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The return of 35 Denton produces good vibrations

Denton music veteran and KXT DJ Paul Slavens shouted out a call to action during the sixth edition of the 35 Denton festival early Saturday evening: "It should be like this all the time!"

He was on the main outdoor stage playing a joyously funky set with his longtime local band, Ten Hands. The fest's gated-off grounds were beginning to get crowded, and everywhere we looked, people were dancing, having a ball.

Slavens made it clear that he wanted folks in the audience to support the working musicians among them more frequently, to contribute to the creative community even on non-festival weekends. He was no doubt inspired, as were we, by the vibe of 35 Denton, which returned after taking a year off to regroup. This year's edition brought back three days of live music to the city's growing downtown district that surrounds the iconic courthouse square.

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Saturday's bill featured the festival's best-known headlining act, '60s U.K Invasion band the Zombies, and many other worthy performers on two outdoor stages. Additionally, there were more than a dozen venues in and around the square that played host to showcases stretching into the wee hours. Nearly 100 acts, local and otherwise, delivered sets on Saturday alone.

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The outdoor area drew a healthy turnout early in the day. Just after noon, groups of festgoers milled around, enjoying the melancholic harmonies of Denton rock band Voltrevolt. They browsed vendor booths offering everything from handmade jewelry to custom guitars crafted from cigar boxes. They noshed on funnel cakes, kettle corn, burgers and, yes, vegan corn dogs.

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The dancing and cheering ramped up with each successive outdoor act, from the bouncy rock of Brooklyn trio Dreamers to the flute-and-violin-tinged pop tunes of Oklahoma City's Deerpeople.

The Mark Ryan-led rock band Mind Spiders effectively cranked up the volume during its energetic late afternoon set, sending some attendees scrambling for protective ear plugs. And Fort Worth's Telegraph Canyon, a band we've always associated with sweet and emotion-soaked folk rock, offered more than a few dance-worthy new songs.

The free-flowing vibe extended to the bars and music venues hosting indoor showcases. Heavily populated spots we visited included the brand new indoor-outdoor bar Harvest House, where local singer Caleb Hawley laid on the soulful-rock, and the perennial destination Dan's Silverleaf, where the wild and woolly singer Daniel Folmer led his band through countrified anthems of dysfunction.

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The performance that most of the festival's attendees came together for, of course, was the headlining set by '60s legends the Zombies. A few thousand crowded in at the main stage to hear beloved pop hits such as "Time of the Season" and "A Rose for Emily." Original members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent sounded as vibrant as they did decades ago during a run of songs from the classic 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle, and they were informative and insightful in setting up the selections they played. The '60s material captured the crowd's attention most effectively, even if the chatter in the crowd became a little louder during some of the Zombies' newer, jazzier stuff.

While some venues saw more robust crowds than others, Saturday's turnout and the friendly spirit of attendees made a strong case for the fest's return next year.