This was a great venue. We had an epic show and made so many deep connections with the fans here. Vermont is special. Can't wait to be back. The staff is amazing. The hospitality is great and an ambiance for a legendary show night in and night out read more

Higher Ground - Nesta soundcheck - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

I read with trepidation the several whiney bellyaching critiques by oldies braying about standing at this venue. I DON'T REMEMBER LAZY BOY LOUNGERS AT WOODSTOCK! the band stands we stand with them for them rock and roll together forever amen look. I get it. After a lifetime of neglecting their bodies, it's high maintenance time for the oldies and apparently everyone within bitching distance. lighten up Francis let me tell you about my experience at 60 at higher ground On 11.18.2021 Love. that's what I experienced and you can't experience love unless you love was nada surf mind blowing? yes! Was the merch girl a charming joy sprite? Yep! Were people dancing and swaying and smiling AND LOVING LIFE MUSIC AFTER TWO YEARS OF LOCK DOWN? yassss but here's what broke my heart with poignancy. 3 girls - women! out front working the gig heard I turned 60 that night and I had driven 7 hours for the privilege. heard because I said lol I asked if there were any posters of the night lying around because it would mean a lot to me. So a few songs at the end of the two hour show, one of those three angels of kindness found me in the crowd and excitedly gave me the poster she dug out in back and hurried away. for free. I owe her a kiss as a loving gesture of kindness in return for hers. that's the higher ground they're talking about. always love hate will get you every time! - Nada surf read more

Higher Ground - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

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Nice local spot. Have not had any experience with food so cannot say. And the staff is always professional and chill. Seems like a safe place. read more

The show itself was amazing. But the venue was small and out dated. So much dust built up on the ceiling that you could tell it's probably never had a thorough cleaning. The bar service was quick considering we got there on the earlish side of the show. Staff seemed friendly enough. read more

Event organizers stole from us. We went to see Gregory Alan Isakov. Gregory was absolutely fantastic, but the organizers were condescending and downright rude. We were told that blankets and chairs were allowed when purchasing tickets, only to find out at the gate the rules had changed. Blankets were no longer allowed. I can understand selling out and having space concerns, but an update prior to entry would help us to not bring banned items. The organizers told us we could not bring the blanket in, but if we left it with them in lost and found we could pick it up after the concert. That's fine, we figured the grass would be comfortable enough. But an organizer inside told us we could keep the blanket in a bag if we did not take it out. We went back to the man at the gate and were admonished for doing what a different staff member told us was allowed. Anyways, the concert goes great and afterwords we headed to lost and found for our blanket. The man in the lost and found tent told us he was not responsible for blankets. We look to the side of the tent and literally can see our blanket in a bin. I asked the woman standing there if we could get our blanket back. She was incredibly rude and condescending, telling us we are not allowed to take the blankets that were confiscated (blankets that they initially said we could bring and also said we could pick up after). We said it was ridiculous that they would legitimately steal blankets from people, and she downright threatened us while using incredibly inappropriate language. Overall, I would recommend you hold off on seeing your favorite artist if the concert is being put together by this unprofessional and offensive bunch. Maybe the main venue is different, but the Waterfront concerts are a disorganized and thieving mess. read more

Great venue, I love the floor plan, sound was great, cheap drinks. I've read a lot of negative reviews about the staff but had no issues

First time here for me. This venue is a nice 300 person, warehouse setting. There is a rather large rear parking lot, the security is diligent and friendly. The venue has been around for a while according to the staff. So they know how to host a ticking good time! There is seating out back on a raised platform behind the lights and sound boards. The dance floor is huge! The drinks are full and pricey! I drink water so I get out of for a tip...the service is fast and friendly...so it makes up for sticker shock! I was surprised to see the lineup of musicians! There are many different genres included in the lineup. They have many of the same people that come to Portland, Me, rolling through. I would definitely make the trip out again for concert. Staff is nice, efficient and willing to assist whenever is needed! I saw them assisting two handicap patrons entering and exiting the venue. There is a coat check! It gets warm in there you will want to take advantage of it. The bathrooms are clean and large enough. Also the box office is easy to access whenever they are open, or just buy tix online! Definitely check this Place out! read more

Higher Ground - Kay Wright New Years Eve! - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

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The Avett Brothers concert last night was great. The sound was near perfect. The only problem was the process of getting into the midway. The line was ridiculous and moving painfully slow. We did not get in until well after 7:00. It didn't spoil the night but whoever is responsible for that process needs to come up with something better. read more

Had an awesome time last night. Trudged through the stowstorm on foot and well worth it! We were there for The Beatles Tribute band, but they had postponed. (My bad for not checking lol) Anyway they were great at the door and let us stay. We got to see The Suitcase Junkett and GA-20. Bartender was super friendly and extra points for being a horse girl like me. Full bar with a decent beer list. Great experience, can't wait to come back. read more

Higher Ground - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

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Really nice venue with plenty of parking. We were visiting from out of state and I couldn't believe the ease of parking and entering Higher Ground. The layout was wonderful and it truly does offer an incredibly intimate setting to watch live performances. read more

this is the worst venue. i am in fact 21, and I got a bright wristband to clearly show I am 21. I was with my friends who were under 21, and they never tried to use a fake or even try to get a drink. in fact, when we got in the venue, I was with them when they said they weren't 21 and got two HUGE large sharpie Xs on their hands. First of all, my friend, who is under 21, is a food runner at a restaurant, where it is not allowed to have anything on our hands while we are serving customers. When we got to the venue we went to the bathroom and she WASHED HER HANDS like a normal person and the sharpie washed off. About 20 minutes later a RUDE employee came over (she was blonde) and she grabbed my friends (who didn't have any drinks in their hands and weren't trying to drink) and rudely grabbed them out of the venue where she promptly yelled at them and disrespected them. My friend tried to explain that she went to the bathroom and washed her hands and the sharpie was faded. Shown in the photo, she still has the X on her hands, it just looks like she washed her hands. The rude employee proceeded to tell my friends that she still had sharpie on her hands from a month ago, which clearly means she was just unhygienic and not washing her hands. My friends got kicked out and were showed no respect after they were being nothing but polite and did nothing wrong. I work in the service industry, and I understand policies, but this was just completely disappointing and disrespectful. If it had been handled with more class from employees than maybe I would have understood a bit more, but the way this was handled was super disrespectful and I will be telling everyone not to go to this venue. If you do decide to go to this venue and you are not 21 than you should make sure never to go to the bathroom because there's a good chance your sharpie will wash off and you will be treated with the same disrespect that my friends were. After being a paying customer and doing nothing against policy, I would hope that the employees that were in the wrong got reprimanded, but they all looked like they were teenagers and clearly haven't learned how to show respect. read more

Higher Ground - Photo of the black X after it was "washed off" - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

I was at a concert this weekend and what happened was totally unacceptable. I am under 21 and happily told them so and got black Xs on my hand. When they did so they only said do not have any drinks. I happily agreed as I was not coming to drink at all. When I went in, my friends and I used the bathroom and washed our hands normally. I scrubbed a little extra due to the nature of my job and not wanting bold Xs on my hands (we are told to keep a clean appearance with nothing visible on our hands or arms), but not scrubbing them off completely. All of the sudden in the middle of the concert my friends and I were dancing and a women comes up to us and rudely yells at us to get in the lobby. I agreed but was confused as to what was happening. This woman tells us since the black Xs were off of our hands that we need to leave the premise immediately. I'm accommodating to the fact it is company policy so I agree to leave but I try to explain to the employee what happened. She refused to listen to me and instead started to become very aggressive and would not listen. They yelled at us that they told us when we came in that we were not to wash the black Xs off our hands or we would have to leave. We were NEVER told explicitly that as I would have never done that if I had known. The employee was so rude even though we agreed to leave and were understanding of the position she was put in. In addition, 21 and over get wristbands so it never crossed my mind that it would look like we were trying to get drinks. We never even approached the bar. I am truly disappointed in this establishment and the way they handled this situation. I was extremely disrespected and feel robbed of my money for no good reason. I have included a picture of my hand because you can clearly see the Xs still on my hand, as I did not try to completely remove it. I just wish they had shown more understanding to a paying customer and listened to my story rather than screaming at me to get out. They were extremely rude and made me feel like sh*t when I tried being kind and talking to them person to person. I would not recommend this place at all due to the rude staff. Unfortunate due to the great performers who come through Burlington. read more

Higher Ground - a person's hand with a tattoo on it - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

It's an ok venue. The prices of beer are crazy, and I have paid less to see better bands in Worcester Mass, Glens Falls NY, and Portland Maine. They used to have metal shows all the time, but now they are pretty rare. My biggest complaint is the people who show off for their girlfriends by doing what they consider moshing, but in reality are just jerks that like to hit people who are nowhere near a pit. read more

Higher Ground - The Sword, January 12th, 2013 - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

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I've always had a blast going to shows at this venue! Their bar is easy to order from, and it's fun that you get to stand and dance during the show. After moving to Vermont from a bigger city (D.C.) I was very surprised to see that bigger names came to such a small city! The music scene is Burlington does not disappoint, thanks to Higher Ground. They have plenty of parking and do mobile tickets, call mail you your tickets, or so will call. I suggest following them on Facebook to stay up to date on who's coming! Examples of artists I've seen here include Lake Street Dive, Wild Child, and Lauv. read more

Higher Ground - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

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As the promoter of the recent Lyle Lovett concert at the Shelburne Museum, I would have thought they could ensure the sound system would be effective enough to be heard anywhere inside the venue. That was not the case. General conversation by people around us was louder than the band by far. We love Lyle but walked out of the concert after an hour. read more

Got herpes from a girl I met at Higher Ground, went to the owner to complain about the cleanliness of the establishment and I was ignored and disrespected. In hindsight I should've worn protection, but that's beside the fact that their toilet seats were obviously not kept clean! Luckily for me, the girl who I got herpes from is now my wife and mother of my two twin girls! So I guess it works out in the end! My wife, however, is A LOT younger than me and this has caused some issues within my family as my parents, whom I currently reside with, are very religious! I would move in with my wife but she's a student at Clinton County Community College. Glad I got to see Twiddle in concert though! read more

Higher Ground - Got mad close to seeing smashmouth! - Music Venues Near Me - South Burlington, Vermont

The legendary music venue lives! Where all the legendary jam bands have played. One of the most iconic venues in the US. Can't miss it.

I plan to never return to this joke of a venue after my recent experience. After another guest flipped out at my girlfriend for "invading her bubble" (fun fact: popular bands draw large crowds, meaning people are often shoulder-to-shoulder), a staff member got in my face, grabbed my arm and pushed my girlfriend and I toward the door. Halfway there, he shoved us both to the ground. He then sexually groped my girlfriend, before telling us to leave because we were "disrupting other guests all night." I have contacted the police about this incident. NEVER come here unless you want to be physically/sexually assaulted, or at the very least treated like dirt. This place is pure trash. read more

Loved this venue, my husband played here, opened for the Decendants. We drove from Buffalo NY. The ride down was amazing. What views! And then Higher Ground was walking distance from a few hotels, we were able to indulge in some drinks and walked back. We brought our kids bc our baby sitter bailed, it was great. Couldn't ask for nicer people and a great place to see a show. It was great, thanks guys! I lost my keys somewhere on my trip. I called higher ground and left a message. She called my back within a hour, super helpful trying to help me out, super nice. The food was good- we had a full buffet laid out for us before the show. Not a fancy place mind you- I'm used to seeing shows in some seedy places- but is def one of the nicer ones. read more

Security is a mess. Me and my friends travelled out of state from Massachusetts to Vermont for a show last night to celebrate my birthday. Upon arrival we were stopped in the parking lot and asked for our ids which was extremely strange and hostile bc we brought two cups that we got from the Mcdonald's across the street. We're asked to confirm we were all over 21 even though there was no alcohol(this also wasn't confirmed by the security although we were more than willing)in our cups were asked to leave with the cups and remove ourselves from the property and were told verbatim "well unofficially in 30 minutes I may not remember your faces". Then we walked in after waiting in the meantime missing the first opener then were let in verified all our ages (one of us by said security gaurd) and were let in. We spent a about 30 minutes actually in the venue then were verbally harassed by another security member and told that because we could not confirm that we were over 21 (which we weren't given that we were drinking Mcdonald's drinks) were then pulled away from the show into the front entrance and accosted by three security members and were forced to leave. We drove 3hours and 45 minutes to see this show and weren't even allowed in bc security didn't have themselves together. If you are going to implement rules be straightforward and clear about them and do not use the fact that people are out of state and do not know the laws of this state to your advantage that's not security that is power tripping. We then asked for refunds since we were unable to see the show and were denied of this and any ability to speak to a manager. They threatened to escalate the situation by calling the police on 4 teenagers of color and by this point we were so scared we just decided to leave and head to our hotel. Overall i'm just really said that others inability to do their jobs properly cost me and my friends a fun celebration for my birthday. read more

I've been to Higher Ground a few times and this last time has driven me to write a review of them. I think they've got their practices down pretty well. I went with my partner on Saturday for two bands that play 70's & 80's music and was impressed by the staff's attention to detail. I saw one staff member walk through the dance floor a few times checking for garbage and spills, which could be attributed to avoiding insurance claims but also keeping their facilities clean. I was given a chance to go back stage and was impressed by the security they have in place to make sure everyone has a good experience. FOOD: I ordered a chicken strip & fries basket, which I normally would not do, ordering food from a place that's seems more about selling the drinks, but I was pleasantly impressed. The chicken was hot crispy and not too expensive (bar price wise), $8.50, with a decent amount of food. SERVICE: There was one bar tender at the back who had a very short patience and made semi-okay drinks, while the other bar tender at the back (opposite the stage) was really good at making excellent mixed drink in a fast paced environment. RECOMMENDATION: I would recommend going to Higher Ground when they've got a band you're interested in listening to. I would advises bringing ear plugs if you have sensitive ears, as it doesn't need to be said but this is a concert venue and although the music sounds great it is loud. read more

What a sweet little concert venue. 2 nice sized bars featuring awesome Magic Hat selections. The sound is great. There is some sitting room but not a alot. It's not sloped as much as your average theater, so standing up top near the back bar may be the best bet for smaller folk. Decent crowd and fairly cheap drinks. It's basically a big space in a strip mall. Awesome read more

Not sure why there is so much hate towards this venue on here. Almost every show I have attended I have been able to get up close to the act. If sitting is more your cup of tea you can hangout at the elevated bar style seating towards the back of the venue. The door guys are quick to check ID, slap on wristband, scan ticket and pat you down. The drinks are cheap here, $5 for a decent beer. I am not sure what other venues people go to but in major cities you pay $12+ for a Bud Light. Coat check is $1.50 I believe. Just leave it in the car. Plentiful, free parking all around the venue. The acoustics are quite good and restrooms are large with plenty of spots to unload all those inexpensive beers though as clean as any concert venue. The only thing this place is missing is charm. It is like a giant pole barn vs. a theater. What you lack in ambiance you gain in utility. read more

Higher Ground is awesome! Now I have been to higher ground MANY MANY times sense it has opened up! I think in terms of concerts this is the best thing to ever happen to VT for shows. Higher Ground offers a TON of verity of shows here. I tend to go to mainly the metal shows. Due to VT's stupid noise laws this is really the only place bands can play. Well any big band. Now Higher Ground puts alot of time into their shows. Its great from the lighting all the down to the sound! Hearing mainly metal here your always very close up! No matter where you stand you can pretty much always see. The mosh pit is normally small but fun! The way I like it. Not huge like it is at the rockstar fest or ozzfest. The prices here are very fair for all their shows. At the end of 2008 I saw Rob Zombie for only $30 a ticket...Sorta hard to beat! They also get a very good variety of up and coming bands and very well known bands! I like this a lot! So I check out their shows every few months. this way I see whats coming around and I go to a show here 4-5 times a year! Very highly recommended! Very very strong 4/5...Never had any issue at any of their shows. Just wish they could get some bigger names more often. Though being their size can see why this hard to do at times. read more

My wife and I went to Higher Ground on Saturday, January 21, 2023 to see VSO Jukebox perform. We have always loved their shows; unfortunately, they were the only good part of that evening. When we got there, we were denied entry because they said the musicians wanted more time to rehearse. This was okay, despite the fact that it was quite cold outside. Another patron showed them the ticket he had printed out and pointed to where it said "Doors open at 6pm." The person at the door said, in effect, "So what?" We toughed it out and waited until 6:15 pm. At 6:17, we waved at the staff people to show them it was time. They laughed. When they did open the door, the young security woman (complete with utility belt) smacked my wife with the door. We asked her to be more careful. She laughed and said "Tickets, PLEASE!" We opted to not give them any money for alcohol. We spoke to one of the musicians we are acquainted with and she was aghast-she said when had asked them to not let anyone in, she specifically said not into the theater. This is a shame, as it is a good venue and it seems to be run by a bunch of spoiled brats. read more

A great place to see big bands in a more intimate setting. We were able to see Purity Ring here, after they did a huge show in NYC. It was incredible! There is a disorganized process for queuing in, but the employees are all very friendly and respectful. I would definitely return for other shows. Get an AirBnB and explore the area! read more

I really enjoyed Higher Ground. I haven't been to the smaller room, but the larger ballroom only holds about 600. They get some very nice acts for a venue this size. Good sound. Nice open floor plan. Decent beer options. read more

I have been to Higher Ground exactly once. My experience was generally positive, but sort of hinged on the fact that my confiscated e-cigarette was returned to me at the end of the night after a lecture from a security guard who was about my age. Security was strict - there were big guys planted all over the place and sitting in every corner - but not excessive. A lot of people were visibly "on something" with saucer eyes, but I mainly saw security joking around with people and not making anyone leave. The crowd was very young, I'd guess mostly 18-24. I thought the drink pricing was fine and beer selection was better than average. Also pleased to report they had a water fountain with a pile of plastic cups beside it. The sound quality was quite good and earplugs were not needed. read more

A very nice, small and medium sized venue to see both local shows and larger artists perform. I have always had a great experience at every show I've been to. Don't worry about a Vermont venue only having hipster/indie shows, I have seen numerous hip hop and pop shows, they get a good variety. Be careful not to take any flash photography or videorecording, security will take your camera away. read more

Good place to see a show. there are two different venues inside this place, I have only been to the smaller of the two but it was fine. The doormen a pretty much dicks but that is to be expected...wait maybe not? anyway they have great bands, good sound and the beers were not bad 3-5 bucks depending what you got. I went to see The Youngest Sun and they kicked ass per usual, and I found out some other really great bands have come through. I would see another show here for sure, and if you are staying over the green Mt suites are right down the road, totally walkable and they are cool. live music rules! Ps be aware Google maps gives you directions to "the ground round" which is clearly not the Higher ground, they are about a mile apart. this place is nearer to I89. read more

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Higher Ground has quickly become one of my favorite music venues throughout the past couple of years. From the fair prices charged for the shows of big named artists to their great beer selection I have never had a bad experience. The security team is always fair and makes sure people get in and out of the venue as efficiently as possible. One aspect of Higher Ground that sets it apart from other venues is that no matter where you are located in the venue, either seated or standing, you have a fantastic view of the stage. Overall, Higher Ground is a fantastic venue that I would recommend to anyone. If you are in the Burlington area and are looking for a fun night of music, definitely come check it out. read more

Saw Chris Robinson Brotherhood in the fall with my L/O. Staff was apologetically good with that, everything was mellow and nice. Perfect size to experience music. read more

Stood in line 20 minutes in the rain waiting for Dylan tickets to go on sale when the box office opened at 11:00. At 11:00 the BO started taking phone orders instead of selling tickets to people in line. By 11:02, they were totally sold out. People drive from Massachusetts to wait in line. I only saw one person able to buy a ticket in person. Bad idea to let the phone callers dominate sales. If this is the policy, let people know first? read more

Excellent local venue. Good music, not overcrowded although sold-out, good dancing space. The staff is outstanding. Really the best-run small venue. They're the perfect combo of organized, professional, & friendly. Every single staff person was beyond nice & knowledgeable. So welcoming. Very quick entry, great acoustics & guaranteed fun night. With all the great bands they book, we'll be coming back read more

People giving this place bad reviews were probably too drunk or troublesome to other guests and are just sour... This is one of my favorite venues of all time! Security is quick to move the line along and are always helpful when needed. They never get too feely in the pat down and are generally very easy going. Upon entering I'm always able to get closer to the stage than at basically any other venue that attracts such big names (for such low prices, i might add). If I get a little fatigued or even hungry I just head back to the seated bar area to chill out and enjoy the show from a view that is still quite close! Prices are absolutely fair, as I can get most any good beer I want for anywhere from 5-7$, whereas when I go to more major venues in other cities it's 10+ for even cheap light beer. Overall I love this atmosphere of this place, the staff, prices, and ESPECIALLY the names they bring in. 5 stars for sure. read more

Been going to HG for about fifteen years, starting way back in the old Winooski location. I love that they have the large space but also a more intimate room. I generally prefer the showcase to the ballroom because of the smaller, easier crowds. Regardless of the room, the staff are stars. Efficient and friendly (unless you give them a good reason not to be) and on top of it. I've never witnessed a situation they didn't handle with ease, even when the situation was acting like a child. The booking can be a little all over the map, with pockets of "how will I afford all these shows" and then long dry spells. Their prices are usually super reasonable. My only gripe has to do with box office hours. The website and phone message are often out of sync and they change a lot, so I am always going when they're closed, even though I tried to check. Hours on the door, always, would be amazing. read more

Security is think in these parts And they don't have a problem dragging people out if you break them rules. Other than that it's a decent venue. Plenty of beers on tap if that's your thing. Seating area if you get tired of standing. Sound quality and light show was good. read more

I'm surprised no one on here has mentioned the terrible sound and acoustics at Higher Ground. There's consistently a loud, high pitched hum coming out of the speakers that ruins any quiet songs. Really disappointing, especially considering that the ticket prices are so high. read more

I've traveled to Vermont just to see bands play at the Higher Ground. As the below poster has already mentioned, its a great upgrade from their original Winooski spot and the acoustics are great. The staff is always super friendly (and cute!) and the live music they bring in is awesome. read more

Burlington has little competition for live music, especially for acts with a national reputation. It shows at Higher Ground, where they know that enough people will show up to shows there no matter what. I've always had good experiences with the staff there, but the acoustics aren't great and the drinks are watered down for the price. The biggest problem that I can't get past is the space itself--a cavernous room, standing-room only, with a hard concrete floor. I admit I'm not so young as I once was, but I can't stand, much less dance, on that floor for four hours. I wish they'd provide some seating but I guess they don't need my money. read more