Things to do in Vermont: 31 concerts, plays and other events for an arts-forward March
This winter has been so mild it doesn’t really feel like the official change in seasons this month warrants one of those “Yay spring!” celebrations. Nevertheless, the arrival of March in Vermont always means the arrival of green grass, blue skies and fresh-air fun is drawing closer and closer.
In the meantime, though, Vermont offers lots of indoor fun with a full slate of arts-and-entertainment events. We’re boiling literally hundreds of activities statewide down to 31 concerts, plays and other things to do that just might put a spring in your step, so to speak, as winter breathes its last chilly gasp.
Astral Underground celebrates new CD
7 p.m. Friday, March 1, the Franklin County group Astral Underground, purveyors of what they call “celestial jazz,” mark the release of their new CD with a show at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington. $5-$10. www.venetiansodalounge.com
Duo does a pair of shows
7 p.m. Friday, March 1, the Venezuela-meets-Appalachia “Latingrass” duo Larry & Joe plays the first of two Vermont shows, Next Stage Arts, Putney ($20, www.nextstagearts.org) before performing another concert, promoted by Burnham Presents, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, Burnham Hall, Lincoln ($15-$25, www.burnhampresents.org)
Ruckus at UVM
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1, the early music ensemble Ruckus and flutist Emi Ferguson combine for a concert that’s part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $6.50-$45. www.uvm.edu/laneseries
Ray Vega presents jazzy film screenings
7 p.m. Saturday, March 2, Vermont trumpeter Ray Vega presents the Sammy Davis Jr. film “A Man Called Adam,” featuring a score by jazz great Benny Carter, and, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, the Louis Malle classic “Elevator to the Gallows” with a stellar soundtrack by Miles Davis, at the brand-new, intimate Screening Room at the Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington. $5. www.vtiff.org
VSO goes Hollywood
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs music from “The Godfather,” “Psycho,” “Casablanca” and other classic films in a concert titled “The Hollywood Sound,” the Flynn, Burlington. $8.35-$59. www.flynnvt.org. The VSO repeats the program at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $10-$34; free for ages 12 and under. www.paramountvt.org
Blues-rock hits Higher Ground
7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3, rising Nashville-based blues-rocker Hannah Wicklund follows Vermont blues-rocker Sarah King at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Fern Maddie brings songs to Cabot
7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, Montpelier-based balladeer Fern Maddie plays a show presented by the Cabot Folk Club, Willey Building Auditorium, Cabot. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. www.cabotarts.org
Max Higgins is ‘The Underdog’
7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, Burlington comic Max Higgins performs what’s billed as a “one-man(ish)” show, “The Underdog,” which takes on issues including gender, Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25, with proceeds to go toward Higgins’ upcoming top surgery, and any excess funds to be donated to Outright Vermont. www.vermontcomedyclub.com
World premiere comes to Waitsfield
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, the world premiere of New Haven resident Mary Pratt’s play “Poet’s Choice” – winner of the 2023 Valley Players’ Playwright Award – begins its run by the Valley Players through Sunday, March 17, Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield. $14-$18. www.valleyplayers.com
Late winter visit to the islands
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, infused by the culture of the Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, the stage show “Small Island Big Song” comes to Wilson Hall, McCullough Student Center, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/arts
Reed Foehl stays home
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, southern Vermont singer-songwriter Reed Foehl plays a full-band home-state show, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $27-$37. www.townhalltheater.org
‘Season of Transition’ concerts
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, the Vermont-based chamber group Scrag Mountain Music presents works by Bach, Schubert and others in a program titled “Winter Wind, Melting Ice: The Season of Transition,” Unitarian Church, Montpelier. The concert will also be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Warren Church. Admission is “Come as you are. Pay what you can.” www.scragmountainmusic.org
Burlington Civic Symphony celebrates spring
7 p.m. Saturday, March 9, the Burlington Civic Symphony presents its spring concert featuring compositions by Copland, Stravinsky and Mendelssohn, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. $10-$20. www.bcsovt.org
Riff Raff rolls into Higher Ground
8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Alynda Segarra brings her indie-folk-pop-rock act Hurray for the Riff Raff, following opener NNAMDI, into the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $21 in advance, $26 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
A musical solar 'Preclipse'
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, Vermont Symphonic Winds gears up for next month’s solar eclipse with a program titled “Preclipse,” featuring a complete performance of Holst’s “The Planets” and an appearance by Vermont vocal group Bella Voce, Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. $10-$15. www.facebook.com/vermontsymphonicwinds/
Green Mountain Film Festival returns
1:45 p.m. Thursday, March 14, the Iranian drama “Leila’s Brothers” begins the schedule of screenings at the Green Mountain Film Festival, which runs through Sunday, March 17 and includes movies such as the documentary “Farming While Black” and the buzzworthy Sundance hit “I Saw the TV Glow,” locations throughout Montpelier. $10-$12 per ticket, $50 five-ticket pack, $150 all-access pass. www.gmffestival.org
Jazz lights up the Lantern
6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, vocalist Adela Dalto continues the Jazz at the Lantern series, Brass Lantern Inn, Stowe. $35-$45. www.facebook.com/fireflyproductionsvt
Matisyahu returns to Higher Ground
8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, reggae stalwart Matisyahu joins Cydeways in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $41-$95. www.highergroundmusic.com
Phil Henry plays Ripton
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, Rutland-based singer-songwriter Phil Henry, joined by Jeff Kimball on keyboards, plays the monthly Ripton Community Coffee House concert. $15-$25. www.rcch.org
A sellout for Julian Lage
8 p.m. Saturday, March 16, guitar star Julian Lage follows Arny Margret at a concert in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Two nights of Dogs in a Pile
9 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17, jam-rockers Dogs in a Pile arrive for a pair of shows, Nectar’s, Burlington. $20-$25 for Sunday show; Saturday is sold out. www.liveatnectars.com
Hinesburg Artist Series marks 25 years
2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17, the Hinesburg Artist Series presents its 25th-anniversary concert with The South County Chorus and Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra joined by guest singers Cristina Escobedo, Cameron Brownell and Gary Moreau plus cellist Jiwon Lee, St. Jude Catholic Church, Hinesburg. $25. www.hinesburgartistseries.org
P.M. Sundays welcomes Northern Resonance
4 p.m. Sunday, March 17, the Scandinavian string trio Northern Resonance is the next act in the P.M. Sundays series presented by Valley Stage Productions, Richmond Congregational Church. $17.50-$27.50. www.valleystage.net
Nickel Creek plays the Flynn
8 p.m. Sunday, March 17, bluegrass-folk trio Nickel Creek – with Chris Thile on mandolin, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins – plays a show with Monica Martin and presented by Higher Ground at the Flynn, Burlington. $52.50-$73.50. www.highergroundmusic.com
Vermont Stage presents ‘Breakfalls’
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, “Breakfalls,” a script by Vermont playwright Gina Stevensen that explores the stories involving participants in a karate class, unfolds through Sunday, April 7 courtesy of Vermont Stage, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $24-$64. www.vermontstage.org
Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon in concert
8 p.m. Thursday, March 21, longtime Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon rocks out in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
An evening with Richard Thompson
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, folk-rock legend Richard Thompson plays a concert presented by Higher Ground at the First Unitarian Church, Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
Acrobats in flight at the Flynn
7 p.m. Monday, March 25, Chinese troupe the Peking Acrobats fly across the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $19-$49. www.flynnvt.org
Anders Parker is back in Vermont
8 p.m. Friday, March 29, singer-songwriter Anders Parker, a former Vermont resident now living in New Orleans, returns to the state for a show with his Vermont-based rock band, Cloud Badge, Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com
Guthrie group comes to Vergennes
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30, the Krishna Guthrie Band, led by the grandson of Arlo Guthrie and great-grandson of Woody Guthrie, plays the Vergennes Opera House. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. www.vergennesoperahouse.org
Grammy winners säje visit Vermont
7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 31, the vocal group säje – brand-new Grammy Award winners who include Jericho native Erin Bentlage in the foursome – play their first Vermont show, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.co
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Things to do in Vermont: 31 events for an arts-forward March
