South Burlington is about a three-hour drive from Syracuse, which puts it firmly in road-trip territory. Plan accordingly. TopHouse at Higher Ground on Friday, September 25th is the kind of show you make the trip for — a Montana-born, Nashville-based five-piece selling out rooms across the country, playing one of the best mid-size venues in the North Country.
About TopHouse
Let the band describe themselves: “Fast-paced, high-energy foot stompers. Ballads that’ll make you cry. It’s kind of like a rock band married old-fashioned bluegrass and had a little baby.” That is about as accurate as a self-summary gets. Joe Larson (vocals, banjo), Jesse Davis (guitar, mandolin), William Cook (violin), Andy LaFave (piano), and newest member Eli on keys make up a five-piece that started as a duo in Missoula — Davis and Cook met in the University of Montana’s music composition program — and relocated to Nashville in late 2019 to chase it full-time.
Their 2024 dual EP Theory & Practice shows the range: Theory leans optimistic and sunlit; Practice goes to harder places — broken relationships, loss, self-sabotage. A new full-length album is in the works, with early 2026 singles “Morning Cup of Coffee” and “Deathbed” previewing where the band is headed. Live, they’re known for tight, energetic sets and warm stage banter that makes a 750-person room feel like a house show. Fans have called their performances “one of the best, most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen.” With nearly 300,000 Instagram followers and a sold-out touring history, the crowd clearly agrees.
The Venue
Higher Ground’s Ballroom at 1214 Williston Rd in South Burlington holds 750 and has the kind of layout that keeps you close to the stage no matter where you land. This is an all-ages show. Doors open at 7:30 PM, show starts at 8:00 PM — get there early.
Tickets
Tickets for TopHouse at Higher Ground are available through See Tickets. Grab your tickets here — TopHouse has a track record of selling out.