9tacular!

Magic Hat Brewing Company celebrates their beer in style.

Story by Steven Cox

The date 9/9/09 only comes around once a century, and this time around it was celebrated in style. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, located in South Burlington, Vermont, decided to throw a little celebration that took place on Church Street in downtown Burlington. The celebration, named 9tacular!, was a come one, come all invitation to honor the brewing companies beer brand, #9. To spice up the festivities, the Magic Hat Company sponsored a live performance by local band, Rubblebucket Orchestra, a live band karaoke set-up, a guitar hero contest, and a huge laser light show, which shinned throughout Church Street. The event took place from 6-10 o’clock at night, and even went on a little later because people were still out and about having a great time.

Down the entire strip of the downtown area, there were people hanging out in every location that was available. Mostly adhering to the twenty-one and over age group (which makes sense because it was an event sponsored by a brewing company celebrating the date that resembles their beer), areas were roped off where people could hang out in the center of the street and be able to hear the live music while having a drink in their hand. Almost every bar on the strip had this same type of set-up going on. It was either a roped off area with people standing around, or a roped off area with a bunch of tables with every chair filled in the area.

"The crowd you would have found here had a similar resemblance to a crowd, and is probably the protégé of the crowds, that you might find at a Grateful Dead show..."

Though there were many activities going on and bars to visit along the way, the main focus of attention was still centered at the end of Church Street, staged six feet off the ground, standing between two rows of red brick buildings. Rubblebucket Orchestra, home to Burlington, Vermont, and Boston, Massachusetts, stands in a category of music that is not widely recognized on the mainstream charts. They identify themselves as a poly rock/dance group. And there was plenty of dancing going around. They were without a doubt and interesting band to see. They have a free form jam band style with eight members to the band, instruments ranging from trumpets to synthesizers. The crowd for the show consisted of a couple hundred people, about half of whom were letting their spirits fly. The crowd you would have found here had a similar resemblance to a crowd, and is probably the protégé of the crowds, that you might find at a Grateful Dead show; all ages were taking part in the scene. Some could refer to this sort of crowd as having a rave, sort of “party” mentality. At one point during the show the lead singer was dance around on stage with the music, holding a sign that said, “Free Yourself”. It was definitely one of the most unique things I’ve seen from a band. It was pretty sweet.

"They were without a doubt and interesting band to see."

If you didn’t get a chance to catch this century’s festival make sure you mark your calendar because 9/9/09 will be back in due time. They didn’t upset the crowd this time and I’m sure they won’t have any intentions to due so next time around.

Have you ever gone to Burlington to check out the Magic Hat Brewery?