What's Good, Burlington?

Let's face it, Burlington isn't exactly a bustling metropolis full of an endless array of music venues that cater to every taste out there. Sure, we have Higher Ground, an excellent place to see some of the bigger-names in music, but what if you're hankering for something a little less mainstream and a little more underground? You are? Well that's great news! There is no shortage of quaint, yet oh-so-excellent, small-scale music venues in town. Here's a how-to guide on allll the best places to go if you want to catch some local acts or even smaller bands that pass through B-town on their way to Montreal.



The Monkey House: The Monkey House is located on the other side of the hill down by the Winooski water falls – totally worth the short walk in the summer or bus ride in the winter. It's a small,  yet aesthetically pleasing space that offers an intimate setting you just can't get in the ballroom at Higher Ground. They've hosted acts from the wonderfully depressing Kurt Vile, to the up-and-coming sensation The Morning Benders. They brought The Morning Benders to town before they exploded into a million pieces and ended up as background music for a Reese's Commercial.

Signal Kitchen: This space is comparable in size to The Monkey House, but brings an even smaller-scale musician base. Signal Kitchen is located on Main Street in downtown Burlington, and offers much more than just any old venue. This venue boasts a professional recording studio, rehearsal space, an art gallery, and a live performance space. The folks at Signal Kitchen have worked with everyone from Mayer Hawthorne to The Vacant Lots (a Burlington band who's signed with Mexican Summer - wowza). Signal Kitchen is Burlington's best kept secret in the world of music. Here's a little visual guide in case you were wondering where this hidden gem is located - you've probably walked by it many times before without even realizing it.

Enter (aka The Bakery): This is probably the least-talked about venue of all but it's definitely one of my favorites. This space is located in the Old North End, so if you're walking there at night you might want to bring a friend just to be safe. Last year WRUV FM Burlington hosted a show at The Bakery and brought local act Sam Amidon to town. There was a huge turn out for the event despite the venue's lack of publicity. Picture gigantic plastic doll legs, colorful drapery, chandeliers, funky lighting, and old couches, and you have The Bakery. Check out this video from the Sam Amidon show - it was really awesome live, and I think this video captures a little bit of The Bakery's aesthetic appeal as well.