Led by Burlington, Vermont-based musician Zachary James, Dari Bay is the result of a twisted home recording project gone horribly right. His eccentric lo-fi sound evolved into more grounded (if still slightly surreal) expressions by the time of Longest Day of the Year, a 2023 album that found Dari Bay’s experimental spirit folding into deceptively neutral, unassuming tunes. The unpredictable twisting of guitar tones, lyrical phrases, and feeling itself puts Dari Bay in a lineage of idiosyncratic songwriters that reaches from Judee Sill and Alex Chilton through to Elliott Smith and Liz Phair, right up to present-day boundary-bending contemporaries. The songs invite everyone in with a friendly smile, but make no promises as to where they’ll take us after that.
Learn More: daribay.com
Close out 2025 on the shores of Lake Champlain at Waterfront Fest! From 2 pm- 10 pm, Highlight fills Burlington’s iconic Waterfront Park with live music, local food vendors, the return of the Fluffy Bus, fireworks, and the unique NYE tradition of setting Champ aflame. Gather for s’mores, kids’ activities, and family-friendly fun all day long. Enjoy sets from The Barr Brothers, Dwight & Nicole, Dari Bay, Bob Wagner, and more. Things start bumping at 2 pm, with DJs, food trucks, and so much more. Grab a seat around the bonfire, sip a drink, and take in some amazing tunes!