The sounds of summer are coming: Vermont gets ready for outdoor music aplenty

The sounds of summer are fast approaching.

Yes, that can mean lawn mowers running during the day and crickets chirping at night. But what we’re really talking about here is music, the kind that makes people haul blankets and lawn chairs to places where they can hear their favorite songs, meet up with friends and neighbors and breathe in that fresh Vermont air.

A handful of events in May – the Waking Windows festival in Winooski and the Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans – gave us a little reminder of the joys of alfresco live music. The outdoor music scene really takes off in June, though, and keeps going all summer long.

So get working on those summer plans, and make sure to include one or two or a slew of these summer shows. (Also, Higher Ground hopes to hold more of its Backside 405 concerts outside on Pine Street, but construction at the adjacent Burlington City Arts building means the season will likely be “highly abbreviated,” according to Higher Ground co-owner Alex Crothers.)

Shelburne Vineyard celebration

Thursday, June 1-Sunday, June 4, Shelburne Vineyard celebrates its 25th anniversary with four days of wine, food and live music, with the latter (free unless otherwise indicated) including Troy Millette (6 p.m. Thursday, June 1), Marcie Hernandez and NIIKA (6 p.m. Friday, June 2), High Summer (7 p.m. Saturday, June 3, $12) and Mark Daly of Madaila (6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4). www.shelburnevineyard.com

Southern Vermont music series continues

6 p.m. Friday, June 2, Indian vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia performs as part of the Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series that runs through mid-October, outside The Putney Inn, Putney. $20 in advance, $25 at the gate; free for children under 12. www.nextstagearts.org

Twilight Series begins in Burlington

7:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, the 18-piece big band Green Mountain Swing jump-starts the Twilight Series presented by Burlington City Arts on alternating Friday and Saturday nights, City Hall Park, Burlington. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org

Field Day in southern Vermont

Noon Saturday, June 3, the inaugural Field Day co-presented in southern Vermont by Brattleboro music venue The Stone Church welcomes out-of-state acts such as Inner Wave, Lady Lamb, Gift and Sunflower Bean and Vermont talent including Thus Love, Robber Robber, Dari Bay, Greg Freeman and Lily Seabird, Guilford Fairgrounds. $29.99. www.fielddayvt.com or www.stonechurchvt.com

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival free shows

Wednesday, June 7, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival celebrates its 40^th anniversary with a slate emphasizing free, outdoor concerts, highlighted Thursday, June 8 at the top of Church Street by the Saturn People’s Sound Collective (5 p.m.), Georgia Anne Muldrow (6 p.m.), Meshell Ndegeocello (8 p.m.) and the Sun Ra Arkestra (9:15 p.m.); Friday, June 9 at Waterfront Park with the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program featuring Melissa Aldana (5 p.m.), Fattie B. presenting his project “Gumbo” (6:40 p.m.), Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Memphis Soulphony (8 p.m.) and Sampa the Great (9:30 p.m.); and Saturday, June 10 at Waterfront Park with Guagua (4 p.m.), Snacktime (5 p.m.), WITCH (We Intend to Cause Havoc) (6 p.m.), Cory Henry (7:30 p.m.) and Kamasi Washington (9:30 p.m.). www.flynnvt.org

Rainbow Kitten Surprise at the museum

7 p.m. Sunday, June 11, the North Carolina-born rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise follows Carol Ades at the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

Lunchtime concerts in City Hall Park

12:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, Burlington City Arts continues its series of daytime performances, in this case featuring Vermont indie-rock group Paper Castles, City Hall Park, Burlington. Free. www.burlingtoncityarts.org

Concert series in Addison County

5 p.m. Sunday, June 18, the West Cornwall Backyard Concert Series keeps its summer run going with a performance by Brandon-based blues-rockers The Silverbacks, 14 Audet Road, Cornwall. Free; donations accepted. www.facebook.com/people/West-Cornwall-Backyard-Concert-Series/100057549905424/

Trapp Family Lodge hosts Hollister

6 p.m. Saturday, June 25, Vermont favorite Chad Hollister brings his acoustic quintet to the concert meadow at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe. $10.60-$42.40. www.trappfamily.com/happenings.htm

Lorrie Morgan hits Essex

7 p.m. Saturday, July 1, country singer Lorrie Morgan performs as part of the Old Stage Summer Series on the green at the Essex Experience. $40. www.essexexperience.com

Summervale gets started

6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6, the annual food-and-live-music event Summervale, which runs through Aug. 24, begins with a musical line-up to be announced, Intervale Center, Burlington. Free. www.intervale.org

Jammy music at Essex Experience

7 p.m. Friday, July 7, the Old Stage Summer Series continues with the jammy sounds of Melvin Seals and JGB, Essex Experience. $40. www.essexexperience.com

Jeezum Crow Festival in Northeast Kingdom

Friday, July 7-Saturday, July 8, the eighth Jeezum Crow Festival features, on July 7, Leftover Salmon and the Sam Grisman Project presenting Garcia Grisman; and Saturday, July 8, music from The Devil Makes Three, Yonder Mountain String Band, Neighbor, Charlie Parr, Sicard Hollow and Soulshine Revival, Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak. $30-$65; free for ages 6 and under. www.jaypeakresort.com

Dead of Summer Music Festival

Friday, July 7-Sunday, July 9, the Dead of Summer Music Festival features music that might just appeal to fans of the Grateful Dead, including the aforementioned Melvin Seals & JGB (as in the Jerry Garcia Band, which Seals played in), Pink Talking Fish, Bella’s Bartok, Hayley Jane, Saints & Liars and more, Hunter Park at Northshire Civic Center, Manchester. $10-$165. www.deadofsummermusicfestival.com

Stowe music series starts

3 p.m. Saturday, July 8, the fourth Main Street Live Music Series begins with Ariel Zevon, followed July 15 by Michael-Lewis Smith & Brooklyn Circle; July 22, the Geoff Kim Organ Trio; July 29, Cooie & Friends; Aug. 5, Daniel Ian Smith & A Collective Directive; and Aug. 12, Soule Monde, village green, Stowe. Free. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076823272310

Middlebury Festival on the Green

Sunday, July 9, the 44^th Middlebury Festival on the Green begins at 7 p.m. with two sets by Durham County Poets and includes performances by The Faux Paws (7 p.m. Monday, July 10), the Yacouba Sissoko Trio (7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11), Jon Gailmor (noon Thursday, July 13) and Sarah King (7 p.m. Friday, July 14). Free. www.festivalonthegreen.org

Guster joins Bread and Puppet

6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, long-standing rockers Guster, featuring Vermont residents Ryan Miller and Luke Reynolds, headline a show that opens with a performance by the state’s venerable politically-activist troupe Bread & Puppet Theater, Concerts on the Green, Shelburne Museum. $52 in advance, $56 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com

Cracker arrives in Essex

7 p.m. Friday, July 14, ‘90s rockers Cracker follow Vermont band Troy Millette & the Fire Below at the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com

SolarFest finds new location

10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, the long-running music and alternative-energy event SolarFest lands at a new location for its two-day gathering featuring performances by Dar Williams, Etana & the Raw-Soul Rebels, the Ray Vega Band, Pamela Means, Tom Pearo, Phil Henry, Erin Ash Sullivan and more, 144 Steinberg Road, Brandon. $40. www.solarfest.org

Dumpstaphunk brings funk to Essex

7 p.m. Saturday, July 15, New Orleans band Dumpstaphunk follows Waiting on Mongo at its Old Stage Summer Series performance, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com

Big Thief sells out, again

7:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, indie-folk-rockers Big Thief, who sold out the Higher Ground Ballroom on Jan. 31, return to Vermont with Nick Hakim for the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

The Sweet Remains harmonize

6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, harmonic trio The Sweet Remains brings its smooth sound to the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com

Essex Experience goes country

8 p.m. Friday, July 21, country-music singer-songwriter Keith Anderson performs at the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com

Maple Roots takes root again

Noon Saturday, July 22, the third-annual Maple Roots Music Festival offers performances by Soule Monde, the 17-piece Vermont Jazz Ensemble featuring Ray Vega on trumpet, kids music from Linda Bassick and the Busy Morning Band, plus master of ceremonies Alex Budney, aka DJ Steal Wool, Morse Farm Maple Sugar Works, Montpelier Free; $25 parking pass per vehicle. www.maplerootsfest.com

Billy Strings sings some things

7 p.m. Saturday, July 22-Sunday, July 23, bluegrass phenom Billy Strings plays not one but two shows presented by Higher Ground, midway lawn, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

Backseat Lovers take the stage

7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, alternative rockers The Backseat Lovers follow Bendigo Fletcher at the first of four consecutive concerts (see below) presented by Higher Ground at Waterfront Park, Burlington. $49 in advance, $53 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com

Isakov, Ritter team up

8 p.m. Friday, July 28, singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov headlines a show that starts with Josh Ritter, Waterfront Park, Burlington. $50 in advance, $54 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com

Amble over to The Ramble

Saturday, July 29, the community celebration known as The Ramble, which typically includes plenty of live music, returns with details to be announced, locations throughout the Old North End of Burlington. www.theramble.org

Noah Kahan times two

8 p.m. Saturday, July 29-Sunday, July 30, Vermont native Noah Kahan keeps climbing on the heels of his Vermont-inspired album “Stick Season,” as these two concerts with opener Joy Oladokun demonstrate, Waterfront Park, Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

North Mississippi Allstars in northern Vermont

8 p.m. Saturday, July 29, blues-rockers North Mississippi Allstars, with the like-minded Vermont group John Fusco & The X-Road Riders, play the Old Stage Summer Series at the Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com

Music at the Festival of Fools

Friday, Aug. 4-Sunday, Aug. 6, the Festival of Fools takes over downtown Burlington with more than 100 shows by street performers, and also includes concerts by the DiTrani Brothers (12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4), Lido Pimienta (7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4) and Cha Wa with Jack Broadbent (6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5), City Hall Park, Burlington. Free. www.vermontfestivaloffools.com

Guitar wizard in Essex

7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, adventurous guitarist Keller Williams brings his Grateful Grass project (following openers The Hillbenders) to the Old Stage Summer Series, Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com

Spreading the Joy in Shelburne

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, Americana-rockers Mt. Joy play the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

Sylvan Esso returns to Shelburne

7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, another night, another capacity crowd when Sylvan Esso returns with Dehd to the Concerts on the Green Series, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

Shelburne Museum hosts double bill

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, a double bill in the Concerts on the Green series features Shakey Graves and Lucius, Shelburne Museum. $51 in advance, $55 day of show, free for children 12 and under. www.highergroundmusic.com

Night of the Almost Dead

8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead pays tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead, Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak Resort. $60 in advance, $70 day of show. www.jaypeakresort.com

Bluegrass fest grows in southern Vermont

Aug. 17-20, the Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots festival offers up performances from Sam Bush, Watchhouse, The Milk Carton Kids, Peter Rowan, Aoife O’Donovan, Tim O’Brien, Mipso, Vermont native Caitlin Canty, Rachel Baiman and more, Hunter Park, Manchester Center. $30-$200. www.greenmountainbluegrass.com

Dispatch plays in state of its birth

7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, the roots-rock band Dispatch, born at Middlebury College, headlines a Concerts on the Green performance that includes Emelise, Shelburne Museum. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

Vermont band at Vermont State Fair

7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, veteran Vermont rockers 8084 headline a grandstand show presented by the Paramount Theatre at the Vermont State Fair, Rutland. $15-$132. www.paramountvt.org

Oxbow Music Festival makes noise

3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, The Oxbow Music Festival presents music from Dogs in a Pile, the Seth Yacovone Band, Woody & Sunshine and Hayley Jane, Oxbow Riverfront Park, Morristown. $30-$40. www.oxbowmusicfestival.com

Country artist headlines State Fair

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, country music singer-songwriter Jake Owen plays a show presented by the Paramount Theatre at the Vermont State Fair, Rutland. $45-$55. www.paramountvt.org

Series ends with Sugarhill Gang

8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, the Old Stage Summer Series concludes with The Sugarhill Gang of “Rapper’s Delight” fame, Essex Experience. $35. www.essexexperience.com

Old Crow at the Shelburne Museum

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, the Nashville-based string band Old Crow Medicine Show joins the fun at the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. $49.50 in advance, $53.50 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Jazz returns to Stowe

Friday, Aug. 25-Sunday, Aug. 27, the Stowe Jazz Festival occupies outdoor and indoor venues in town with acts including the Eric Person Quintet, the Chico Pinheiro Quartet, the Bruce Sklar Sextet, the Ed Cherry Quartet with Peter Bernstein, the Ingrid and Christine Jensen Quintet and more, outside at The Alchemist brewery and other locations throughout Stowe. Free. www.stowejazzfestival.org

Champlain Valley Fair shows begin

7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, the 101^st Champlain Valley Fair gets underway with a performance by Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, Champlain Valley Exposition grandstand, Essex Junction. $39-$69. www.champlainvalleyfair.org

Ludacris comes to the fair

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, rapper and actor Ludacris hits the Champlain Valley Fair grandstand, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. $39-$185. www.champlainvalleyfair.org

Fair welcomes Riley Green

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, country musician Riley Green joins John Morgan at the Champlain Valley Fair grandstand, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. $39-$185. www.champlainvalleyfair.org

A Grace Potter double play

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15-Saturday, Sept. 16, Vermont rocker Grace Potter performs two shows with Devon Gilfillian to conclude the Concerts on the Green series presented by Higher Ground, Shelburne Museum. $49.50 in advance, $53.50 day of show, free for children 12 and under. (Saturday’s show is sold out.) www.highergroundmusic.com

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Outdoor concerts in Vermont, from Shelburne Museum to Waterfront Park