamberplayers.com
Television guitarist plays Vermont
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, the Richard Lloyd Group, featuring the guitarist who joined with Tom Verlaine to form the core of punk-era New York band Television, follows Wojcicki at the Stone Church, Brattleboro. $17-$22. www.stonechurchvt.com
40 years of 8084
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, Vermont-based rock ‘n’ roll favorites 8084 celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first show together with the current lineup in a concert in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show, $50 meet-and-greet. www.highergroundmusic.com
Maryse Smith celebrates new music
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, erstwhile Vermont singer-songwriter Maryse Smith, now living in Martha’s Vineyard, returns to her former home state to celebrate the release of her new EP, “Silence is Golden,” in a concert that also features Vermont acts Lowell Thompson and Eastern Mountain Time, The Monkey House, Winooski. $10-$15. www.monkeyhousevt.com
Concert to benefit justice center
3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, Vermont pianist Tom Cleary plays a benefit jazz concert for the Essex Community Justice Center, First Congregational Church, Essex Junction. $20 suggested donation; free for those under 18. (802) 878-5745
Westford Music Series concert
4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, the classical/contemporary crossover group Frevo returns to the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall. Donations accepted. www.facebook.com/Westfordmusicseries/
Lee Fields gets soulful
8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, soul singer Lee Fields gets on stage following openers Macrotones, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $18 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Radio Bean welcomes Babehoven
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, the upstate New York indie-rock act Babehoven follows Vermont rockers Lily Seabird at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10. www.radiobean.com
NRBQ at Vergennes Opera House
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, the varied sounds of veteran musicians NRBQ follow the bluesy, soulful Kris Lager Band, Vergennes Opera House. $35. www.vergennesoperahouse.org
A 1972 part deux at Higher Ground
8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, Vermont musicians who took part in March in a retrospective concert called “’72 Review” – including Bob Wagner, Kat Wright, Josh Panda, Dwight & Nicole and Seth Yacovone – revisit more music from 50 years ago in “’72 Review: Part Deux,” Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Nikki Glaser at the Flynn
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, comedian Nikki Glaser brings her stand-up show to the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $36.50-$151.75. www.flynnvt.org
Folk storyteller in Montpelier
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Nov. 19, Vermont folk storyteller Tim Jennings marks his 50-year career with two performances, Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall Arts Center. $10-$20. www.lostnationtheater.org
UVM hosts folk-music duo
7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, folk-music duo The Small Glories performs as part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $5-$30. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Classical recital in Burlington
3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival begins a recital series with Elizabeth Chang (violin) and Steven Beck (piano), College Street Congregational Church, Burlington. $25; free for students. www.gmcmf.org
Vocal legend visits the Flynn
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, R&B/pop-music legend Gladys Knight performs at the Flynn, Burlington. $49-$99. www.flynnvt.org
From Maine to Vermont
8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Maine-based Americana rockers The Mallett Brothers Band follow Golden Oak at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $14 in advance, $16 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Higher Ground
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, the Montreal-born rock group Godspeed You! Black Emperor, with opener Mat Ball, plays the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
‘Rudolph’ lands in Rutland
3 and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” brings the holiday vibes for two performances, Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $25-$35. www.paramountvt.org
Magic in Stowe
3 and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, two day-after-Thanksgiving shows feature magician Jason Bishop, Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe. $35-$50. www.sprucepeakarts.org
‘Winter Lights’ shine again at Shelburne Museum
5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Nov. 27, the first weekend of “Winter Lights,” which premiered late last year, returns for a second season with 14 buildings and gardens decorated in multicolored lights, Shelburne Museum. $10-$15; free for children under 3. www.shelburnemuseum.org
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Tom Green sighting in Burlington
7 and 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25-Saturday, Nov. 26, the ubiquitous-in-the-‘90s comic Tom Green reappears for four shows, Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $35. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Skiing, music at Killington
Saturday, Nov. 26-Sunday, Nov. 27, the 2022 Killington Cup is mostly about world-class skiers, but there will be music, too, with Stephen Kellogg performing after the giant-slalom races that start at 10 a.m. Saturday and rising Vermont star Noah Kahan playing after the second run, as well as Michael Franti performing after the slalom races at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Killington Resort. $5-$100. www.killington.com/worldcup
‘The Nutcracker’ season has arrived
3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, the Albany Berkshire Ballet is back for its annual production of “The Nutcracker,” the Flynn, Burlington. $34-$56. www.flynnvt.org
Quadra headlines Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, it’s a Thanksgiving-weekend tradition — veteran Vermont rockers Quadra and the Phil Abair Band play the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Higher Ground welcomes The Bad Plus
8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, hard-to-pigeonhole jazz group The Bad Plus headlines a show opened by Billy Martin of Medeski, Martin & Wood fame, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
‘Legally Blonde’ gets musical treatment
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” based on the popular film starring Reese Witherspoon, arrives at the Flynn, Burlington. $67-$103. www.flynnvt.org
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. Follow Brent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrentHallenbeck.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Things to do in Vermont: November arts-and-entertainment events
