2016-11-02


They grow up so fast, don't they? It seems like only yesterday that beloved Burlington hipster haunt Radio Bean was but a fledgling, funky hole-in-the-wall on North Winooski Avenue. In some ways, I suppose the little-coffee-shop-that-could is still exactly that. But since Lee Anderson opened the shop in November 2000, it has become so much more. For those who didn't bother to do the math, this weekend Radio Bean turns 16. (Insert lame joke about the café getting its driver's license here.) As has become one of the Queen City's grandest traditions, this Saturday, November 5, the Bean will again host a daylong birthday bacchanalia featuring free coffee, free pancakes and, as always, nearly every damn band in town. This year that's more than 80 acts spread over three stages — two at the Bean and one at the adjacent-ish Light Club Lamp Shop. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that — for reasons still unclear to me — I'm among the scheduled performers this year. But there are at least 79 real musicians you should go see. For example... The top of the marquee features the current kings and queen of the local realm, Madaila and Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, both of whom are releasing highly anticipated — and, spoiler, fucking rad — albums this month. Other notables include Grundlefunk, Heloise and the Savoir Faire, Swale, Mal Maiz, Guster's Ryan Miller, Binger, Steady Betty, Blue Button, Cave Bees, Paper Castles, Barbacoa, Michael Chorney, the DuPont Brothers, the Eames Brothers, Kat Wright & Brett Hughes, Silver Bridget, Osage Orange, and so, so many more. Here's another interesting tidbit: The event page on Facebook lists the Honky Tonk Tuesday Bands — plural. I do believe that means that both Hughes' OG honky-tonk crew and the current iteration helmed by Eric George will be playing. I wonder if they'll trade tunes on the two Bean stages? If not, they should. (Another disclosure: There are roughly 37 personal conflicts of interest in that last paragraph alone. Don't you love Burlington?) For years, I've fantasized about doing what I've taken to calling the Radio Bean Birthday Marathon. That means showing up at 8 a.m. when Party Star/Dino Bravo traditionally open the show — usually after partying all night — and staying through until closing time. It would be a monumental feat of endurance and alcohol, er, coffee…

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