How did 15 years pass without a trip to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival? It seemed like only 10 years since we had attended this family-friendly music event. Most of the best in bluegrass come to this mountain music event each year making for a fun-in-the-sun good time.
Telluride is a long way from just about anywhere. Some say the name comes from days long ago when if a person said they were headed there, the retort would be to-hell-you-ride! I imagine back in the 1870s it was a hellish ride to get to this spectacular box canyon holding the state’s biggest and best waterfall. Although some mining still takes place most of the gold in Telluride is in its scenery, skiing, and backcountry
Telluride Bluegrass Festival crowd.
pursuits.
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is just one of many festivals and events that fill this mountain town on most weekends from June to mid-September. Around 11,500 fans of bluegrass music, most of which come year-after-year consider this the best bluegrass festival anywhere.
Green Camping
Hundreds of these festival goers, camp out for the entire stay. Coveted campground permits are a prize that saves significant amounts of money since Telluride hotels and condos command premium rates during the four-day festival. What sets this event apart is the dedication to the environment by the organizer- Planet Bluegrass. A Campsite Competition awards the greenest camper with a free campsite permit the next year and two four-day passes!
Camp Duk Tape was last year’s Campsite Challenge co-winner
Vendors also conform to the green standards by using compostable cutlery, plates, and bowls. Beer and wine are sold in reusable cups that are collector items for just $2 each. Several stations are set up to receive compostables, recycling, and landfill items that are staffed by volunteers ensuring the right stuff is properly placed.
Cooling off in the San Miguel River.
There Will Be Lots of Music
But what about the music? The performers seem to be on a bluegrass Rocky Mountain high singing and playing their hearts out. Highlights from this helping of bluegrass were the Billy Strings Band. When Sam Bush came on stage to play with Billy the intensity kicked up noticeably.
Billy and Sam Bush.
Chris Thiele performed the entire Live From Here radio show onstage to the crowd’s delight. Chris was joined by the trio I’m With Her, Saint Paul and the Bone Breakers, and more for a full-deal two-hour show.
I’m With Her
Run For Your Life
On day three my wife and I took advantage of our press passes to get in early to watch the Running of the Tarps. Each morning before the performances begin hundreds of fans line up to get a running start to place their tarp. It’s like an old west land grab race, and a hoot to see. On the first day, some have waited in line overnight to get a chance at prime real estate close to the stage.
Big tarp running fast.
With our cameras ready my wife and I stood at two strategic locations and shot dozens of photos with fans running like mad towards the stage.
Woman at the running of the tarps.
The speakers blared the William Tell Overture as fans ran for the spot they coveted the most. The funniest runner was a person in a panda suit with a small chair instead of a tarp. Once a spot was secured, most runners just went out for breakfast, a walk, or back to bed knowing they had a good spot for the day.
Panda at the running of the tarps.
Kid Friendly
Kids are welcome at the Telluride Bluegrass festival and lots of places and activities were set up for the younger fans. Just past the entrance was a kid’s fishing pond that usually had at least a couple of kids trying their luck to catch a trout.
Kid’s pond trout fishing.
A True Love’s Dance Hall area gave kids a chance to shake a leg or spin a hula hoop. Later in the festival, a full-blown kid’s parade snakes around the festival grounds in all its pomp and glory.
True Love’s dance hall girl.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was one of my favorites from the last time I was at the festival. They were slated for the Sunday night prime spot and I was loving my front-row press area seats. I was disappointed that Jimmy Ibbotson was not with the band, but about 5 songs into their set Jimmy appeared.
Chris Daniels MC.
By the time the Dirt Band finished with The Weight and Will The Circle Be Unbroken it seemed like every star performer had joined them onstage. I was glad they invited Chris Daniels to join them for the finale since he had stepped in as MC this year. Chris is a legendary Colorado musician who toured with his band Chris Daniels and the Kings for many years. Emmylou Harris and Tim O’Brien were also on stage for this rousing version of Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band farewell.
To say we enjoyed our four days is an understatement. I hope that it doesn’t take another 15 years until we return for another helping of Telluride Bluegrass. This music festival is too much fun to wait that long in between helpings.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Kurt Jacobson
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