Venue Profile

The Radio Bin
Passing the Hat to Pay Bands

VENUE STATS

CAPACITY : 50

GEAR : Full PA System, Piano

GENRES : ALL

The Radio Bean in Burlington is just as jittery as their delicious nonfat orange white chocolate mocha latte with an extra shot. A packed and buzzing house of over-caffeinated eager music listeners await local, regional and national acts every night of the week.

In 2000, Lee Anderson opened Radio Bean to coincide with many of his projects that encourage freedom of expression and creativity. Anderson is obviously serious about this philosophy - Radio Bean hosts all ages shows with no cover charge every night of the week, and has an average of 750 to 800 performances a year, making Radio Bean the hub for local musicians, artists, poets and music lovers in Burlington.

Radio Bean is not a place to play if your band is looking to take in the big bucks. The venue has a small living room-like feel and a capacity of 45. Anderson explains in an interview with Seven Days magazine that Radio Bean is more of “a place to make that jump from playing in the garage or your living room. It’s where people can hone their skills in front of an audience, and they don’t have to guarantee they can bring 200 people in the door.”

And because there is no cover charge, bands take in money from “passing the hat” or from merch sales. As for the back line, a PA and four mics are provided, as well as a grand upright piano named “Mr. Miller.”

Anderson also took the bean out of his latest project – a non-profit radio station that plays locally oriented music called “The Radiator”. With the station, Anderson is furthering his role of creating a community of creative and emerging talent, regardless of personal gain.

Booking Info

www.radiobean.com/bookagig.htm

www.radiobean.com | (802) 660-9346

IN THE NEWS

Kurstin Reuschel from Colchester is now the new editor of TUNK, the Big Heavy World news blog, as it expands to include music writing and video interviews by Vermonters from across the state. Majoring in Journalism and Art at St. Michael’s College, she has a passion for creating multimedia. With experience writing and editing for The Echo at St. Michael’s it seemed only obvious to her that she take on TUNK for Big Heavy. To write for TUNK about musicians, venues, and anything related to Vermont music, contact her.
bigheavy@bigheavyworld.net

Burlington’s Starline Rhythm Boys recently released their live album Live at Charlie O’s World Famous. The recording from last fall was at what some call “the greatest bar in Vermont.” Chuck Eller of Charles Eller Studios engineered the 75-minute disc, which features guest appearances from pedal steel player Kevin Maul and SRB producer Sean Mencher.
www.starlinerhythmboys.com

The Burlington music scene has been struggling to fill the void left by dearly departed truck-stop rockers Chuch, who quietly called it quits earlier this year. Though the denim-clad “speedwestern” progenitors are sorely missed, two bands have emerged from the breakup: The Marsten Lot and Jesus Vanacho.
www.myspace.com/

chuchtheband

Vermonters are mighty fortunate to have so many media outlets supporting local music. And so we welcome yet another addition to the fold: the online “radio station” Yellow House Media. YHM focuses solely on the recorded efforts of local musicians (as of late, mostly) folk and acoustic music though some reggae and Americana-punk has been heard as well.
www.yellowhousemedia.com