Offbeat Vermont Music Venues

I have been lame this week. No Honky Tonk Tuesday, no causing trouble at Nectars following JDK kickball, and I've been totally MIA from Higher Ground (but, don't worry, show season is just around the corner once those college kids are back)...
But, I still have a post idea ---

Traipsing around Vermont and seeing music in different venues.

This is a good idea for many reasons...
a.) it gets you out of your normal environmental sphere and helps open your eyes
b.) it brings you to music for the sake of music, not to see someone specific
c.) it supports the local Vermont economies which is something everyone should embrace and put energy towards

And here are my tidbits for you to enjoy that ever changing, always amusing, and downright "Vermont" music experience!

Snow Shoe Lodge & Pub - To my knowledge, there is not a website, but the Snow Shoe in Montgomery Center (that's near Jay Peak folks) is an absolute hoot! I will never forget the first time I went there and sat at the bar drinking $2 PBRs with escargot and an open face hamburg sandwich - if that tells you anything. Then this awesome blues trio got up and local rednecks, hoochies, ubur ski dudes, little brahs, and PR broads like me were all boogieing like long time pals. I even got up and sang Roadhouse Blues and a few other tunes after a few more PBRs. Ok, that's enough - go there.

The Bees Knees - This one's up in Morrisville where the often annoying Burlington rif raf and the eye popping tourists are not. This is my favorite place so far for actually meeting new friends and pretending I live in a small Vermont town instead of the big city. And the bands that may shy away in some of the more well known venues when the crowd's not pumping hold nothing back here!

Purple Moon Pub - Down to the Bad Liver Valley for this one in the eclectic town of Waitsfield. The menu is small, the place intimate, and the music is aways a treat. I've even had my heart made and broken at this place, but that won't keep me away from the best fish tacos I have ever had and memories like the Purple Moon being the place I met Luke Eriksen, had a great conversation with Sean Kelly from The Samples, and danced song after song with an older gentleman to the Starline Rhythm Boys. Try it!

Owl's Head Blueberry Farm - This isn't a "venue" as the ones are above, but I had to squeeze it in here as I got a flier in the most recent Seven Days and even hung it on my bulletin board! The next three Tuesdays and Thursdays are blueberry picking at Owl's Head in Richmond starting around 5 pm and then live music starting at 6 pm and going until around 8 pm. How fun is that???? I think I will definitely be there for Gordon Stone's performance - I mean who can beat picking blueberries to the sound of Gordon's pedal steel?

Happy listening and please comment with ideas, gripes, sounds, and any other stuff you think this Vermont publicity gal should know!