Things to do in Vermont: February is short, but the list of arts events is full
For a short month, February has a lot going on. The arts scene in Vermont for those 28 days has enough happening that the performances might just help you forget the freezing temperatures, whipping winds and snow-covered roads outside your favorite entertainment venue.
The good news for you nasty-weather loathers out there is that February is the last full month of winter. Before spring arrives next month and makes the Green Mountain State a little more green and a little less white, you might want to check out a few of these arts-and-entertainment events that could add considerable amounts of sunshine and warmth to your days and nights.
World premiere at Northern Stage
Through Feb. 12, the world premiere of playwright Celeste Jennings’ drama “’Bov Water” continues its run that began Jan. 25 at Northern Stage, Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction. $19-$69. www.northernstage.org
Disco Biscuits bring two-night party
9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1-Thursday, Feb. 2, electronic jam-rockers Disco Biscuits rave for two nights with opener Karina Rykman, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $45 in advance, $49 day of show, $79 two-day pass. www.highergroundmusic.com
Supreme Court art show
4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, “Poetic Ecologies,” an exhibition of paintings by Charlotte artist Cameron Davis that runs through March 31, opens with a reception at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery as part of Montpelier Art Walk. Free. www.camerondavisstudio.com
Apres-ski jazz, art in Stowe
3-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, the new monthlong series “Art + Apres” begins with beer, wine and food as well as music by the Ray Vega Quintet and coincides with the exhibit “Esperanza Cortes: Tierra Dentro”, The Current, Stowe. Free. www.thecurrentnow.org
Hit the slurps:Warm up apres-ski with soup at these Vermont restaurants
VSO goes electric
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra — led by the final candidate for its musical-director position, conductor Andrew Crust — presents a program titled “Electric Dreams” that includes a performance by electric-violin soloist Tracy Silverman, the Flynn, Burlington. $8.35-$54.23. www.vso.org
VYO throws a fiesta
3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, the Vermont Youth Orchestra presents its “La Fiesta!” concert that includes works by Saint-Saens, Mendelssohn and Mexican composers Arturo Marquez and Jose Pablo Moncayo, the Flynn, Burlington. $17-$22. www.vyo.org
Green Mountain Chorus in Westford
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, the barbershop ensemble Green Mountain Chorus sings as part of the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall. Donations accepted. www.facebook.com/Westfordmusicseries/
Fleming Museum opens up
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Fleming Museum holds an opening reception for its spring exhibitions — Josef Albers’ “Formulation: Articulation”; “Art/Text/Context: From Artistic Practice to Meaning Making”; and “Dark Goddess: An Exploration of the Sacred Feminine,” University of Vermont, Burlington. Free. www.uvm.edu/fleming
St. Michael’s student presents exhibit
6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Erickson Richard, a senior art and design major, displays his photo exhibition “Markings” (which runs Feb. 7-15) during a reception at McCarthy Art Gallery, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Free. https://mccarthygallery.smc-artanddesign.space/
Jazz and brews in Burlington
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, the Paul Asbell Trio plays “Jazz Thursdays” at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com
Foam Brewers recognition:Brewery among 5 Vermont semifinalists for James Beard Awards
Comedy club hosts actor, “Simpsons” writer
7 and 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10-Saturday, Feb. 11, Dana Gould, a writer and co-executive producer for “The Simpsons” and actor with appearances on shows such as “Seinfeld” and “Parks and Rec,” does four shows at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Fattie B. reschedules ‘Gumbo’ show
6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, rescheduled from November, the album-release celebration for Fattie B.’s 20-song opus “Gumbo” features appearances by several Vermont musicians who performed on the recordings, including Dwight & Nicole, Craig Mitchell, Bob Wagner, Miriam Bernardo, Mister Burns and more. $12. https://essexexperience.com/events/
Bands split bill at brewery
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, the Brooklyn-based psychedelic-tinged band Gift — which in December played a mesmerizing set at Higher Ground — returns to the region to share a bill with Los Angeles group Hooveriii, Foam Brewers, Burlington. $5. www.foambrewers.com
Vermont Philharmonic times two
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, the Vermont Philharmonic performs the concert “Stars of Winter” featuring Burlington High School senior Laura Zhou-Hackett on piano and the violin/cello/piano-driven Champlain Trio, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. The program will be repeated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Barre Opera House. $5-$20. www.vermontphilharmonic.com
Mike + Ruthy hit Ripton (via Lincoln)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, the Americana duo Mike + Ruthy, known for their work with The Mammals, plays the Ripton Community Coffee House, Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $15-$25. www.rcch.org
‘Hot Butter’ slides into FlynnSpace
8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, the LGBTQ party “Hot Butter,” led by emcee/DJ Craig Mitchell, arrives just before Valentine’s Day at FlynnSpace, Burlington. $5. www.flynnvt.org
Samia sings in South Burlington
8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, singer-songwriter Samia is joined by Tommy Lefroy in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Reading and writing at Vermont Studio Center
7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, poet Nathan McClain takes part in a visiting-writer reading, followed at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 by a writing-craft talk, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson. Free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org
Keb’ Mo’ coming to Rutland
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, roots/blues musician Keb’ Mo’ follows opener Anthony D’Amato to the stage at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $40-$70. www.paramountvt.org
Oscar-contending international films planned
Thursday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 19, the Global Roots Film Festival, presented by the Vermont International Film Festival, showcases 11 movies considered as contenders for this year’s Academy Awards, including “Tembele” from Ghana and “Holy Spider” from Iran. Ticket prices to be announced. www.vtiff.org
‘Earnest’ goes to Middlebury
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, the classic Oscar Wilde comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” begins a run through Sunday, Feb. 19 by the Middlebury Community Players, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $14-$19. www.townhalltheater.org
Freeway Clyde parks at Radio Bean
9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, led by Tony-winning composer/musician Michael Chorney, the Vermont-based instrumental ensemble Freeway Clyde celebrates its debut recording, “Sunflower,” with a show at Radio Bean, Burlington. $10-$15. www.radiobean.com
Lane Series gets Celtic
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, the University of Vermont Lane Series presents the rootsy Scottish band Breabach, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.20-$38.25. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
‘Frankenstein’ in puppet form
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, the Chicago-based performance collective Manual Cinema presents “Frankenstein” with a combination of shadow puppetry, film techniques and sound, the Flynn, Burlington. $25-$45. www.flynnvt.org
Barre presents Great Big Sea front man
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, the leader of Canadian act Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle, performs with his band and after opening act Chris Trapper, Barre Opera House. $28-$32.50. www.barreoperahouse.org
Dvorak and more in Burlington
3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival continues its recital series with violinist Violaine Melancon and pianist Meagan Milatz performing works by composers including Dvorak and Schumann, College Street Congregational Church, Burlington. $25; free for students. www.gmcmf.org
Exhibit focuses on Keith Haring
5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, a renowned New York muralist is the subject of “Keith Haring: Subway Drawings,” an exhibit running through April 16 that begins with this opening reception, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Free. www.brattleboromuseum.org
Winter Is a Drag returns
8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, the 28th-annual Winter Is a Drag Ball, presented by The House of LeMay, is back with its annual soiree that benefits Vermont CARES, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $32 in advance, $37 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
MacMaster, Leahy roll into Rutland
7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, Celtic-music favorites Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy visit the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $40-$50. www.paramountvt.org
Stephen Sanchez sells out
8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, young singer-songwriter and TikTok star Stephen Sanchez headlines a show that includes Kings Elliot, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Quartet visits UVM
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, the Isidore String Quartet performs works by Bach and others as part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.20-$43.25. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Middlebury instructor offers dance piece
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24-Saturday, Feb. 25, Laurel Jenkins, assistant professor of dance at Middlebury College, presents the multimedia dance performance “The Wilds,” Dance Theater, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/college/arts/performing-arts-series
Essex Community Players get ‘Significant’
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, the Essex Community Players start their run through March 4 of the Joshua Harmon love story “Significant Other,” Memorial Hall, Essex. $16-$18. www.essexplayers.com
Michael Arnowitt plays doubleheader
3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, the Eleva Chamber Players present two solo recitals by former central Vermont pianist Michael Arnowitt, who now lives in Toronto, United Church of Christ/Waterbury Congregational Church. $20-$25. www.elevachamberplayers.com
Angela Davis, dance highlight Flynn event
5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, “The Black Experience 2023” features discussions and panels with local activists and speakers as well as a keynote presentation by renowned activist Angela Davis and a performance by Philadanco, the Flynn, Burlington. Free; registration recommended. www.flynnvt.org
Richmond hosts Canadian folk musician
4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, the “P.M. Sundays” series by Valley Stage brings Canadian folk performer Annie Sumi to the Richmond Congregational Church. $15-$25. www.valleystage.net
Indie-rockers rock Radio Bean
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, Brooklyn indie-rock group Florist settles into Radio Bean, Burlington. $18 in advance, $20 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Margo Price reaches Higher Ground
8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, country-flavored singer-songwriter Margo Price follows Tre Burt in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $26 in advance, $28 day of show, $73 plus ticket cost for VIP meet-and-greet experience. www.highergroundmusic.com
‘Book of Mormon’ is all booked
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28-Thursday, March 2, the Tony Award-winning musical “The Book of Mormon” is so popular its trio of shows sold out at the Flynn, Burlington. 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: Concerts, art exhibits and comedy in February
