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Festivals

[click "Play" to  hear Steve Swenson's conversation with Susan]

 

Wine poster "I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food," W.C. Fields

One of the longest running wine festivals Colorado, the Telluride Wine Festival, celebrates its 30th anniversary over a long weekend, beginning Wednesday, June 22, 5 – 7 p.m. The event starts with an opening reception at La Piazza in Mountain Village, where patrons get to mingle with guest speakers, guest chefs, homeowners, and members of the Telluride Ski & Golf Club.

Mountainfilm in Telluride and Telluride Bluegrass are festivals for folks. Both have reputations for a welcome-to-the-neighborhood feel. But Wine Fest? Is it all about a sleek, well-heeled fraternity? Them, not us?

21 June, 2011 /

Maria, Jon, Josh Year after year, they hit it out of the ballpark. We are talking about key players of the Telluride Musicfest, now entering its 9th season, June 22 – July 3.

Musicfest's artistic director Maria Bachmann and her Trio Solisti colleague, Jon Klibonoff received raves from a Fanfare critic for their premiere performance of Philip Glass's "First Violin Sonata," on their latest CD, Glass Heart.

20 June, 2011 /

[click "Play" to  listen to Beryl's interview with Susan]

 

Beryl Beryl Bender Birch is among the presenters at Aubrey Hackman's 4th annual Telluride Yoga Festival, July 14 – July 17.

Beryl's history is the history of Yoga in America, a story of assimilation and diversification and recently, big business. This spiritual teacher, yoga therapist, and author ("Power Yoga,""Boomer Yoga,""Beyond Power Yoga") was an early adaptor and pioneer: in the early 70s, the tie-dyed days of drugs, sex and rock 'n roll, Beryl, a former student of philosophy and comparative religion, became an avid student of yoga and the study of consciousness.

20 June, 2011 /

 Were you "in the running" on Day 1 of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival? Were you somewhere near the front of the line to get your position on the Town Park grounds to hear your musical heroes? If so, check out the video, you may be...

18 June, 2011 /
[click "Play" to hear Emily Shoff's conversation with Abigail Washburn]  

Abby_002 I first met Abigail Washburn in a basement studio in Packard Hall at Colorado College. We were hosting tryouts for our female a cappella group, Ellement. She showed up and needless to say, tryouts were done for the day. Her voice was so beautiful that we actually started rehearsing with her that same afternoon. We’d found the final member of our group.

Since college, Washburn’s career has taken off. She returns to the Bluegrass Stage for her 7th time at the 38th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 16-June 19th 2011. With her powerful juxtaposition of Appalachian folk songs and far-flung sounds, Washburn inspires and invigorates her audiences.
16 June, 2011 /
[click "Play" to hear Darrell Scott's conversation with Susan]

 

Darrell Scott kicker: Performs all-star Sunday Gospel set and in weekend closer with Robert Plant

Telluride Bluegrass guest artist (James) Darrell Scott was born August 1959 in London, Kentucky, the son of the singer/songwriter Wayne Scott. When Scott was 16, his dad purchased a four-track, reel-to-reel recorder, which the teen virtually adopted, spending many long nights in a shed, laying down parts and harmonizing with himself on a variety of instruments.The experience was a vital part of Scott's musical schooling, as he figured out how instruments sound together and how to layer parts with grace and taste.

16 June, 2011 /
[click "Play", Bela Fleck talks with Susan]

 

Belafleck&theflecktones_rocketscience_jk Bela Fleck & the original Flecktones return to Telluride for the 38th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 16  – June 19, 2011. Yes, you read that correctly, the original, the Fab Four, together again for the first time in just over 20 years on the Fred Shellman Main Stage: pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy, "the man with two brains," reunited with Bela, uber bassist Victor Wooten, and innovative percussionist/ drummer Roy "Futureman" Wooten.

Some reunions – think "The Big Chill" – produce joy; others, regret. This one produced "Rocket Science", a CD which includes some of the most forward thinking music of the group's long and storied career. Rocket Science is vintage Flecktones, a meeting of musical minds fluent in classical, jazz, African, electric blues and Eastern European folk dances. Trying to describe this indescribable hodgepodge is like trying to hold on to quicksilver. Impossible. I go with what one critic said:

15 June, 2011 /
[click "Play", Susan talks to dobro player, Andy Hall]

 

InfamousStringdusterssB The Infamous Stringdusters visit Telluride so often, the progressive acoustic group is starting look like the boys next door. They return after their last visit in March, when they performed at the historic Sheridan Opera House, to perform on the Main Stage at Telluride Bluegrass, Friday, June 17.


"The young Nashville bluegrass sextet continues to evolve their sound from Nashville bluegrass to a bigger music targeted at larger rock clubs," explained Planet Bluegrass's Brian Eyster. "And for trivia buffs, bassist Travis Book lived in Durango before joining the band in 2005."

15 June, 2011 /
[click "Play", Susan speaks with Mark Meatto and Michael Bohlmann]

 


How to Grow a Band It takes a lot more than water. To grow a band requires blood, sweat, and tears. Also, you need to find someone to do your laundry. The Western premiere of the show-all, tell-all feature-length documentary, "How To Grow A Band," takes place during Telluride Bluegrass. The FREE screening is scheduled for Saturday, June 18. 2011, 11 a.m. at The Nugget. (Seating is limited, so reserve your ticket in advance at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/181677)

"This film documents the beginnings of Chris Thile's grand vision for a truly modern stringband and the struggles to realize this vision," explained Brian Eyster of Planet Bluegrass. "Personally I am very excited to see the results of the filmmakers' efforts. They will be on-hand for the screening and the band may join them."

 “…A gripping look at the nature of creativity and performance art," raved The Tennessean.

14 June, 2011 /
[click "Play to listen to Joe Pug's conversation with Susan]

 

Joe Pug Joe Pug is one of the new names in the line-up for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, but Festival director Craig Ferguson is betting we will like his soulful voice and lyrical vignettes.

"Craig is a huge huge fan of this fine young Dylan-esque singer-songwriter," said Planet Bluegrass marketing director Brian Eyster.

Turns out Joe Pug is not just a talented troubadour. The young man also has a gift for marketing. But I am getting ahead of myself.

14 June, 2011 /