The Show Must Go On for Vermont’s DJ Taka

We’re a few weeks into a Burlington music scene without Radio Bean, and I’m not going to lie: It feels weird as hell, y’all. I had just gotten used to the sight of a dark, vacant Nectar’s on my downtown walk, but I was unprepared for the emotional ass-kick of seeing Radio Bean shuttered on a Thursday night. People should have been buzzing all along that block of North Winooski Ave. I should have smelled BO and weed while music wafted out the doors. But nope — no beats, no body odor, no contact high. Just a quiet scene, like wandering back to a party that ended the night before. (To be fair to the OP, it was “Jeopardy!” time; otherwise the dive bar would have been more energetic. That place takes its trivia seriously.)

While I’m hearing plenty of rumors that the beloved indie-music venue will reopen in the near future, there’s nothing concrete to report yet, so the hope remains just that. Meanwhile, the massive amount of music the club hosted is spreading throughout the greater Burlington area in a sort of Radio Bean diaspora. The Monkey House in Winooski and the SEABA Center on Pine Street have both picked up some shows. But what about the great weekly residencies the Bean hosted, like Honky Tonk Tuesday?

There’s no word yet on the fate of the beloved country music hoedown, but another of the Bean’s favorite nights is coming back: Takahiko Matsui, better known as the one and only DJ Taka, is taking his talents (and records) to Winooski. Starting this Friday, September 25, Standing Stone Wines is the new home for his weekly dance parties. It all kicks off at 11 p.m., right after Country Karaoke, hosted by Eastern Mountain Time’s Sean Hood.

It hurts to see Radio Bean closed, but if there’s a silver lining, it’s watching other venues pick up the slack and make new homes for our artists.

I recently received an email from a local music fan who, while expressing gratitude for Seven Days’ coverage of Vermont music, took umbrage with what he felt was a lack of love for the blues.

“I just don’t see much about blues music these days,” wrote the reader, who preferred to remain anonymous and whom I, in the true spirit of the blues, will instead call “Bleeding Ears” Lemon. “I want to see some live blues!”

I dutifully pointed him in some directions to get his blues fix, all of which were indeed listed in our fine publication, by the way. But I did promise to keep an eye out for shows blues fan might get excited about. Ask and ye shall receive, ol’ Bleeding Ears!

Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz welcomes saxophonist Vanessa Collier to Retro Live on Wednesday, October 14. A multi-award-winning musician, Collier took home Female Contemporary Artist of the Year at the 2025 Blues Music Awards for her work fusing funk and soul with blues. As one of the most prominent up-and-coming musicians in the blues world, she is a can’t-miss for aficionados. Visit plattsburghbluesandjazz.com for more information and tickets.

Moira Smiley and Rasa String Quartet Credit: Courtesy

The fine folks at the Otter Creek Music Festival and Vermont Public Classical have teamed up to produce a cross-genre event featuring local singer-songwriter Moira Smiley and Boston’s Rasa String Quartet. Dubbed “Roots to Sky,” the show blends classical music with traditional folk sounds, including cuts from Smiley’s 2024 album, The Rhizome Project.

“Roots to Sky” happens on Saturday, October 17, at the Vergennes Opera House. Learn more about the show and purchase tickets at ottercreekmusicfestival.com.

7 Shows to Watch Out For

Two Door Cinema Club at MTELUS in Montréal, October 1
Melvin Seals and JGB at the Egg in Albany, N.Y., October 14
Bob the Drag Queen at the Flynn in Burlington, October 17
Suzanne Vega at Barre Opera House, October 23
Clutch at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, November 3
Trey Anastasio Band at State Theatre in Portland, Maine, November 10 (Sold out)
Low Cut Connie at Stone Church in Brattleboro, December 28