Telluride Blues & Brews: 2018 Overview

01 Sep Telluride Blues & Brews: 2018 Overview

Three days of world-class blues music, rocking late night shows, craft beer, outdoor activities and more under the towering San Juan Mountains. It doesn’t get much better than the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

For more Telluride Blues & Brews festival information or to purchase the few remaining tickets, visit TellurideBlues.com. 

September 14-16, 2018 is just around the corner. Those dates rhyme with the 25th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

The festival returns this year with a dynamic, well-rounded mix of live blues, funk, indie, rock, jam band, gospel and soul performances. Featured are Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters; Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite; Gov’t Mule; Booker T’s Stax Revue; JJ Grey & Mofro; Anders Osborne and many more.

(A list of artists is featured below.)

“This year is extra special because it is my 25th year producing Blues & Brews. It is hard to imagine that this all started when I was just 28 years old. 25 years and stronger than ever” said Steve Gumble, Festival Director. “This is one of the more exciting lineups for Blues & Brews. Two words: Robert Plant. To have a legend like Plant on our stage is well… Just pinch me! Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper could not be a better fit for us and Gov’t Mule has been a part of the festival since the very early years. I am especially looking forward to the many traditional blues artists from the Music Maker Relief Foundation roster. All of these artists combine to form a really well-rounded, powerful and inspiring music festival. Fifty-six craft breweries is just icing on the cake!”

Artists will perform on three stages under towering 13,000 foot Rocky Mountain peaks with the all foliage brightening the landscape. To complement the music, the festival proudly boasts a wide variety of local and regional food and craft vendors, children’s activities and cozy late night club shows (Juke Joints).

Honoring its craft beer roots, the festival uncorks an equally impressive and diverse collection of 56 craft breweries boasting 170 styles of craft beer and cider at the Grand Tasting.

Highly regarded as one of the premier beer tasting events in the Southwest, the Grand Tasting takes place inside the festival grounds on Saturday, September 15, noon to 3 p.m. Official festival beer sponsor Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will also be on hand with a bevy of favorites including classics and rare creations such as the “Back Porch Lager” (only available at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival).

New for 2018, the festival will host the Music Maker Relief Foundation Drink House Lounge and Exhibition in the Blues Stage lobby (Hanley Pavilion) presented by Telluride Express. This lounge and exhibition will feature art, listening stations, artist meet-and-greets, and music history/educational programming that reflects Music Maker’s mission and culture. The new Music Maker Drink House will give attendees a chance to interact with these artists and American music history. Stop by the Drink House in the Blues Stage. More here.

Over the past few year’s, the Telluride Blues Challenge has emerged as one of the most coveted music competitions in the Southwest. Musicians from all over the country submit their best songs for the chance to make the top six and earn in invite to the Blues Challenge Finals held at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Presented by Telluride Music, Telluride Blues Society and the Colorado Blues Society, the Telluride Blues Challenge gives up-and-coming artist the chance to advance their careers.

Every year, the Challenge entries impress, with an abundance of high-quality, stunning submissions. This year, 34 entries poured in from around the nation and selecting the finalists was not an easy task. The specialists at Telluride Music narrowed the list down to the top six. The following six finalists will compete at the Back Porch Stage at the Elks during the Blues for Breakfast event on Saturday, September 15 from 9:00 am to noon. Click here for more.

Wake up to mornings of liberating movement of yoga classes in the crisp, refreshing mountain air. Presented by Telluride Yoga Festival and guided by professional instructor Lauren Miller, enjoy a smooth yoga flow designed to improve your health, performance, and overall well being. The class blends playful exercises focusing on balance, strength, flexibility and power in a welcoming format. Guests of all skill levels are welcome to join us on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the Festival weekend to enjoy a fluid yoga flow and activating breath practice. Nestled in the cozy amphitheater of Elks Park in downtown Telluride, the yoga sessions are a fun and inspiring way to start your mornings. New to yoga or considering for the first time? Join in and discover the healing power of yoga. Participation is free, no registration required. More on yoga sessions here.

Location: Elks Park (intersection of S Oak St and Colorado Ave)
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 am, September 15 & 16 (Saturday and Sunday of the Festival).
What to bring: water, yoga mat, towel and active wear (Come with or without – these items are not mandatory to join in the class.)

2018 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival artist line-up:

Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
Gov’t Mule
Booker T’s Stax Revue
JJ Grey & Mofro
Anders Osborne
Samantha Fish
Monophonics
The Marcus King Band
Valerie June
The California Honeydrops
Son Little
Pee Wee Hayes
Marco Benevento
RL Boyce and The Hill Country Allstars
Don Bryant featuring the Bo-Keys
The Glorifying Vines Sisters
Dragondeer
The Keeshea Pratt Band
Albert Castiglia
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen
Johnny Sansone
Mitch Woods
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Husky Burnette
The Bones of J.R. Jones
Russ Chapman – 2017 Telluride Blues Challenge Winner
Scramble Campbell

For more, including comedy acts, go here.

About

Renowned as one of the most scenic and intimate music festivals in the country, Telluride Blues & Brews is located in the world-famous picturesque mountain town of Telluride, Colorado. The multi-stage (Main Stage, Blues Stage, Campground Stage) celebration of music and craft brews offers an eclectic mix of live blues, funk, indie, rock, jam-band, gospel and soul performances. Some of the best craft breweries in the country, along with a wide variety of local and regional food and craft vendors, children’s activities (climbing wall, bounce houses and bungee trampolines, parades), cozy late night club shows (Juke Joints), a 5k fundraiser race, free yoga sessions and much more round out the 25th annual weekend celebration.