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There’s been a noticeable void in the Burlington music scene for the last six months or so, as Gabrielle and Burette Douglas of psychedelic rockers The Cush retreated to the sunny climes of their home state of Texas for the winter. These particular snowbirds have long been one of the area’s most revered acts, so their return is welcome after yet another long, cold, eerily quiet Vermont winter.... Read more

Revered for his inventive National Steel guitar playing, spiritual vocals and immensely poetic lyrics, singer-songwriter Chris Whitley died of lung cancer in November 2005 at the age of 45.

Whitley was born in Texas but spent his formative years in Vermont, returning to the state later in life to record 1998’s stunning, stripped-down record Dirt Floor in his father’s barn. As a child, he also lived with his family in Connecticut and Mexico before moving to New York City’s West Village. There he busked in Washington Square Park at the tender age of 17.... Read more

Music fans born after 1976 — the year Phil Ochs hanged himself in a fit of manic depression — can get acquainted this Friday with the work of a great American songsmith.

Younger members of the Phil Ochs Song Night audience will likely learn that he was not only an excellent exponent of the Woody Guthrie tradition of folkie protest but a prolific lyricist whose songbook includes existential laments and romantic reveries. Ochs’ music has an enduring power that can deeply affect new listeners.... Read more

Chris Thile is no stranger to genre intermingling. The virtuosic mandolin prodigy’s Grammy-winning trio Nickel Creek drew acclaim from fans of traditional bluegrass as well as those with a taste for pop confection and saccharine balladry. Though the group disbanded in 2007, Thile remains dedicated to exploring compositional boundaries with his new super-quintet, Punch Brothers, whose members are among the finest young acoustic musicians on the planet.... Read more

From trashy groupies to trashing hotel rooms, “sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll” has a storied tradition in modern popular music. In particular, debauchery and overindulgence are as intrinsic to classic metal as, say, Flying V guitars and leather pants. But as much as we collectively romanticize the audacious antics of reckless rock stars, the truth is that, eventually, hard living carries a hefty price tag — often in the form of hard time.... Read more

Moses Atwood lives in a van down by the river. Seriously, he does. The classically trained guitarist and songwriter was raised in Maine, dropped out of Berklee, landed at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, moved back to Maine, bought an old van, and went on the road. Somewhere along the way, he managed to record one of the year’s most stunning folk albums. Atwood’s self-titled debut is a moody, haunting affair, rife with grievous angels, inner devils and the whiskey bottles that often introduce us to both.... Read more

As Rod Stewart once sang, “Some guys have all the luck.” He could have been singing about Burlington/Martha’s Vineyard-based jam-pop road warriors Lucy Vincent. To be frank, I want their lives. At this point, so does Stewart, I imagine.... Read more

In the bizarre world of rock criticism, it’s easy to get wrapped up in aspects of the job that seem incredibly important in the moment, but in actuality just aren’t that big a deal. Whether it’s a well-placed zinger, a missing club listing or a critique that rubs you the wrong way, the temptation to make mountains out of molehills can be overwhelming. But when put into perspective, the minor foibles of this, or any other, profession are just that: minor.... Read more

The roving “poet soldiers” called Tinariwen comprise one of the most exciting groups on the world-music landscape. Carlos Santana and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant are among their growing legion of fans. But the band’s story is long and tragic, born of the brutal, ongoing Touareg rebellion in the West African nation of Mali.... Read more

Is there any holiday better than Halloween? Christmas is overblown and über-commercialized. Valentine’s Day is pressure-filled if you’re in a relationship and depressing if you’re not. Thanksgiving is little more than an excuse to celebrate gluttony in the warmth and comfort of your dysfunctional family. New Year’s Eve is a perpetual let-down. And Kwanzaa . . . well, does anyone know what Kwanzaa is, really?... Read more