The music scene in Vermont is a lot of things. They say it’s eclectic. They say it’s fun. They say it’s unique. But what about the people actually involved in Vermont’s music industry? The musicians themselves. What do they have to say? For them, the music scene in the Green Mountain State is so much more. It’s full of real people playing real music .
Dwight & Nicole
Dwight Ritcher and Nicole Nelson are an American roots act based out of Boston/ NYC and currently living in Burlington, Vt.
NextUp: How did Dwight and Nicole come to be? Where did it all start?
Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band
Kat Wright is the lead singer for her big, bluesy, soul band Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band. With a lineup of great New England musicians her music features bass, drums, percussion, guitar, organ, trumpet, trombone and alto sax.
NextUp: Where did it all start?
Twiddle
Twiddle is comprised of lead singer and guitar player Mihali Savoulidis, keys and organ player Ryan Dempsey, percussionist Brook Jordan and bassist Zdenek Gubb. Currently on tour, this Vermont quartet plays multi-genre music mixing jazz, classical, bluegrass and a blend of reggae and funk.
NextUp: How did Twiddle come to be? Where did it all start?
by Becky Hayes
Ski resorts may not have started out as an ideal place for a summer vacation, but Vermont’s favorite mountains are working hard to change their image as a one-season destination.
“There’s no such thing as an off season anymore,” said JJ Toland, Jay Peak’s communications director.
Now Jay Peak, like many other resorts in the state, is operating year round and offering more than a few summer attractions.
Taylor Coppenrath, from West Barnet, Vermont grew up in true small town Vermont style. Attending St. Johnsbury Academy and being held to junior varsity until his junior year in high school, he went on to be recruited by the University of Vermont and was red shirted his freshmen year, after which he went on to be named player of the year for three consecutive years for leading UVM to three straight America East Conference titles. Reggie Lewis is the only other player in America East history to gain player of the year honors three years in a row.
Sometimes you just gotta get away.
A long year of school and homework, parents nagging, job responsibilities –– it can be a lot, sometimes too much, and definitely calls for some well-deserved time off.
Shopping, yeah, that’s something to do, but it’s not always the most wallet-friendly activity. In the winter you could ski, snowboard or sled. In the summer you can hang by the pool. But sometimes, sometimes you just gotta get out –– not just out, but gone, out there, into nature.
Vermont is not only a great place to work, but its a great place to play too. With the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and some great state and national parks it's not hard to understand why Vermont has some of the best skiing, hiking, and sailing in the northeast. Try to participate in all these activities over the next year and you'll not only be in great shape, but you'll see all that Vermont has to offer.
Some activities you can do throughout Vermont:
hike
run
ski
kayak
swim
In the fall of 2004, Sports Illustrated writer and Cornwall, VT, resident Alexander Wolff began to explore the possibility of bringing pro basketball to Vermont. The result is a fan-friendly and affordable model, tailored to the state the team calls home.
Wolff hired Cabot native Will Voigt as head coach of the team, and in the Frost Heaves' first season, they won the American Basketball Association championship on their home court in Barre.
Tips by Pete Driscoll
A few basic step-by-steps for a beginner:
Establish which foot should go in front and be the one that points down the hill. If your left foot goes in front, you are termed a “regular” rider. If your right foot goes in front, you are termed “goofy”.
Once you learn to buckle your bindings, practice skating around on the snow with your front foot strapped in and your back foot free (like a skateboard).