Best Live Music Venues in Burlington Vermont

The live music scene in Burlington Vermont has a long history of turning out great bands.

Phish, the genre-blending improvisational rock band (pictured above), spent four formative years at the University of Vermont before taking the jam band scene by storm in 1983 – forever putting BTV on the national music map.

Singer-songwriter Neko Case and indie-roots band Dispatch followed in their footsteps on the road from the Northeast scene to international stardom, followed most recently by pop-rock artist Grace Potter.

From funk to pop to classical, Burlington has music for everyone, and good music at that. The spots below are some of the best places to hear live music in the city – and since it’s Burlington, usually eat and drink to the nines while you’re doing it.

If you like live music then you'll love Synaptic Supercollider💥 - a conference and festival that takes place in Burlington every October. The event brings together forward thinkers to discuss new trends in innovation entrepreneurship, music, lifestyles and the arts.

Nectar’s

Opened in 1975 by Nectar Rorris, Nectars is a combination of a landmark music hall and a pub, where local, regional and national artists play music of all genres for lively crowds in close-quartered seating.

Nectar’s claims to be the home of the world's best gravy fries – and the locals will vouch for it. There’s also crisp arugula salads and shrimp rangoons on deck for those who prefer lighter bar fare, and an extensive tap, can, and bottle selection to pair.

And if that’s not enough, the rich history should get you in the door: Phish played here regularly, laying the groundwork for what grew to be one of the most famed live music tours in the nation.

Higher Ground

Higher Ground is unassuming from the outside, but experiences it provides are guaranteed to be memorable. Staging both local and national artists along with regular DJ nights, the venue is both the tour-stop to catch your current favorites and the secret-spot to discover hidden gems. With three bars, brilliant acoustics, and a packed performance schedule, Higher Ground is an excellent choice for any night out.

Red Square

Smack dab in the middle of the iconic Church Street, Red Square is a hugely popular club in the heart of Burlington. A rotating roster of live music and local DJs keep the music bumping seven days a week, and like any good venue in Vermont, the venue has a huge variety of craft beer and liquor for you to enjoy.

For a bar scene with some live music, stop by earlier in the day. For some punchier beats and a party scene, enjoy a craft beer at a local brewery first – then join the fun when the stars are out.

Radio Bean

Radio Bean is on the corner of Winooski and Pearl, just a few steps away from the top of Church Street and from the many shops and restaurants that Burlington has to offer.

Along with the constantly rotating live band selection, Radio Bean offers full bar service with a tantalizing selection of beers and cocktails, as well as a small food menu. This quirky venue is a cornerstone of local nightlife, and a perfect taste of the city for tourists. 

Foam Brewers

Foam is not only one of the best breweries in Vermont, but also a cool and tasteful venue for live music, art openings, fundraisers, beer events, and more.

The waterfront spot hosts local DJs and jazz artists weekly each Tuesday and Thursday, and a variety of fresh musicians from a range of other genres frequent the brewery on weekends.

For eats, Foam often hosts local food trucks that dish out creative bar and brewery fare, in addition to their delicious rotating selection of cheese and charcuterie. And for drinks, (do we even have to tell you?) it’s hoppy craft IPAs, saisons, and sours galore.

The Monkey House

The Monkey House is just outside the Burlington area in the neighboring town of Winooski. With a wide selection of local Vermont beers and ciders, The Monkey House is widely considered to be Winooski’s prime bar & live music venue. With a newly added pizza and drinks takeout service, this local spot is perfect not only for listening to music live, but also for enjoying from the comfort of a night in.

Club Metronome

Conveniently located in the same building as Nectar’s, Club Metronome offers a nightclub experience just steps away from the famed pub and music hall. Food and drink service is the same as Nectar’s (so it’s excellent) and themed party nights are not infrequent.

Flynn Center

Burlington's "Wonder Theatre," The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, was originally established in 1930 as a motion pictures venue, but has since transformed into one of Burlington’s best theaters for live performance. The Flynn hosts every act from comedy to orchestrations of Rachmaninov’s Third on its multiple stages, and also offers a range of classes, camps, and workshops, almost all of which are pay-what-you-can and open-to-the-public. 

Skinny Pancake

The Skinny Pancake actually began as a food cart, supported by a flatbed made from a sailboat trailer. The first brick-and-mortar location officially opened on the Burlington waterfront in 2007, and has been serving delicious food and cozy live music experiences ever since. The food is so popular that the Skinny Pancake now operates in several locations across the state, but the view from the Burlington location is unmatched. Looking over the Lake Champlain waterfront to a gorgeous mountainous horizon, the Skinny Pancake Burlington will give you a perfect snapshot of the landscape that is beloved to tourists and locals alike.

Chantal Raguin
Supercollider Contributor