Burlington Downtown Music Scene

The stage at the Rusted Bucket

Burlington in general and the downtown area in particular is beginning to see a resurgence in popularity as a destination for live music acts. The Rusted Bucket on Davis Street swung its doors open last year after a hiatus with an expanded area giving patrons more room to move around inside the intimate venue, once again providing live music entertainment - primarily on the weekends. One street over The Ends bassist Josh Coe and his family operate Front Street Public House. The Public House serves domestic beer but they have a heavy focus on microbrew and imported beer.

Front St. Public House

As a live music venue the Front Street Public House provides a nice setup for solo or small group performances in the bar area which due to its design offers excellent acoustics. The venue provides the PA system and, unless a show is scheduled, musicians are welcome to bring their instruments in, hook up and entertain for tips.
    Diagonally across from the Public House is Burlington's crown jewel for entertainment - the Paramount Theatre. Mostly used for fund raising events, plays and lectures, the Paramount occasionally opens for special musical events.

Upmann's

  One block down The Company Shops, a locally owned co-op grocery store, plays host in the summer months to acoustic acts outside on their dining patio.
    The newest kid on the block is actually a block away on Spring St. (in the building that was formerly "Roasters Coffee House") called Upmann's, a lounge, wine bar and pub that opened in March 2013.
  With spring and summer events in the downtown area the old depot on Front St. also has a small amphitheater outside to showcase musical talent during events the city puts on.

Amphitheatre at the Old Depot

The burgeoning music scene echoes the revitalization of downtown Burlington and with Labcorp moving out of many of the buildings and spaces it has occupied over the years (as they move their operations to the former Citicard building on I-40) the opportunities for more music venues, restaurants and even housing is growing in leaps and bounds.

Still 3 - For Love of the Music

Still 3 is (L-R) Troy Jordan, Brian Smith, Wayne Arrington

   Back in the day there was a trio of friends who got together to rock and roll, they worked and practiced and worked some more. Calling themselves "4Play" they played venues, gained a loyal following and pricked the ears of industry executives. They were on the verge of signing to a label and then another trio from Seattle changed the landscape of rock and roll. Grunge was in and power rock was out.
  Fast forward 24 years and those three friends have travelled diverse paths yet remain in touch and jam together whenever they can. Bassist Troy Jordan owns and operates a roofing company in the Winston-Salem area, guitarist Wayne Arrington works at an electronics business and drummer Brian Smith works as an I.T. professional in addition to his regular gig as the man with the sticks behind popular local rock cover band Sok Monkee. But just jamming together is only part of the story. Playing a gig is the other part.
  At one time Troy was bassist for Magazyne and Wayne played with Kitty Hawk, while Brian was of course with Sok Monkee so playing together meant jamming in the evenings after work since all three bands were in popular demand at local venues. With a baby and marriage Troy put his priorities in order and left Magazyne, then Wayne was freed up after Kitty Hawk disbanded. Now coming together once again as a power rock and roll trio they aptly call themselves Still 3 and they get to play live gigs as Brian's schedule with Sok Monkee allows - which isn't very often.

Still 3 at After Hours Tavern
Valentines Day 2015

   Being a rock trio means they have to strip the music down to the three basic instruments of guitar, bass and drums. But to do so and retain a tight, polished sound is a difficult task at best as can be attested to by the dearth of successful trio's in rock and roll (Rush, Green Day, and of course Nirvana being at the pinnacle). The beauty of the music created by a successful trio, created by Still 3, is not only because it is stripped down to those three instruments but because those three musicians have to use those three instruments to build up and fill the void created where other instruments might be needed, a successful accomplishment relegated only to top tier musicians.

   It is impossible to watch Still 3 and not be caught up in the joy these men find in playing for the pure joy of playing. A Still 3 show is a combination of original and cover songs, it's a show of power and sweat, a show of intricate musical scores and arrangements, but most of all it is a show of three men in love with their music.