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.