Things to do in Vermont: March arts, entertainment events start to bloom
March in Vermont means trees start to bud, red-winged blackbirds return to the landscape and the arts-and-entertainment schedule begins to bloom once again.
After a couple of relatively lean months, the slate of music, theater and other performing and visual arts really fills up this month. Bands’ tour schedules get into gear and the people who want to come out and see those bands are finally ready to dig out from their long winter’s hibernation.
Given all of that activity, it’s hard to include every arts event the region has to offer for those 31 days. But here’s a pretty large sampling of what’s about to happen.
Sculpture, paintings in Jericho
Through March 26, the work of sculptor Christine Selin and painter Alison Saunders continues its run at the Emile A Gruppe Gallery, Jericho. Free. www.emilegruppegallery.com
KeruBo plays the Statehouse
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, singer-songwriter KeruBo, a native of Kenya now living in Vermont, plays the latest show in the Farmers Night Concert Series that runs most weeks through April 12, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier. Free. https://legislature.vermont.gov/the-state-house/events/farmers-night-concert-series
Shelburne Vineyard hosts Aaron Flinn
6 p.m. Thursday, March 2, Vermont singer-guitarist Aaron Flinn performs two sets at Shelburne Vineyard. Free. www.shelburnevineyard.com
Murder scenes in Waitsfield
7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, the Valley Players start their production of the murder mystery-comedy “Murder by Membership Only” that runs through March 19, Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield. $10-$18. www.valleyplayers.com
Montreal band headlines Winooski show
8 p.m. Thursday, March 2, the Montreal dream-pop trio Afternoon Bike Ride joins Vermont group Lillian and the Muses and Maine act Kafari, The Monkey House, Winooski. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. www.monkeyhousevt.com
Strings at the Bean
7 p.m. Friday, March 3, a pair of string bands – Mile Twelve from Boston and The Tenderbellies from Vermont – settle in at Radio Bean, Burlington. $12-$15. www.radiobean.com
Chris Redd in the Green Mountain State
7 and 9 p.m. Friday, March 3-Saturday, March 4, “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Chris Redd arrives for four sets at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Chameleons sing at Middlebury College
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, the New York-based vocal group Choral Chameleon performs its program “Music for Chameleons,” Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/arts.
UVM Lane Series welcomes jazz pianist
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, jazz pianist Emmet Cohen brings his trio to the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.20-$38.25. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
New director at Milton Artists’ Guild
1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 4, the community is invited to welcome Corrina Thurston, the new executive director of the Milton Artists’ Guild, at the guild’s home at 199 U.S. 7, Milton. Free. www.miltonartistsguild.org
Radio Bean presents indie-rock fest
7 p.m. Saturday, March 4, “The Spirit of Julia” is a festival of indie-rock acts from Philadelphia, New York City and Vermont that includes Tagabow, Kitchen, Dari Bay, Joyer, Greg Freeman and more, Radio Bean, Burlington. $22 in advance, $30 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Mark Erelli performs from new album
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, folk musician Mark Erelli, touring in support of his new album, “Lay Your Darkness Down,” plays the Ripton Community Coffee House, Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $15-$25. www.rcch.org
Horse and Squirrel at Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, Ella Williams, who performs as Squirrel Flower, and Dimitri Giannopoulos of Horse Jumper of Love perform solo sets in a shared double bill that follows an opening solo set by Lily Seward of Vermont band Lily Seabird, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $18 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Roots legend visits Essex
8 p.m. Saturday, March 4, blues-rock-roots veteran Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna fame plays the Double E T-Rex Theater, Essex Experience, Essex. $55-$80. https://www.doubleevermont.com/doublee
Pepper spices up Higher Ground
8 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, the reggae-flavored rock band Pepper headlines a show that includes opener Joe Samba, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Il Divo bring “popera” to Flynn
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, the singing group Il Divo displays its blend of opera and pop, the Flynn, Burlington. $89-$128. www.flynnvt.org
Vermont Stage plays air guitar
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, the Chelsea Marcantel play “Airness,” about air-guitar players competing for a championship, begins its run through March 26, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $31.05-$38.50. www.vermontstage.org
Waterbury art studios throw doors open
5-8 p.m. Friday, March 10, the new Waterbury Studios, which rents space for artists’ use, throws a launch party highlighting the work of woodblock-print artists Jennifer Koch and Gregg Blasdel, 7 Stowe St., Waterbury. Free. https://waterburystudios.com/
Theater company does sketch-comedy show
6 and 8 p.m. Friday, March 10-Saturday, March 11, Vermont-based Dirt Road Theater presents its first-ever sketch comedy show, “Customer Service: Sketch Comedy by Serious People,” The Savoy Theater, Montpelier. $15. www.savoytheater.com
The music of Elton John, Queen
7 p.m. Friday, March 10, Vermont musicians including Josh Panda and Clint Bierman perform the music of Elton John and Queen, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $27 in advance, $32 at the door. www.townhalltheater.org
Brewery hosts Screaming Headless Torsos
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, the long-standing jazz-rock band Screaming Headless Torsos visits Foam Brewers, Burlington. $10. www.foambrewers.com
Pianist joins quartet in Middlebury
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, the Dover String Quartet joins up with Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang for a concert at the Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/arts
(Not) Simon & Garfunkel at the Flynn
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, a show about one of the best-known folk acts of the 1960s, “The Simon & Garfunkel Story,” hits the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $25-$69. www.flynnvt.org
Higher Ground has a Boyfriend show
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, singer-songwriter/producer Boyfriend headlines a show that includes Heady Betty, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Cello, piano at UVM
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, the University of Vermont Lane Series presents cellist Zlatomir Fung, with pianist Janice Carissa, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.20-$43.25. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Grace Potter sells out
8 p.m. Friday, March 10, Vermont rocker Grace Potter plays a rare (these days, anyway) home-state show at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. Sold out. www.paramountvt.org
Connecticut guitarist visits Radio Bean
6 p.m. Saturday, March 11, Connecticut fingerstyle guitarist Glenn Roth performs at Radio Bean, Burlington. Free. www.radiobean.com
Christmas in March?
7 p.m. Saturday, March 11, “Nick Cassarino’s Yuletide Spectacular” – a holiday concert featuring the South Burlington-raised guitarist and special musical guests – was postponed (ironically) by snow in December, but doesn’t let the proximity to St. Patrick’s Day get in the way of a rescheduled performance, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com
Mandolins move into Metronome
7 p.m. Saturday, March 11, the Vermont Mandolin Trio – featuring mandolin players Jamie Masefield, Will Patton and Matt Flinner, joined by bass player Pat Melvin – plays above Nectar’s at Club Metronome, Burlington. $15. www.liveatnectars.com
Irish music in Barre
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, six days before St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish music ensemble Cherish the Ladies performs as part of the Burlington Irish Heritage Festival (which runs through March 28), Barre Opera House. $25-$42. www.barreoperahouse.org or www.burlingtonirishheritage.org
Comedian takes Flynn stage
8 p.m. Saturday, March 11, comedian/storyteller Heather McMahan presents what she’s calling “The Comeback Tour,” the Flynn, Burlington. $47-$99.50. www.flynnvt.org
Hinesburg Artist Series marks 25 years
2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, the 25th season of the Hinesburg Artist Series features the South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra joined by Vermont cellist Jiwon Lee, St. Jude Catholic Church, Hinesburg. $25. www.hinesburgartistseries.org
Westford hosts Missisquoi River Band
4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, northern Vermont bluegrass/country act the Missisquoi River Band is this month’s featured attraction at the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall. Free; donations accepted. https://www.facebook.com/Westfordmusicseries
40 poems, 40 pounds
7 p.m. Sunday, March 12, based on poems by Trish Dougherty, a graduate student at the Bread Loaf School of English near Middlebury, the theatrical performance “40 Poems for 40 Pounds” debuts, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $15-$20. www.townhalltheater.org
Fungi in photos
6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, photographer Meg Madden will give a slideshow and talk on her exhibit “The Art of Mycology: Mushroom Photographs by Meg Madden,” which runs through March 19 at the Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. Free. www.townhalltheater.org
Story of Black cowboys told in Stowe
7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, jazz vocalist/guitarist/composer Allan Harris brings the musical “Cross That River” – which tells the story of an escaped slave and Black cowboy who helped settle the West – to the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe. $25-$35. www.sprucepeakarts.org
Laugh with Stealing from Work
6 and 8 p.m. Friday, March 17-Saturday, March 18, the Vermont sketch-comedy troupe Stealing from Work presents its latest show, “Gaslight at the End of the Tunnel,” in four performances at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Brewery celebrates anniversary with music
7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Vermont band High Summer – which is releasing three new singles March 1 in advance of an upcoming full-length album – will help celebrate the 9th anniversary at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski. Free. www.4qbc.com
Alternative hip hop in Burlington
9 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Boston-based alternative hip-hop artist Chase Murphy will be joined by local acts Conswank and Will Keeper and Maryland performer Malik Elijah, Radio Bean, Burlington. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. www.radiobean.com
Vermont Philharmonic, youth symphony connect
2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, the Vermont Philharmonic, in partnership with the Green Mountain Youth Symphony, presents “Awakenings,” its annual family concert, Barre Opera House. $5-$20. www.vermontphilharmonic.com
Dutch Experts celebrates debut EP
7 p.m. Sunday, March 19, southern Vermont musician Hannah Hoffman of the dark synth act Dutch Experts celebrates her debut EP release with a hometown show at The Stone Church, Brattleboro. $15-$20. www.stonechurchvt.com
TikTok star reaches Higher Ground
8 p.m. Monday, March 20, musician Jaden Hossler, who rose to prominence on TikTok, performs as jxdn with opening act Beauty School Dropout, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $29 in advance, $34 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
St. Michael’s College stages plays
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, the St. Michael’s College Department of Fine Arts opens its production of “Woman This & Woman That: An Evening of Suffrage Plays,” which runs through Saturday, March 25, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Free. www.smcvt.edu
Electronic musician comes to South Burlington
8 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, hailing from the United Kingdom, electronic artist Elderbrook follows ford. and EREZ in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
White River Junction presents film fest
Thursday, March 23-Sunday, March 26, the White River Indie Film Festival returns with 10 feature films, several short films, panel discussions and more, Briggs Opera House, White River Junction. $15 or pay-what-you-can per film; $60-$200 for festival passes. www.uvjam.org
Vocal ensemble highlights African composers
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 24, the Vermont-based vocal ensemble Counterpoint begins a three-concert run of its program “Living Water,” featuring sacred music by composers of African heritage, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Barre. Other performances follow at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, First Congregational Church, Norwich; and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26, First Congregational Church, Manchester. $5-$20. www.counterpointchorus.org
Maine mandolin man makes it to Zenbarn
7 p.m. Saturday, March 25, the Maine mandolin player Ethan Setiawan – joined by fiddle player Darol Anger, who produced Setiawan’s new album, “Gambit” – follows Owl and Crow in a show at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $15. www.zenbarnvt.com
Bluegrass bands share Foam bill
8 p.m. Saturday, March 25, New York bluegrass trio the Eugene Tyler Band and the bluegrass/jazz/folk group Dirty Bird share a bill, Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com
King Tuff plays a hometown show
8 p.m. Saturday, March 25, southern Vermont native Kyle Thomas, aka King Tuff – whose new Vermont-themed album, “Smalltown Stardust,” came out Jan. 27 on the influential music label Sub Pop – plays a hometown show with Tchotchke, The Stone Church, Brattleboro. $20-$25. www.stonechurchvt.com
Vermont hip hop hits Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26, Spring Fest 2023 highlights Vermont hip hop with acts including JJ, 1Tried, RXDY, Hakimxoxo, We$ Web, OCD.KAI, Sad Boy, Julius and Northeast Youngin’, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $10 in advance, $15 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
The Residents occupy South Burlington
8 p.m. Monday, March 27, longtime art-rock weirdos The Residents play the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $38 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Essex hosts folk-rock legend
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, ‘70s folk-rocker Al Stewart brings his band The Empty Pockets to The Double E, Essex Experience, Essex. $50. www.essexexperience.com
‘Bat Boy’ lands at UVM
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29-Saturday, April 1, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2, the University of Vermont Program in Theatre and Dance presents “Bat Boy: The Musical,” based on a famous cover story in the Weekly World News, Royall Tyler Theater, UVM, Burlington. $10-$25. https://www.uvm.edu/cas/theatreanddance/current_production_season
A visit from Jukebox the Ghost
8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, pop-rockers Jukebox the Ghost follow Wildermiss in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $22 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Tribute to Pete Sutherland
7 p.m. Friday, March 31, the Summit School Mud Season Spectacular includes a showcase of young performers honoring the late Vermont traditional-music maker Pete Sutherland, Capital City Grange Hall, Berlin. $5-$15. https://summitschool.wixsite.com/summitschool
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. Follow Brent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrentHallenbeck.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont arts-and-entertainment events bloom as spring arrives in March
