Higher Ground (nightclub)
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Higher Ground is a nightclub located in South Burlington, Vermont. In 2004, Higher Ground relocated from its original location in Winooski, Vermont which opened in 1998. [1]
Higher Ground regularly presents events from national music acts. Higher Ground also promotes events at other venues in the Burlington, Vermont area, including the Flynn Theatre and the Shelburne Museum.
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[edit] Winooski, Vermont April 1998 - April 2004
Located north of Burlington, the original Higher Ground was located in a shopping center, with plenty of parking for fans, with no direct public transportation from downtown Burlington and the University of Vermont (UVM). However, being away from the populated yet small venues of the Church Street area allowed Higher Ground to occupy a large space that national acts would book en route to bigger cities like Montreal and Boston.
Higher Ground opened its doors on April 15, 1998 with a performance by Agents of Good Roots, a Charlottesville, Virginia jam-rock band with connections to fellow Charlottesville act Dave Matthews Band. The next night, Trey Anastasio would headline with his one-off, but influential side project Eight Foot Fluorescent Tubes. For the next six years, Higher Ground hosted many shows by local and national musicians, comedians, family shows, screenings of films and the annual Winter is a Drag Ball, featuring Vermont celebrity drag queen Yolanda.
[edit] Winooski Redevelopment
As early as 2002, reports came out of Vermont that the town of Winooski was planning a substansial redevelopment, creating a downtown and building a library, parking garages and extension sites for UVM. Part of the redevelopment involved the demolition of the shopping center where Higher Ground was located. This forced the owners to choose to either relocate or close the club. After years of planning, Higher Ground closed on April 24, 2004. The last performer was Orchestra Baobab, which performed with Anastasio and Dave Matthews on a VH1 special and on The Late Show with David Letterman. Trey Anastasio joined them on stage that evening. [2]
[edit] Summer 2004: No Higher Ground
After the Winooski club closed, Higher Ground’s management maintained its website and periodic mailing list. They promoted shows at the Shelburne Museum featuring musicians like Al Green, Crosby Stills & Nash, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams.
[edit] South Burlington, Vermont December 2004 - Present
Months after the closing of the original Higher Ground, a new location was prepared to be open in South Burlington, Vermont. The new club is located in a former movie theatre, and closer to the Burlington downtown than the old Winooski location. The new Higher Ground has two performance spaces: a main ballroom, and a smaller space called the “Showcase Lounge”. The first show at the new Higher Ground was on December 2 by Hot Tuna, featuring former members of Jefferson Airplane. The official grand opening was two days later by the jamband RAQ.
On March 15, 2005, Higher Ground hosted the second "warm up" performance of the recently reformed Black Crowes, playing under the alias Mr. Crowe's Garden.
[edit] Phish Connection
Events at Higher Ground are frequently attended by members of the band, whether it is on stage or in the audience.
One of Higher Ground's co-owners, Kevin Stateser, is guitarist Trey Anastasio's brother-in-law .
On April 17, 1998, for the second show in the club's existence, Anastasio performed with a group of local Vermont musicians as the Eight Foot Fluorescent Tubes. This one time performance marked the beginning of a long onstage relationship with drummer Russ Lawton and bassist Tony Markellis, who would form The Trio and eventually evolve into The Dectet. This show would also debut many new songs to be later performed by Phish and other Anastasio projects.
Other notable Phish-related performances at Higher Ground:
On February 15, 1999, Anastasio performed a benefit show at Higher Ground. One set was solo acoustic. Another set was electric with Russ and Tony. Reception for The Trio was well received, and led to the three of them embarking on a national tour later that spring.
July 4, 2001, Trey Anastasio debuted his expanded touring lineup on the eve of what was his biggest tour to date without Phish.
September 28, 2001, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell joined the comedy rock band Tenacious D on stage, featuring actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass. He performed on the band's debut album released that year.
December 30, 2001, Page McConnell debuted his new band Vida Blue.
April 11, 2004, The only time all four members of Phish appeared on the Higher Ground stage together, performing with numerous musicians for an Easter Jam.
December 31, 2004, the first New Years Eve celebration at the new South Burlington location featured the Jazz Mandolin Project with Phish drummer Jon Fishman on drums.
April 1, 2005, Trey Anastasio debuted his newest band, 70 Volt Parade.
April 6, 2006, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman joined The Benevento-Russo Duo for a cover of the Phish tune "Mike's Song". Brad Barr of The Slip also sat in on the song.
