This all-ages, substance-free venue is the place to go for an introduction to Burlington’s hardcore punk underbelly.

The 1452-seat Flynn Center is the area’s premier performing arts venue for world-class dance, theater and music acts. The intimate black-box FlynnSpace next door hosts experimental and local shows.

Every bustling music town needs a marquee venue. New York City has The Bowery Ballroom. Boston has Paradise Rock Club. And Burlington has Higher Ground. By siphoning national acts en route to or from Montreal, Higher Ground boasts a constant stream of big names on the palatial Ballroom stage, such as George Clinton, Wu Tang Clan and assorted Phish-related solo projects. The adjacent Showcase Lounge features some of the hottest up-and-coming talent on the national radar, as well as regional and local favorites. Unfortunately, you need wheels to get there.

The acoustics suck, but it’s the venue of choice for stadium-playing bands like The Tragically Hip, RatDog and 311. The Vermont Frost Heaves play b-ball here, too.