Dear Editor, I have been a Noah Kahan fan since 2021. I heard a Vermont Public feature about him on the radio in the car with my grandma and have been hooked ever since. I got my mom into him. I cried on my bedroom floor listening to the original “Stick Season” album and again, even harder, when I heard “The Great Divide.” All of this is to say that I really love Kahan.  As someone who grew up in Vermont and now goes to Providence College in Rhode Island, I love having Kahan as a point of reference. Before him, it was just Ben Jerry’s ice cream and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Now there is a tangible piece of media attached to Vermont for my generation. I am proud to be from the same state as him, and Kahan has built his brand on being from Vermont. So, why does it now appear that he is ignoring the cost-of-living crisis in his home state? READ MORE Specifically, I am referring to the announcement of his charity event supporting The Busyhead Project: a two-day golf tournament and acoustic show at Spruce Peak. Fans had the chance to enter a ticket lottery, and if they won, even with a Vermont resident discount, they still had to pay almost $350 per ticket. Those tickets are general admission, standing room only. Not even for my favorite artist would I shell out $350 and not have a seat. This is also the only stop in Vermont that Kahan has made since the release of his third studio album in 2022. The closest that we got was a four-night run at Fenway.  Almost $350 for a single-night ticket is a lot anywhere, let alone in a place where the average monthly cost of living is 14% above the national average. Our effective property tax rate is among the top five highest across the country. Even groceries and utilities are higher here than in other regions. This kind of money is not small potatoes to the average Vermonter. I am not against the event at all. My family is a monthly sustainer of The Busyhead Project. Rural mental health saves lives and is a pillar of many communities. I sincerely hope that Kahan’s foundation never goes underfunded. But is this really the way to do it? In my opinion, the golf tournament should be made a true luxury. Pay hundreds of dollars to play with Kahan and support a local charity. But if you really want to reach the average Vermonter who composes your fan base, the prices have to be lower. A fair price would be $100 a ticket. Concerts are a luxury, something to look forward to, but for someone who claims to be supporting the community that raised him, I think Kahan is overlooking the struggles of the people who live here.  Gracie Batsie Jericho, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: The catch in Noah Kahan’s charity concert for Vermont. ...read more read less