August 7th: Nappy Roots at Zen Lounge

This is going to be a hell of a show -- the local lineup is definitely some of the finest Vermont has to offer: Bless the Child, showcase winners Self Portrait, and four-time Daysie Award Winners, Lynguistic Civilians.

(Big ups to Vermonty Burns Productions and Zen Lounge for running a meritocracy ... bringing big acts through Vermont and giving them dope local support is a Very Good Thing for Vermont hip hop.)

Be there. $10 is a bargain and a half.

Self Portrait Wins the Nappy Roots Showcase

Vermonty Burns Productions put on a hell of a show last week: a competition for the opening slot at the Nappy Roots show on August 7th. That was an awesome idea. Rather than just selling it -- an industry standard in a shitty, dumb industry -- they blessed BTV with a whole other show. It was a great, diverse lineup, and one that represented Vermont Hip Hop pretty damn well, too.

There can only be one winner, though, and that title went to Self Portrait. Congrats to DJ Kanga and company, y'all are doing God's work in 2014.

July 16th: Nappy Roots Pre-Show at Zen Lounge

Props to Zen Lounge and Vermonty Burns Productions for bringing Nappy Roots to Burlington -- and putting in work for the Vermont rap scene, too. What I am about to describe here is very cool, and a welcome break from the usual horseshit that promoters get up to when they bring a major act though town. On August 7th, Nappy Roots will be coming through Zen Lounge, and quite rightfully, Lynguistic Civilians and Bless the Child will be opening...but there's still room on the bill.

Rather than just selling slots and watering down the show with rich kids with no talent (aka "The Usual") Vermonty Burns Productions is holding a "Pre-Show" competition on Wednesday, July 16th. As VBP manager Scott LaValla explains, "When doors open at the club everyone will be asked who they are there to see, then during the showcase people can also vote for there favorite act which also enters them into a raffle for two tickets to the 8/7 Nappy Roots show. The artist/group in the showcase with the most combined votes gets the opening slot as well as a feature in Cider Magazine."

Better yet, the "Pre-Show" lineup is awesome. Currently on the bill: BTV's most promising new hip hop act, Self Portrait, Montpelier party rap explosion Boomslang, the hard-working freestyle phenom MC Mycelium, and Southern VT fixtures G da Louisville Slugga and Ms. Sheila White.

Good news: There are still two slots left. If you're interested, get in touch with vermontyburns@gmail.com. Like, ASAP.

December 7th: Nappy Roots in Barre @ Gustos

What in the...? This one snuck up on us: Nappy Roots is playing Gustos in Barre this Saturday night. Apparently there are no local openers, just a house DJ until the show starts. $10 cover, 21+.

2013 has been a banner year for damn strange hip hop shows in Vermont. N.O.R.E. coming through a venue called "Venue," Chance the Rapper wasting his time in Middlebury, Dice Raw showing up at Das Bierhaus, and now Nappy Roots in Barre. It definitely seems like what the Vermont scene needs the most right now is promoters who actually promote.

I'm sure I'll be saying the same thing at the end of 2014, though: so it goes.