click to enlarge - Courtesy of Luke Awtry Photography/Waking Windows
- Rough Francis performing at Waking Windows
Music-booking collective
Waking Windows announced the initial lineup for its 2024 music and arts festival on Friday. The annual indie-rock showcase enters its 12th year hosting a slew of local talent and national headliners at an assortment of venues, restaurants and other businesses in downtown Winooski.
Post-pandemic, the festival has transitioned to a smaller-scale event than it was in previous years. It relies more heavily on local artists, and the 2024 lineup continues the trend. Burlington's
Death and
Rough Francis, along with Portland, Maine, indie rocker
Lady Lamb, headline the three-day fest, which kicks off on Friday, May 3.
click to enlarge - courtesy of Shervin Lainez
- Lady Lamb
Downsizing the festival hasn't stopped the folks at Waking Windows from booking a stacked lineup of indie and underground music. Highlights include New Hampshire folk act
John Andrews & the Yawns, Brooklyn singer-songwriter
Aubrey Haddard, Israeli guitarist
Yonatan Gat, and Austin funk band
the Vapor Caves.
As always, Vermont indie acts are the backbone of Waking Windows, and the Green Mountains have a strong showing in 2024. Among the choice local picks are indie rocker
Greg Freeman, queer punks
Burly Girlies,
Michael Chorney's psychedelic jazz collective
Freeway Clyde, scene veterans
Swale, and three — count 'em, three — surf bands (the
High Breaks,
Barbacoa and
the Wet Ones, for you completists).
click to enlarge - Brian Jenkins Photography
- Waking Windows
Other weekend festivities include a showcase hosted by local comedian
Max Higgins, the Page Burner Reading Series and a drag queen story hour.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at
wakingwindows.com.