Lineup — Mountain Air Music Festival

About the Artists

Dwight + Nicole

Dwight + Nicole, based in Burlington, Vermont, traces its musical roots through the blues, soul, and R&B traditions by exploring the spaces between these genres, connecting them with themes found in dream pop and alternative rock. Dwight Ritscher's warm, soulful tenor would be the envy of many bands, but it is Nicole Nelson's four-octave vocal range that wowed a national audience during season three of NBC's "The Voice."

Dwight, the band's principal songwriter and guitarist, first started performing live as a child with his grandfather, and it wasn't long before players were sneaking him into blues clubs around Monmouth Park, New Jersey to man the tubs. Nicole, also a major songwriter for the band, plays bass, her first love was the musical theater, but she also explored musical expression through flute and violin.

The band's live shows have become legendary, with fans expressing that they find comfort in the performances, and the band members' chemistry has been described as intoxicating. Dwight + Nicole is the recipient of accolades and many awards over the past decade. The band and its members have been named "Band of the Year," "Vocalist of the Year," "Best Blues/R&B Band," "Female Vocalist of the Year," "Blues Act of the Year," and also won "Video of the Year" at the Boston Music Awards, as well as earning Daysies Awards from the Burlington, Vermont weekly paper, Seven Days.

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Sonido Mal Maiz

Sonido Mal Maïz is a Vermont based musical group that explores the psychedelic side of Latin music, weaving modern and traditional rhythms from Central and South America. The poetic storytelling in the lyrics incorporates the complexity of the myths and legends of the ancient oral culture of Central America, and the music emanates a passion and fire that is ignited in their collective heart.

Maiz "Brujo" Vargas founded the group in the epicenter of the Burlington scene back in 2015, joining forces with some of Vermont's most professional and inspired musicians. The product is a coalescence of explosive and complex sounds that will make you dance & celebrate and will heal your soul.

With their unique blend of Latin American folk, rock, and psychedelia, Sonido Mal Maïz creates an immersive experience that transports listeners to the vibrant landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Central and South America. From the lush rainforests of Costa Rica to the majestic Andean highlands, Sonido Mal Maïz's music is a sonic journey that explores the depths of human emotion, spirituality, and connection to the natural world.

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Moondogs

Moondogs is a Burlington, Vermont based psychedelic rock band, whose broadly influenced, eclectic style is both familiar and adventurous. Pulling from traditions and styles of funk, alternative rock, americana, and more, the band blends progressive and compelling songwriting with energetic musicianship and improvisation. Danceable grooves, memorable melodies, and deep musical chemistry are infused in the band's fresh take on rock music, which is both modern and nostalgic for eras gone by.

Jimmy Martucci on drums, Will Sturcke on guitar and lead vocals, Kai Paisciak on bass guitar, and Uli Schwendener on keyboards.

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Sabouyouma

Sabouyouma is a high energy 6-piece polyrhythmic groove machine led by Guinean-born Ousmane Camara.

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Reid Parsons

Reid Parsons is a Vermont-born singer-songwriter whose music blends soul, folk, blues, and jazz-inflected Americana into something both grounded and expansive. Her debut full-length album, Back to Back, released in April 2025, has been praised for its "dynamic and eclectic approach to Americana" and described as "a tasteful tapestry of folk, soul, and chamber pop." Written, arranged, and produced by Parsons, the record moves fluidly between intimate ballads and groove-driven full-band tracks, creating what critics have called an "intimate conversation" rich with emotional depth and warmth.

Influenced by artists like Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, and Frazey Ford, Parsons brings a fearless, genre-blurring sensibility to her songwriting and performances. Whether solo or backed by a band, her shows are marked by expressive vocals, sharp musicianship, and what one outlet called "architectural folk"—songs that balance subtle complexity with soul, space, and resonance.

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Z Quintet

The Z Zalewski Quintet (TZQ) came out of the UVM jazz program in 2021, where they formed for Z's senior recital. Their ecosystem of musicians and repertoire has been expanding ever since, but attention, play, and reverence for the jazz tradition remain at the heart of the project. TZQ delivers an expressive and refined sound, taking risks and going places that only feel natural after playing together for 4 years. Z leads the band on clarinet, tenor sax, vocals, and poetry. Their compositions express joy, struggle, and togetherness; their words and melodies invite us to imagine & embody a world built for collective liberation. Influences include Lester Young, Hank Mobely, Betty Carter, Pat Metheny, and Sean Mason.

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English Major

TBD

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Kiley Latham

Kiley Latham & Co. is an indie pop band based in Burlington, Vermont, currently working on new music set to release in 2026. Fronted by singer-songwriter Kiley Latham, the band brings her original ideas and melodies to life. Originally from Long Island, Kiley met her bandmates through the University of Vermont music community. The band features Luca Medina (electric guitar), Kai Pasciak (bass), Sam Hurwitz (drums), and Carlton Cummiskey (keys).

In 2024, Kiley released her debut EP, All That I Have. Inspired by artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Olivia Dean, and Fleetwood Mac, Kiley Latham & Co. deliver a sound that feels intimate, fun, and timeless.

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David Battit

David Battit is a multi-instrumentalist based in central Connecticut. While his performances can be described as folk, the various musical inspirations present in his arrangements cast a fresh and colorful light on the traditional singer-songwriter approach. The result of this blend is new songs that could be mistaken for oldies, songs that could be blasted through the radio or sung as lullabies. They make for captivating performances that meet the audience wherever they are in that moment.

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Noah Kesey

"Noah Kesey is a merry prankster (as his namesake suggests), a bus driver, and a messenger for the lost Sega generation. From a shoegaze sprawl over digital forest floors—to a toy whistle, a drum circle, a distant melody that flutters in and out as a butterfly through a dream cast alley way, Kesey continues to sift through the past (and possibly the future) to retrieve the forgotten or the yet to be discovered. His latest album "Holding Hands Around the World" belongs in the same time-slipped commune as Animal Collective's Sung Tongs and My Bloody Valentine's mbv. As Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth puts it "[Kesey] treads the surprisingly fine line between experimental and pop, all with a knowing wink." And this effect, intentional as well as subconscious, is brought not only to his latest album but also to his productions & co-productions like Greg Freeman's 2022 debut I Looked Out and Lily Seabird's 2021 LP Beside Myself. Noah Kesey's palette supersizes this sonic life no matter who's steering the wheel or shaking the fruit trees. His Magic Band sears off hairs, squeegees third eyes, and scrubs clean pores riddled with apathetic grease—side effects may include ego-death and pure joy. Having grown up in the "world peace" fixated enclave of Woodstock hippies, Noah upcycles acid washed and problematic notions with a duende that recalls genuine human connection. Him and his merry band, together, have the power to change the world."

—Noah Burton, poet & author of Clothesline Saga (VA Press)

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