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Where is Higher Ground?
Higher Ground is located at 1214 Williston Road in South Burlington, Vermont. We are in the old Showcase Cinemas next to Silver Palace, behind Quiznos, and across the street from Al’s French Fries.
We’re conveniently located off I-89, Exit 14E (So. Burlington). Follow Williston Road for 1/2 mile and look for the Burger King and Dunkin Donuts on the left. Pull into that parking lot, we’re in the back.
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How do I contact Higher Ground?
Our information, box office and business line is 802.652.0777, our fax number is 802.652.0068.
Our email is info@highergroundmusic.com
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Where can I park? Are there areas where I can’t park? Can I leave my car overnight?
First and foremost: PLEASE CARPOOL. Please park in the spaces in front of Higher Ground and in the large lot on the Silver Palace side of the building. Please be respectful of the parking lots and do not leave trash. DO NOT PARK IN LEE ZACHARY'S PARKING LOT as you will likely be towed, regardless of time or situation.
It is generally ok to leave your car overnight in an emergency. Please do not make a habit of it and please come claim your car first thing the next day.
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Do you allow smoking?
Higher Ground is a completely smoke-free establishment (So. Burlington is a mandated non-smoking town). We often have a smoking area outside but capacity is limited and it is not guaranteed. Please ask a staff member if there’s a smoking area and they’ll direct you.
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Can I rent Higher Ground for a private party, birthday party, CD Release Party or other event?
Yes. Higher Ground is available to rent for almost any use, for almost any occasion. We’ve done full-service, seated banquets to small birthday parties. The facility has several spaces (both large and small) to accommodate every need. Full service catering is available by our professional in-house catering company St. Pierre Catering. For additional info about off-site food and alcohol catering, please click here. Rental rates vary depending on day of week and time of year, as well as a few other factors. Please contact info@highergroundmusic.com for more information. Please put the words ROOM RENTAL in the subject line.
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Does Higher Ground have seating?
All shows at Higher Ground are generally standing room only unless otherwise noted. There is limited seating along the perimeter of the club that’s first-come, first-serve. This seating is not meant to watch the show from but as temporary respite for those who want to get off their feet for a minute. Please be considerate to offer the seating to those in need.
Higher Ground does do some fully seated shows, as well as cabaret style shows – these situation are noted in the show information. For instance, the comedy series is always seated. If a show is seated, the seating is always general admission and first-come, first-served. However, don’t fret, every seat at Higher Ground is great.
Please do not move the tables and chairs. Their location often corresponds to egress and traffic flow so there’s a rhyme to our reason.
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How do I contact Higher Ground?
Our information, box office and business line is 802.652.0777, our fax number is 802.652.0068.
Our email is info@highergroundmusic.com
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Does Higher Ground serve alcohol?
Yes, Higher Ground has three full-service bars serving a full array of libations. We have a large beer and liquor selection as well as several wines.
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Where can I buy tickets to shows? What’s up with the service charges? How can I avoid them?
Tickets for Higher Ground shows can be purchased at the Higher Ground Box Office, online via our website (there’s a link next to each show to buy tickets), at Pure Pop Records in Downtown Burlington, at Peacock Music in Plattsburgh, or toll free at 888.512.SHOW.
Higher Ground Box Office is open Monday – Friday from 11am until 6pm, or any night we have a show (which is often).
There is no service charge for tickets purchased at the Higher Ground Box Office. There is a $1 service charge for tickets purchased at Pure Pop Records. The service charges for online and telephone sales are slightly more and vary depending on ticket price, delivery method, and number of tickets.
Higher Ground negotiated with several companies to ultimately provide the lowest service charges possible to the customer for online and phone sales. We found these to be some of the lowest in the nation.
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I ordered tickets, when can I pick them up?
You can have them mailed to you (if it’s more than two weeks from the event), otherwise your tickets will be available for pickup (aka WillCall) the night of the show. Tickets are usually ready for pickup starting an hour before doors. You cannot pick up your tickets prior to this, sorry.
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My son/daughter ordered tickets using my credit card, but it says the cardholder needs to be the one to pick up the tickets. Is that true?
Print the ticket order confirmation page that is emailed to you and jot a note on the bottom stating that you (cardholder) authorize so-and-so (kid) to pick up the tickets. Have your son or daughter bring that note and their ID and the box office will release the tickets to him/her. Otherwise please call the box office (802-652-0777) at least 24 hours prior to the show and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
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Are tickets refundable? What if a show is rescheduled or cancelled?
Tickets are not refundable, all sales are final. Is a show is rescheduled the new date will be immediately posted to this website and your ticket for the original show will be honored at the rescheduled date. If a show is cancelled and no make up date is announced then the ticket is refundable (less service charges unfortunately -- our ticketing company's policy, not ours); the refund will happen automatically if you purchased with a credit card, otherwise if you paid cash you need to bring your ticket back to the place of purchase (either the Higher Ground Box Office or Pure Pop) for a refund. Cash refunds are available for 30 days.
1. TERMS OF SALE. Tickets sold through this website grant to the Customer only a revocable license to the bearer that may be revoked at any time for any reason. Resale or attempted resale of any ticket issued hereunder at a price higher than the face value appearing thereon is grounds for seizure and cancellation without compensation. Customer assumes all risk or danger incidental to the attraction, whether occurring prior to, during, or subsequent to, the actual attraction. The terms of sale of each ticket issued pursuant to a transaction initiated on this website are subject to any and all terms imposed by the applicable Promoter. In order to be admitted to an event, each Customer must present the original ticket in its original, undamaged, unaltered form, to the applicable venue at the appropriate time. Entry may be refused for various reasons, including misconduct, intoxication, etc., as determined by the Promoter.
2. NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges for tickets purchased through this website will be made. Each Promoter may have additional policies regarding refunds or exchanges, but Front Gate Tickets is entitled to retain all fees collected through this website for services that it performs in taking orders and delivering tickets, including shipping, handling and service charges.
3. EVENT CANCELLATION/CHANGES. Notwithstanding the issuance of tickets through this website, the venue and/or promoter may cancel any event. Also, the venue operator and/or event promoter may change the scheduled performers or change the event date without notice, and any such change will not be considered a cancellation of the performance. Where events are held at outdoor venues, the risk of inclement weather is assumed by the Customer. Events may be held regardless of weather conditions, as determined by the venue operator and/or event promoter. In the event that a promoter offers to refund the base ticket price of the canceled event, the customer must make the request for refund no later than 10 business days of the originally scheduled date. In the event that a performance is rescheduled and the base price refunds are authorized by the promoter, any refund request must be made to Front Gate Tickets prior to the show and all tickets must be returned to Front Gate Tickets no later than 10 business days after the rescheduled date/and or refund request whichever is earlier. Front Gate Tickets is entitled to retain all fees collected through this website for services that it performs in taking orders and delivering tickets, including shipping, handling and service charges, regardless of whether a show is rescheduled or canceled.
4. TREAT TICKETS LIKE CASH. Lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced.
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Do you offer Gift Certificates?
Yes, we offer gift certificates for tickets. They can be purchased at our box office or by calling 802.652.0777. They can be in any denomination.
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Do you have an ATM?
Yes.
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Do you have a Coat Check?
Yes, during the colder months only though. It’s $1.50/item.
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Are there any hotels nearby? I want to stay the night?
There are several great hotels within walking distance of Higher Ground, however we always recommend the Best Western & Windjammer Inn first and foremost. We’ve negotiated a special Higher Ground rate for our customers. See the 'hotel' section for additional info.
Best Western & Windjammer Inn, 1196 Williston Road 800.371.1125
Doubletree, 1117 Williston Road 802.658.0250
University Inn & Suites, 5 Dorset Street 800.808.4656
Holiday Inn, 1068 Williston Road 800.799.6363
Wyndham, 60 Battery Street, Burlington 802.658.6500
Sheraton
Comfort Inn
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Does Higher Ground serve food? What are the hours? The menu?
Higher Ground serves a full menu every night we’re open. From salads to sandwiches, we’ve got a diverse menu. To view our menu, please click here. The kitchen opens when the doors open and stays open until late night.
The kitchen is operated by our friends at St. Pierre Catering. They are available for catering both on and off the premises. Email roysaint40@hotmail.com for more information on any catering needs.
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What are the age requirements for a show? I’m under 18 and want to come to a show?
All shows at Higher Ground are typically all ages unless otherwise noted.
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Do you allow children, babes in arms? The show says all ages?
We do not allow infants at our concerts, sorry.
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Can I go out to my car once I come in? Just for a second?
Sorry, no. Higher Ground has a strict No Re-Entry policy. No in and outs.
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I got thrown out of the club and hate you guys now.
It happens and it’s not fun for either of us. The State of Vermont has very strict rules governing the consumption and sale of alcohol. We choose to follow these rules.
Reasons you can get thrown out of Higher Ground: furnishing alcohol to someone who’s underage, drinking underage, being bothersome to those around you, starting a fight, stage diving, damaging our property, or using illicit drugs.
We understand if you don’t like us afterwards. Trust us, we don’t like being the bad guys either, but in order to continue bringing shows to the area we have to enforce these rules.
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I came to Higher Ground but you wouldn’t let me in. You guys suck.
If you show up at Higher Ground visibly intoxicated we’re going to refuse you entry. It’s another one of those VT Liquor Laws. Write your Assemblyman.
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I see two shows listed for the same night, what’s the deal?
Higher Ground has two completely separate venues under one roof. The two rooms are known as the Ballroom and the Showcase Lounge. There are often shows in both rooms at the same time. You need a separate ticket for each show.
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Can I go back and forth between rooms/shows?
Only if you bought a ticket to both shows.
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Will you release any tickets to a sold out show?
Sold out means sold out. Sorry.
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Are there VIP packages available?
Not currently but we’re exploring this, email info@highergroundmusic.com if you’re interested.
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I’m a parent and worried about sending my kid to an all ages show there?
Only you can decide whether Higher Ground is the right environment for your child. We encourage first timers to attend a show with their kids to decide for themselves. We find that after that initial visit most parents are comfortable allowing their kids to attend all ages shows at Higher Ground.
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Is Higher Ground safe? After The Station fire in Rhode Island I’m nervous.
Higher Ground is a new facility and compliant with all of the latest Life Safety codes (including code updates that were mandated post-RI to help ensure that type of tragedy never happens again).
Here are few things to ease your mind: Higher Ground is sprinklered (The Station was not, and that alone would have made the difference), the entire building has an advanced fire alarm system that calls the Fire Dept at the first sign of smoke or fire (call response time for the So. Burlington Fire Dept is less than 4 minutes), and finally the building is on the ground level and has ample exits from various points in the space to the outside. Also, we never allow pyrotechnics at Higher Ground.
We take safety VERY seriously and designed the space accordingly.
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What’s up with those big white columns? And the chandeliers? And the bartops?
When designing Higher Ground we tried to utilize as many reclaimed and local materials as possible. The big tall white columns came from Norwich University, the chandeliers came from an old municipal building in Mass., and the bar tops are bowling alley lanes from an old bowling alley in the Northeast Kingdom.
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What’s up with that black stuff on the ceiling? Is it asbestos?
It’s a special sonic material called K-13 that we sprayed throughout the building for enhanced acoustics. It’s completely harmless. But don’t eat it.
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You use to mail out those great little postcard calendars, can I get on that mailing list?
Sorry, we no longer mail out a physical paper mailer. We have an email mailing list that goes out twice a month (sign up for it on the home page of our website). That’s the best way to learn about recently announced shows, special offers, and get reminders about what’s coming up. Don’t worry, we hate Spam more than you.
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How do I get my band on a bill at Higher Ground?
Higher Ground primarily books national bands or local bands that have a following. If you want to get started in Burlington, Higher Ground is not the right venue for you. We suggest Nectar’s and Club Metronome as two great venues for developing bands. We also suggest Club 242 as a great venue for all ages shows. Other Burlington bar, clubs, and coffeehouses listed here
Opening slots are limited (most nationals bring their own support) or reserved for bands that we feel are working hard in Burlington and have developed a following.
