Guitar maestro Nick Cassarino will be throwing a rocking Christmas party at the Shelburne Vineyard tasting room loft on Friday, December 22. He will be joined by fellow local musician Dave “the Truth” Grippo. For those tired of holiday music, Despacito in Burlington is hosting the first-ever Goth Mountain Metal Fest on Saturday, December 16. The lineup includes heavy-hitting bands such as Lungbuster, Hobo Wizard, the Mountain Says No, Metamorph, and Astrocat. Meanwhile, Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls will host a matinée featuring Japanese-born guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto on Sunday, December 17. Tsukamoto will also hold a fingerstyle master class earlier that day. Photographer Luke Awtry recounts the Kat & Brett Holiday Show in Burlington City Hall Auditorium, featuring a surprise new Christmas song written by Brett Hughes and Kat Wright with a message of holiday spirit.