KOTO: Celebrating Decades of Telluride Bluegrass, 6/19-6/21!

17 Jun KOTO: Celebrating Decades of Telluride Bluegrass, 6/19-6/21!

A celebration of Telluride Bluegrass through the decades on KOTO Radio 91.7 FM or koto.org. Then go to LISTEN and press PLAY.

Archived (and a few live) performances featuring David Byrne, John Prine, Johnny & June, Doc Watson, Nanci Griffith, Janelle Monàe, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, The War & Treaty, Sam Bush, Lake Street Dive, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Brandi Carlile, Tim O’Brien Band, Yonder Mountain String Band and more!

The following is a note from the KOTOgrass broadcast team with further details for Festavarians near and far.

For more than 20 years, KOTO Community Radio has delivered the sounds of Telluride Bluegrass Festival live from Town Park to listeners across the world.

These festival broadcasts are the highlight of our summer and it’s a free service we’re proud (and lucky!) to be able to offer year after year.

When word spread that the 47th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the KOTO team thought it would be very important to pay tribute to the weekend in some way; to celebrate the incredible music Planet Bluegrass has delivered to Telluride’s doorstep through the decades.

And thus, KOTOgrass was born. We’ve developed a unique strain of Bluegrass this year, set to shine over Solstice Weekend.

Expect three days of music curated largely from KOTO’s festival archives discovered deep in the belly of the Purple House on Pine (aka Operation Assistant Heidi Sarazen’s desk). From the very first performance of the Fall Creek Band in 1973 to Doc Watson in 1985 to the incomparable Nanci Griffith of 1988… W’ve found some gems!

Planet Bluegrass has graciously supported our efforts and has supplemented KOTO’s archives with standouts like Johnny Cash’s appearance in 1997; David Byrne’s performance in 2009; and Janelle Monàe’s 2015 set. There will also be a few live surprises throughout the weekend.

A daily schedule will be posted each morning to KOTO Community Radio’s Facebook page. “Festival” hours will be 10 to 10, with the exception of Sunday, which will end a little earlier.

We’re hoping listeners will get creative and enter our Tarp Team Photo Contest for a chance to win a future festival pass! Send tarp-themed photos from wherever you’re listening in the world to tarpinstation@gmail.com.

Creativity is mandatory.

So, prepare your porch swings and kick back for a weekend of legendary music and easy listening. You can listen, donate and shop all at the same place: koto.org. Don’t forget to snag a limited edition shirt or poster featuring the “Tarpin’ Station” design!

Thank you for supporting non-commercial, non-underwritten community radio.

We have no doubt that Town Park will again erupt with the sounds of those once-in-a-lifetime musical moments that can only be described as Telluride Bluegrass magic.

Until then, do what Nanci says: Listen to the Radio.

– KOTOgrass Broadcast Team