05 May Telluride Bluegrass: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Debut 6/21!
The 52nd annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival (TBF) takes place June 19 – June 22.
Passes/tickets and camping still available. Go here to secure your reservation.
Learn more about Planet Bluegrass at www.bluegrass.com.
Go here for more about the history of Telluride Bluegrass. (Back to 2009.)
And scroll down to listen to a podcast featuring Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms – also get a taste of their sound. They debut Saturday, June 21.
“One does not merely attend a performance by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Rather, it’s akin to a seance, which draws you in and you become privy to a creative dialogue that seems to transcend time and space. The evening, once over, never really ends. It’s as though the experience has been encased in amber; we remain transfixed, with the experience becoming indistinguishable from ourselves…,” raved No Depression about the iconic duo – who happen to be among the Thursday night headliners at the TBF 2025.
Emmylou Harris’ and Gram Parsons’ collaborative work was lauded for its exquisite harmony and emotional depth which the couple explored in the complex, but humanistic language of country.
Like the aforementioned, now-legendary singer-songwriters, the acoustic duo of Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are praised as compelling musicians within the roots genre, developing a reputation for gorgeous harmonies and flawless instrumentation on tunes that range from country weepers to tender lullabies to dancehall swing. In short, they evoke the joys of life despite its transient nature – and in these very challenging times.
“…A salve for dark times…a vibrant array of genres and sounds, from bluegrass to modern folk, sharing in harmonies like some of the greats – Rawlings and Welch, Harris and Parsons – and letting the power of their earthen voices fit to the song and uplifting approach to delivering a sometimes sad message, using buoyant melodies and fiery, foot-stomping arrangements,” raved No Depression.
“…They know how to tug on an ear & get a foot tapping…, “ wrote American Highway.
So get out your dancing shoes – and a box of Kleenex – on Saturday, June 21, when Caleb and Reeb debut on the Main Stage of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
The duo is foundational to the exceptional old-time and country music scene of the Pacific NW with their Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band and their membership in the Foghorn Stringband, of which Caleb was a founding member.
And small wonder. These charismatic performers are known to their (growing) fan base for bringing a unique set of talents to the stage, with an eye towards good times and an ear towards the deepest songs and tunes that express the raw truth of rural American sounds.
Their repertoire is comprised of gems from American roots repertoires as well as originals, which have been covered and recorded by many performers.
As the duo explains in their bio:
“Sometimes we get so unnecessarily swept up in who’s rising and falling in music these days that the sheer joy of music is overlooked…”
Caleb and Reeb stand a world apart from the nonsense and noise so their audience can immerse itself the melody and story of their sound until, (hopefully), all other cares of life fade away.
Caleb and Reeb’s blend of true harmonies, their sharply-written country songs, and the un-showy authenticity strike a rich vein that makes the couple (onstage and off) seem like they are born and raised in Music City. The two quietly pursue a musical vision without much care for what’s expected or in vogue at the time. There’s a lot to cheer for in their singular perseverance and honesty.
“In these fractious times, when the world around us dulls with the dross of dread and seethes with hatred borne by fear…Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms remind us on their new album (Gold in Your Pocket) that we all carry in our pockets the shining gold of family and friends, love and hope..,’ said Folk Alley.
“Enthralling,” raved Variety.
“Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms’ newest album Gold In Your Pocket is truly remarkable. Their artistry is apparent through their seamless blend of classic country, bluegrass, old-time, and Cajun influences. They performed at FallGrass (one of our smaller events in Lyons), and I was hooked from the very beginning of their set. They’re both so charismatic and offer a refreshing and uplifting perspective centered on love. I absolutely cannot wait to watch them take the Fred Shellman stage by storm,” concludes Grace Barrett of Planet Bluegrass.
For more about their life and work, check out TIO’s podcast with Caleb and Reeb:
And here’s an amuse-bouche before show time:
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