2012 Telluride Bluegrass program

Welcome to the 39th edition of the yinjo-yangdolin experience known as The Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Those of you veteran Festivarians have made the pilgrimage as much for the Summer Solstice reunion of Sam Bush howling at the moon as you have for the unknown artist who will inevitably knock your socks off. And those of you newcomers have likely journeyed to this pristine San Juan Box Canyon based on the twinkle in a veteran’s eyes as they attempt to describe the delectable musical treat that awaits you.

It is much the same for the artists. While some have been returning for over 25 years – Sam, John, Tim, Peter, Béla, Jerry; some will be attending for the same reason as the newcoming Festivarians – the twinkle in the eyes of a kindred spirit met along the musical trail as they attempt to describe the unique audience and inspired setting that converge to create “the gig of the year.”

That same twinkle inspired our friends at New Belgium Brewing to create the limited-edition Planet Bluegrass Summer Bliss – which they’ll be keeping chilled for the first time in quiet, clean-running hybrid-electric reefer trucks.

That twinkle has kept master guitar builder Michael Hornick of Shanti Guitars returning for 25 years with a beautiful hand built custom guitar for a deserving Telluride Troubadour.

We hope the twinkle in your eye may be reflecting blue from our artful masterpieces on stage, the tarpigami at the box office and the blue memories of festivarians that adorn the bottoms of many pages throughout this program.

Festival Director: Craig Ferguson Director of Odds & Ends: Steve Szymanski Festival & Box Office Manager: Shauna Nashak Production Supervisor: Rich Estes Production Crew: Sean Reid, Tony King, Dirk Pinto, Paul Mrozek, Torrey Rodgers, Greg Forbes, Tim Lafferty, Tim Samuelson, Jeff Stampes, Jeremy Yanko, Jake Johnson & Kyle Shelp Operations Supervisor: Michael Stephens Chief of Security: John Cohn Security Supervisor: Gary Hickcox Camping Supervisor: Denise Mongan Mary E Camping Supervisors: Mo Hanna & Gwen Lane Lawson Hill Camping Supervisors: Kathleen Morgan, Amy VanDerBosch & Craig Wasserman Town Park Campground Hosts: Tim & Laura Thomas Warner Field Hosts: Carol, Randy & Aaron Reese Telluride High School Camping Supervisors: Fawnda Rogers & Mollie Lane Sustainable Festivation Supervisors: Kris Holstrom & Walter Wright

Vehicle Gate Supervisors: Matt Kroll, Eileen Cahalane & Brad Hamblin Parking Supervisor: Dennis Green Valley E-Team Supervisor: Steve Green Customs Gate Supervisors: Debby Guarino, Franny Cohn, Joe Piche & Larry Stewart TP Camp Gate Supervisors: Marilyn Branch & Diane White Pedestrian Bridge Supervisors: Steve Rohrbach & Arthur Sowinski Backstage Security: William Buck & DeGrey Phillips Pit Master: Steve Patterson Backstage Hospitality/Artist Manager: Julie Rakotz Aijala Backstage Hospitality: Lauren Lortie & Laurie Harper Backstage Catering: Chad Soulia Artist Transportation: Ed Kean, Buddy Kihm, Daryl Bonin, Pip Kenworthy & Nancy Farmer Media Relations: Brian Eyster Crowd Management: Reid Black, Chris Stalbauer, Damion Alexander, Kevin White & Tom Fields Overnight Security: Shawn Williams, Charlie Cohn & Jake Cohn Concessions Supervisors: Colin Hubbard & Jill Brzezicki

Communications Supervisors: Luci Reeve, Sandy McLaughlin & Felix Snow Box Office Supervisors: Mike Whipp, Bill Carlson, Nichole Elmore, Laura Larson, Jasmine Lok & Geoff Wickersham Country Store Supervisors: Patrick O’Kelly & Dustin Boyd Artist Consignment Supervisor: Kara O’Kelly Workshop Transportation: Tom & Nancy Richards Sheridan and Elks Park Workshop Sound: Dean Rolley & Rob Wagner Family Tent Supervisor: Patricia Sunfield Sponsor Tent/Greentown Supervisors: Wendy McFarland & Pete Russell Contest Supervisor: Charlie Bailey Elks Park Workshop Supervisors: Edee Gail & BJ Suter Workshop Transportation: Tom & Nancy Richards Public Service Announcer: John Bunzli Stage Design: Kahlie Pinello Park Beautification: Claudia Kean & Rob Carney NightGrass Supervisor: Mark Nicolella 2012 Poster Artist: Bruce White

Lastly, after helping shape the festival for more than 2 decades as the Telluride Director of Parks & Rec, our good friend Rick Herrington will now be amongst the twinkling festivarians. We wish him the best!

Remember, you’re always welcome to share an empty tarp until its owners return. Use lots of sunscreen. Drink plenty of water. And savor every moment together in this magical place.

On behalf of our hundreds of staff and volunteers, we’re so glad you’re here.

Love, The Folks on Planet Bluegrass

Eco-Punch #1: Prepare

Adjust thermostats, turn off lights, unplug unnecessary electronics.

Stage Crew

Stage Manager: Skip Kent FOH Engineer: Tom Holmes Monitors: Mike Bove Rigging/Stage: John Setzer Stage/Patch: Madelyn Burgess & Garth Michael Lighting Director: Dave Hall Backline: Brent Healy Audio: Mark Miceli Stage/Mix: Mark Dennis Carp/Stage: Ben Haller Stage: Rhett Snyder Piano/Backline: John Delpit Lights: Jim Hurst Labor/Spots: Tim Territo Sound & Lights: Kingston Audio Backline: Production Services International

Program Staff

Editors: Brian Eyster & Steve Szymanski Design & Layout: Pat Creyts Contributing Writers: Matthew Beaudin, Charlotte Bell, Dustin Boyd, G. Brown, Michael Bussmann, Brian Eyster, Steve Leftridge, John Lehndorff, Stewart Oksenhorn, Bryan Simpson, Steve Szymanski

Advertising: Dustin Boyd Photography: Benko Photographics Printing: Lange Graphics Cover Image: Bruce White

Planet BluegraSs YeaR-RounD Staff

President: Craig Ferguson Vice President: Steve Szymanski Director of Operations: Shauna Nashak Director of Communications: Brian Eyster Volunteer Coordinator: Jasmine Lok Vendor Coordinator: Laura Larson Merchandise, Ticketing & Festivarian Relations: Dustin Boyd Festivarian Relations: Geoff Wickersham Ranch Manager: Chad Soulia Gardener: Cindy Kalyan Special Projects: KC Groves Special Events Coordinator: Julie Rakotz Aijala

Shanti Guitars, Gibson Musical Instruments, D’Addario Strings, Martin Guitars, Intrepid Travel, Nechville Musical Products, ASCAP, Leave No Trace, Sunsense Solar, EcoAction Partners, Red Bird, Allegro Coffee, and Eldorado Natural Spring Water

Planet Bluegrass woUld like to thank the folLowing: The Town of Telluride with a special thanks to Stephanie Jaquet, the US Forest Service, the Town of Mountain Village, San Miguel County, Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, Telluride School District and Lawson Hill Property Owners

Thanks to our Festival Partners: New Belgium Brewing Company, Chaco, Renewable Choice Energy, Eco-Products, Klean Kanteen, Telluride Alpine Lodging,

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 1

John Dee Holeman Blues player 68 years

Learn more about the Martin 000-42 and how the legend of the crossroads influenced music at martinguitar.com/crossroads.

See a fork in the road.

The opportunity for adventure is everywhere. That’s why we make Chacos versatile enough to go anywhere, durable enough to keep going, and insanely comfortable enough to want to.

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Since 1949

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 5

Award-winning Colorado artist Bruce White reflects on the inspiration behind his 2012 festival artwork…

“Just as Festivarians each make their annual journeys to this magical place, so it seems that our instruments have also reunited once more - as old pros, striking comfortable, yet confident poses. They know they’re about to be a part of another great chapter in the history of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Tight and focused, they contrast with the loose texture of the landscape behind them. Soon their sounds will fill the stillness of this Rocky Mountain valley . . . for now, they’re happy just soaking up the Colorado sunshine. I truly hope you enjoy this piece - and the music that inspires it ! “ –Bruce White

6

The snowcapped peaks and cascading waterfalls of Telluride are as essential to Telluride Bluegrass as Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien. So ten years ago we formed a GreenTeam to examine the impacts of our festival on this breathtaking environment.

We began that first year with compost and recycling. Each You have already Done the work of year since we’ve expanded our efforts to embrace renewable becoming a sUstainable festivaRian. energy, carbon offsets for travel emissions, free locally-filtered Completing the eco-punchcarD is easy: water, organic local food, leave no trace camping, and more.

Over the years our GreenTeam has grown to include Festivarian Nation, as the terms “sustainable” and “festivarian” have become nearly synonymous.

This year we’d again like to celebrate you, the sustainable festivarian: your thoughtful preparations, your mindful journey, your green-conscious behaviors at the festival, your wealth of green ideas that ring throughout the year.

Tell us how you’ve become a sustainable festivarian and you might be the lucky winner of a carbon neutral trip for two to one of 3 inspiring destinations.

The grand prize winner may choose one of these trips from Intrepid Travel:

1. Find the punchcard on the back of the Pocket Schedule.

2. Check the box next to each of the items you’ve completed. You’ve

probably already done a few. Take a few minutes each day to complete a few more.

3. When you’ve checked at least 7 items, visit any of our partners in Greentown to have them validate your punchcard and deposit it in their entry box. Don’t forget to provide your personal info in case you’re the winner.

4. Festivate! You deserve it! And watch for the grand prize drawing on the main stage at 4:30pm on Sunday.

Inca Trail Express Beautiful Bali • California Discovery •

Visit booth our enter and a trip to WIN f in Vie or two tnam !

•

Here are this year’s 10 punch items: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Prepare Precycle Toolkit Transportation Camping Compost Micro-Trash Eco-Footprint Knowledge Share

Eco-Punch Boxes To learn more about any of the punchcard items

Adventures end.

Experiences last a lifetime.

Get off the beaten path with small group travel in fascinating destinations. intrepidtravel.com Call 800-970-7299

Look for boxes like this throughout the program. Or visit any of our partners in Greentown.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 7

For the 39th annual, you’ll see a slightly differentshaped reusable beer cup. Don’t worry, it holds exactly the same amount of refreshing New Belgium beer. But we’re continuing to ask the question, what is the best reusable cup to use? After all, these cups don’t last forever. (Never mind you hardcore festivarians who continue to possess “vintage” cups from 10, 15 and even 20 years ago!)

You already know that each cup saved and used again makes a pint of New Belgium beer $2 cheaper! That philosophy has reduced the amount of virgin plastic cups produced by nearly 70% over the years. A very good thing.

So how do we take our reusable cup to the next level?

This year, in partnership with Eco-Products, we’re excited to introduce the world’s first reusable cup made from 25% post-consumer recycled polypropylene. Polypropylene is a common #5 plastic used for a wide range of durable as well as disposable products. You know those plastic coat hangers that end up in landfills around the world? The big box retailers can now choose to send their hangers to be processed into the material that is used in this year’s plastic beer cup, thus the “post-consumer” label.

But what is really exciting, and another step in our cup evolution, is that unwanted cups will be collected and processed in a closed loop.

Sorry to be technical here, but the term “closed loop” denotes a threepart process: 1) reuse first and then recycle waste; 2) make something new out of it; 3) reuse again and then recycle again.

By repurposing unwanted cups right here in the USA (much of the recycling wastestream ends up where demand and price is highest; often shipped overseas) we can keep the plastic in the family and reuse it again for next year’s batch. So if by chance you can’t bring the cup with you or find a friend who collects them, look for the beer collection bins near the KOTO beer booth and exits and help us close the loop on recycling.

A Few Words from New Belgium Brewing...

In early 1991, before New Belgium was up and brewing, our founders were out walking in the woods, talking, trying to figure out exactly what this brewery was going to be. On that walk Kim and Jeff decided to push, headlong, into making Belgian style beers and fostering positive change in the world.

Our first Core Values and Beliefs were written that day.

There was one to remember that we are “incredibly lucky to create something that enhances people’s lives.” Then came “producing world-class beers.” Thirdly, “promoting beer culture and the responsible enjoyment of beer.” On that day in the mountains Kim and Jeff also decided that their brewery would honor nature at every turn of the business, and environmental stewardship got written into New Belgium, right then and there, before the first bottle of Fat Tire ever sold.

As we have grown so have the number of our CVBs, and our commitment to the environment hasn’t wavered.

In collaboration with the Town of Telluride, Planet Bluegrass and Decker Trucking, we are running electric/ diesel hybrid reefer units for our beer here at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Now, you might be sitting there, thinking to yourself “what the hell is a reefer unit?” Well, let me tell you. Reefer is short for refrigerator. So, a reefer unit is cooling system – most likely a really big trailer – that keeps the beer cold as the festivalgoers fill their cups.

In the past we have used what everybody uses, diesel reefers, a real fossil fuel bummer. But now we have another choice, a hybrid reefer. This is the first time a hybrid unit has been used at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and it’s going to change the way your beer stays cold. The electrical aspect will dramatically reduce the overall carbon footprint of the event, as well as reduce the diesel smoke in the immediate area. The hybrid reefer will also run with less noise pollution, meaning that hearing the music over the trucks while dancing in the beer line will never be a problem.

These hybrid reefers are a step in a good direction. They might not be the final destination, but with a firm commitment to the environment, and a love of great beer and music, we are going places together.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 9

CELEBRATING

10FESTIVATION YEARS OF

SUSTAINABLE

Planet Bluegrass & Renewable Choice

Making Environmental Responsibility a Priority at Telluride Planet Bluegrass has partnered with Renewable Choice to offset the environmental impact of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival by supporting wind power development and carbon reduction. This commitment includes offsetting the emissions created by the following activities: • Traveling to and from the event • Shuttle bus operation • Electricity used for lodging • Electricity used at the festival To learn more about how to reduce your impact, stop by the Renewable Choice booth during the festival.

www.renewablechoice.com

Confessions For almost a decade, Planet Bluegrass has been committed to minimizing its environmental impact by supporting renewable energy and carbon mitigation projects. This year, we’re proud to announce a new step. We’ve completed our first company-wide carbon footprint, inventorying the gas, diesel and electricity consumed throughout the year

by Planet Bluegrass at the company headquarters and our festivals. Companies around the world are adopting carbon accounting, some because of government regulations, others because they believe it can help their businesses. For us, it is a great way to document the progress we’ve made and to highlight what we need to work on. This year’s numbers will serve as a baseline for years to come.

We’ve already learned a ton. For example, guess how many of our carbon emissions come from activities on the ground in Telluride versus the travel most of us did to get here? Turns out, it isn’t even close. A whopping 99% of our emissions (3,818 metric tons for those of you keeping track) come from the planes, trains, busses and cars most Festivarians and artists took to get here.

For more detail, we quantified the positive environmental benefits of Festivation. After all, every one of us sitting in a lawn chair taking in the great tunes is one person not driving a car to work or cranking the air conditioning at home. Our partner Renewable Choice Energy estimates these activities lessen our environmental impact by more than 25 percent.

The more we know, the better we can do. So let us know your story. Stop by the Renewable Choice Energy booth in Greentown and tell us how you got here and what carbonintensive activities you are avoiding by being here. You can also learn more about our carbon footprint, offsets, renewable energy credits and carbon neutrality. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to refine our Sustainable Festivation together.

For TBF 2012, we are offsetting more than 2,830 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Our efforts will have the same environmental impact as saving 6,989 barrels of oil, or taking 556 cars off the road for an entire year.

10 sailing under the golden gate bridge with my dog blue, listening to tbf “alive at 25 ” - julie rakotz aijala | boulder, co

Introducing...

To commemorate the upcoming 40th anniversaries of Telluride Bluegrass and RockyGrass, New Belgium Brewing has brewed a limited edition beer especially for festivarians.

The German-style pale lager, dubbed Planet Bluegrass Summer Bliss, marks the first time in New Belgium’s 21-year history that they have brewed a beer specifically for an outside company. New Belgium brewer Andrew Hagdorn, the creator of the recipe, was honored to brew this milestone beer. “I love knowing that thousands of festivalgoers will be crushing my beer at Telluride and Lyons this summer!”

Brewed on St. Patrick’s Day, the Helles-inspired recipe has a simple list of ingredients, but uses some not so simple processes in the brewhouse. Explains Hagdorn: “The mash is double-decocted, which means that a portion of the mash was boiled twice. Boiling the mash creates a pleasant, clean malty cereal aroma in the final flavor of the beer. Then

the beer is fermented and aged at cold temperatures for 10 weeks in the cellar. The long, cold maturation period is important to achieve a clean, highly drinkable beer... patience pays off.”

The result is a surprisingly malty, clean lager with a subtle hop spicing, perfect for long blissful days on the tarp. Don’t miss out - with only 210 kegs brewed, this bliss will soon be only a glowing summer memory.

From across the mountains in Fort Collins, New Belgium Brewing has once again brought some beloved old favorites and the specially brewed Planet Bluegrass Summer Bliss to commemorate nearly 4 decades of festival fun.

Lots of sampling opportunities for your bluegrass weekend in the sun. Enjoy!

fat tire

Fat Tire Amber Ale’s appeal is in its sense of balance: toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness.

Named in honor of our founder’s bike trip through Belgium, Fat Tire is still crafted following its original homebrew recipe.

ranger ipa

Ranger India Pale Ale brings out the hops!

Simcoe, Chinook and Cascade lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for dryhopping. We’re talking three pounds of hops per barrel. With pale and dark caramel malts that bring out the hop aroma and flavor from start to finish, Ranger IPA is a sessionable beauty.

somersault

Somersault Summer Ale opens with a brace of citrus aroma from Centennial hops, a soft apricot fruitiness tucked into the flavor, a fresh snap from a sliver of ginger root, followed by a smooth, upright finish with oats fermented in a long, slow mash.

Color is blonde with a suggestion of amber.

Somersaults all around!

sunshine wheat 1554

Sunshine Wheat is a great beer for trouncing thirst.

Yet it has a depth of character that inspires a quiet moment’s reflection.

Sunshine Wheat swirls in the mouth with ripples of coriander and orange peel tartness, settling nicely into a tranquil sea of apple and honey tones.

A filtered wheat beer, Sunshine offers a crisp, refreshing alternative to heavier-bodied heffe-weizens.

1554 Enlightened Black Ale From an ancient, crumbling Belgian text, our intrepid researchers found references to this obscure style dating back to the year 1554.

Overcoming obsolete script and obscure units of measurement, our brewers rediscovered an ale with a surprisingly bright taste and a dry chocolaty finish – one evoking dark beers enjoyed in Belgian taverns 500 years ago.

Bring your reusable beer cup to the New Belgium booth in Greentown to collect a daily sticker. Collect all four daily stickers for a chance to win a prize on Sunday.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 11

Fearlessness, Friendship and Fun

by Charlotte Bell When Adam Kinghorn arrives in Telluride each year, the first order of business is not pitching his tent or organizing his camp kitchen. Before he settles into what will be his home for the next week, he pulls out his guitar. He and one or more of his band mates from Head for the Hills—whoever happens to be there—start ripping through a bluegrass standard. Soon other pickers join in. It’s a christening of the campsite, a harbinger of musical adventures that will surely pack the weekend.

“It’s so fun to see what kind of jam materializes around one or two people,” he says. “Before you know it, hours have passed. You’re not even hungry you get so absorbed in it.

You never know who you’re going to run across or what kind of good jamming will happen. It can be sundown before I suddenly think, ‘Uh-oh, I better set up my tent.’”

It is in this adventurous and welcoming spirit that America’s old-time music—bluegrass’s predecessor—was born. As early as the 1600s, Scottish-Irish immigrants brought their musical traditions to remote Appalachia. Playing whatever instruments happened to be on hand—often sharing one community guitar—the music morphed to fit whoever and whatever happened to be present. Borrowing the banjo and

the blues from the African tradition, the front-porch music of the New World soon became its own evolving genre. By the late 1930s, this English-Scottish-Celtic-African concoction had a name: bluegrass.

The Appalachian Mountains may have conceived bluegrass music, but the San Juan Mountains have certainly become a crucible for its evolution. Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s innovative booking policy—originally inspired by the genre-busting band, New Grass Revival—has encouraged musicians, onstage and off, to test bluegrass’s boundaries by mixing in diverse genres like jazz, funk, rock and punk; and by welcoming unexpected instrumental sounds. All of this— all of it—is fueled by the jam.

12 hard to clap when my hands are blue from the cold, so i just holler instead. woo hoo! - cindy lou conway | mancos, co

It could be argued that a bluegrass festival is an elaborate excuse to jam. At many festivals, half the show takes place in the parking lot or campground. In Telluride, the jams happen in the streets of the town, in the campgrounds, on the main stage, backstage, in condos and in downtown taverns after hours. Unusual pairings of musicians have made for some of the Festival’s most memorable moments, both onstage and off.

I’ve personally witnessed eclectic campground jams that included all the regulars— guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass and Dobro—along with stringless instruments such as bagpipes, a squeezebox and a trombone.

Anders Beck, Dobroist for Greensky Bluegrass, remembers a duo jam he started with a tuba player. “It was hilarious,” he says. “It evolved into something much bigger and then turned into a parade. We didn’t get very far, maybe the next camp over. But it’s the kind of thing you couldn’t plan if you tried. It’s that kind of spontaneity that makes the campground jams so cool.”

Jamming has been said to be a great neutralizer—the place where people from diverse backgrounds and varied abilities come together.

Journalists covering early festivals often found the fans to be as newsworthy as main stage artists. In 1970, during an era marked by race riots and Kent State, Newsweek was one of many publications attending Carlton Haney’s Roanoke Blue Grass Festival who noted the absence of generational and racial tension among the bluegrass crowds, especially in the jam sessions. In an article titled “Pickin’

“But it’s the kind of thing you couldn’t plan if you tried. It’s that kind of spontaneity that makes the campground jams so cool.” and Singin,’” a Newsweek reporter wrote, “There was a good fellowship among leather-faced men in Western garb, teenage groupies posturing around the musicians, long-haired hippies with their no-bra chicks and red-neck farmers with the wives sprawled in lawn chairs and print dresses.”

Telluride veteran Tim O’Brien visited Town Park mainstay, Camp Run-A-Muck, last year to play a mini-jam with fiddler Kevin Burke the Tuesday before the Festival. “I wanted to do something in the campground unannounced,” he says. “I felt like I’d been missing out on the festival in that way. I like campground jams because the divide between the performers and fans is broken down. Everybody gets to be on the same page.”

Telluride Tom, mayor of Town Park Campground since the late 1990s, echoes this sentiment. While he doesn’t participate as an instrumentalist, he’s happy to join in the jams as a singer—if he knows the words. “To me it doesn’t matter if it’s Tim [O’Brien] playing or some guy who’s been camping out whose name I don’t know. We all become the same. We’re all just people and we’re there for the music.”

Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman, perhaps more than any main stage artist, has made his mark as the campground-jamming guru. Adam, Anders and Jeff Austin, mandolinist for Yonder Mountain String Band, learned about Telluride’s jamming tradition under Vince’s tutelage. Jeff likens Vince to a “wise, old Indian passing down knowledge to the punks.”

From Vince, a whole generation of younger bluegrassers has learned about one of jamming’s most essential elements—fun.

Vince likes to visit every camp at least once or twice during the course of the Festival. “One of my fave things to do is to surround a pick with a bunch of people. You find a target, maybe a more mellow, folky thing.

Then you surround them, sing really loud and run away.”

What Vince is describing is a campground tradition born in Telluride: “Anahuac.” Named for a native tribe in Mexico or a sleepy town in Texas that inspired an Austin Lounge Lizards song—take your pick—Anahuacking is a sort of musical assault. The first Anahuac was perpetrated on someone

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 13

who was sleeping. “We surrounded their tent and sang [the Austin Lounge Lizards’ song], then ran away as they woke up,” remembers Vince. “That was how it started. It became kind of fun to go and roust people. A lot of this was done by my evil twin that sometimes gets mistaken for me.” (Note: Anahuac etiquette dictates that Festivarians sleeping in line are officially off limits.)

Apart from Anahuacking, Vince’s most notable contribution to the jamming culture is his commitment to fun, a quality that’s influenced many of his protégés, including Adam, Anders and Jeff. “If I was to say there’s a philosophy behind jamming for me, it’s to have as much fun as you can with the people that are there,” says Vince. “I love to provide that nudge.”

“Sometimes there can be really amazing jams with lots of incredible musicians,” says Anders. “That’s one thing. The music nerd part of me enjoys that. The other side is the fun part. You can be jamming with a bunch of folks, maybe not the best technical players, but here’s a bunch of people having a blast. I’ll take that any day over the super perfect technical jams.”

The contagious energy of a jam not only infects those who play, but animates spectators as well. According to Telluride Tom, established campsites such as the MASH Tent set up 100 or so seats for listeners, with many more fans spilling out of the tent.

The jam at an adjacent campsite is integral to veteran camper Bevan Owens’ annual festival experience. Led by someone he knows only as “The Professor” under an ancient canvas tarp, strains of bluegrass-tinged songs by Pink Floyd, the Talking Heads and rap music blend with traditional bluegrass fare. Unique to The Professor’s jam is what Bevan calls “a thousand versions of ‘Wagon Wheel,’” the song by Old Crow Medicine Show that the pickers play at regular intervals throughout the long night. “I could listen to them play the same song all week and I’d still be back next year for more, listening to the same lullaby every night,” says Bevan. ”It’s the soundtrack to my Telluride dreams.”

Many of the songs you hear on the main stage—not just “Wagon Wheel”—are frequent fare in the jams. Tim says that you know you’ve got a hit song if you hear it being played in the campground. But main

“… With the jamming, and the influence of New Grass Revival and Hot Rize, Telluride is a lot of the reason there’s a jamgrass scene.” stage musicians are quick to acknowledge how the relationship between the stage and campground is a reciprocal one, how jamming has shaped their performing lives.

Jamming by the river in Ilium Campground was where members of Head for the Hills first started getting into bluegrass. “We came to Telluride as a band from day one,” says Adam. “We came from completely different musical backgrounds— rock and punk. Jamming was an experience we shared as a band, and a unique way to learn to play bluegrass.”

“It would be hard to separate out the jamming from what we do on stage,” says Vince. “It’s such an integral part of what we do. It’s that bluegrass thing with just a little more freedom to it. It’s symbolized by Telluride more than any other festival.

With the jamming, and the influence of New Grass Revival and Hot Rize, Telluride is a lot of the reason there’s a jamgrass scene.”

As a member of one of jamgrass’s premiere bands, Jeff says the most important thing he learned in the campground jams was fearlessness.

“Being fearless and being assertive in a polite way.

When you’re in a large group, if you’ve got lots of people, you have to kind of lean into that solo,” he says. Being fearless also entails wandering outside your comfort zone, through a process he calls “cuttin’ heads.” ”Say you’re playing something super simple like ‘Leather Britches.’ The second time it comes around, the fiddle player plays a nasty outside lick.

It encourages you to go outside. Then the guitar player takes it up a notch. It becomes contagious.

It’s a super, super fun in-the-moment experience in an open jam with people you know or don’t know.

That’s where that line that defines your relationship fades. You’re all having that same moment of fun.

“Sometimes you just eat it, but that’s part of the fun of it. Those are the best moments—the ones that make people hoot and holler. You give me your energy, I take it in, and I’ll put it back out to you. That wheel’s just moving faster and faster. The more the wheel turns, it will take you to some amazing places.”

Charlotte Bell is a writer, yoga teacher, oboist and Festivarian of 29 years living in Salt Lake City. She is the author of two books: Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life and the upcoming Yoga for Meditators, both published by Rodmell Press.

14 first time i saw drew emmitt at tbf he sang “tangled up in blue” & blue my mind . - danny wessel | boulder, co

The Family Tent provides whimsical, musical and educational activities for children and their parents from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day except Thursday (noon–5:00pm). Most activities are free, but we ask that parents please accompany their kids at all times.

Living Folklore

For their 16th year in the Family Tent, Gumbo Wobbly and your favorite clowns return with some special new additions! Gala, a spritely wood elf who knows the secrets of plants, entertains and educates the munchkins about the magic of nature. Heather Normandale, the sing-sangy songstress, performs kids songs to make you dance and sing. Dennis The Red Eustace returns with more puppet mayhem including the whacky Mr. Curmudgeon, the benevolent King Beeblebooble, and characters from his forthcoming television program Teddy The Traveler. Learn more at www.gigglebubble.com.

Betty Hoops

Join The Hoop Dance Coach and 4-time World Record Holder, Betty Hoops, for free hooping lessons. Decorate and keep your own kid and adult-sized hula hoop with fuzzy fabrics, rainbow-colored tapes, and 3D stickers. Learn more at www.bettyhoops.com

Jammin’ Jim Show

Guaranteed to provoke uncontrollable laughter, this high-energy comedy-musical act includes the juggling of a flaming bowling ball.

Jugglers’ Grove

New and experienced jugglers are welcome for lessons and free juggling balls with juggling veteran Jammin’ Jim.

Learn the Diabolo

It’s free to get your spin on during Family Tent hours! Beginner lessons on the Chinese yo-yo will be offered throughout the weekend.

Kids Talent Show

The ever-popular talent show returns Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm for the 16th year.

16th Annual Kids Parade

Carry a flag, umbrella, or one of the new giant puppets as this beloved Telluride tradition meanders through the festival grounds on Sunday afternoon at 2:45pm.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 15

A world class crew reunites annually to create the live sound that’s made Telluride famous By John LehndorFf

Like salmon making their way up-river to their birthplace, we all come home to Telluride each June.

Unlike at most music festivals, many of the same musicians play at Town Park every single year. Our virtuoso House Band plays only one show a year – here.

Returning Festivarians, vendors, volunteers and bloggers all have their own series of good-to-see-you encounters.

Telluride is a giant family reunion that happens to include four days of incredible music.

But there is one migration we hear little about. Year after year veteran sound crewmembers put aside their day jobs with Cirque de Soleil and concert venues to create world-class concert sound here.

What accounts for this collective loyalty so fierce that we wouldn’t be anywhere else on the planet this weekend?

When we all come together in this place and do our part, magic can happen.

Once you’ve experienced one of those Telluride sets, you can’t imagine NOT being here 12 months later. That’s doubly true for the crew making sure you can hear Chris’s pick dance across his mandolin strings.

The crew and musicians on the other hand view the festival as a major challenge.

“Telluride has always been a difficult place to play,” Béla Fleck said recently.

It’s important to get it right because “Telluride is the gig of the year. There are high

expectations from the audience and from the musicians,” he said.

Fleck said the difficulties include thin air, lack of humidity, lack of sound checks, and temperature extremes that play tricks with acoustic instruments.

“Confounding variables” – That’s what Mark Miceli, Telluride’s resident sound scientist, calls them.

If you see a geek “out standing in the field” with an iPad, it’s probably Miceli checking the sound by day and night. He is the senior technical director of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona where he does research and oversees the sound at performance venues.

16 blue festivarian hat with “steam powered aereo plane” printed on front - connie eyster | lyons, co

“The first thing I do when I get to Telluride is get the stage tuned up,” he said. “Acoustically, the stage responds like a hollow-body guitar – it’s very resonant.”

Miceli lays barium-impregnated vinyl on the plywood floors under the carpeting, and adds ceiling-hung acoustic baffles you can see from the audience, and acoustic diffusers.

That way the stage itself doesn’t add to the sound. Using a very sophisticated computer, he makes a sound model of Town Park aided by his years of familiarity with the venue.

The first and biggest variable is the same one that makes newcomers short of breath. “There’s less air at 9,000 feet which makes it harder for the sound to carry,” he said.

Next up is that piece of advice grizzled Festivarians always offer: Bring clothes for three different seasons every day.

“Temperature changes the speed of sound as does humidity – it’s all over the map in Telluride from 90-degree bone-dry days to rain and fog.”

During those chilly late night sets, we even create the weather. “Warm air from the audience is held down by cooler air above to form an acoustic lens that changes the sound,” he said, and that requires more adjustments. Sound travels better through denser night air and tends to bounce off the canyon wall opposite the stage.

“Telluride has a very sophisticated audience.They know exactly what they want to hear and that pushes all of us to do things right.”

So, as it turns out, Bob Dylan was wrong: You DO need a weatherman to know which way the wind (and the music) blows. Miceli is Telluride’s unofficial weatherman. “We have state of the art weather monitoring equipment plus computer links to the U.S. Weather Service,” he said. That way the stage crew has heads’-up on what weather is heading toward the box canyon.

While the volume can vary quite a bit between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., Miceli never allows it to get too loud.

“We realized early on that we needed to keep the volume down to a safe level,” he said. “What we try to achieve is level sound from back to front.” The relay speaker towers near the back of the field help as does the ability to aim the speaker stacks hanging 80 feet apart directly at the audience.

“It allows me to not push the main speakers,” he said.

Beyond the equipment details only a tech nerd could love, Miceli said that the people who run the festival make the biggest difference. “Planet Bluegrass is very unusual because they care so much about the quality of all aspects of the show, including the sound environment,” he said. We take it for granted but Telluride was among the first festivals to hand out plugs to parents to protect kids’ ears.

New York City-based Tom Holmes generally works in trucks mixing live sound for events like the Grammy Awards show. For

the weekend he lives in the sound shack in the middle of Town Park. As FOH (front of the house) manager, he’s responsible for what you hear.

He oversees archival taping, mixes ‘tweener sets, and helps the bands’ mixers feel at home in short order.

Everybody gets a general idea before the festival, “but the best info comes the day of the show,” Homes said. “How many guitars?

What kind of mics? How many tom-toms? Are there any scheduled guests?”

And if the band tries to turn the volume up to “11?”

“Some individuals (who shall remain nameless) believe that louder is always better. I think that if you push it too loud, it doesn’t sound as good,” Holmes said. “I start with diplomacy. Sometimes I mention the town’s noise ordinances.”

For the 30 to 40 percent of bands who don’t bring their own mixer, Holmes is the star at the soundboard.

In either case, there are no sound checks. It’s a nervewracking time, said Béla Fleck. “Once we’ve played the first few songs I feel a sense of relief.” By then the crew has ironed-out any audio glitches in the onstage sound in monitors or earphones.

“What I know is that the crew cares deeply about everyone onstage and tries their hardest set after set,” he said. He adds that they have to be forgiving, too, when musicians grimace at them and use body language to express their audio needs.

Anyone who was here in the early years can tell you how much Telluride’s concert sound has improved, Holmes said.

“But at the end of the day, whether it’s new tech or old tech, it’s really all about the performers. If the band cares deeply about their art – and most do – then the house mixing is easy.”

One man, Telluride’s maestro of the stage, makes all these moving pieces fit together seamlessly. Skip Kent oversees the whole production from his perch at stage right, and he’s been in charge since 1999. “Skip’s a seasoned pro who has played, recorded and produced music and managed some of the biggest shows in the country,” said Steve Szymanski, vicepresident of Planet Bluegrass. “There isn’t a part of the process that Skip and his crew aren’t intimately familiar with. That’s a big part of the reason our sound system sounds the way it does.”

We play our vital part too. “Telluride has a very sophisticated audience. They know exactly what they want to hear and that pushes all of us to do things right,” Miceli said.

We’d love to give the sound team a rousing standing ovation but they are hard to find except when they’re scurrying about saying “check, check, check” into the mics in the intense 15 minutes between sets.

Those of us who’ve been here when the magic happens just want to say “thank you” to Mr. Soundman from the bottom of our ear drums.

We’ll be back again.

John Lehndorff is the Content Director of the Aurora Sentinel.

He has been writing about the festival for more than 25 years.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 17

by Matthew Beaudin

I was in the porous space between awake and not awake, not knowing much, but knowing just enough. Enough to know that the comet of sticky moisture that just crashed into my face was not rain. It was warmer than rain.

Spitting on a man and slapping a man are the exact same in the sense that their offense is so grand, so sweeping, that swift action must be taken. Sleepy men, like sleepy bears, are still dangerous.

“Are you serious?”

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry, MAN!” “Did you just spit on me?”

“I didn’t see you there!”

“I think that’s evident. But how could you not see me here? There are a hundred people in line right here. Are you SERIOUS?!”

“Oh my GOD!” “I accept your apology. I think it’s best you get out of here. Right now.”

[Long pause. The Great Offender is still standing over me.]

RIGHT NOW!” ‘OK, GOSH.”

Only at a music festival can you offend the person who spit on you with the tone of your voice. I was talking in that whisper-shout, trying not to wake the people around me, which looked more like festivarian amoebas than people at all.

The crazy had maybe 10 seconds to pound through my veins. I noticed the smear of stars above. Someone snored somewhere. And then I was asleep again.

When I awoke, it was to another item placed on my face, though this was done great care. A white card, with a number. That wonderful number that gives one the right to run, at full speed, with a nylon purpose — a tarp — into the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Some angel walks down the line in the silver hours of the morning and hands the numbers out to those who’ve committed to sleeping out for a slot in the Tarp Derby.

The spitting incident? Just part of it, though uncommon. The night prior I had the great misfortune of crashing right across from the toilets, which were loudly emptied at 3:30 a.m. I treated my sleeping bag like a shield from the smell and from the noise. Again. Off-gassing is just part of it. Sleeping in line isn’t for the faint of heart.

This is all prelude to the land rush of every June in Telluride, making men and women rich, if only for a day, one tarp at a time. This is what it’s come to.

This is how far we must go.

18 oh blue camp chair, you’re a great seat. but a front row tarp can’t be beat! - stephanie miller | denver, co

Think of sleeping out as a combination between camping and passing out at a bus stop: There’s a river swollen to its banks, dirt and sleeping bags, but there’s also the feeling of sleeping in a stadium, as if you were sleeping next to 100 people you didn’t know. Generally, one is so tired it’s hard to care about anything at all. Sleep is not for Bluegrass. Sleep is for the Monday after Bluegrass, when it rains.

The line-sleeper is a vital cog in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival machine. This person is generally the die-hard of the group, but he or she is not without support.

The ritual is similar for nearly every person in line.

Someone usually comes to your aid with coffee just as sunlight cracks the box canyon air in half. This is generally one of my favorite moments of the day. I wake up slow, drink a coffee and talk with my newfound camp partners about the past evening. How’d you sleep? Did you sleep?

Can you believe how loud those people were? Can you believe I got spit on?

No one ever believes that part except me.

At its finest, sleeping in line is like camping in a national park with lots of people you don’t know. Last year, a woman nearby declared it “the best real estate in Telluride.” If there had been a shower nearby, I’d have agreed. There is a sort of togetherness in the morning in line. Like we belong there, that group of us, in that exact moment.

By 8 a.m., the line meanders from the River Trail, toward downtown Telluride on Colorado Avenue, back down Pacific Avenue by the Post Office and toward the library.

People sit on coolers drinking coffee, reading the newspaper or dozing lightly, a crumpled Baked in Telluride bag at their feet. Everyone, from those in the front to those in the back, knows the deal.

There is a sort of Social Contract between festivarians and the lineup tradition: If they play by the rules, they’re promised a piece of prime real estate. There is no reason to rock the boat. Because, hey, we’re all friends here, right?

By 8:30, the line is shuffling. By 9:30, people are full on wired. Those in the top 100 look more alive than those behind them, and it’s for good reason — in a few short minutes, they will be sprinting for the only thing that’s mattered since high school sports: a piece of Town Park.

And suddenly, it’s all happening. The line begins to seep into the park, one crazed tarp-runner at a time.

Before I started sleeping out a few years ago, I would watch this scene from my deck, which overlooked the park. Some twangy, good-morning bluegrass would play, and then they would come, galloping, to claim the land.

“In my inaugural sprint I’d grossly misjudged the seriousness of the affair, and wore flip-flops. Rookie move.”

Now that I am part of it, it’s much slower. There is this moment that stretches time that occurs the second after the gates are opened and the Planet Bluegrass staffers are checking the number of the ticket, pausing an excruciating one or two seconds and then saying, yes, Go. I wait. I wait. I wait. The man’s back in front of me vanishes. I look to the side and I swear the line from the Town Park Campground is moving faster than my line. It’s like a powder morning and I’ve slept in again, doomed to watch people take all that is good and leave me chopped-up leftovers.

“Go.” And I go. Manifest Destiny. It is a pure sprint in this moment, save the fact that everyone’s form is terrible because they’re holding on to a tarp and some are trying to run in flip flops or, much worse, Birkenstocks.

In my inaugural sprint I’d grossly misjudged the seriousness of the affair, and wore flip-flops. Rookie move. I lost one, grabbed it, looked up and next thing you new the tarp was relegated to the spot next to the dance pit behind the sound booth. No good at all.

But in this sprint I am better. My knees are high and I am moving. I overtake the man who started in front of me.

I am flying now. This velocity. Hard to imagine after three days in the Bluegrass fishtank. But it’s there. I pass two more people and hit my tarp throw just right, shooting my left arm out and allowing it to unfurl in the wind. It is a sail and I am its mast. We are perfect together.

I whip it to the ground and stretch the tarp — yes, it’s a double — out wide and I lie down on it, my head pounding all sorts of things. Things like New Belgium dreams and coffee and no sleep and potential. I close my eyes.

By now, we’ve all staked our claims and have taken to lounging about on what will be our rafts for the day. From above, this now looks like a careless quilt, blue, green and silver tarps holding Town Park together.

I walk to get a cup of coffee after someone has come in and relieved me of my real estate. My job is over for the day and in an hour I’ll return to enjoy the spoils. But first, I must go and wash my face.

Matthew Beaudin, 29, covers professional cycling for Velo Magazine and Velonews.com. He was the editor of the Telluride Daily Planet for five years. You can find him sleeping out and eating donuts all weekend long.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 19

an update for town park campers

The Town Park Campground is known for its many celebrations before and during the festival. Along with an exhuberant festivarian community, incessant pickin’ and grinnin’, delicious family style eats and creative camping, Town Park campers

How You Can Reach Two-Thirds: 1. RECYCLE.

Cardboard, #1 - 7 plastics, aluminum, tin, glass. (Yes, cardboard and bottle caps are now recyclable, however aluminum foil is not.)

2. VISIT WASTE STATION DAILY.

Avoid overflowing dumpsters on Monday by disposing of waste each day.

3. EAT LOCALLY.

Visit the Telluride Farmers Market (near Elks Park) on Friday from 11am-4pm.

4. COMPOST.

Use Eco-Products compostable bags (available from your campground host)

and/or 5-gallon buckets (available from EcoAction Partners).

5. REUSE.

Your plastic beer cup, cutlery, tarps, coolers, chairs & camping gear deserve many more years of reuse.

6. TAKE HOME.

You’re already making the trip, so make a little room to carry your recyclables with you.

7. ASK & LEARN.

Sustainable festivation crewmembers will be in the campground daily to help you meet the two-thirds challenge.

can proudly claim the title of “most improved recyclers and composters!”

According to our 2011 waste audit, Town Park campers diverted 50% more of their waste from the landfill than the year before and they’re well on their way to reaching our ultimate challenge of two-thirds diversion this year.

You and your camp can help make it happen by simply separating out your compost / recycling and making a daily pit-stop at a waste station near you. While you’re at it, enter the campground challenge for a chance to win free Town Park Camping for the 40th.

(One simple request: Please don’t wait until Monday morning when we’re all exhausted and the containers are full.)

Hippie Jerry – whose 30+-person Camp Run-A-Muck was the inaugural winner of the campsite challenge in 2008 – offers this advice: “Bring just what you need, eat locally, and take out everything that you brought in.”

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20 one blue tent in town park gets its name from banjo fame - “auntie hope” rowe | nashville, tn

how green is your grass…

With nearly 4,000 campers in and around Telluride during the festival, it’s more important than ever for each of us to embrace the “leave no trace” camping philosophy. In collaboration with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and Eco-Products (supplier of free BioBags for your campground compost), we will again be honoring campsites that excel in creative, sustainable camping.

How Do I Participate?

Campers in any of the Planet Bluegrass-managed campgrounds are encouraged to enter. To nominate your own campsite or one of your neighbors:

1. Submit a campsite entry form at the Leave No Trace booth in Green-

town, including a rough sketch of your campsite and a hand-drawn map to help us find your campsite.

Congratulations to 2011 grand prize winners:

Soul Sisters

(in the High School Campground)

2. Visit the Leave No Trace booth each day to comment on the latest

campsite entries. Random winners will be chosen each day.

3. Planet Bluegrass will select the grand prize winner after the camp-

ground pack-out on Monday. The winner will be announced in the next “Notes from the Planet” e-newsletter and on Facebook.

How Do I Win?

We will be judging on three criteria:

1. Cleanliness. Are you repackaging the food you bring? Are you

keeping a tidy campsite? Are items secure and not susceptible to wind gusts?

2. Sustainability. Are you separating recycling and compost? Are

you reusing products? Are you using alternative energy sources?

Did you bike or carpool to the festival? Are you offsetting carbon emissions? Did you do anything to reduce your home’s energy while attending the festival?

3. Creativity. Does your campsite have a theme? Are you utilizing

unique and innovative camping techniques?

What Do I Win?

Each day we will select 2 winners (including 1 chosen at random) to win:

Grub Hub Camp Kitchens • Chaco sandals • New Belgium Beer • Leave No Trace memberships Our judges will choose one grand prize winner to win a pair of Town Park Campground passes for the 2012 Festival.

Putumayo Presents

Bluegrass Features Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Railroad Earth, Seldom Scene, Crooked Still, James Alan Shelton and more Available at record, book, gift stores, select online retailers, and www.putumayo.com

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 21

Every June songwriters and bands from around the world converge on Telluride for the prestigious Troubadour and Band contests. Offering beautiful instruments, cash prizes, and international recognition, these contests showcase the next generation of Telluride Bluegrass artists. Join us in welcoming these talented performers on Thursday and Friday at Elks Park, then celebrate with the finalists Saturday and Sunday on the Main Stage.

Troubadour Contest

For the twenty-second year, the Troubadour Contest introduces ten inspiring young songwriters to the Telluride audience. One of these artists will join past winners Catie Curtis, Deb Talan, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Matt Harlan as the 2012 Telluride Troubadour.

Any singer-songwriter not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal is invited to submit songs beginning in December. In April, our panel of industry professionals selected these ten finalists from nearly 500 submissions. During two rounds of Elks Park performances, Troubadours will be judged on the quality of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery, and overall performance.

On Sunday evening the winning Troubadour will receive a custom Shanti Concert guitar, featuring Brazilian rosewood and a special Shanti 25th Anniversary neck inlay. Enjoy the Troubadours throughout the festival as they perform in-the-round sets at Elks Park, short ‘tweener sets on the Main Stage, and live in-studio on KOTO.

2012 Troubadour Schedule

Preliminary Round Thursday, June 21 at 12:00pm. Elks Park Stage Final Round Friday, June 22 at 2:45pm. Elks Park Stage

2012 TroubADouR finalistS

The winning Troubadour performs a fifteen-minute set on Sunday, June 24 at 6:30pm on the Main Stage

Michaela Anne

Ed Romanoff

Cary Cooper

Chana Rothman

Tom Corbett

Ryan Tanner

Drew Kennedy

Reed Waddle

Cassie Peterson

Jeremiah Webb

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Dallas, Texas

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Woodland Hills, California

New Braunfels, Texas

Nashville, Tennessee

Salt Lake City, Utah

New York City, New York

Long Beach, California

Troubadours will perform in a randomly selected order. The winner will be announced on Friday at 5:00pm on the Elks Park Stage.

Band Contest

One of the world’s foremost contests for acoustic stringbands, the Telluride Band Contest has helped launch the careers of Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek, Greensky Bluegrass, and dozens of other past winners. This year’s bands will be competing around a single microphone for a spot on the 2013 main stage lineup.

2012 Contest Bands Backwater Opera

Chain Station

Blow The Vault

Hey Mavis

Stevens Point, WI

BlueBilly Grit

Highroad Bluegrass

Bozeman, MT

Austin, TX

Denver, CO

Commerce, GA

Breaking Blue Albuquerque, NM

Broomfield, CO Akron, OH

Idaho Springs, CO

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades The Kitchen Dwellers Wayward Vessel Portland, OR

Bands Score in These Categories • 30% Material Selection taste, difficulty, authenticity, originality • 30% Instrumental Performance ability of soloists and overall blend • 30% Vocal Performance lead and harmony • 10% Stage Presence

22 petal’s blue butterfly painted face running around - kerry riley | logan, ut

2012 Band Competition Schedule Preliminary Round Friday, June 22 10:00am Elks Park Stage Final Round Saturday, June 23 10:00am Main Festival Stage Bands will perform in a randomly selected order.

Inspired both by Picasso’s Blue Period and the beauty of the festivarian blues – tarps, skies, tents, chairs, denim – Kahlie Sue Pinello’s 2012 festival “foof” design calls on emotion, immersion and participation.

During Picasso’s Blue Period you could say that he honored or acknowledged his emotion; he swam in it with brush and paint.

That is how I like my music – I want to swim in it. I want rich tones and complex compositions. I want to feel it so deeply sometimes it brings me to my feet or dares me to reach for someone’s hand. I want it to acknowledge my emotions.

From clouds to crayons to bubbles of blue I want to actually immerse myself in the tones of color and chords. I want you, my friends, to lose yourself in the sounds of the sun and the smiles of strangers – in the marriage of it all for four glorious days of music, nature and art.

In looking deeper, I see that in our own family way, our festival way, we are all living pieces of artwork. Our sheer togetherness makes for a glorious masterpiece.

Immerse yourself. Bring on the blue!

– Kahlie Sue Pinello

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OWNER / BROKER

~ Devoted Fan of Bluegrass Festival since 1979 ~

970-728-6400 / 970-729-2222 134 E. Colorado Avenue, Downtown Telluride • TellurideRealEstate.net • todd@TellurideRealEstate.net

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the /thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 23 BROKER

OWNER

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Schedule of Performances

thursday st

fridaynd

saturday rd

sundayth

10:00 AM Gates Open

9:00 AM Gates Open

9:00 AM Gates Open

10:00 AM Gates Open

11:00 - 12:00 Thelma & Louise

10:00 - 11:00 Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall

10:00 - 11:00 Band Contest

10:45 - 11:45 John Cowan Band Gospel Hour

june 21

featuring Béla Fleck & Chris Thile

12:15 - 1:30 Della Mae 2:00 - 3:15 Dan Mangan 3:30 - 4:45 Greensky Bluegrass

june 22

11:15 - 12:30 Seryn 1:00 - 2:15 Head for the Hills 2:45 - 4:00 O’Brien Party of Seven

5:15 - 6:30 Laura Marling

4:30 - 5:45 Béla Fleck & the Marcus Roberts Trio

7:00 - 8:30 John Prine

6:15 - 7:30 Del McCoury Band

9:00 - 11:00 Alison Krauss & Union Station

8:00 - 10:00 John Fogerty

featuring Jerry Douglas

10:30 - 12:00 Leftover Salmon

june 23

11:30 - 12:30 Run Boy Run 12:45 - 2:00 The Devil Makes Three 2:30 - 3:45 Jerry Douglas

june 24

12:00 - 1:00 Joy Kills Sorrow 1:30 - 2:45 Peter Rowan’s Big Twang Theory

featuring Omar Hakim, Viktor Krauss & Luke Bulla

3:15 - 4:30 Brett Dennen

4:15 - 5:45 Yonder Mountain String Band

5:00 - 6:15 Punch Brothers

6:15 - 7:30 k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang 8:00 - 10:00 Sam Bush Band 10:30 - 12:00 Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

6:30 - 6:45 Telluride Troubadour 7:00 - 8:15 Glen Hansard 8:45 - 10:45 Telluride House Band

featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart

Hey Sustainable Festivarian – Look for these eco-friendly tips throughout the program.

Complete 7 of them and you might win a carbon-neutral international vacation for two. Check out the Eco-Punchcard article on page 7 for all the details.

Eco-Punch #2: Precycle

Use recyclables and reusables when shopping and packing.

24

watching a field of green become a sea of blue - brett hensley | grand junction co

workshop stage at Elks Park thursday, june 21 st

friday, june 22 nd

12:00 Troubadour Competition:

Preliminary Round

10:00 Band Competition: Preliminary Round 12:15 Telluride Troubadours: In the Round

2:30 Head for the Hills: Performance

1:30 Joy Kills Sorrow: Performance

4:00 Punch Brothers: Happy Hour

2:45 Troubadour Competition: Final Round

workshops subject to change. please check for daily updates on sign boards.

3:45 Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush & Friends:

Doc Watson Tribute

saturday, june 23 rd

sunday, june 24 th

10:30 Michael Hornick, Bobby Wintringham,

Michael Chappell and Adam Kinghorn:

Instrument Building 11:45 Béla Fleck & Edgar Meyer: How to

Play Badly Without Anyone Noticing 1:00 Della Mae: Performance

5:00 Troubadour Winner Announcement

11:00 Telluride Troubadours: In the Round 12:30 Run Boy Run: Harmony Vocals 2:00 Anders Beck & Paul Hoffman:

Songs in the Key of Michigan 3:30 John Frazier & Friends: Performance

2:15 Telluride Troubadours: In the Round 3:30 Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan, Emma Beaton

& Friends: Woody Guthrie Tribute 4:45 Seryn: Open Tunings / Performance

family tent

Parents must accompany their children while in the Family Tent area.

thursday, june 21 st

12:00 – 5:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Magic, Arts & Crafts

friday, june 22 nd

10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Magic,

Arts & Crafts 12:00 Funny Bone Logic & Clown Yoga 1:00 Gumbo Wobbly’s Quackers & Kazoos Class 2:00 Magic Show with Colten Hornick 3:00 A Teddy Bears Picnic: Songs and Games for

the whole family with Heather Normandale 4:00 Jammin’ Jim Show

saturday, june 23 rd

sunday, june 24 th

11:30 Magic Show with Colten Hornick

11:30 Magic Show with Colten Hornick

12:00 Puppet Show with Dennis The Red

including King Beebleboobles Zoo

12:00 Music with Heather Normandale

1:00 Storytelling with Gumbo Wobbly

1:30 Jammin’ Jim Show

10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Magic,

Arts & Crafts

2:00 Drama Class & Talent Show Sign-ups 3:00 16th Annual Telluride Kids Talent Show

10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Magic,

Arts & Crafts

12:45 Puppet Show With Dennis The Red 2:00 Parade preparations until parade begins 2:45 16th Annual Children’s Parade

(through festival grounds during set-break) 3:15 Closing Circle

25

37 YearS OF exPerienCe in The TeLLuride reGiOn

Sally Puff Courtney

Corie Chandler, Sally Puff Courtney and Susan Griffin

Life should be simple…

Let Sally and her team do the work.

Sally Puff Courtney is a long-time fan of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and has attended all but one of the thirty-nine festivals!

Sally Puff Courtney, Vice President Peaks/Sothesby’s

970.728.3086

• w w w . t e l l u r i d e b r o k e r. c o m 225 South Oak • Located at the base of the Gondola • sally@telluridebroker.com

Stephen Mougin and Collings Guitars In Telluride, visit Telluride Music Company.

Located in the historic business district at 201 E. Colorado Ave, (970) 728-9592

Stephen Mougin of the Sam Bush Band with his Collings D2H Serious Guitars | www.CollingsGuitars.com | (512) 288-7770

Thursday, June 21st Thelma & Louise featuring Béla Fleck & Chris Thile

11:00 - 12:00

More than any other set, the opening duologue of the 39th Telluride needs an introduction. Though perhaps this introduction needs just 3 words: complete musical freedom.

Béla and Chris will enter from opposite sides of the stage – banjo and mandolin in-hand – unto a musical tabula rasa. With the first note the seed is planted. For the ensuing 75 minutes two of the world’s most brilliant musical minds will pursue a single musical thread, exposing the processes of composition, arrangement, and improvisation in real-time. No applause pauses; no distracting gaps.

You’ve likely never heard anything like this before (barring distant memories of RockyGrass ‘02). While such musical freedom is typically reserved for the avant-garde, Béla and Chris’s freedom maintains a firm grasp on melody and harmony.

With every spontaneous utterance, they will slide from altered arpeggio to rhythmic progression, the turn of a fiddle tune leading into a Bach-inspired invention that dissolves into an elegantly harmonized melody.

As Thelma & Louise drive off the edge of the canyon this Thursday morning, their 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible sprouts wings, able to soar over Ajax Peak, playfully skirting the edge of Bridal Veil Falls, delicately landing in Town Park. A once-in-alifetime journey not to be missed. – B.E.

Della Mae

12:15 - 1:30

Dan Mangan

Greensky Bluegrass

2:00 - 3:15

3:30 - 4:45

What happens when you take lyrics “I want to leave a footprint: in that The judges of the Telluride Bluefrom the old Osborne Brothers tune town, in that audience’s mind, on grass Band Competition are, of “Big Spike Hammer,” mix in some this planet.” After toting his acoustic course, astute assessors of talent. world class pickin’, and make it an guitar and merch-sack around the And their ears seem to have been all-female band? The answer is one world for 6 years, 29-year-old Dan particularly keen back in 2006, of this year’s sure-to-be-talked-about Mangan has learned what it means when they crowned Greensky Bluebands, Della Mae. Hailing from to connect with an audience. “You grass as contest winners.

Boston and recently chosen for the have to get vulnerable. It’s a scary In the six years since, the MichiUS State Department’s American thing to do, but giving in to that fear gan quintet hasn’t only fulfilled the Music Abroad Program, these young is how we bond as people. That’s promise of that victory, but has taken ladies are taking the foundations of when we feel faith in humanity.” a leadership role in defining the bluegrass and country and forging In an indie scene that too often modern bluegrass band. While sticka new kind of music – a musical values detachment, the Vancouver ing to the traditional framework style they can call their own. singer-songwriter believes in baring – acoustic instruments, no drums – The band consists of the infectious it all – whether leaping off a stage Greensky Bluegrass (mandolinist lead vocals and rhythm guitar of to lead an in-crowd singalong of Paul Hoffman, guitarist Dave Bruzza, Celia Woodsmith, mandolinist Jenni “Robots need love, too,” or breaking banjoist Michael Bont, bassist Mike Lyn Gardner, guitarist and Colorado down in an emotionally cathartic Devol and dobroist Anders Beck) has native Courtney Hartman, two- “Basket.” Though Dan’s songs often cross-pollinated the ‘grass with rock time National Fiddle Champion swell to passionate climaxes, his ‘n’ roll energy. They don’t just cover Kimber Ludiker, and newest member music leaves ample space for “Beat It” and “Road to Nowhere,” they Shelby Means on bass. Each one a shared breath and dramatic bring the worldly funk of Talking of these ladies possesses a musi- inhaled silences.

Heads and the sleek pop drive of cal prowess on their instrument Dan’s third full-length, the richly Michael Jackson into the acoustic that even ol’ Big Bill Johnson and textured Oh Fortune, is a rumination realm as they do so. his Big Spike Hammer would have on death and dying that manages Greensky Bluegrass kicked things to admire. to be witty, uplifting and inspiring. up a notch with last year’s Handguns.

No strangers to the road, the With its adventurous sonics and The album finds the band emerging band has been bringing their style expanded instrumentation, it marks as serious-minded songwriters, while of roots music to steadily increas- an ambitious artistic step – a step also proving that even a horn section ing audiences across the country, that recently earned Dan 2 Juno can fit comfortably into a stringband and soon the world, since forming Awards (including Best New Artist). framework. The stylistic advances in 2009. And today they bring it to Stepping onto his biggest US stage never get in the way of the essentials you, right on your tarp under the to date, Dan is backed by his crack of bluegrass – a fiery mandolin solo, Telluride sun. band of free-jazz experimentalists – sweet harmonies, an aching dobro To paraphrase the song: “Now I’ve Gord Grdina (guitar), Kenton Loewen break, a minor-key tale about having been lots of places, not much I ain’t (drums), and John Walsh (bass) – to your heart torn to pieces. done / There’s still a lot of things I’d create a connection with the hearts Let’s see some smiles, Telluride. like to see, and Della Mae is one.” – D.B. of Festivarian Nation. – B.E. It’s Greensky ahead. – S.O.

Playing Telluride before some of my biggest inspirations is a dream come true. My cheeks are already sore from smiling!”

- Celia Woodsmith, Della Mae

Eco-Punch #3: Toolkit

Pack your water bottle, bag, utensils, beer cups.

28 who is that playing ‘blue night’: hot rize or red knuckles ? ! ? - erin jamieson | denver, colorado

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 29

Thursday, June 21st Laura MaRling

5:15 - 6:30

Laura Marling was so young when she began performing that the bouncers wouldn’t let her in to her own gigs. Now 22, the English singersongwriter has become the poster girl for folk music in the UK – earning 2 Mercury Prize Nominations and beating out pop stars to win Best Female Solo Artist at the 2011 Brit Awards.

Raised in a rural village southwest of London – “At the end of my parents’ road is a sign saying ‘Welcome to Jane Austen country’” – Laura picked up the guitar at age 6. Encouraged by her father, who worked in a recording studio, Laura began posting original songs on Myspace, earning her a Virgin Records contract and a move to London by age 16.

Laura’s music openly embraces both English folk traditions and the singer-songwriters of the ‘70s – most notably Joni Mitchell’s cool, fluttering alto and innovative guitar styling. Laura’s latest, the widely acclaimed A Creature I Don’t Know, introduces jazz rhythms and ominous overdriven guitars into a striking collection on love, rage, desire, family, devils, and devotion – all wrapped in emotional tales delivered in swirls of melody.

Given her recent tour of British cathedrals, it’s no surprise Laura would bring her music to America’s greatest natural outdoor cathedral.

(Perhaps Laura’s friends and one-time backing band Mumford & Sons shared a story or two.) On this sparkling early Telluride evening she’ll be backed by her textured quintet: Pete Roe (piano), Ruth de Turberville (cello), Graham Brown (double bass), Matt Ingram (drums) and Marcus Hamblett (banjo). – B.E.

John Prine

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Trying to pick a favorite John Prine song is like trying to identify your favorite pint of blood in your heart. Fortunately, on Thursday night as the sun sets over town, you’ll get your choice of a couple dozen of these timeless treasures – an hour and a half of prime Prine.

In fact, the 39th Telluride Bluegrass Festival is an extraordinary time to spend the evening with one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, as, forty years on, the gospel of Prine continues to spread, and the legendary troubadour has never been more generous in concert. Backed by ace pickers Jason Wilber on guitar and Dave Jacques on bass, Prine has been taking audiences on spirited, moving tours of his brilliant songbook, from his earth-shattering Chicago debut to his ‘00s resurgence, with a fortune in souvenirs and happy enchiladas in between. (Fun fact: Alison Krauss was also born in Illinois, so it’s Land of Lincoln night in Telluride.)

Festivarians, in particular, have long held a special affinity for the tenderness, humor, piquant poetry, and amicable introspection of Prine and his rich, literate songs. This year, we further celebrate Prine as a survivor, which has recently deepened the wisdom in his stories and has added warmth and gravity to his vocal delivery of them.

Prine has lived his life sharing the gold inside of him with his audience, articulating our lives and loves with plainspoken eloquence. To believe in this living is to join voices on opening night with an old friend. – S.L.

9:00 - 11:00

7:00 - 8:30

“The view from stage is absurd. It’s like playing in heaven. ” – Anders Beck, Greensky Bluegrass

featuring Jerry Douglas

When Alison Krauss reunited with the gentlemen in Union Station to make 2010’s gorgeous Paper Airplane, she said it “felt like home.” Certainly, Telluride Bluegrass is steeped in such traditions and reunions—both among friends in the crowd and the artists on stage—so it’s fitting that on this year’s opening night, Festivarians will celebrate another homecoming as Alison returns to Telluride for a lucky 13th time.

In welcoming Alison back, we’ll be treated to an evening of searingly beautiful music by an artist who has done more to expand the popularity of modern bluegrass than anyone. In the last three decades, we’ve seen Alison achieve unprecedented success for a bluegrass artist in the ‘80s, break through as a mainstream multimillion-selling crossover superstar in the ‘90s, anchor the blockbuster soundtracks to O Brother and Cold Mountain, release a series of stunning albums in the ‘00s – including the triumphant Raising Sand with Robert Plant – and collect enough Grammy Awards to weigh down the first three rows of tarps in front of the Telluride stage.

In fact, at 27 wins, no living person has won more Grammys than Alison Krauss.

Despite such tremendous popularity, the masters in Union Station (bassist Barry Bales, banjoist Ron Block, guitarist Dan Tyminski, and dobro deity Jerry Douglas) remain dedicated to a singularly authentic and elegant brand of contemporary bluegrass, one that peerlessly blends exhilarating virtuosity with gilded emotional resonance.

And, oh yes: There’s that iconic, exquisite soprano.

Welcome home, Alison. – S.L.

Eco-Punch #4: Transportation

Carpool, use public transportation, hybrids, biodiesel.

30 15 years ago, the sight of my son in blue fleece bunting, experiencing his first telluride - debbie gross | tucson, az

Friday, June 22nd EdgaR Meyer & Mike Marshall

10:00 - 11:00

The duo of Mike and Edgar is the stuff of legend. Two men performing insanely intricate compositions on the biggest and littlest instruments at the festival, making it look and sound as easy as the performers of Cirque Du Soleil.

Mike Marshall is one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile string instrumentalists. A master on mandolin, guitar, mandocello and violin, he has created adventurous instrumental music for over 35 years.

Edgar Meyer is the most important musician in the history of the double bass, earning both a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant and the only bassist to win the Avery Fisher Prize. Edgar is currently a Visiting Professor of Double Bass at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Together, Mike and Edgar have created two Grammy-nominated recordings – one with long-time friend Béla Fleck, the other with Sam Bush and violinist Joshua Bell.

But beyond their formidable resumes, comes their ability to creatively collaborate each time they take the stage.

This morning will be no different.

When Mike was recently asked to sum up his thoughts about returning to Telluride, he exclaimed, “Come into this valley. Make a play for that waterfall and howl at the moon. Say hello to all those pretty girls and wish life could be like this back home.”

Welcome back, Mike and Edgar! – S.S.

Seryn

11:15 - 12:30

Head for the Hills

1:00 - 2:15

O’Brien Party of Seven

2:45 - 4:00 Soaring and serene. From a finger- Head for the Hills is more than a band picked ukulele, bowed cymbal, and name; it’s something the band’s Growing up in Wheeling, WV, one of the hammer-on banjo melody to 5-part members have been doing every 3 songbooks in Tim O’Brien’s colleclung-busting harmonies, the music Summer Solstice for many years. tion was Roger Miller. Wonderful and of Seryn guides us on a mountain Adam Kinghorn (guitar) and Matt quirky, Miller’s music was part of his adventure – uncovering the fragility Loewen (bass) are celebrating their youthful soundtrack, setting Tim and of a wildflower-carpeted meadow, the 10th year as Festivarians, and they’ll older sister Mollie on their Grammyexhilaration of summiting Mt. Sneffels, be doing it from the Main Stage while winning musical paths. the slow fade of alpenglow. sharing their progressive take on Tim’s musical path eventually led We first heard the Denton, TX quintet bluegrass and acoustic music. him to Boulder, CO where he coindoors in a hall barely able to contain Joining them in their passion for founded the influential Hot Rize, their thrilling percussion-fueled the festival, and on stage, are Michael recorded 13 solo albums, and became crescendos. A similar gig prompted Chappell (mandolin) and Joe Lessard a sought after producer, songwriter, Paste Magazine to name Seryn the best (fiddle). Says Joe, “It’s been a huge and sideman (recently touring with band of SxSW 2011 and proclaim their part of our development as a band. Mark Knopfler). debut CD one of 2011’s best albums. We go to get refueled, musically and Mollie’s soulful voice found a home But this is clearly epic music meant inspirationally.” in blues, folk, and jazz, including frefor a large stage in a towering box It’s working. quent appearances on A Prairie Home canyon. They’ll need every inch of With influences ranging from Bill Companion and the long-running the Shellman stage to hold their Monroe and Earl Scruggs to obscure collaboration with her husband, dozens of instruments, as Trenton hip-hop, the band has a unique finger-style guitarist Rich Moore.

Wheeler (ukulele, accordion), Nathan take on acoustic music. Joe again, Though Tim and Mollie occasionAllen (guitar, banjo), Aaron Stoner “We play our own version of bluegrass ally tour and record together, it was (bass, trumpet), Chelsea Bohrer (viola), music with bluegrass instruments. an O’Brien family gig at the Shetland Chris Semmelbeck (percussion) reach We use our instruments as a conduit Folk Festival that planted the seed for for the perfect complement to their for the music that we make, which a larger family project – something ever-shifting textures. is a mixture of all our influences.” fun to bring the families together Onstage the members of Seryn Since its inception in 2004 the “other than funerals and weddings,” share a single-hearted passion. Their band has been on a steadily upward says Tim. When Mollie suggested songs betray the typical structures of trajectory, bringing their eclectic they record an album of Roger Miller folk-pop in favor of sprawling instru- roots-based amalgam of musical songs (available now as Reincarnation) mental jams – contoured not by solo- styles to growing audiences nation- the Party of 7 was born. ists but by a powerful emotional vision. wide. One thing is for certain: this On this Friday afternoon Tim, Mollie On this Friday morning Nathan band has been waiting for this and Rich share the stage with their promises “a soaring song to all the chance…and they do not intend to kids – Jackson O’Brien (bass), Joel wonderful people.” This is triumphant waste it. Grab some lunch and Head O’Brien (hambone), Brigid Moore goosebump-inducing music. Say for your Tarp, these boys have some- (ukulele), and Lucy Moore (piano) – goodbye to your tarp for a few thing to show you. – D.B. each stepping into the vocal spotlight minutes; it’s time to soar. – B.E. on Miller favorites and rarities. – B.E.

“Not only is Telluride one of the most beautiful places on earth, but it’s always like a family reunion backstage – and on stage for that matter.” – Del McCoury

Eco-Punch #5: Camping

Visit Leave No Trace booth to enter the campsite challenge.

32 wearing a blue poncho standing out in a heavy downpour. hypothermic and happy - malcolm mcmichael | carbondale, co

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 33

Friday, June 22nd Béla Fleck & the Marcus Roberts Trio

4:30 - 5:45

In one corner: the undisputed banjo champion of the world. Through his unparalleled talent, adventurous musical explorations, history-altering innovations on his instrument, and boundless world-hopping expansiveness, Béla Fleck’s commitment to thrilling Telluride audiences is unmatched.

Béla’s astonishing musical achievements in New Grass Revival helped trigger the Big Bang of Telluride Bluegrass, and over the years he has obliterated genre distinctions on the TBF stage, slinging magic tarpward alongside the world’s greatest musicians as his special guests.

In the other corner: the genius of modern jazz piano. First stunning audiences as the young piano virtuoso in the Wynton Marsalis Band, Marcus Roberts has gone on to become one of jazz’s towering figures – a brilliant pianist who is both steeped in classicism and dedicated to innovation, synthesizing Gershwin, Ellington, and Monk; the exhilarating bandleader of the almighty trio featuring bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Jason Marsalis.

On Friday, in one of this year’s marquee events, these two masters will come out swinging. Playing songs from their album, Across The Imaginary Divide, Béla and the MRT will showcase a dazzlingly responsive musical pairing as they bebop and weave through a reinvention of jazz and roots vernaculars. Prepare to be knocked out. – S.L.

Del McCoury Band

John Fogerty 8:00 - 10:00

10:30 - 12:00

While Bill Monroe pioneered the high and lonesome sound in the ‘30s, Del McCoury has been an essential part of preserving that sound well into the 21st century. Alongside his band of sons and longtime friends, Del has played music for over 50 years.

Along the way, The Del McCoury Band has become one of the most celebrated bands in bluegrass, winning Grammies and IBMA awards as vocalists, instrumentalists, and entertainers of the year, as well as a recent induction into the IBMA Hall of Fame.

Born 70 years ago in York County, PA, Del McCoury was bitten hard by the bluegrass bug when he heard Earl Scruggs’ banjo in the early ‘50s – “Everybody else was crazy about Elvis, but I loved Earl,” Del says with a chuckle. Del became a banjo picker himself, working in the rough but lively Baltimore scene into the early ‘60s.

Del joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in early 1963. In a little more than a year, the Father of Bluegrass moved Del from banjo to guitar, made him his lead singer, and gave him a lifetime’s worth of bluegrass tutelage.

The Del McCoury Band first performed on the Telluride stage nearly two decades ago and Del continues to be a gracious and humble ambassador of the bluegrass tradition. As we like to say: Del rocks! – S.S

Bruce Springsteen recently introduced John Fogerty as “our generation’s Hank Williams,” a sentiment that accurately places Fogerty among the greatest and most-influential singer-songwriters in history.

The Hank comparison is wellchosen, as it not only points to the immense cultural impact of Fogerty’s songs (which have been covered by everyone from Elvis to Tina Turner to The Ramones), it also connects Fogerty to the roots traditions at the heart of Telluride Bluegrass.

Fogerty has always loved classic country music, as his 1973 and 2009 Blue Ridge Rangers albums make clear, and he has declared TBF mainstay Jerry Douglas his favorite musician of all time. The circle of influence, then, will be profound as Fogerty brings his traveling band to Telluride for the first time.

By penning and lending his inimitable vocal squall to a mountain of standards while leading Creedence Clearwater Revival and a nearly fourdecade solo career, Fogerty wrote a song for everyone, rocking them all over the world. Indeed, for as long as people will be listening to music, they’ll hear John Fogerty songs – down on every corner, up around every bend, rolling on every river.

For now, though, the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer’s arrival at TBF means the most awesome, classic-swamprock shout-along choogle you’ll ever be lucky enough to attend. – S.L.

When examining the past 25 years of acoustic evolution the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Formed in Boulder in 1989 when Vince Herman (guitar) and Drew Emmitt (mandolin) merged their respective bands, the Colorado slamgrass pioneers were one of the first bluegrass bands to add drums and tour rock & roll bars. That approach helped the band become a force in the blossoming jamband world and unintentional pioneers for the progressive acoustic movement.

After leaving the stage for a brief hiatus in 2005, the band has recently returned to its roots – like any good Salmon will do – with a new outlook.

The familiar faces of Greg Garrison (bass) and Jose Martinez (percussion) are still present, but the addition of Andy Thorn (banjo) that has reignited the passion.

“There’s just something intangible about playing with Andy that kind of makes Drew and I look at each other and grin,” says Vince. “This is what we’ve been missing as far as that feeling between Drew, Mark [late founding member Mark Vann] and I that used to be there.” More than two decades after spawning, the band is back with Aquatic Hitchhiker, their first album of new material in 8 years.

Don’t go to bed early, the Salmon boys are up to something. And it’s guaranteed to be extremely festive.

6:15 - 7:30

Leftover Salmon

– D.B.

“I got there in the dark, awoke the next morning from my bunk on the Hot Rize bus to see John Hartford sitting up front, and walked out the door to the most glorious scenery I’d ever laid eyes on.”

34 staring hungrily at blue “homemade fries” sign - john lehndorff | boulder, co

– Mollie O’Brien

A very special evening with . . .

7:00pm

With eTown hosts Nick and Helen Forster

www.etown.org TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 35

Saturday, June 23rd Run Boy Run

The Devil Makes Three

Jerry Douglas

featuring Omar Hakim, Viktor Krauss & Luke Bulla

11:30 - 12:30

12:45 - 2:00

“Frontier,” says fiddler/guitarist Matt Rolland. “Telluride represents the frontier for us as a band – stepping out onto the stage into new, exciting territory.” On this Saturday morning, Run Boy Run’s new-old-time chambergrass explores its own musical frontier – quaking with the music of Monroe, haunted by the melancholy of Van Zandt.

The Tucson-based quintet paint their desert panoramas with the long luscious tones of cello, fiddles, and the hypnotizing 3-part female harmonies of siblings Bekah (fiddle) and Jen Sandoval (mandolin) and Grace Rolland (cello). With 2-time Arizona State Fiddle Champion Matt Rolland and bassist Jesse Allen, they move from a cappella ballads to moving originals to driving fiddle tunes. Says Matt, “We’ll move your soul and feet.”

Winners of the 2011 Telluride band contest – “a really mind-boggling and profound experience” says Bekah – and named one of the “10 Arizona Bands You Should Listen to Now” by Paste Magazine, 2012 has been a year of remarkable growth, as evidenced on their self-titled EP. Reflecting on their contest-winning performance on the Shellman Stage, Bekah turns to music’s inner frontier.

“Just seconds into the first tune, we felt at home on that stage because we’d managed to make a connection. This is why we play. Music has the ability to connect people who might not be connected in any other way.” – B.E.

Sometimes it’s hard, if not impossible, 2:30 - 3:45 to put a label on a band. Drawing “It depends on where you are, as to influences from old-time Americana, what kind of music is going to come blues, punk, ragtime, bluegrass, folk, out of you.” When Jerry Douglas looks and rockabilly, just to name a few, out onto St. Sophia Ridge for the The Devil Makes Three is one of those 28th year he’ll once again redefine bands. “We’re not really a genrethe sound of the dobro in ways that specific band,” says lead guitarist only Telluride can push him to do. and frontman Pete Bernhard. That With 13 Grammy Awards, numerous sentiment will become fantastically Artist of the Year recognitions, and obvious once their music begins to even a National Heritage Fellowship, fill the box canyon this afternoon.

Jerry is one of the most important Joining Bernhard in the trio: Lucia contemporary artists in American Turino on upright bass and Cooper music. A guest performer on over McBean on guitar and tenor banjo.

1,600 albums, The New York Times Refugees from the Northeast, the trio calls Jerry “dobro’s matchless conformed in California and embarked temporary master.” for relatively uncharted waters of For the third year, Jerry shares creating music that touched on all the Telluride stage with legendary the various genres that influenced drummer Omar Hakim and bassist them.

Viktor Kraus. “I just sit in the middle The band makes a concerted effort of it with a life preserver on. A whole to deliver a high-energy rock show, new encyclopedia is being written even if the instrumentation on stage on how to use that space. That’s and the music being performed is my study group.” This year Jerry something considerably different. augments the spacegrass trio with The band’s music is driven by rhythm vocalist and 7-time National Fiddle and deliciously catchy songwriting, Champion Luke Bulla to push the mostly penned by Bernhard. “Thinkmusic even harder and higher. ing back to the old blues, ragtime Together they’ll be previewing and jug band music, it was house music from Jerry’s first solo album music, party music. That was what in 3 years, Traveler, a record that we wanted to do.” features guest performances from Doing it, they are – winning frenmany of Jerry’s friends, including zied crowds with their hybrid style Eric Clapton, Mumford & Sons, Paul of progressive acoustic music, each Simon, and Marc Cohn, as well as and every show. Lucky for us, they Jerry’s lead vocal debut on the Leadhave brought it to Telluride. Buckle belly classic “On a Monday.” – B.E. up, it’s gonna be a fun ride. – D.B.

“I am not depressed in missing the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee ‘cause I have Telluride!”

– Jerry Douglas

Yonder Mountain String Band 4:15 - 5:45

Asked about his 13th year on the Telluride stage, banjo player Dave Johnston responds simply: “I am a pilgrim.”

Among the myriad reasons Yonder Mountain String Band has ascended to one of the most successful bluegrass bands of all-time is their honest sense of community. Dubbed “kinfolk,” Yonder fans share a love not just “of” their band, but “with” their band.

Johnston, guitarist Adam Aijala, mandolinist Jeff Austin, and bassist Ben Kaufmann play every show with a vibrant, uninhibited energy reverberating both off each other and off their feverishly focused crowd.

This week’s shows in Mountain Village and the Sheridan are but warmups for this dust-kickin’ main stage throwdown. For this is one of the festival’s unmissable sets; an opportunity for the band and their kinfolk to, in Johnston’s words: “recharge my heart and feel at home, so that I have a home, a heart, and a head to take with me.”

On this Saturday afternoon, the poser pit rope will again succumb to dance-grass bliss. Our most beloved acoustic quartet will lead our gleaming smiles through an only-inTelluride setlist, creating a sweating musical madness epic enough to keep kinfolk abuzz until August’s triumphant return to Lyons. “To hear what a high canyon sounds like, the cardinal points becoming one point, the music and people sending themselves into the summer.” – B.E.

Eco-Punch #6: Compost

Compost inside the festival and at your campsite with Eco-Products Biobags.

36 blue: how flat larry felt when leaving the 30th telluride bluegrass festival - larry dickinson | elk grove, ca

A New Graphic Novel Featuring The Unforgettable Story of the First Family of Country Music “Frank Young and David Lasky have spun a work of visual music that will replay in your head and heart well after you’ve finished reading it.”

—Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer and artist of Maus

Includes CD featuring rare Carter Family radio recordings!

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the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 37

5/17/12 5:55 PM

Saturday, June 23rd k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang 6:15 - 7:30

As the annual gathering point of the world’s most incredible acoustic instrumentalists, it’s easy to define Telluride Bluegrass’s signature sound as mandolin solos and dobro rides. Now and then, however, a vocalist steps forward to remind us that this canyon is a heavenly place to be sung to. Enter the woman Tony Bennett called “one of the great singers of all time,” and anyone who has heard k.d. lang produce her rich, expressive alto in concert understands why she is a singer’s singer who deserves such superlatives.

Nearing 30 years as a trailblazer, the Canadian crooner first gained popularity in the ‘80s by blending Western archetypes, Patsy Cline worship, and alt-country torch and twang. In the ‘90s, k.d. shed the camp and much of the country for a lush, polished balladry that was the perfect vehicle for her sultry, soaring vocal talents, resulting in an explosion of mainstream success, Grammy Awards, and hit singles. Along the way, lang scored big as a remarkable interpreter with impeccable taste who loved to wrap her voice around gorgeous melodies.

Friday’s much-anticipated set finds k.d. coming full circle, supporting her latest album, the fantastic Sing It Loud, with her versatile new band, the Siss Boom Bang. It’s a record that combines the layered elegance of k.d.’s modern period with the steel-guitar-laced frontier romance of her earlier years, plus a couple of chill-inducing covers.

How many of lang’s classic songs seem like perfect fits for this setting? “Western Stars”?

“The Valley”? “Summerfling”? k.d. lang in Telluride?

Hallelujah. – S.L.

Sam Bush BanD

Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

8:00 - 10:00

On Saturday evening, like nearly every Summer Solstice weekend before, we turn our attention to The King. No artist has played this festival more often (38 years and counting); no artist has inspired as much adoration and awe from Festivarians and fellow musicians.

Once onstage, Sam embodies the ideals of Festivarian Nation as he shares his virtuosity, adventure, love and laughter. From his first energetic chop on Ol’ Hoss to his last over the top improvisational solo, The King takes us on a majestic joy ride through the musical history of the festival: New Grass, Old Grass, Reggae, Soul, Rhythm and Blues. It’s all connected and it’s all Sam. When he lives his other life in Nashville, Sam has been widely recognized as one of acoustic music’s most important artists – collaborating with Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris; earning 3 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AMA, and even an official resolution from the Kentucky State Senate.

But here in Telluride, Sam’s the guy who flies in a couple days early to attend the staff barbecue and thank the volunteers. Sam’s the guy who won’t turn down an invitation to join a young TBF band onstage, even if they play early and he stayed up late. Sam’s the man who has jammed with more bands on the Shellman stage than anyone else, period.

The story continues as we welcome back The King and his royal court: Scott Vestal (banjo), Stephen Mougin (guitar), Todd Parks (bass), and Chris Brown (drums). – S.S.

“High inTelluride, up on Bridal Veil, 10,000 feet above the sound.Still thrilled... For 38 years.”

- Sam Bush

10:30 - 12:00

“When I play music, I guess I’m what you’d call an ecstatic,” says Bruce Hornsby. “I’m always pursuing those joyful, exuberant, transcendent moments that happen when everything is working.” Bruce’s attitude has made for some epic performances at the festival.

Despite his early successes, and 13 Grammy nominations, Bruce chose to pursue a more personal, idiosyncratic musical path, focusing on projects that sparked his creative interest and musical progress. That direction was manifest in his more than 100 concerts as guest keyboardist with the Grateful Dead. His work with the Dead encouraged Hornsby to incorporate musical improvisation into his own performances, while his eclectic musical interests have been reflected in a wide array of recording projects.

Over the years, Hornsby has successfully ventured into jazz, classical, bluegrass and even electronica, as reflected by such acclaimed recent releases as the bluegrass project Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby and the jazz trio album Camp Meeting with Jack DeJohnette and Christian McBride.

The prestigious list of Hornsby collaborators now includes Ornette Coleman, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny and Sting.

“I guess I’m a bit of a musical proselytizer,” says Hornsby. “I’m always hoping to turn the audience on to more adventurous music and music that’s below the mainstream radar. For me it’s all just beautiful music, and people seem willing to come along with me on the journey.” When Bruce takes the stage at Telluride, we’ll know exactly what he means! – S.S.

Eco-Punch #7: Micro-Trash

Visit Chaco booth to pickup and fill a plastic bag with wrappers & cigarette butts. Free sandals daily!

38 johnny cash playing “folsom prison blues” at 1997 telluride bluegrass - ann fisher | evansville, in

FlagstaFF,arizona Featuring:

Hot Rize ts,

with Special Gues rs Red Knuckles and The Trail Blaze PLuS:

Blue HiGHWAy THe STeelDRiveRS lAuRie leWiS and the Right Hands

FoGHoRn STRinGBAnD

Burnett Family Bluegrass run Boy run muskellunge Bluegrass Free CoCks o’ the north adm iss the knoCkaBouts for ch ion ildren ZaZu age 16 & BaCkwater opera unde r* ds Frien & is norr tony ChuCk Cheesman ANd MoRE!

Band Contest • Workshops Contra Dancing Jamming • Camping Kids’ Activities

Pickininthepines.org 928-525-1695

Festival supported by Arizona Commission on the Arts, City of Flagstaff BBB Revenues, Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Flagstaff Cultural Partners & National Endowment for the Arts *Children sixteen and under admitted free with accompanying adult ticketholder.

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 39

Sunday, June 24th John Cowan Band Gospel Hour

10:45 - 11:45

Joy Kills SorRow

12:00 - 1:00

Peter Rowan’s Big Twang Theory

Brett Dennen

3:15 - 4:30

“It’s not that we think traditional music 1:30 - 2:45 “There’s a lot of love and a lot of posineeds improving,” says guitarist tive energy here! I love it! I want to One of this year’s major celebrations Since his first visit to Telluride at do something with it!” So said Brett is the return of the Voice of Newgrass, Matthew Arcara. “This is just how we the beckoning of his pals in New happen to play it.” While the Boston Dennen back in 2008 during his the great John Cowan. He’s only missed Grass Revival in 1977, Peter has quintet pays homage to its bluegrass first appearance at Telluride Bluethe last two festivals – playing bass on been a tiller of the rich musical soil roots – their name references Indi- of the Telluride Bluegrass song- grass, feeling the harmonious vibes tour with the Doobie Brothers – but for ana’s early bluegrass station WJKS and soaking in the breathtaking an artist whose canyon-rattling pipes book. As our festival Shaman, he perspective from the artists’ stage have provided Telluride Bluegrass with – they are at the forefront of a new has the presence to weave a spell generation of acoustic musicians view. some of its most memorable thrills of masterful songwriting, cloaked raised on both the Stanley Brothers What Dennen did with the love is nearly every year since 1975, his in diverse musical ensembles each and the indie-folk of Fleet Foxes. what he does as well as anyone– absence was certainly felt. time he walks on stage. play percolating guitar grooves, While Cowan’s own band, con- Contests and awards place these Peter’s Grammy-winning career five twenty-somethings among the sistently featuring the best young now spans over five decades, begin- channel Billie Holiday by way of stringband elite: Arcara won the 2006 Bob Dylan, teach the audience singdynamos in bluegrass, has always ning with his early years playing National Flatpick Championship; alongs, break into delightfully goofy remained loyal to the progressive under the tutelage of bluegrass Vocalist Emma Beaton earned dance moves, and spread heartfelt bluegrass Cowan helped define in patriarch Bill Monroe. Following his Canadian Folk Music Awards’ Young goodwill to the audience’s pleasure the ‘70s as the singer/bassist for New stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Performer of the Year; Bassist and centers, one pretty melody at a time.

Grass Revival, Festivarians know that Garcia and subsequent breakouts as principle songwriter Bridget Kearney Cowan can sing anything, and his both solo performer and bandleader, Well, here comes the comeback.

The kid is back for another round, surprise walk-ons during other artists’ (the drive behind 2 of roots music’s Peter delighted his devoted fan base most exciting bands) won the John this time touring behind last year’s sets are the stuff of Telluride legend. with a continuous stream of original Lennon Songwriting Contest; Jacob Other singers would crawl through recordings, collaborative projects, addictive summer-bliss album, Jolliff attended Berklee as its first full- and constant touring with more Loverboy. The California songwriter broken glass to borrow Cowan’s larynx scholarship mandolin student, where has been putting out soulful folkfor 15 minutes. From high-lonesome recent projects including the Peter Wes Corbett is now a professor of banjo. Rowan Bluegrass Band. pop winners since 2004, but his bluegrass to banshee rock wails that no one else can touch, Cowan manip- Yet as a band, each employs the This year he brings his latest proj- fourth full-length is Dennen at his most mature of musical chops: the most exuberantly diverse, so look for ulates his diamond-clean skyrocket of ect, the Big Twang Theory, to Telluride everything from buttery-smoove soul a voice with enormous control, timing, sophistication to know when not to feature both new and old songs to use them. “We all have plenty of to filthy, hip-dysplasia-inducing and taste. played in an open-ended style. Peter opportunities to show our talents, but For his return, Cowan takes over says it’s an evolution of the Free Mexi- funk, all anchored by a turkey-fried it’s the understated approach that tenor voice like none other. this year’s traditional Gospel set. The can Airforce. “Its where I can air new makes our music special,” says Beaton. material and get a feel for the tune.” Any seasoned Festivarian can tell John Cowan Band knows its rousing On their third CD, This Unknown you that the Post-TBF Blues can start call-and-response gospel-grass, from Joining Peter in the Theory are Nina Science, JKS reimagine the traditional to creep in as you sense the end of “Let’s Make a Baby King” to “Jesus Gerber (lead electric guitar), Michael roles of bluegrass instruments over the fest on Sunday. Good news: Brett Gave Me Water,” so, after 3 nights of Rowan (electric guitar), Paul Knight wonderfully hooky, contemporary orig- (acoustic bass), Michael Witcher Dennen is the perfect Sunday afterhard festivating, we call on Johnny C inals – from a grippingly sparse bass to get back to where he belongs: the (dobro), and Kenneth Owen (drums). noon remedy. So get up on your tarps, and vocal duet to kinetic three-part “We find where the music wants to go, bring the love, and be prepared to do stage at 8745 feet to rejuvenate our harmony-fueled newgrass. – B.E. something with it. – S.L. weary souls. Amen to that. – S.L. and we let it take us there!” – S.S.

“Telluride in ‘99 was the first bluegrass festival I went to. In a lot of ways it changed the course of my life.” – Matt Arcara, Joy Kills Sorrow

Eco-Punch #8: Eco-Footprint

Help refine our carbon analysis by taking a quick survey at the Renewable Choice Energy booth.

40 my blue duhks t-shirt brings that perfect 2008 sunday to life. sun, rain, sleet, hail - peter mccarthy | pueblo, co

TELLURIDE’S ONLY MICRO BREW PUB — BEER WITH AN ALTITUDE!

Beer • Sirloin Burgers • Premium Steaks 18 of our award-winning beers on tap!

Gold medal from The Great American Beer Fest and Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

Telluride’s Best Sports Bar with 15 big flat screen HD TVs.

225 S. Pine St. One block from the Oak St. Gondola

Skiing Magazine — Rated Top 5 Ski Town Brew Pubs.

970.728.0919

Reservations, Large Parties & Catering

www.smugglerjoestelluride.com

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 41

Sunday, June 24th Punch Brothers

5:00 - 6:15

Sure, you might have seen Punch Brothers on the Telluride mainstage last year, or the year before, or the year before that. Which doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve witnessed what the band has to offer this year.

Punch Brothers remains the same five stellar musicians from years past: banjoist Noam Pikelny, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert and fiddler Gabe Witcher, all wrangled together by big brother, mandolinist-singer Chris Thile.

But since forming in 2006, the group has been in a mode of constant acceleration, not content unless they’re moving the concept of the string quintet forward. At a high rate of speed.

Punch Brothers came out of the gate as visionaries; their debut album Punch centered around “The Blind Leaving the Blind,” Thile’s 40-minute, four-part suite that fused bluegrass, classical, jazz and folk. For the next album, Antifogmatic, the group brought in producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Kanye West) for a collection of shorter songs. Moreover, the band found its group voice, with all five members sharing in the writing.

Who’s Feeling Young Now?, released earlier this year, hit a new level. Yes, another new level.

With Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) producing, Punch Brothers ventured into something like a pop realm – but a pop realm where Radiohead-type adventurousness reigns, and there is room for the influences of Bach, New Grass Revival and Thelonious Monk.

So you think you’ve heard Punch Brothers?

Listen closely. That’s the sound of Punch Brothers doing something you’ve never heard before. – S.O.

Glen HansarD

TelluriDe House BanD

For the uninitiated, Glen Hansard’s rise to stardom (an Academy Award & 11 Tony nominations for Once) seemed like an overnight success. But in reality that “overnight” encompasses over two decades of emotionally-exposed belting, dropping out of school to busk on the streets of Dublin, touring the world with The Frames, carving the signature hole in his Takamine guitar one show (and one pummeling strum) at a time.

The irony of Glen’s stardom is that one of the most unscripted, in-the-present musicians we know may be best known as an actor. For watching Glen perform makes us believe in the creative muse – he is a direct conduit. A disciple of Van Morrison and Leonard Cohen, Glen’s years have taught him to cast his vulnerable Irish soul into an audience and let his muscular voice pull it back out with vein-popping intensity.

Glen’s 2008 Swell Season performance remains one of the most emotionally stunning sets ever played on the Shellman Stage. What started as anticipation and goosebumps quickly turned to tears, hugs, marshmallows, and unending ovations. When Glen put aside his guitar to dance during “Fitzcarraldo” we were witness to a magical connection as the stage and the tarps became one.

Glen returns to Telluride’s penultimate spot with his freshly unveiled solo album, Rhythm & Repose, and members of The Frames: Colm Mac Con Iomaire (fiddle), Graham Hopkins (drums), Rob Bochnik (guitar), Joe Doyle (bass), and Dublinborn composer Justin Carroll (piano), to raise our collective voice, to push us deeply into the present, and to make art. – B.E.

8:45 - 10:45

featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart

7:00 - 8:15

“I celebrate three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Telluride.” – Chris Thile

At exactly 8 minutes past sunset, time will once again stretch and sway to the festival’s culminating moment: the only-in-Telluride gathering of the House Band.

Time bows to the prowess of these 6 artists: Sam Bush (mandolin), Béla Fleck (banjo), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Edgar Meyer (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitar) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle). As undisputed masters, each has revolutionized the how, what, where, when, and why of their instrument. Their musical passions have connected them to every artist who has come before; the immensity of their ideas has touched everyone who will follow.

The walls of time are adorned with the hundreds of awards befitting time’s greatest musicians: Grammys, CMA Artists of the Year, MacArthur “Genius” grants, Americana Music Association awards, IBMA Instrumentalists of the Year, National Heritage Fellowships.

Together these 6 artists show us the timeless potential of this music known as “Telluride Bluegrass.” Their fusion of the ancient tones with the far-reaching time zones of jazz, classical, celtic, and world musics has found a fitting home here nestled among the waterfalls, ridges, and peaks.

When tonight’s final note is played, this is the genius that will ring out over the valley for the next year. This is the now and future soul of acoustic string music. This is the sound that has carried us all back to this magical place for 39 years. This is the greatest collection of musicians in the world. And this is their time. – B.E.

Eco-Punch #9: Knowledge

Learn about the story of compost at the EcoAction Partners booth.

42 bright blue-tinged light of headlamps cutting through the dark night of town park - patrick creyts | denver, co

Proving that true Festivarians postpone sleep until the week after Bluegrass, these intimate late-night shows make the most of the shortest nights of the year.

On Wednesday night, Festivarians board the free gondola to Mountain Village for Yonder Mountain String Band’s sold-out 11th Annual Kick-Off party. Plan to hop on the gondola a few hours earlier again this year for the free FirstGrass Concert in Mountain Village featuring Greensky Bluegrass and Della Mae with very special guest Peter Rowan.

In addition to the centrally-located Sheridan Opera House and Fly Me to the Moon Saloon, the late-night musical riches again include nightly shows in the state-ofthe-art Palm Theatre inside Telluride High School on the west end of Colorado Avenue.

While the most intimate NightGrass shows sold-out via an online lottery in April, tickets may still be available for shows at the Palm Theatre. Any remaining tickets will be sold at Telluride Music during the day or at the venue beginning 45 minutes before showtime.

2012 nightgrass schedule WednesDay

ThursDay

Friday

SatuRDay

SunDay

Free FirstGrass Concert:

Laura Marling with Joy Kills Sorrow Palm Theatre Ages 21+ • 11pm • $25

Peter Rowan & the Travelin’ McCourys with Seryn Palm Theatre Ages 21+ • 11pm • $25

Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman & Friends Palm Theatre Ages 21+ • 11pm • $25

Punch Brothers Sheridan Opera House Ages 21+* • 10:30pm Sold-out!

June 20

Greensky Bluegrass and Della Mae

with special guest Peter Rowan

Sunset Plaza, Mountain Village All-Ages • 5-8pm Free!

11th Annual Bluegrass Kick-Off Party…

Yonder Mountain String Band Telluride Conference Center, Mountain Village All-Ages • 9pm Sold-out!

June 21

Elephant Revival Sheridan Opera House Ages 21+* • 11pm Sold-out!

Dan Mangan & Della Mae Fly Me to the Moon Saloon Ages 21+ • 11pm Sold-out!

Eco-Punch #10: Share

June 22

June 23

Yonder Mountain String Band Sheridan Opera House Ages 21+* • 11pm Sold-out!

Head for the Hills Fly Me to the Moon Saloon Ages 21+ • 11pm Sold-out!

Share sustainable festivation inspiration by writing a postcard at the New Belgium booth.

Greensky Bluegrass Sheridan Opera House Ages 21+* • 11pm Sold-out!

June 24

*unless accompanied by parent

The Devil Makes Three with Run Boy Run Fly Me to the Moon Saloon Ages 21+ • 11pm Sold-out!

Limited tickets for remaining shows available at Telluride Music or Palm Theatre (beginning 45 minutes before showtime.)

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 43

dates to remember Telluride Bluegrass

June 20-23, 2013 40th Anniversary June 19-22, 2014 June 18-21, 2015 Open Daily 156 DEF Society Drive 970-728-5094 telluridebrewingco.com

RockyGrass Academy

Stop by Lawson Hill & fill up your growler, buy some schwag, take home some cans or Sample Some of the finest beers...

Period.

July 27-29, 2012 40th Anniversary July 26-28, 2013

Winner of Gold Award 2012 American Style Brown Category Face Down Brown

July 22-26, 2012 July 21-25, 2013

RockyGrass

The Song School August 12-16, 2012 August 11-15, 2013

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival August 17-19, 2012 August 16-18, 2013

Kinfolk Celebration August 24-25, 2012

2013 ticket lotteries begin in November. All other 2013 Telluride Bluegrass tickets go onsale on Wednesday, December 5. Visit Bluegrass.com beginning in October for more details.

44 something old, something new, something borrowed, something bluegrass! happy anniversary, b&p!! - susan & steve | chicago, il

With this year’s festival selling out months earlier than ever and the historic 40th anniversary likely to create similar demand, we’re looking hard at our ticketing policies for 2013.

Unlike our larger counterparts in the festival world, we can’t support a massive online infrastructure akin to the national ticketing companies. Instead, we remain committed to providing the best possible ticketing and customer service, but on a Planet Bluegrass scale, free of hidden fees and impersonal third-parties.

Last winter we began implementing changes to help us navigate this unfamiliar ticketing territory. After our webserver nearly crashed from unprecedented initial demand, we invested in new technologies to easily accommodate our 2nd busiest day of the year, NightGrass on-sale. When 4-day passes sold-out in just 18 days, we moved to a lottery system for single-day tickets before demand for those tickets compounded.

This fall we’ll be considering additional ticketing changes. With Warner Field selling out faster each year, we’re looking at selling those passes through an online lottery – the same system we have used with Town Park camping for the past 6 years. Other potential changes include smaller per order ticket limits, staggered on sale dates for Telluride and RockyGrass, and earlier refund deadlines for 2013.

A natural concern with this year’s unprecedented ticket sales is the potential increase in ticket scalping. While we are vigilantly

concerned about the potential problem, we are also reluctant to force all Festivarians to make sacrifices in an effort to prevent a few scalpers. Ultimately, the only way to stop scalpers is to refuse to buy tickets for more than face value. We’ve setup our returned ticket resale and Festivarian Forum to facilitate and encourage such fair ticket purchases.

Regardless of the changes we make this fall, we’ll remain committed to no hidden fees, honoring festivarian loyalty, and creating an incomparable festival experience. As always, we welcome your ideas and suggestions – and we’ll be asking for more specific feedback early this fall via our e-newsletter and website.

planet bluegrass would like to thank our lodging partners

Reserve your 40th anniversaRy lodging now at

www.telluRiDebluegrass.com/loDging

the thirty-ninth annual telluride bluegrass festival 45

online survey

Even after 39 years, we continue to refine every aspect of the festival.

Help us out by sharing your comments about the festival experience.

Complete our 5-minute online survey and you’ll be entered to win a pair of 2013 festival passes.

www.bluegrass.com/tbfsurvey

as part of our evolution toward sustainable festivation, we are continually evaluating our use of paper.

This year’s program is printed on FSCcertified Neenah Conservation 80# Cover and 70# Text paper. By using this 100% postconsumer recycled fiber made with 100% renewable energy, we saved 20,591 lbs of wood, 30,068 gallons of water, and 6,243 lbs of carbon emissions.

Help extend the life of this program by sharing it with your tarpmates, protecting it as a lasting souvenir, or recycling it in the specially marked bins by the festival exit.

virtual tarp

Throw down your virtual tarp year-round, commune with your fellow Festivarians, and be the first to hear about lineups, tickets, and giveaways…

festivarian.com facebook.com/planetbluegrass twitter.com/planetbluegrass

38th Annual Santa Fe Bluegrass and Old Time Festival August 24-26, 2012 Santa Fe County Fairgrounds 3229 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM

The Gibson Brothers 2011 IBMA Award Winners Jeff Scroggins and Colorado Mystic Lizard

Dan and Rayna Gellert

Soda Rock Ramblers Deming Fusiliers

Lost Howlin’ Coyotes Last Minute Bluegrass Chokecherry Jam Out of No Where

Railyard Reunion Kitty Jo Creek East Mountain Serenaders Paw Coal and the Clinkers

Sponsored by: The Southwest Traditional and Bluegrass Music Association www.Southwestpickers.org

46 ain’t no blue like the blue in my fingers, since my gloves fell in the port-o-john - jeff stampes | jamestown, co

40

th

Anniversary Edition

Coming in 2013: a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book Surprisingly, the 40 years of concerts on this magical stage have never been collected under one cover—until now.

For the last several years, journalist and radio personality G. Brown has searched through every library, historical society, newspaper morgue and private collection to compile materials for Telluride Bluegrass Festival – 40th Anniversary Edition. This distinctive book will contain hundreds of images from leading Colorado photographers, such as Tim Benko, Don Kallaus, Mark Richardson, Mary Staley Pridgen, Tim Timberlake and Todd Bacon.

In addition, Telluride Bluegrass Festival – 40th Anniversary Edition will feature over 100 interviews with an array of stars in the acoustic music galaxy, from Sam Bush and Béla Fleck to Bruce Hornsby and the late Bill Monroe, and members of the community—mayors, promoters, publicists, reporters, record store owners and more. Also weighing in

will be the production folks who find Telluride to be the most beautiful—yet most challenging—touring destination.

John Lehndorff and Charlotte Bell, two prominent TBF historians, have provided a wealth of additional research on the festival years, from the first annual event in 1974 to the present.

Learn more and sign-up to receive updates on the book at:

www.telluRiDebluegrass.com/book

48 blue, your eyes and the reflection of the mountains and waterfall in them - miki leppert | golden, co

What beer do we drink when we’re done making beer?

The one you’re about to enjoy in Shift. Canning this Nelson Sauvin hopped pale lager means everyone gets to reward their work. Or play. Or, if you’re like us, combine the two and surround yourself with drinking buddies. Clock out and crack one open.

shift pale lager is brewed by new belgium brewing fort collins co