North Texas Daily

Christina Ulsh / Senior Staff Writer

Denton is no stranger to music festivals. From 35 Denton to the Arts and Jazz Festival, the town comes together to celebrate music every year, every season. Canned Festival is joining the list and putting a spin on the typical daylong concert.

This Saturday Canned Festival will present Denton bands alongside nationally known musicians, as well as provide more than 50 different canned craft beers – beers made by small-scale independent American brewers.

“I think it’s important because it’s the first craft beer event in Denton,” Denton bar co-owner John Williams said.

His bars Oak St. Drafthouse & Cocktail Parlor and East Side Social Club, which have more than 160 craft beers on tap between them, are sponsoring the event.

“[I’m] looking forward to the education of canned beer and the fact that it will be a 100 percent carbon-free footprint [and] all recyclable,” Williams said in an email.

Canned, the brainchild of Untapped Festival organizers is similar to Untapped in that it provides indie music and craft beer. However, Canned will be teaching its audience about the sustainability of using cans as well as the immediate pros to using cans, such as keeping beer fresh, according to the Facebook event page.

The festival will also help introduce people to Denton and fans to local artists A.M. Ramblers, Hares on the Mountain, Pageantry and Chambers.

“I think any festival that brings nationally known acts is a good thing for this town,” Pageantry bass player Pablo Burrull said. “Plus, local acts get the exposure strictly because people are coming to see the headliners, of course, but they also get to hear us.”

Joe Pug, Helio Sequence and headliner Menomena will also be playing. Pageantry’s drummer Ramon Muzquiz said this is also a perk.

“We’re all pretty big Menomena fans,” Muzquiz said. “It’s exciting to get to play with a band you admire in addition to our local friends that are playing the festival.”

Compared to 35 Denton, Canned has few similarities. There will be food trucks and local vendors. Canned will be all outdoors, though, will last less than a day, and has three ticket options.

“[Canned is] much more microscopic. You’re only dealing with seven bands instead of hundreds like at 35 Denton,” Burrull said.

Spune’s marketing manager Annette Marin could not be reached for further details concerning the festival, even after multiple emails and phone calls. Spune Productions is a music production and entertainment promotion company that is putting on the event.

The sponsoring bars will be having special tappings before and after the event. There will be a pre-party from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. today at Oak St. Drafthouse.

There will be raffles held and at least 20 people will win tickets to Canned or other Spune events, Untapped merchandise or upgrades to Canned passes.

There will also be an after party at Oak St. following the Canned festivities.

The doors to Canned will open when the first band goes on at 3:30 p.m., October 5 on the Square. General admission is $17 in advance and $20 at the door, pending availability.