The University of Vermont Lane Series, which launched in 1955 and is dedicated to bringing top-notch musical talent to the acoustically gorgeous UVM Recital Hall, has announced another season of incredible musicians in store for the New Year.
Highlights include jazz guitarist Badi Assad on January 30, Venezuelan singer Nella on February 13, and a cappella group Roomful of Teeth and Gabriel Kahane on April 17. The spring slate kicks off this Friday, January 23, with Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist Vitaly Starikov.
For more information and the full lineup, visit uvm.edu/laneseries.
An upcoming showcase at the Odd Fellows Hall in Burlington offers a tantalizing glimpse of the future of the 802 hip-hop scene. The massive bill includes artists such as Bilé, Trill, Phoenix, Jonesy, Abizo and Topia, all of whom came up in the Digital Media Lab at the Burlington Technical Center, a high school music production program run by teacher Jason Raymond.
“I’ve been eager to find ways of connecting emerging high school rappers and producers with local beat makers, DJ’s, rappers, and producers who have already been making a name for themselves,” Raymond wrote in an email.
The showcase at Odd Fellows, going down on Saturday, January 24, is a way to both give young artists exposure on local stages and connect them with others in the scene. Check out burlingtonoddfellows.com for more information.
Burlington alt-rockers REDadmiral have returned with two new singles and a music video, to boot. “Police State” is a timely track, featuring the Ramones-like chorus of “I don’t want to live in a police state.” The video for the song includes footage of armed and armored cops and soldiers repressing civilians, snapshots of fascism in action. “Monster,” an almost psychedelic jug-band jam, deals in similar themes, with lyrics such as “dangerous and dumb / killing their own young / Stars and Stripes and fangs and a forked tongue.”
Both tracks are streaming at redadmiral1.bandcamp.com.
Burlington garage-rock outfit Robber Robber continue the lead-up to their forthcoming new record, Two Wheels Move the Soul, due in April, with the release of the single “The Sound It Made.”
A distorted rave-up with a Chemical Brothers-like jungle beat, the track is full of rage at the faceless forces of “progress.” The song was inspired by band founders Nina Cates and Zack James’ eviction from their Burlington apartment after their landlord notified them the property was being destroyed. The band posted an accompanying music video to YouTube.
2026 is setting up to be a big year for Robber Robber, who were name-checked by the New York Times last week. “The Sound It Made” was chosen among the newspaper’s “8 Songs We’re Talking About This Week,” alongside the likes of Mitski, Flea and even Prince.
Shows to Watch Out For
- Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band at Paramount Theatre in Rutland, February 13
- Miguel at MTELUS in Montréal, February 17
- Glen Phillips at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe, March 1
- Band of Horses at State Theatre in Portland, Maine, April 9
- Nick Offerman at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington, April 19
- Mt. Joy at the Midway Lawn at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, June 4
- Wilco’s Solid Sound Music and Arts Festival at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., June 26-28
Listening In
This article appears in January 21 • 2026.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!