Josh Panda and the Hot DamnedA staple on the scene, Josh Panda is known for his gospel vocal style, stellar dance moves, and the incredible band he always employs. Panda is a charismatic front man with the vocal and writing talent to match his enormous presence. While he might belong in a church on the Bible Belt, we?re sure glad to have him here.Catch Panda play as an intimate duo with Brett Lanier every Wednesday at the Skinny Pancake and look out for the all too rare full-band show in Burlington.The DuPont Brothers BandZack DuPont has been playing in the Burlington area for years and is one of the most successful musicians in the area. Recently joined by his brother Sam, their last Nectar?s show merited more screaming than Justin Bieber gets from 13-year-old girls.Don?t take that reference the wrong way though; the DuPont Brothers are full of intricate melodies, thought-provoking lyrics and an inherent aptitude for vocal collaboration that sets them apart from many other dynamic duos.With a dynamite band consisting of Pat Melvin, Tim Sharbaugh and Peter Katz, The DuPont Brothers are ready to crush contemporary folk on a national scale. The DuPont Brothers are planning on releasing their debut EP at Signal Kitchen on May 25 with Myra Flynn.Problem ChildA well-kept secret in the Burlington music scene outside of 242 Main, Problem Child is an up-and-coming pop/punk group that names influences like early Green Day and Blink-182.Well-rehearsed with a great stage presence and tunes that are just catchy enough to be fun for everyone, but not so catchy that they?re exiled from the hardcore/punk scene, these guys are a credit to high school bands everywhere. Problem Child will play on May 6th at Nectar?s with La Fin Absolute du Monde and Steel & Crow.Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul BandThe name says it all. Fronted by singer Kat Wright, this 9-piece soul band will blow you away any day of the week. Influences of both jazz standards and old time folk can be found in Kat?s ultimately bluesy voice. Covering everything from the Beatles to songs that are too old to trace to a writer, the band has recently dipped into writing original tunes. Their latest YouTube hit ?All About You? boasts nearly 6,000 hits and their Thursday night residency at Radio Bean is always packed.Hearing this band live is a college experience that every UVM student needs to have. Gregory DouglassAn indie musician with an impressive following for someone living in Vermont, Gregory Douglass boasts a pop music career as well as numerous other arts-related occupations including recording arts, production and advising other musicians on their careers.With just over 800,000 views on his YouTube channel, Douglass has a career and talent that most musicians would die for. Doing most of his touring out of state, Douglass has been recognized internationally and nationally by NPR, collaborating with the likes of Grace Potter and Anais Mitchell. He has been compared to Florence and the Machine as well as David Gray.The Lynguistic CiviliansPerhaps Vermont?s premier hip-hop band, The Lynguistic Civilians are wordsmiths with innovative arrangements that blend classic horn lines with contemporary beats and sound effects. Flitting between blues, pop and rap, the Lynguistic Civilians take influence from Prince, early Snoop Dog, and Young MC to name a few. The Lynguistic Civilians will be at Signal Kitchen on May 4 with Slum Village and Snake Foot.As We WereAnother band out of 242 Main, As We Were is shipping out for their second European tour this summer and has built a strong following with their incomparable stage presence and dynamite tunes that take clear influence from AFI, Black Flag and Bane among others.Keep an eye out for their upcoming EP on Start a Fire Records and the tour to support it.Lowell Thompson & Crown PilotI?m waiting for a second album from this band, but their first (self-titled, 2009) was killer. Owning their alternative country sound, Lowell has been recognized by Rolling Stone as ?inspired alt-country? and tours nationally on a regular basis.Be sure to look out for his shows, though they?re few and far between. He?s worth a ticket to the Showcase Lounge at Higher Ground. Want proof? Catch him sitting in at Honky Tonk Tuesday some night. You won?t get his original tunes, but you?ll be able to hear his delightful voice.Grippo Funk BandLead by local legend Dave Grippo, this funk band collaborates with many of the same folks who play with the likes of Dr. John, Soulive, and Beyonce. These guys are innovative and original, but name influences such as James Brown and Sly Stone.12