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June 2010

by Daiva Chesonis

JohnFayhee Mountain Gazette resurrectionist M. John Fayhee & contributor B. Frank at Wilkinson Public Library in Telluride on Wed 6/16 at 6pm to read and discuss their new books! 

If you've ever read (or written for) the Mountain Gazette ("When in doubt, go higher." ) then you know it's a classic Mountain Time Zone rag. We are so fortunate to have both John and B in town on the eve of Bluegrass as they hit the road to launch their new books "Bottoms Up: Greatest Hits from the Mountain Gazette" and "Livin' the Dream: Testing the Ragged Edge of Machismo." They'll read, we'll listen, and then swap stories about this West we call home; what's right, what's wrong, what's to be done, and which regional microbrew rules. At the heart of it all are the surroundings we choose to live, work and play in, float through and fight for. Afterward, there'll be live music by Bay Area band Calaveras on the terrace. Storytelling from the gut, then music under the stars; ain't life grand?
 
15 June, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Keller Williams in conversation with Susan]

Keller:Keels 2010 credit Melissa T. Colombo I'm just saying. Throughout its wild and wooly history, Telluride has been a haven for misfits and miscreants, so Keller Williams fits right in no problem. I mean this is a guy whose latest album is entitled "Thief." No accident.

For "Thief," Williams' first ever all-covers collection, the iconoclastic one man band broke with tradition and enlisted the help of the husband and wife team of Larry and Jenny Keel, a former Telluride guitar champ and bassist respectively.
14 June, 2010 /
[For Ben Sollee's conversation with Susan click "Play"]

Ben_main You have seen Ben Sollee with his cello on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Main Stage, performing with Abigail Washburn, and with Bela Fleck in the Sparrow Quartet. But this time when he steps onto the stage in Telluride's Town Park Friday morning, 10 a.m., Ben Sollee will be all alone in the morning sun. And he will shine.

Ben Sollee looks like central casting for the son in the father/son Patek Philippe watch ads that appear, well, like clockwork in The New York Times Sunday magazine: a handsome preppy with a geek bent. But looks, as we know, can be deceiving. Ben Sollee was not to the manor born. His roots are in the blue grass of Kentucky, where his grandfather owned a farm. Not to put too fine on point on it, the tag line for those watch ads, however, does ring true: "Begin your own tradition." That's just what Ben is doing – with great success.
14 June, 2010 /
[click "Play" for Pastor Pat's conversation with Susan]

Pat_bailey_photo Telluride's Christ Presbyterian Church launches a series on luncheon talks about world religion on Wednesday, June 16, noon – 1:30 p.m.. The event takes place downstairs at the church, 434, West Columbia Avenue, across the street from the Telluride Elementary School. (Lunch and the program are free.)

A defining characteristic of human society is tribalism, a tendency to huddle in groups with common ideas/characteristics that set themselves apart and often at odds with groups that don't share their views. Tribes breed distrust and engender fear. The fear is of "they" who cannot be trusted. "They" who could be a danger. "They" who is The Other. Religious groups are tribes. And crimes committed in the name of God, Allah, Ishvara, Yahweh, you name it, against The Other are legend throughout history. (The Crusades and the Holocaust are just two examples among hundreds, perhaps thousands). How to staunch the venom and learn to live together?
14 June, 2010 /
World Premiere of Tom Shadyac’s "I Am", Record Attendance Highlight 32nd Annual Festival

Telluride, Colorado (June 8th, 2010) – Mountainfilm in Telluride enjoyed record attendance this year with more than 15,000 seatings in theaters, up some 25% from 2009. Despite sunshine and warm temperatures, often deterrents to theater-goers, Mountainfilm venues operated at or near capacity throughout the Memorial Day weekend. “We benefited from several factors,” said Mountainfilm Executive Director Peter Kenworthy. “We received very favorable regional press leading up to the event. The weather lured a lot of people within driving range who might otherwise not have come. And, word-of-mouth momentum has been building steadily the past three years.”

13 June, 2010 /