Like the evanescent full moon, everything as we know it is temporary. A famous songwriter once sang about change: it is universal, pervasive, inevitable—but it also heralds the opportunity for artistry and reinvention. That writer was, of course, the late David Bowie, one of the many icons—along with the original Fred Shellman Memorial Stage—to take their final bow since we last convened together here in Telluride. While we honor what has been, we are also uniquely poised to celebrate what is yet to come. This weekend our Festivarian community christens the brand-new, larger-than-life Town Park Stage. We’re also here to jubilate on some special TBF anniversaries: Edgar Meyer’s 25th and Tim O’Brien’s 40th! As you explore this enchanting valley, please remember to tread lightly. Fill your reusable bottle at our water stations, your pockets with microtrash, and be mindful of the waste you generate. Remember you’re at altitude, and lather on sunscreen accordingly. Then harness the sun’s power to charge your phone at the Sunsense booth in Greentown. As Sustainable Festivarians, we encourage you to complete this year’s Eco-Puzzle crossword for a chance to win a deluxe Kelty camping package. Be sure to share your neighbors’ innovative camping practices with Leave No Trace for a chance to win swag and shoutouts from the stage. Then in the heat of the afternoon, cool off with a refreshing shrub cocktail, or try a Citradelic or Heavy Melon. And once again, Summer Bliss will be on tap, only at Telluride, especially for you.
Festival Director: Craig Ferguson Assistant Festival Director: Steve Szymanski Festival & Box Office Manager: Shauna Nashak Festival Grounds Supervisor Rich Estes Operations Supervisor: Eric Kean Production Crew: Sean Flynn, Zach Tucker, Ryan Kean, Ross Caswell, Mitchell Hodge & Riley Miller Sustainable Festivation Supervisors: Kris Holstrom & Walter Wright Festival Waste Crew: Andy Berger & Andrew Kolberg Chief of Security: John Cohn Security Supervisor: Frank Hensen Crowd Management: Joe Piche, Damion Alexander, Mile Bell, Josh Blakeman, Rick Flores, Jonathan Greenspan, Rachael Hensen, Tucker Hensen, John Macias, Derek Medina, Abe Millar, Kate Redmond, Consuelo Reyes, Steven Sherman-Boemaker, Arthur Sowinski, Kevin White Customs Gate Supervisors: Franny Cohn, Debby Guarino, Ruth Hensen, Carol Lee, Denise Scanlon & Tina Tharp TP Camp Gate Supervisors: Marilyn Branch & Larry Stewart
Pedestrian Bridge Supervisors: Calvin Poon & Blake Balkman Backstage Security Supervisor: Tara Doran Pit Master: Hunt Worth Overnight Security: Shawn Williams, Gary Broughall & Ben Rich Camping Supervisor: Denise Mongan Town Park Campground Hosts: Tim & Laura Thomas Warner Field Campground Hosts: Carol, Randy & Aaron Reece Telluride High School Campground Hosts: Fawnda Rogers & Colten Rogers Lawson Hill Campground Hosts: Kathleen Morgan, Craig Wasserman, Michelle Foote & Jack Bonkers Mary E Campground Hosts: James Addoms, Charlene Becerra, Aaron Cooklin, Davis Shamburger & William Alex Wissing Valley E-Team Supervisor: Steve Green Parking Supervisor: Dennis Green Vehicle Gate Supervisors: Kristin Milord, Ed Janus, Matt Kroll & Mary Alice Wagner Backstage Hospitality/Artist Supervisor: Julie Rakotz Aijala Backstage Hospitality: Laurie Harper, Rick Morris & Jules Hirsh
Backstage Catering Supervisor: Markus Chesla Artist Transportation Supervisors: Ed Kean & Jeremy Matsen Box Office Supervisors: Laura Larson, Jasmine Lok, Geoff Wickersham, Madison Watson Nichole Elmore & Bill Carlson Media Relations: Brian Eyster Sponsor Relations & Social Media: Madison Watson Concessions Supervisors: Jill Brzezicki, James Thomas & Bethel Steele Communications Supervisors: Luci Reeve, Sandy McLaughlin & Jim Bedford Country Store Supervisors: Patrick O’Kelly & Dustin Boyd Artist Consignment Supervisor: Kara O’Kelly Family Tent Supervisor: Patricia Sunfield Sponsor Tent/Greentown Supervisors: Wendy McFarland & Suzanne Teele Contest Supervisor: Charlie Bailey Elks Park Workshop Supervisors: Edee Gail & BJ Suter Elks Park Workshop Sound: Dean Rolley & Tom Fortier
Whether howling at the moon with Sam Bush or pickin’ in the campgrounds as the sun rises, if it’s your first festival or your 43rd, we know Telluride will speak to you. Enjoy a spot on an empty tarp until its owner returns. Drink plenty of water. And most importantly, savor each moment with your Festivarian family. On behalf of our hundreds of staff and volunteers, we’re so glad you’re here.
Love, The Folks on Planet Bluegrass
Elks Park Workshop Transportation: Tom & Nancy Richards Stage Design: Kahlie Pinello Park Beautification: Claudia Kean Libation Station Supervisors: Elizabeth Howe, Pam Bennett & Dan Zemke NightGrass Supervisor: Lindsey Dubey 2016 Poster Artist: Scott Knauer Master of Ceremonies: Chris Daniels
Stage Crew Stage Manager: Skip Kent FOH Engineer: Tom Holmes Monitor Engineer: Mike Bove Backstage Manager: John Setser FOH/Stage: Garth Michael Lighting Director: Dave Hall Lights: Dylan Schulgrasser Audio: Mark Miceli Patch/Stage: Melissa Britton Monitors/Stage: Brent Healy Stage Lead: Ric Teller Stage: Mark Altomare, Carl Billing, Justin Milner & Rhett Snyder Labor/Spots: Tim Territo Spots: Tom Worth Sound: Firehouse Productions Lights: ILIOS Lighting Design Backline: Harry Backline, LLC
Program Staff Editors: Brian Eyster & Steve Szymanski Design & Layout: Pat Creyts & Matt Marosz Contributing Writers: Charlotte Bell, Brian Eyster, Amy Haddon, Steve Leftridge, Anna Rengstedt, Steve Szymanski, Madison Watson Advertising: Madison Watson Photography: Benko Photographics Printing: Matt Coburn at OneTouchPoint Cover Image: Scott Knauer
Thanks To our Festival Partners New Belgium Brewing, Renewable Choice Energy, Eco-Products, Klean Kanteen, Keen Footwear, Kelty, Telluride Alpine Lodging, Shanti Guitars, Gibson Musical Instruments, Martin Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Anthesis Mosaic, Craft 710, Meier Skis, Leave No Trace Center For Outdoor Ethics, Sunsense Solar, EcoAction Partners, Red Bird, Allegro Coffee, Guayakí Yerba Mate, and Eldorado Natural Spring Water
Planet Bluegrass Year-round Staff President: Craig Ferguson Senior Vice-President: Steve Szymanski Vice-President of Operations: Shauna Nashak Vice-President of Communications: Brian Eyster Vendor Coordinator: Laura Larson Merchandise, Ticketing & Festivarian Relations: Dustin Boyd Volunteer Coordinator: Jasmine Lok Strategy & Special Projects: Madison Watson Festivarian Relations: Geoff Wickersham Festivarian Relations: Nicole Bookman Ranch Manager: Eric Kean Special Events Coordinator: Julie Rakotz Aijala
Planet Bluegrass would like to thank 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, Lawson Hill Property Owners and the Telluride School District
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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The perfect addition to the family. “I can’t put mine down.” - Jason Isbell
2016 Two-time Grammy® Award Winner
D Jr. E
D-45
LXM
JASON ISBELL
Something More Than Free jasonisbell.com
martinguitar.com | #DreadNot
“[Author Pastor Mustard’s] synapses explode like overheated popcorn. His signature banter is nonstop, displaying an off-beat, wry wit reminiscent of Tom Robbins.” –Telluride Inside & Out
“A gonzo-style look at a community brimming with creativity, energy, and a frontier spirit.” –Relix Magazine “Every single contributor reiterates the same thing: the sacredness of these four short days. It’s impossible to capture what happens here. But at least this written capsule can remind us of what we love for those other 361 days.” –The Bluegrass Situation
“Not many music festivals can boast such loyalty, and not many books can capture such devotion so well.” –Boulder Weekly
“216 pages of pure bliss… The photographs are so good that those of us who have been there are thrown back in time to those moments on the tarp as we wondered whether life could get any better than this.” –No Depression
Featuring more than 350 photos; full-page reproductions of each poster; essays by Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and dozens of others; and year-by-year accounts by Pastor Mustard.
2016 Festival
I remember thinking during the sizzling House Band set last year that night has been a bit underrepresented over the last 42 years. So I decided to think along those lines for art ideas. As darkness descends, a special kind of intimacy begins: the ridge lines disappear and you move closer to the warmth of the great common campfire of the stage. This year’s painting is a reminder of all those chilly night time memories of great jams, good friends, and that special feeling you get when you crest the last hill on your way to the great gathering. It takes serious effort to get here (more if you travel by mule cart) but the journey is always worth the trip because a near sustained state of bliss is all but guaranteed.
–Scott Knauer
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
sustainable
f e s t i va r i a n ’s The pristine San Miguel River and jagged San Juan peaks are as important to Telluride Bluegrass as Sam’s mandolin and Edgar’s bass. So 14 years ago we formed a GreenTeam to examine the impacts of our festival on this inspiring landscape. We began that first year with recycling and compost. Each year since we’ve expanded our efforts to embrace renewable energy, carbon offsets, free locally-filtered water, organic local food, leave no trace camping, and more. Over the years our GreenTeam has grown to encompass all of Festivarian Nation, as the terms “sustainable” and “Festivarian” have become synonymous. In the spirit of Festivation, we’ve put together this Eco-Puzzle to highlight key aspects of Sustainable Festivation. The answers are available around the Festival: on our Sustainable Festivation posters, from our partners in Greentown, and in articles inside this program. Complete the puzzle on the back of the pocket schedule and deposit your completed card in one of the boxes in Greentown. Watch for the grand prize drawing—for a deluxe camping package from Kelty—on the main stage at 5:00pm on Sunday. You need not be present to win.
Eco-Puzzle Grand Prize
Kelty camping package including: Trail Ridge 4 tent, 2 Linger low-back chairs, Kelty Built swag, and $1000 in Kelty cash
Eco-Puzzle Questions ACROSS: 4. Because of Telluride’s low humidity and high altitude you should consume _____ as much water here.
DOWN: 1. Planet Bluegrass, New Belgium Brewing, Klean Kanteen and Renewable Choice Energy are all certified _____.
6. To reduce single-use bottles and cups, Klean Kanteen donated 500 _____ for our artists and crew.
2. To help protect wild places, Kelty is a founding member of the _____ Alliance.
8. _____ to and from Telluride accounts for more than 95% of the Festival’s carbon footprint.
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3. Planet Bluegrass buys green power in the form of _____ to counterbalance the emissions from the Festival’s electricity use. 5. This program was printed on 100% post-consumer _____ fiber.
10. The term “recycling” applies to any _____ resource, including compost.
7. Win free sandals at the Keen booth by being the first two Festivarians each day to collect a baggie of ______.
13. Share your _____ camping practices at the Leave No Trace booth in Greentown.
9. We could remove nearly 40,000 single-use items from the festival waste stream by introducing reusable _____ in 2017.
14. Protect your _____ from the sun’s ultraviolet rays by slathering on the sunscreen at the EMT tent.
11. Less than _____ percent of the annual waste generated by New Belgium Brewing ends up in the landfill.
16. You could save four _____ of CO2e by solar charging your phone year-round. Visit Sunsense Solar to charge yours at the festival!
12. Visit your campground host for free Eco-Products _____ for your campsite compost. 15. On average, a Festivarian who flies to Telluride has a personal carbon footprint of one metric _____ of CO2e.
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
T L I U B Y T L E K # BUILT Y T L E K # BUILT #KELTY
BUILT #KELTY
BUILT #KELTY
BUILT #KELTY
BUILT Y T L E K # Get equipped at Kelty.com
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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Cocktails In addition to our selection of Colorado-brewed New Belgium beers, we’re pleased to offer several local libations in our beverage booth this year for unique and delicious Colorado-inspired cocktails.
Bloody Marys :: Margaritas :: Gin & Tonics Moscow Mules :: Rum Mules Coyote Gold Natural Margaritas were invented by a pair of engineers from Fort Collins with a passion for perfectly balanced margaritas. What began as a “kitchen brew,” has been available since 2008 as an authentic, all natural product that is free of preservatives, artificial flavors & colors, and gluten. Our Bloody Marys, Gin & Tonics, and Moscow Mules feature hand-crafted vodka and gin from Spirit Hound Distillers. This craft distillery in Lyons uses custom-built distillation equipment to capture all of the purity and flavor of their locally-sourced Colorado ingredients, such as freshly picked juniper berries. Tonic water and ginger-lime shrub are provided by Lost Identity, a boutique crafter of old world beverages in Vail. For those still pursuing a mixology degree: Shrubs are an intriguing blend of fruit, sugar, and vinegar invented during the Colonial Era to preserve fruit long after harvest; while tonic water is a mid-nineteenth century British elixir to deliver and preserve quinine.
A Toast Thanks to your thirst for New Belgium Beer—along with our new selection of cocktails—we donated nearly $100,000 to local charities in 2015 including: Telluride EMT Association, Telluride Volunteer Fire Department, Telluride Rotary Club, One to One Mentoring, KOTO, Telluride TV, Leave No Trace, and the new stage construction. Again this year, the tips you leave for our friendly beer booth volunteers will support a different non-profit each day.
Telluride Angel Baskets Thursday
Telluride Academy Friday
KOTO
Saturday
One To One Mentoring Sunday
Raise your reusable cup high! Thanks for supporting the Telluride community.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
B luegrass Beers Our friends at New Belgium Brewing have once again brought some beloved favorites including the Festivarian homecoming of Summer Helles. Lots of sampling opportunities for your bluegrass weekend in the sun. Enjoy!
Fat Tire
Ranger IPA
Heavy Melon
Citradelic
Summer Bliss
Named in honor of its cofounder’s bike trip through Europe, Fat Tire Amber Ale marked a turning point in the young electrical engineer’s home brewing. Together with co-founder Kim Jordan, they traveled around sampling their homebrews to the public. Fat Tire won fans with its sense of balance: toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness. Fat Tire: Pairs well with people.
Bring out the hops! This clear amber India pale ale beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. Brewed with pale and dark caramel malts that harmonize the hop flavor from start to finish, Ranger is a sessionable splendor for all you hopinistas. Thank you, Beer Ranger!
Brewed with juicy watermelon and zesty lime peel, this crushable ale rips with a blast of melon notes. Ripened fruit aromas of melon, papaya and citrus climax with an enticing aroma, and set up an invigorating wash of fruity sweetness, grassy bitterness and the slightest touch of tartness. Super crisp and refreshing from start to finish, Heavy Melon Ale shreds through the summer heat.
Set adrift on a kaleidoscopic wave of hoppiness brought to you by a mystical marriage of Citra hops and tangerine peel, which elevates each sip onto a plane of pure tropical, fruity pleasure. Citradelic’s namesake hop and fruit combine to jam with visions of additional hops like citrusy Mandarina Bavaria, tropical Azzaca, and fruity Galaxy for a colorful explosion that’s grounded by just a touch of malty sweetness.
Brewed specially for Planet Bluegrass, this South Germanstyle lager pours a brilliant gold, with soft, white foam. This danceable lager carries the pleasant sweetness of pale and German Pils malts, and levels off with the light and noble bitterness of Hallertau and Tettnang hops. Finishing crisp and dry, Summer Bliss is sure to refresh even the thirstiest Festivarian ready to drink in the festival season.
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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25 Years
of Bluegrass
and Beyond
by Charlotte Bell For many of us who gather each year for this musical bonanza, the bluegrassy vibrations we absorb from the main stage feel as if they’re not simply coming from musical instruments; they emanate from the hearts and souls of the artists whose instruments have become extensions of them. For a Festivarian, there’s nothing more inspiring than witnessing these sounds from the soul soaring out into the canyon. And for 25 festivals, we are especially fortunate to have been able to bask in the vibrations of one of the world’s unparalleled examples of musical mastery: Edgar Meyer.
Born into a musical family, Edgar began his lifelong relationship with the string bass at age five. “My father played bass and loved music almost more than anything,” he says. “I identified with that. I cannot remember a time when I did not think of the bass as my voice. The decision of whether or not to pursue music professionally is secondary to the fundamental importance of music to me.” By junior high, Edgar was playing jazz gigs with his dad—Edgar on piano and his dad on bass—and had begun writing his own music. Also in junior high, Edgar formed a band with three other musical friends who played an eclectic combination of instruments: bassoon, alto sax, bamboo flute, piano, bass, trombone, electric bass—perhaps a harbinger for the diverse and inventive musical trails he would later travel. While attending math camp in high school Edgar and his classmate, guitarist Andy MacAfee, met and formed a trio with singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky. It was also in high school that he was introduced to the high, lonesome sounds of bluegrass music.
“ We knew then that he wasn’t your average hillbilly bass player out of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.” Edgar attended Indiana University’s prestigious school of music where he studied classical bass with Stuart Sankey. In the classical world, Edgar is renowned as a composer and performer. He performs with symphony orchestras around the world, and in 2002 he won a MacArthur Fellowship for composing and performance. Among his many notable classical compositions are three concertos for bass and orchestra, and a concerto he wrote for renowned violinist Hilary Hahn. In 1960, Edgar’s father discovered what would become his son’s lifelong musical companion, a 1769 Gabrielli bass from Florence, Italy. The instrument had come to the U.S. in 1950 and for years, Edgar’s father followed its travels with an eye to purchase it. In 1983, the bass became available and Edgar has been playing it ever since. Edgar’s journey to Telluride began with a fortuitous meeting with Béla Fleck while Edgar was a student at the Aspen Music Festival. The two had met once, briefly, but had never played together. Béla was performing with New Grass Revival in Aspen at the time, and heard about an amazing musician who had just placed third (Tim O’Brien took first) in the Pitkin County fiddle competition—on upright bass. “People were knocked out,” Béla says. Edgar and Béla ended up jamming on Charlie Parker tunes in front of Aspen’s Häagen-Dazs shop. “We knew then that he wasn’t your average hillbilly bass player out of Oak Ridge, Tennessee,” remembers Sam Bush. Soon after, Edgar made his first trip to Telluride where Béla, Sam and Jerry Douglas were scheduled to play as part of the “Telluride AllStars” with Vassar Clements. Edgar was invited to join the jam. Both Edgar and Béla remember a particularly complicated tune from that
set, “The Long Way Around,” that Béla says had “six million chords in it that nobody could fake.” Edgar says, “I believe the only chords I got right were by accident.” But Béla’s overall memory of Edgar’s first impromptu set in Telluride was that he blew everybody away. “I knew Edgar was going to be a part of our musical world from then on,” says Jerry. In 1985, Festival founder Fred Shellman invited Sam, Béla, Jerry and Mark O’Connor to put together a “thunder jam” set. They had recently collaborated with Edgar on his first MCA album, Unfolding, and the five of them performed Edgar’s music at Summer Lights in Nashville. Edgar envisioned them forming a band. Béla suggested to Fred that instead of a wide-open jam, they could let the fledgling band do its thing. “It turned out to be a new direction for the music that celebrated all the different things the five of us wanted to do and combined them,” says Béla. From that first Telluride All-Stars set grew Strength In Numbers. In 1989 Strength In Numbers released an album of 10 original compositions titled The Telluride Sessions, in which each member of the group co-wrote a composition with each other member. “Having us write in pairs encouraged a more varied, less traditional, and maybe slightly more complex manner of writing than might have otherwise occurred,” says Edgar. “That record is so cool because you can hear all our personalities in it,” says Jerry. “The pieces Sam and I wrote, Béla and I wrote, Edgar and I wrote, Mark and I wrote, are all completely different. The matching up of personalities is so apparent.” The five performed as Strength In Numbers on the Telluride stage from 1989 through 1993. During the ’80s, Edgar and Béla began performing an annual duo set as part of the Telluride workshop schedule. The standing-roomonly banjo and bass mini-concerts became a workshop tradition that later graced the main stage, and produced the 2004 CD, Music for Two. Edgar and Béla will perform as a duo in Elks Park this weekend.
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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“Edgar appreciates all kinds of music, and it’s never about the amount of notes; it’s about the feeling and the communication with others.”
Chris Thile first met Edgar backstage at RockyGrass in the late 1990s. He says he basically apprenticed with Edgar when he moved to Nashville a few years later. “He has always been a hero of mine,” he says. “He has influenced me in all ways—his work ethic: he is a tireless worker. He leaves no stone unturned. Seeing the way he works with a piece of music, dotting all the I’s crossing all the T’s, has taught me so much. There’s no performance situation too trivial for him not to throw everything he has into it. Watching him connect body and soul in his playing and composing is incredibly inspiring.” Over the years, Edgar has performed main stage sets with Jerry and Russ Barenberg; James Taylor; as a member of the Telluride House Band; and in duos and trios with Béla, Chris and Mike Marshall, including a 2003 all-Bach Sunday morning set. In 2010, Edgar performed here with Béla and Zakir Hussain, who Edgar says has influenced his music profoundly, especially in recent years. “As technically proficient as Edgar is and as educated as he is, it’s really about the feel,” says Sam. “Edgar appreciates all kinds of music, and it’s never about the amount of notes; it’s about the feeling and the communication with others.” Edgar has collaborated with his bluegrass cohorts on many CDs. These include duo and trio CDs with Béla, Chris and Mike, including 1997’s Uncommon Ritual; projects such as Appalachia Waltz and the Grammy-winning Appalachian Journey with Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O’Connor; The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Chris, Stuart Duncan and Yo-Yo Ma; Skip, Hop and Wobble with Jerry and Russ; and Short Trip Home with Sam, Mike and Joshua Bell. Many of these projects bring together musicians from the classical and bluegrass worlds. “The way he’s invited so many bluegrass musicians into the classical world is really wonderful,” says Sam. “Edgar is the most generous musician I’ve ever met. He’s inclusive with his knowledge. He wants to bring us into his world.” Whether he’s collaborating with his bluegrass or classical friends, Edgar writes with each musician’s musical temperament in mind. “I try to come up with parts that fit them well but that also maybe
stretch them a bit. With a classical player, I might write out his or her part but include some rhythmic writing that might be outside that person’s wheelhouse. With an improviser, I might give them more room to construct their own part, but I might ask them to take on something a little more arranged than they might normally be used to.” “What he writes and what he brings to any group is always demanding—technically and physically,” says Jerry. “He’s made me a better musician. I don’t get to play with Edgar all the time, but when I do I know I’m going to learn something new.” Outside of Telluride, Edgar stays exceedingly busy juggling a wide assortment of musical projects. “I am at least five years overdue getting a couple of solo recordings done, one of original music and one of classical short pieces,” he says. “Chris, Yo-Yo Ma, and I have just finished recording some Bach trios. Christian McBride and I are preparing material for an upcoming recording. I am writing my first purely orchestral (no soloists) piece for the Nashville Symphony to be premiered next spring and I am also writing a violin concerto for Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Field to be premiered and toured the following year.” Most years, Edgar travels to the festival with his wife, Connie Heard, and son George, both violinists, with whom he sometimes plays in a classical trio. This year Edgar and George will perform together—including compositions by both—on the workshop stage. Looking back on his 25 Telluride festivals, Edgar remembers that first Strength In Numbers precursor set as a standout experience. “My most cherished memory is the 1985 Telluride All-Stars jam, with Mark, Sam, Jerry and Béla,” he says. “It introduced me to a musical energy I had never felt before. I enjoyed the Strength In Numbers years immensely. Those guys are like my teachers.” Here’s to another 25 years of virtuosic, soul-searing sonic experiences with this one-of-a-kind master.
Charlotte Bell is a writer, yoga teacher, oboist and Festivarian of 34 years who lives in Salt Lake City. She is the author of two books published by Rodmell Press: Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life and Yoga for Meditators, and is currently writing a book on yoga for healthy hips.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Stephen Mougin and Collings Guitars In Telluride, visit Telluride Music Company. Located in the historic business district at 333 W. Colorado Ave, (970) 728-9592
Stephen Mougin of the Sam Bush Band with his Collings D2H Serious Guitars | www.CollingsGuitars.com | (512) 288-7770
C A R B O N 2015 was a watershed year for renewable energy. For the first time, the growth of renewables in the US outpaced the growth of all other energy sources— even low-priced natural gas. This growth, led in large part by the private sector, combined with the steady retirement of coal plants across the country, has actually helped to keep US carbon emissions in check for the past two years, even though there is not a US mandate for a cap on carbon emissions. For 13 years Planet Bluegrass has partnered with Renewable Choice Energy and Anthesis Mosaic to address our carbon footprint. Since 2007, we have committed to voluntarily offset the Festival’s carbon footprint by supporting methane reduction projects across the US and more recently here in Colorado. We asked Anna Rengstedt, our sustainability consultant from Anthesis Mosaic, to explain the process of becoming carbon neutral.
WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT?
A carbon footprint is the measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions emitted by a person, organization, event or product. For an organization like Planet Bluegrass, its carbon footprint is comprised of emissions from building and equipment energy use, vehicle use, and other activities within the organization. A carbon footprint is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). The carbon dioxide equivalent allows different greenhouse gases to be compared relative to one unit of CO2. For example, if you drive from DIA to Telluride and back three times (2,400 miles), you emit one metric ton of CO2e into the atmosphere. This metric ton of CO2e weighs as much as 10 baby elephants. To remove this amount of gas from the atmosphere, you would need to let 26 tree seedlings grow for 10 years.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “CARBON NEUTRAL?”
Being “carbon neutral” means that CO2e is not released or the CO2e produced is offset through special programs such as planting trees. If you are unable to plant 60,077 trees every year, as Planet Bluegrass could do if it wanted to remove the CO2e that is released to the atmosphere as a result of the Festival, you can offset your carbon footprint in other ways. Each year Planet Bluegrass buys green power in the form of renewable energy credits (RECs) to counterbalance the emissions from the electricity purchased to run the Festival. For emissions from energy sources other than electricity, such as the combustion of gasoline, you can purchase carbon offsets. These are produced by projects such as planting new growth forests or in Planet Bluegrass’ case, capturing methane produced by landfills or dairy farms.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
HOW DOES PLANET BLUEGRASS SET, MEASURE, AND ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?
In order to become carbon neutral, an organization must first measure its carbon footprint by gathering data on all activities. Planet Bluegrass relies on expertise from its sustainability partners to calculate the footprint and estimate emissions. Then, Planet Bluegrass purchases renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets from Renewable Choice Energy, a leader in clean energy since 2001. (Learn more at www.renewablechoice.com/planetgreengrass)
As a Festivarian, what can I do to help the Festival reduce its carbon footprint?
As a matter of fact, you can do a lot! The vast majority of the Festival’s emissions come from all of the Festivarian travel to and from the Festival. For every elephant of CO2e that you let into the atmosphere while flying and driving to Telluride, Planet Bluegrass includes this in its carbon footprint and purchases offsets on your behalf. In other words, your carbon footprint is the Festival’s footprint! Planet Bluegrass also accounts for the emissions from event lodging, shuttles, vendors and waste. To help the Festival reduce its carbon footprint, please consider any of the options below.
EMISSION SOURCE
AMBITIOUS OPTION
TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE FESTIVAL
Bike from DIA to Telluride. (Google Maps estimates that this would take 40 hours.)
LODGING
Plant trees at night instead of sleeping.
Stay in a tent at one of the Festival campgrounds instead of renting a condo.
WASTE
Generate less waste, by eating only with your hands.
Compost and recycle whenever possible, and ask the waste station volunteer if you don’t know where things go.
FESTIVAL VENDORS
Invent a sustainable product to revolutionize TBF 2017.
Tell all vendors how much you appreciate their sustainable products!
LESS AMBITIOUS OPTION Avoid air travel and carpool with other Festivarians. (There is even a forum for this at: www.festivarian.com/carpool)
With nearly 4,000 Festivarian campers sharing this gorgeous mountain environment, it is vitally important for each of us to be mindful of our camping footprint. 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 rewarding campsites that excel in creative, sustainable camping.
How Do I Participate?
We encourage camps in any of the Planet Bluegrass-managed campgrounds to enter. To nominate your campsite or one of your neighbors:
sources? Did you bike or carpool to the festival? Did you reduce your home’s energy consumption while attending the festival?
1. Submit a 1-page entry form at the Leave No Trace booth in
Greentown – explaining how the campsite exhibits cleanliness, sustainability, and creativity.
your campsite with lights, flags, or banners? Are you utilizing unique and innovative camping techniques? Are you upcycling any items from home?
2. Stop by the Leave No Trace booth each day to view all the campsite
What Do I Win?
entries and vote for your favorites.
How Do I Win?
We will be judging campsites using three criteria:
Cleanliness. Are you repackaging the food you bring? Are you keeping a tidy camp-site? Are items secure and not susceptible to wind gusts? Sustainability. Are you separating recycling and compost? Are you reusing products? Are you using alternative energy
Creativity. Does your campsite have a theme? Did you decorate
Each day we select 2 winners—one random, one staff choice—for prize packages that include: New Belgium Beer, Kelty folding coolers, and Klean Kanteen reusables After the pack-out on Monday we will select grand prize winners to receive a pair of 4-day passes and camping for the 2017 Festival.
TBF The Change In December of 2015, Planet Bluegrass joined nearly 2,000 other for-profit companies worldwide in a common goal: using business as a force for good. After successfully completing a rigorous examination of our business, environmental and community practices, we became a Certified B Corporation™. B Corporations (or B Corps, for short) meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corporation certification is similar to Fair Trade certification for coffee, USDA Organic certification for milk, or LEED certification for buildings, except for one detail: B Corps don’t just put out good products—they’re good companies. B Lab is the nonprofit entity responsible for certifying B Corps. In order to become certified, companies must complete the B Lab Impact Assessment (which looks critically at everything from banking relationships to choice of office cleaning supplies) and receive at least 80 out of 200 possible points. The average organization scores 55 points…but we earned 91! After completing the Assessment, we submitted receipts, spreadsheets, written statements, and more to verify our responses. The next step is more complicated…and one that we are still working on. Since 2009, B Lab has collaborated with lawmakers in over 30 states to introduce legislation that provides a legal framework for responsible business: the public benefit corporation. While the standard corporate entity operates in the interest of its shareholders (investors), public benefit corporations
Congratulations to 2015 winners Camp Tiki Bar, bringing the Aloha Spirit to Town Park!
have legal permission for their directors to consider all stakeholders—including employees, customers, suppliers, and those affected by environmental impacts. The choices we’ve made in selecting suppliers, building materials, carbon offsets and ranch upgrades have highlighted our role as leaders in environmental sustainability—even among certified B Corps! The Impact Assessment also provides a roadmap for planning future improvements, suggesting new practices such as employee volunteer programs and ways to serve a more diverse audience. Some of our Telluride Bluegrass Festival partners are also certified Bs! Head over to Greentown to learn more about New Belgium Brewery, Klean Kanteen and Renewable Choice Energy and their journeys to sustainability. View our impact assessment here: http://bit.ly/pbbia
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About Since 2002, Planet Bluegrass has made a concerted effort to reduce our impact on the environment. The principles are always the same: waste less, use less, emit less. Over the years, we’ve developed programs to recover usable resources from our waste stream, reduce the amount of potential garbage from the festival grounds, offset our carbon footprint, and utilize clean energy. But with every year that passes, science gets more sophisticated about telling us what works and what needs revision. In October 2015, the New York Times published “The Reign of Recycling.” In the provocative article, science columnist John Tierney walks through the nitty-gritty details of recycling, including unforeseen environmental effects and the invisible hand of economics. Ultimately, he concludes that while there are benefits to recycling, it’s important for consumers to look at both sides of the coin: recycling is not quite a panacea. The article reignited a conversation we’ve been batting around here at Planet Bluegrass: is recycling good in Telluride? Telluride is a small, geographically isolated town, lacking the municipal infrastructure of, say, Denver or Boulder. The landfill is more than 30 miles away, the “local” recycling center is about 70 miles away, and the compost facility is nearly 100 miles away from the festival (one-way). Looking at the waste left behind by a crowd of 12,000 Festivarians over 4 days, we’re in the neighborhood of 115-130 metric tons of garbage, recycling, and compost. The average garbage truck can carry about 15-20 metric tons. That means it takes approximately 10 trips to haul everything off-site, in a vehicle that averages 2-3 miles per gallon—assuming the truck is full. But in the summer heat in bear country, partial loads cannot sit overnight, so realistically it takes 20 partially-full trips to haul our waste off-site. It doesn’t take a PhD to see that’s a lot of gas (and CO2 emissions) to make those hauls. Driving hundreds of miles across Southwest Colorado not only costs in gas, it takes time. Last June after a long day hauling compost across the San Juans, our contracted driver had trouble locating the compost grinding facility. A wild goose chase ensued, and at the end
of the day he decided to call it quits and head home...dumping all our compost—14% of our recoverable 2015 waste stream—in the landfill! We have since taken steps to ensure that such an event will never occur again. But it was a difficult—and important—lesson for all of us. Let’s take a step back to ask the most basic question: why care about waste at all? The biggest reason folks recycle is that it feels good to divert something from the landfill; and on a broad scale, there are benefits to reducing pollution in the groundwater and the oceans, and decreasing the use of landfills. Maybe the most valid reason to recycle is the need to preserve limited resources, displace virgin materials, and prevent the extraction of more raw materials from the earth. So, recycling is good in some ways. But it’s not a perfect solution—at what point does trucking waste become inefficient? When do you waste more energy than you’ve saved? What’s the point of recycling if the market is already saturated with a supply of cheap glass, plastics, and paper? We invested a lot of hours researching these questions. The truth is, the ‘solution’ to the recycling dilemma is not one static cure-all. Like so many things, the only honest answer is: “it depends.” For metals, paper, cardboard, and some plastics (#1 and #2), the post-consumer market is thriving. With these materials it nearly always makes sense to recycle if your local infrastructure supports it. In the case of glass, food scraps, and plastics #3-#7, Papa Economy may have a louder voice than Mother Nature. If the recycling or compost center is able to find a buyer for their processed materials, the system works as expected. But when the demand isn’t there, those recyclables
« WASTE LESS, USE LESS, EMIT LESS » 18
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
sit in warehouses waiting to be resold and reused, or worse: in the landfill. In that case, all of the water used to rinse the recyclables, all of the energy and labor used to process them, the fuel for transportation, and the cost of making all those things happen...are wasted. Now let’s zoom in on Telluride. In order to ensure that the 2015 compost mishap never happens again, we’re introducing some new measures. This year, we’re conducting a waste stream analysis to learn exactly what is going in our waste bins and how we can avoid it. We’re also improving the way we track each load of garbage, recycling, and compost that leaves the festival grounds, and get a better understanding of the environmental impacts of each trip. Looking toward next year, we’re evaluating reusable plates for the vendors (with a pilot program this summer at our Lyons festivals), thereby eliminating all single-use products
from the Festival grounds. In the coming years, we’ll work with local Telluride entities to bring a composting facility back to the Valley. We are doing everything in our power to festivate sustainably. How can you help? Until we can “solve” the equation and learn whether recycling is more good than bad in Telluride, we’re sticking to our guns. At the festival, keep recycling and composting. But ideally, the best way to ameliorate your individual impact is to REDUCE and REUSE. Eliminate your reliance on anything single-use, remove clingwrap or disposable packaging from your food products before you leave for the festival, and pack it out—chances are, your locality is better developed to handle what you brought to Telluride. Most importantly, keep in mind: we are, all of us, always learning.
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That’s a concept you allegedly mislay as age and wisdom overtake your better judgment. I would not do that if I were you—let age and wisdom overtake you. Telluride always smelt of adventure. Ay, can you feel it? I did, as a callow musician at the 1974 TBF. And from my lofty perch looking back on 31 years as your long lost emcee, I still feel it beckon in all directions. Now, see here. Cards and letters been coming in—mailbags full of ’em. My comely assistant, Betty Noir, stacks them chest-high in a dank vault deep within the nitre-encrusted passageways under the central nave of the Church of the Nifty Blue Chrysler. How I love to hear your little thoughts and concerns, you—my beloved congregation. Festivarians urgently want to know, “How, Pastor Mustard, can I cram yet more mind-blasting fun into my extended weekend at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival?”
You seek EZ adventure? Sure—waterfalls. Probably you know Bridal Veil, down at the end of the canyon. A negative ion generator without peer. A rainbow maker. Skip hand-in-hand singing, la-la-la-la to the base of the mighty torrent—it’s not far. Go up near it. Closer, closer, damn you! Scream your fool head off, no one can hear you. Get into it. God, it’s fresh! Stay in the spray until you nearly expire from hypothermia. Crap yourself with the thrill of it all—who cares? Now get over to Bear Creek, also not far. Use your doggone smart phone to figure out you passed the trailhead fifty times already while hustling to and fro, thither and yon, etc., and you never heard what the leprechauns were telling you. “Come hither, my succulent mortal ding-dong.” You’ll hear the fester for a long time, hiking Bear Creek. The proper greeting to those heading back down Bear Creek trail is howdy. Practice your howdy. Bear Creek Falls is the one to do in the dark. Hit that sucker about two a.m. and maybe get naked. I am just saying. Go for moonlight. Also right at the end of a street is the path to Cornet Creek Falls. It is so weird that a street in an actual town dead-ends, turns into a trail, then a bunch of boulders, then you’re at a waterfall. How are your flipflops holding up? Oh, forgot: do not litter, for littering sucketh. Big hairy ones. There’s other waterfalls: Ingram, Little Hawaii. Those are a short walk from festival goings-on. You’d need transport to get to the falls outside Ophir. But, hey I’d like to get serious for a second. I fathered two children that I can talk about: little Dijon, and delightful pipsqueak Poupon. Why, they’re all grown up now and they’re adventurers. My children seek thrills harder than I thought was possible: climbing, skiing, jumping off cliffs with a tiny chute called a speed wing, surfing, sailing, bouldering, fishing salmon, holy mackerel. They grew up backstage and they know things. You, my friends should push it just a little. Reek a day or two a week. Go safe and with skill, but go nuts—please. My advice? Adventure. You’re not going to sleep until you get home anyway. Let a team of scientists microtome a before-and-after sample of your big old brain and find remarkable development. Be ready at any minute and flee normal. I say this as an old, broken mass of neurons and sagging yellow tissue who has seen beauty. Now that you’re here, you lucky ducks, go further. Go beyond. Boom! I put a blessing on you. That is all.
Pastor Mustard (aka Dan Sadowsky) was the Telluride Bluegrass Festival MC for 31 years. He wrote the year-by-year essays for the hardcover collector’s edition book Telluride Bluegrass Festival: 40 Years of Festivation, available at the Country Store.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
F a m i l y
Tent
The Family Tent provides whimsical, musical, and educational activities for children and their parents from noon-5pm on Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday thru Sunday. Most activities are free, but we ask that parents please accompany their kids at all times.
Living Folklore
Since 1998, Living Folklore has brought clowns, stilt-walkers and giant puppets to Telluride Bluegrass. The family vibes and community feel of the festival have been a catalyst for the growth of Living Folklore over the years. Come play with us and experience the magic of The Family Tent! Learn more at www.gigglebubble.com
Kids Talent Show
The ever-popular talent show returns Saturday afternoon for the 20th year.
20th Annual Kids Parade
Carry a flag, umbrella, or one of the giant puppets as Gumbo Wobbly leads this beloved Telluride tradition through the festival grounds on Sunday afternoon at 3:15pm.
Betty Hoops
Join The Hoop Dance Coach and 5-time World Record Holder, Betty Hoops, for free hooping lessons. Decorate and create your own kidand adult-sized hula hoops. Learn more at www.bettyhoops.com
Musical Performances
We’re happy to welcome back the playful, interactive and educational childrens music of Lesley Kernochan. Bring your teddy bear and cuddle-up for some great songs with Lesley the Flying Fox.
Jugglers’ Grove
Lauri Watson welcomes new and experienced jugglers for lessons and free juggling balls each day.
Sunsense Solar Treats
Indulge your sweet tooth with confections baked in our solar oven.
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Every June songwriters and bands from around the world trek to 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 on the Main Stage.
Troubadour Contest For the twenty-sixth year, the Troubadour Contest introduces ten inspiring young songwriters to Festivarian Nation in Telluride. One of these artists will join past winners like Catie Curtis, Deb Talan, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Caitlin Canty as the 2016 Telluride Troubadour.
2016 Troubadour Finalists
Troubadours will perform in a randomly selected order.
Singer-songwriters not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal were invited to submit songs beginning last December. In April, our panel of industry professionals selected these ten finalists from hundreds of 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 Saturday evening the winning Troubadour will receive a handmade Shanti dreadnought guitar, featuring Indian Rosewood back and sides, European Spruce top, abalone trim, titanium frets, and hand-carved sixteenth-note fretboard inlays. Enjoy the Troubadours throughout the festival as they perform songwriter-in-the-round sets at Elks Park, ‘tweener songs on the Main Stage, and live in-studio on KOTO.
2016 Troubadour Schedule Final Round Friday, June 17 2:45pm Elks Park Stage
Preliminary Round Thursday, June 16 12:15pm Elks Park Stage
The winning Troubadour performs a fifteen-minute Main Stage set on Saturday, June 18 at 5:30pm
The winner will be announced Friday, June 17 at 4:45pm on the Elks Park Stage.
Joel Ansett
Jean Rohe
Denver, Colorado
Brooklyn, New York
Amanda Cevallos
Talia Segal
Austin, Texas
Brighton, Massachusetts
Brad Cunningham
Nikki Talley
Kansas City, Missouri
Asheville, North Carolina
Hadley Kennary
Anna Tivel
Nashville, Tennessee
Portland, Oregon
Tom Meny
Emily White
Austin, Texas
Chicago, Illinois
Band Contest One of the foremost contests for acoustic stringbands, the Telluride Band Contest has helped launch the careers of The Dixie Chicks, Greensky Bluegrass, The Hillbenders, Trout Steak Revival, The Lil’ Smokies, and dozens of other past winners. This year’s bands will be competing around a single microphone for a spot on the 2017 main stage lineup.
2016 Contest Bands Bands will perform in a randomly selected order Bramble & Rye
Fireball Mail
Chain Station
Kansas City Hustle
Bozeman, MT Boulder, CO
The Fellowship of the Strings Durango, CO
Nashville, TN
Kansas City, MO
Mile High Express Denver, CO
One Grass Two Grass
Running Out of Road
Psychodillo
Slewgrass
Ragged Union
Wandering Natives
Oakland, CA Houston, TX Denver, CO
Durango, CO Iowa City, IA
Boulder, CO
Bands Score in These Categories
Band Competition Schedule
• 30% Material Selection taste, difficulty, authenticity, originality
Preliminary Round Friday, June 17 at 10:00am Elks Park Stage
• 30% Instrumental Performance ability of soloists and overall blend
Final Round Saturday, June 18 at 9:45am Main Stage
• 30% Vocal Performance lead and harmony • 10% Stage Presence
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
10:00am Gates Open
9:00am Gates Open
9:00am Gates Open
10:00am Gates Open
10:45 - 11:45am Chris Thile
10:00 - 11:00am Sara Watkins
9:45 - 10:45am Band Contest Finals
11:00 - 12:15pm Shane Koyczan
Noon - 1:15pm Peter Rowan
11:15 - 12:30pm Balsam Range
11:00 - Noon The Lil’ Smokies
1:45 - 3:00pm Houndmouth
1:00 - 2:15pm The Kruger Brothers
12:15 - 1:30pm Mandolin Orange
JUNE 16TH
3:15 - 4:30pm Del McCoury Band 5:00 - 6:30pm John Prine 7:00 - 8:30pm Béla Fleck & The Flecktones 9:00 - 10:30pm Dave Rawlings Machine
JUNE 17TH
with the Kontras Quartet
2:45 - 4:15pm Jerry Douglas Band
JUNE 18TH
2:00 - 3:15pm Tim O’Brien Band
4:45 - 6:00pm The Oh Hellos
3:45 - 5:15pm Yonder Mountain String Band
6:30 - 8:00pm Punch Brothers
5:30 - 5:45pm Telluride Troubadour
8:30 - 10:00pm Neil Finn
6:00 - 7:30pm Ryan Adams
10:30 - Midnight Greensky Bluegrass
8:00 - 10:00pm Sam Bush Band 10:30 - Midnight Leftover Salmon
JUNE 19TH
and the Short Story Long
12:30 - 1:45pm De Temps Antan 2:00 - 3:15pm Sierra Hull 3:45- 5:00pm Pokey LaFarge 5:30 - 6:45pm Infamous Stringdusters with special guest Nicki Bluhm
7:15 - 8:30pm Emmylou Harris 9:00 - 11:00pm Telluride House Band
featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart
Workshop Stage at Elks Park
Thursday JUNE 16 Friday JUNE 17 TH
TH
11:00 New Horizons: Local Kick-Off
10:00 Band Contest: Preliminary Round
12:15 Troubadour Contest: Preliminary Round
Noon Haas Kowert Tice: What’s a Haas Kowert Tice?
2:00 Caitlin Canty: Performance
1:30 Bryan Sutton: Sharing Tunes, Life Lessons & Other Stuff
3:15 Kruger Brothers: Arranging for Small Ensemble 4:30 Punch Brothers: Happy Hour
*Workshop schedule subject to change. Please check for daily updates on sign boards.
Saturday JUNE 18 Sunday JUNE 19 TH
10:30 Michael Hornick, Bobby Wintringham & Friends: Instrument Building
TH
11:30 The Lil’ Smokies: Modern Music in the Bluegrass Tradition
Noon Troubadours: In the Round
1:00 Sara Watkins & Friends: Performance
1:30 Edgar & George Meyer: Hi-Low
2:30 Troubadours: In the Round
2:45 Troubadour Contest: Final Round
3:00 Troubadours: In the Round
4:00 De Temps Antan: Québécois, Fiddles & Feet
3:45 Edgar Meyer & Béla Fleck: Fingers
4:30 Shane Koyczan & Friends: Poetry & Sound
4:45 Troubadour Contest: Winners Announced 5:00 Jake Jolliff, Radim Zenkl & Sierra Hull: Mandolin Union
The Family Tent
Most activities are free, but we ask that parents please accompany their kids at all times in the Family Tent.
Thursday JUNE 16 Noon- Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop 5:00 Making, Arts & Crafts, Solar Treats
TH
Friday JUNE 17
TH
10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Arts & Crafts, Solar Treats
Saturday JUNE 18 Sunday JUNE 19 TH
TH
10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Arts & Crafts, Solar Treats
10:00 Jugglers’ Grove, Hoop Making, Arts & Crafts, Solar Treats
Noon Funny Bone Logic & Clown Yoga
Noon Funny Bone Logic & Clown Yoga
Noon Clown Yoga with Gumbo Wobbly and Friends
1:00 Gumbo Wobbly’s Quackers & Kazoos Class
1:00 Storytelling with Gala the Flower Faerie
2:00 Yoga for Kids with Patty Sunfield
2:00 Drama Class & Talent Show Sign-ups
1:00 Lesley the Flying Fox: Original Songs for the Whole Family
3:00
2:30 20th Annual Telluride Kids Talent Show
A Teddy Bear’s Picnic: Songs for the whole family with Lesley The Flying Fox
2:30 Parade preparations
(until parade begins)
3:15 20th Annual Kids Parade
(through festival grounds during set-break)
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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TH URS Day, Jun e 16th
Chris Thile
Peter Rowan
Houndmouth
Del McCoury Band
10:45 - 11:45am
Noon - 1:15pm
1:45 - 3:00pm
3:15 - 4:30pm
What’s new, Festivarians? As it turns out, TBF ‘16 is brimming with newness: a new stage, artists new to the Festival, the solstice that heralds a new season, and the forging of new friends and memories. And the first TBF artist to play the new stage is a musician who has embodied new innovation for over 20 years: the incomparable Chris Thile. Fun fact: In 1993, Chris met Bill Monroe backstage at this very festival. The 12-year-old Chris played a song for the Father of Bluegrass, who gave the kid a quarter. That historical exchange foretold a seismic shift into a new bluegrass era. With thalamus-reorganizing instrumental mastery and a ferocious curiosity, Chris grew into the Grammygobbling mandolin contortionist in Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers, and dozens of other collaborations, trailblazing the Middle Earth between the visceral and the cerebral. What else is new? In October, Chris takes over for Garrison Keillor as the new permanent host of A Prairie Home Companion, each episode featuring a Powdermilk Biscuit-fresh “Song of the Week” composed by Chris. This year, Chris will open TBF with a solo set that blends bebop, baroque, and bluegrass, erasing the distance between fiddle tunes and Bach partitas. Yes, it’s a brand newgrass morning in Telluride with the great Chris Thile. And that’s something that never gets old.
Here at Planet Bluegrass, we always use Peter Rowan’s hair at TBF as our gardening barometer for summer. If he’s sporting the hanging goosefringe, we plant our pole beans in June. If he’s wearing the snow-cloud flyaway, we don’t sow our lettuce until mid-July. After all, some things you can just count on: 2016 marks Rowan’s 36th TBF and 60th year as a working musician. (He formed his first band, the Cupids, in 1956.) All along, Rowan has been roots music’s great democratizer, wrapping his voice around ancient bluegrass tones, twang-’n’-groove rock, and folkfused reggae. He’s Panama Red, the high-lonesome cowboy, the conductor of the Earth Opera, the captain of the Sea Train, the pilot of the Free Mexican Airforce. Pete’s sets have been a crucial part of the spiritual journey of the Festival, suffusing the San Juans with his whippoorwill tenor and yodelectable melodies, the perennial call of “Land of the Navajo,” the echoes of prairie lullabies, wild stallions, lone pilgrims, moonshiners, red-hot pickers, rainmakers, and sky dancers. The common link among Telluride’s greatest musical heroes—as bandmate to Monroe and Garcia, Rice and Dawg, Sam and Flux—Peter Rowan stands alone amid the walls of time, a singular living legend breezing through town once again, heralding the brightest good morning sunrise you’ve ever seen.
After dobro deacon Jerry Douglas watched John Fogerty play a blistering set of classics at the 2012 TBF, Jerry declared from the stage, “Now that’s rock and roll! And that’s what this festival is all about!” Jerry was winking at the genrebusting variety at the heart of the Telluride tradition, and in recent years, TBF has introduced Festivarians to roots-infused rock bands like Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Now say hello to Houndmouth, the sizzling Indiana band rarin’ to tousle your tarps with their infectious mix of melodic road-trip Americana, throwback country-soul, and freewheeling heartland rock. Guitarist Matt Myers, bassist Zak Appleby, and drummer Shane Cody first blasted onto the indie-rock scene with 2013’s From the Hills Below the City, landing sets at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza on the strength of the band’s irresistible chemistry, harmony-yarned songcraft, and Myers’ slippery-when-wet guitar leads. 2015’s Little Neon Limelight, featuring the desert-glow hit “Sedona,” earned even more word of ‘Mouth, drawing a legion of fans to the band’s rousing musicality and twangy Hoosier maneuvers. Now featuring Caleb Hickman on keys and Graeme Gardiner and Drew Miller on horns, Houndmouth are guaranteed to inspire Thursday’s crowd to take a little time for howlin’ at the afternoon.
Sam Bush is, of course, the unchallenged King of Telluride, but the last time Del McCoury played TBF, in 2014, Sam started a stage campaign to officially dub Del, “The King of Bluegrass.” After all, atop whose impressive sonic-silver ‘do does the crown more suitably fit? In 1963, Del joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, and now, over 50 years later, he is still the standard bearer for bluegrass excellence, receiving every award in sight, including IBMA’s Entertainer of the Year a record nine times. In addition, Del’s longtime band of flash-fingered aces (mandolinist Ronnie McCoury, banjoist Robbie McCoury, fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram) are preeminent pickers of traditional grass, but they jam with enough incendiary power to send hempy hoofers into twirling delirium. It’s all part of the Dao of Del: squeezing his eyes shut to reach those mountain-top tenor notes, giggling over his own G-runs, busting out Hank Williams and U2 covers with equal aplomb, and serving as the great bluegrass ambassador who continually brings new audiences to the music. “You’ve got to be on your toes if you have to follow the Del McCoury Band!” Sam once remarked. The fact is, bluegrass musicians and fans alike have been following Del for five decades, and Thursday provides another dose of majesty with everyone’s favorite septuagenarian Festivarian.
“It’s the altitude and the excitement, the spiritual high of the valley in the mountains.” – Peter Rowan
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
THU RSD ay, Jun e 16th
John Prine 5:00 - 6:30pm
“I’m John Prine, and these are some songs I wrote.” That’s how Prine introduced himself to audiences when he first took the American folk scene by storm, touring behind his seminal self-titled 1971 debut album, which turns 45 years old this year. It’s a collection of stonecold classics—“Hello in There,” “Illegal Smile,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Paradise,” etc.—all indelible contributions to the Great American Songbook. Prine’s songs tell the fundamental stories of contemporary men and women—doing the best they can, trying to have some fun, holding on to memories before they slip away, and mining the love hidden deep in their hearts. They are songs held in the highest esteem by a half-century of our greatest songwriters, like Kris Kristofferson (“If God’s got a favorite songwriter, I think it’s John Prine”) and Bob Dylan (“Nobody but Prine could write like that”). That is, nobody but Prine depicted such vivid characters with such haiku-like directness and emotional complexity. Old trees just grow stronger/And old rivers grow wilder every day: Prine turns 70 this year and is a two-time cancer survivor, and the freight of hard-won experience adds even more depth to his performances. Prine told a rapturous Telluride crowd in 2013 that his songs are “good for what ails you,” wryly adding, “If nothing ails you, I’ll give you a minute, and I’m sure you’ll think of something.” It’s clear, however, that when John Prine takes the Telluride stage on Thursday for another history-making conversation, all will be right with the world.
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
9:00 - 10:30pm
When Béla Fleck first debuted the Flecktones back in 1990, Béla was boldly going where no man had gone before, with celestial banjo explorations, rocket-ship album art, and musicians who sounded like they came from outer space. Here was Béla taking unprecedented blu-bop voyages, Victor Wooten burbling out improvisational bass freakouts, mad scientist Futureman blowing minds as the planet’s only Drumitarist, and Howard Levy simultaneously playing harmonica and piano like a man with two brains. Fast forward to 2011: After a 20-year break from the band, Levy returned for a new album (Rocket Science) and tour, including a triumphant reunion at Telluride. The results? Un-Flecking-believable. Béla traded dizzying jazz-funk solos with Levy and Victor over Futureman’s cosmic crackle (and 30 years after he invented the Drumitar, no one has yet figured out how he plays the damn thing). The band hit the audience with such complex time signatures that several dancers were reportedly helped to the medical tent after complaining of slipped vertebrae. It’s all part of a journey that has divided the history of the banjo into pre-Béla and post-Béla eras. And at Telluride, Béla, the Pharaoh of the Five, has been our most intrepid daredevil, bringing a different world-class collaboration and genre expedition to TBF every year. This year, we are thrilled that Béla is again reassembling the original Flecktones. So what will happen when Béla and the ‘Tones take their latest moonshot on a starry Thursday night? Rest assured that it will be out of this world.
Opening night of the Festival. The crowd, nestled between the townglow in the distance and the stage lights on the mountain, closes together and prepares for the sweetest party anywhere in the world. This scene calls for a night of oldtyme, mountain-bred music: frailing banjos, twin fiddles, spooky-gorgeous harmonies, and denim-inclined guitar tramping. That can only mean Dave Rawlings Machine. The duo of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings first appeared at TBF in 1997, soon after setting the folk world ablaze with Gillian’s stunning debut LP, Revival. That performance, with just two guitars, Louvin-style harmonies, and an intuitive connection with each other, mesmerized the audience with a wholly unique power and richness even within old traditions. The duo collaborated on another decade of exquisite Gillian Welch albums, and Gillian found even more fame with her unforgettable contributions to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. 2009’s acclaimed A Friend of a Friend and last year’s excellent Nashville Obsolete, both billed as Dave Rawlings Machine, found the pair heading further into the folkie mystic, hitting the road with Old Crow alum Willie Watson, Punch Brothers bassist Paul Kowert, and Crooked Still fiddler Brittany Haas. Live, there’s no one like them: four-part harmonies floating over Dave’s zig-zagging guitar solos, traveling across many moonlight miles, rippling through landscapes of dusty American beauty, and drifting into advanced Dylanology. It’s the ideal Telluride trip for ramblers, seekers, and midnight dreamers.
7:00 - 8:30pm
Dave Rawlings Machine
“Planet Bluegrass: a tribal gathering in a place that functions as an intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds.” – John Cowan
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
EXPERI ENCETHESI GNATURESOUND AND CRAFTSMANSHI P
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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fri Day, Jun e 17 th
Sara Watkins
Balsam Range
The Kruger Brothers
with the Kontras Quartet
10:00 - 11:00am
11:15 - 12:30pm
Friday morning is a joyous time in Telluride, the beginning of a long, blissful summer day of Festivation with three full days still ahead. What would tickle your tarp even more? The radiant voice of one our favorite TBF all-stars. Sara Watkins first sang and fiddled on the Shellman Stage in 1993 as a member of the boundary-shattering Nickel Creek, a band that recruited an army of new fans to acoustic music, reached Platinum sales, and collected a stuff sack full of trophies. Sara went on to be one of the Fest’s most valuable collaborators, lending her nimble multi-instrumentalism and arrhythmia-inducingly-beautiful vocals to the Decemberists and Jackson Browne. Never one to rest, Sara’s monthly L.A. variety show, the Watkins Family Hour (with brother Sean), spawned a delightful 2015 album of the same name, and I’m With Her—a trio featuring Sara, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sarah Jarosz—is a new alliance formed right here in Telluride in 2014. But this year, we get a full blast of solo Sara, front and center. Sara’s third solo album is the transformative, emotionally-walloping Young In All the Wrong Ways, Sara’s first LP of all original material. On the album, Sara again shoves borders aside and sings with the power and grace of the San Miguel River. So this Friday morning, grip tight to your festival chairs. Sara Watkins is here to move you.
Home, home with the Range, where For 43 years, TBF has played host the Deering and the mandolins to the world’s most accomplished play. Home, for the bluegrass band instrumentalists, many of whom lighting up TBF on Friday, is the visit these sacred grounds every year. place that gives them their name: North Carolina’s Balsam Range, This year, we are thrilled to welcome yet another group of esteemed where the Smokies meet the Blue instrumental virtuosos, this time for Ridge Mountains. their first-ever visit. Home or on the road, seldom is The Kruger Brothers—Swissheard a discouraging word about born banjoist Jens (“yens”) and Balsam Range. In fact, the band guitarist Uwe (“oo-vay”)—have, has dominated the IBMA Awards in along with bassist Joel Landsberg, recent years, taking 2013’s Album earned universal admiration for their of the Year (Papertown) and 2014’s top prize, Entertainers of the Year. immaculate playing and refined Last year, Balsam won their second- alloy of folk and classical music. An astonishing banjo player, Jens has straight Vocal Group of the Year also written a series of classical pieces award and Song of the Year for “Moon to play alongside various ensembles, Over Memphis” from 2014’s Five. from string quartets to full symphonic That title, Five, references Balsam’s orchestras. His latest is Lucid Dreamer, fifth LP as well as the quintet’s a sublime chamber piece written cohesive excellence. Just listen to specifically for the Kontras Quartet. ace fiddler and IBMA Male Vocalist “Kontras” is Afrikaans for of the Year Buddy Melton’s golden tenor, Marc Pruett’s breakneck “contrasts,” a perfect indicator of the banjo, Darren Nicholson’s train- Kontras Quartet’s genre-crossing, century-spanning repertoire. The clatter mandolin, Caleb Smith’s wily members themselves represent a flattop picking, and reigning IBMA multinational union: Americans Ben Bass Player of the Year Tim Surrett’s Weber (viola) and Jean Hatmaker contrapuntal thumping. (cello) join Russian violinist Dmitri The Range are also one of bluegrass’s tip-top vocal groups, Pogorelov and South African violinist Francois Henkins. whether braiding harmony on traditional ballads, a cappella hand- As musical worlds collide, the clappers, or Allman Brothers covers. Krugers and the Kontras form a septet like none other, personifying the From Carolina’s Cold Mountain to excellence and exploratory spirit at the Telluride’s Bridal Veil Falls, Balsam heart of the Telluride tradition. A special has ranged far from home. But TBF set never seen before, never to wherever they’re playing, the skies be repeated, and not to be missed. are not cloudy all day.
1:00 - 2:15pm
Jerry Douglas Band 2:45 - 4:15pm
He’s a man of many nicknames: the Demigod of the Double-Stop, the Oppenheimer of Open Tuning, the Poobah of Palm Blocking. But for 38 Tellurides, he’s been primarily known as Flux. It’s a name that indicates the fluidity of motion, the action of flowing. It’s fitting, then, that Jerry’s dobro is one of the definitive sounds of Telluride, with all of the area’s beautiful movement. Flux’s smooth, unmistakable playing is the soundtrack of Ingram Falls as it cascades 300 feet, of the babbling San Miguel River as it guides our way to the music, of the gondola as it coasts down into the evening lights of town. For nearly four decades, Jerry’s inimitable, history-altering sonic embroidery has gilded the TBF experience. “Flux” also indicates continual change, and no one has covered more ground than history’s greatest dobroist. Jerry has appeared on over 2,000 recordings from all over the musical spectrum, including 14 solo albums and seven LPs with Alison Krauss & Union Station. Among countless awards, his shelf holds 14 Grammys, including last year’s Best Bluegrass Album for The Earls of Leicester, Jerry’s tribute to Flatt and Scruggs. The canyon echoes with the history of Jerry’s dobro, and on Friday, the legend adds to that immortal soundtrack. How shall you respond? Go with the Flow. Ride the Glide. Feel the Flux.
“ After a thousand miles of flatlands, and a million railroad ties, we see the snow capped mountains and watch the eagles fly” ¬ – Kruger Brothers
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
FULL PAGE CLOUD 9
friD ay, June 17 th
The Oh Hellos
Punch Brothers
Neil Finn
Greensky Bluegrass
4:45 - 6:00pm
6:30 - 8:00pm
8:30 - 10:00pm
10:30 - Midnight
Father’s Day is this Sunday, and keeping with the family spirit this year, Friday will be a celebration of siblinghood. Sara Watkins’ brother Sean is her Nickel Creek bandmate. The Kruger Brothers have been making music together for 40 years. We’ll hear from that fantastic fraternity that is the Brothers Punch. And much of Neil Finn’s career has been in collaboration with his brother Tim. So how about a big howdy to The Oh Hellos, featuring brothersister duo Tyler and Maggie Heath. At the center of today’s indie-folk movement, The Oh Hellos specialize in passionate concept albums of eclectic folk rock, as captured on their 2012 debut Through the Deep, Dark Valley. Last year, the Heaths returned with the magnificent Dear Wormwood, a folklore-steeped epistolary song cycle, extending the Texas band’s musical dualities: delicate acoustic intimacy and soaring pulmonaryvein-distending catharsis. Through it all, the band has remained staunchly independent, refusing label deals and instead writing, producing, and engineering their records themselves. With a nine-piece touring band, the Hellos bring their rapturous, layered folk-and-roll soundscapes to Telluride. TBF has long featured cutting-edge indie-folk bands just as they’re poised to take over the music world. So rise up, brothers and sisters, for a powerful afternoon of new music.
Punch Brothers take their name from a Mark Twain short story, “Punch, Brothers, Punch!,” a tale about being infected with an “earworm,” a catchy jingle that gets stuck in the narrator’s mind. We know the feeling: Festivarians have had this band’s Punchlines rattling in our brains for years. In 2007, Chris Thile appeared at TBF with fiddler Gabe Witcher, guitarist Chris Eldridge, and banjoist Noam Pikelny, growing a band that would soon become Punch Brothers and add Pudd’nhead Paul Kowert on bass. Since then, the Punchers have been TBF’s resident suit-wearing masters, painting both sides of the stylistic and literary fence. 2008’s Punch saw the band roughing it with visionary progressive bluegrass; 2010’s Antifogmatic blended Gilded-Age chamber music with jumping-frog folk; 2012’s Who’s Feeling Young Now? was a river-raft ride of string-band adventures; and 2015’s The Phosphorescent Blues went two fathoms deep into a bluegrassclassical mix, making like acoustical Yankees in King Arthur’s court. From their Mississippi-wide mainstage sets to their Halley’s-Comethot Sheridan shows, the Brothers continually light out for new territory, staying ahead of the rest. And mark this: 2016 is the quintet’s 10th consecutive TBF. What to expect? No telling: There’s the predictable and there’s the Punch Brothers. And never the twain shall meet.
On Friday night, Telluride welcomes one of music’s most prolific purveyors of great songs. Neil Finn first achieved fame as the 19-year-old member of new-wave specialists Split Enz with his brother Tim. Superstars in Australia and their native New Zealand, the Enz broke big in America with 1980’s True Colours and the unforgettable Neilsung single “I Got You.” In 1985, Neil formed the trio Crowded House, and their selftitled debut was a Platinum-selling monster, spawning two U.S. Top Ten singles—“Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong,”—both heavy-rotation MTV hits. More success followed (1988’s “Better Be Home Soon” was a worldwide smash), turning Neil into a critical and popular sensation, lauded for his gifts for mellifluous singing, lovely melodies, and soulful lyricism. After Crowded House’s 1996 farewell concert (attended by over 200,000 people in Australia), Neil released a string of well-received solo LPs and reunited with Tim on a pair of acclaimed Finn Brothers records. All along, Neil’s songs appeared everywhere, from albums by (TBF Band Contest winners) The Dixie Chicks to the soundtrack of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It’s only Friday. We have three evenings of Festivation still ahead. So dream on, Telluride: It’s far from over, and the legendary Neil Finn is here to sing us through the night.
Where can you find Greensky Bluegrass during the Festival when they aren’t on stage? Probably Baked in Telluride. Either that or having breakfast somewhere. Wherever they are, it’s a safe bet that they’re off making great music. 2016 marks Greensky’s fifth consecutive TBF, making them the mostrecent band in Festivation Nation to achieve every-year status. Such perenniality is made mandatory by the Kalamazoo quintet’s multilayered jamgrass attack, consciousnessexpanding avant-twang, and Fillmore-poster Americana. Indeed, Greensky shows have spawned a national troop of Campers, GSBG’s campering fanbase, who follow the band coast to coast. Those fans have come to expect favorites from killer LPs like 2011’s Handguns and 2014’s If Sorrows Swim, along with anything-goes moments of transcendent beauty as the band stretches out into wideopen sonic and instrumental spaces. Therefore, this year, we turn Greensky loose into the mysterious, triptastic darkness of Friday night as the firstever TBF Band Contest winners to play a closing spot at Telluride. Headed for your neural hotspots are the freak-flag mandolin of Paul Hoffman, the puna-butter guitar of Dave Bruzza, the hog-farm banjo of Michael Bont, the melting-sky dobro of Anders Beck, and the fatty-burrito bass of Mike Devol. So gear up and get down for a nocturnal Greensky grenade.
“Everybody knows: Hey, you don’t mess with Telluride weekend.” –Chris Thile
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
sat urD ay, Jun e 18 th
The Lil’ Smokies
Mandolin Orange
Tim O’Brien Band
11:00 - Noon
12:15 - 1:30pm
2:00 - 3:15pm
Our breakfast-with-bluegrass band on Saturday morning is named after either the Smoky Mountains or a certain bite-sized smoked sausage product. Or perhaps their namesake is the West African smokie, a food prepared by blowtorching the fleece off the unskinned carcass of a goat. We know: We’re giving you the munchies. These winners of the 2015 TBF Band Contest do in fact offer a tantalizingly tasty brand of progressive bluegrass. With a rustically intrepid brand of Montana Americana, the Lil’ Smokies take the expansiveness of their Big Sky Country seriously. Andy Dunnigan (dobro), Scott Parker (bass), Matt Cornette (banjo), Cameron Wilson (mandolin), and Matt Rieger (guitar) forge high-wattage newgrass that emphasizes the best of the Telluride musical tenets: renegade instrumentalism, scrumptious melodies, and an all-embracing stylistic range. Check out their 2013 self-titled LP or 2014’s Live From the Top Hat, which captures the elated rush of a Smokies show and makes clear why the group was nominated for IBMA’s Momentum Band of the Year. So up and at ‘em on Saturday, and Smokie ‘em if you got ‘em. (By the way, legend has it that Johnny Cash ate one of our Festaurant corn dogs in 1997 and declared it the best he’d ever had. Today, therefore, you can eat Johnny Cash’s all-time favorite corn dog, and you don’t get to do that every day.).
In 40 Years of Festivation, the Are you feeling gassed from all those Telluride Bluegrass anniversary Camp Run-A-Muck activities? Still book, author and longtime TBF reeling from rumballs? Blistered from emcee Pastor Mustard referred Blue Lake Trail? Sleep-deprived from to Tim O’Brien as “Obi-Wan.” It’s your turn in the tarp line? Well, take a play on Tim’s name, sure, but it a load off, Festlawnchairians. We’ve also alludes to Tim’s storied history, got just the Day 3 fix to rebalance wisdom, and mastery of the guiding your yinjo and your yangdolin. force of Telluride Bluegrass. Tim’s Mandolin Orange, the North force is what gives TBF its power, Carolina duo of mandolinist/ an energy field created by his guitarist Andrew Marlin and fiddler/ picking and his songs. It surrounds guitarist Emily Frantz, do things the us and penetrates us. It binds the old-fashioned way: face-to-face Festivarians together. acoustic music making, pairing With over 30 albums as a solo gentle mandolin and fiddle while artist, collaborator, and member of blending honeyed harmonies over the seminal Hot Rize, Tim has been wistful, bucolic Americana. Telluride’s most prolific tunesmith, This Tar Heel twosome first arrived putting a shuffle into the sandals with 2010’s Quiet Little Room, earning of TBF audiences for 40 years. He’s Marlin and Frantz—a couple on stage a stringed instrument chameleon and off—comparisons to such cosmic (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, country duets as Rawlings & Welch bouzouki, anything) and a Grammyand Gram & Emmylou. winning songwriter covered by Marlin and Frantz increased their every TBF mainstay from New Grass audience with the stripped folk and Revival to Alison Krauss to String graceful alt-country of This Side Cheese Incident to Nickel Creek. of Jordan in 2013 and last year’s Folks have often asserted that masterful Such Jubilee, a timelessly mellifluent song cycle about the “Telluride Bluegrass” is its own genre. If that’s true, we have Tim O’Brien importance of connections at home to thank for it. Tim embodies the and on the road. Opening track foundations of American roots “Old Ties and Companions,” like music and skillfully modulates so much of Mandolin Orange’s into bluegrass, folk, blues, oldheartfelt versecraft, speaks to the timey, Celtic, or funk, as last heard essence of our Telluride experience: on 2015’s terrific Pompadour. On “Give me endless time/Never let Saturday, we need a shot of that these ties sever/Because heaven eclectic TBF genre courtesy of one of knows in all this foolin’ round/ These times won’t last forever.” our most beloved legends. Help us, Obi-Wan: You’re our only hope. Here’s to enjoying it.
Yonder Mountain String Band 3.45 - 5:15pm
Yonder Mountain String Band bassist Ben Kaufmann has the word BREATHE tattooed to the inside of his left forearm. So as Ben looks up at the neck of his bass, he sees a reminder to center himself and to focus on his breathing. Such is the experience of a Yonder show. The band’s Saturday afternoon TBF sets provide an annual boost of emotional wellness—a cleansing opportunity to be present in the moment, to soak up Vitamin D, to seek musical meditation, to surround ourselves with beauty, to take care of each other, and to dance ourselves silly. These are the principles that have guided Yonder and their Kinfolk for 17 straight Tellurides and have informed the most relentless goodvibe picking party on the planet. YMSB’s founders—Kaufmann, guitar guerilla Adam Aijala, and banjo brawler Dave Johnston—altered the fabric of summer-fest jamitude, and now newest members Allie Kral (fiddle) and Jacob Jolliff (mandolin) have expanded the band’s instrumental and vocal capabilities, leading to the most blistering Yonder shows ever. What’s more, with 2015’s Black Sheep, the band showcased their most sophisticated originals and adventurous covers to date, perfecting their trademark nod to bluegrass archetypes and their continual push forward into pioneering possibilities. Ah, we’re alive. And it’s a Yonder afternoon in Telluride. Breathe it in.
“ Telluride has always seemed like a mythical giant to us. We’re excited to tackle it and do some cuddling!” – Mandolin Orange
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
“Happy 25th eTown! Happy amazing times to Nick and Helen. You guys are rad, we love you, … keep rockin’ your side pony.” - Lake Street Dive
“An incredible asset for environmentally aware artists and their fans across the country. Long live eTown.” - Tim O’Brien
“eTown is a venue that is purely about the music and the community of musicians. Thanks and hats off.” - James Taylor
“We all live in eTown now!” - Peter Rowan
Listen anytime on our free app! Enjoy the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and tune into eTown for more great music and conversation.
eTown.org 43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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satu rDay, June 18 th
Ryan Adams
Sam Bush Band
Leftover Salmon
6:00 - 7:30pm
8:00 - 10:00pm
10:30 - Midnight
What’s your favorite Ryan Adams album? The rich ‘70s-style breakthrough Gold; the garage-y new wave Rock N Roll; the Grateful Dead-tripping Cold Roses; the smoke-ring country of Jacksonville City Nights; the polished troubadourism of Easy Tiger; the acoustic-based throwback Ashes & Fire; the shimmering adult rock of Ryan Adams? Or one of the many others? Or do you go back to Whiskeytown, Adams’ influential ‘90s band that established him as a key figure of the alt-country boom with albums like Stranger’s Almanac, which first turned critics and crowds on to Adams’ insanely melodic, effortless-sounding songcraft? Or maybe you remain loyal to 2000’s Heartbreaker, the astonishing solo debut that contained echoes of Gram Parsons, the Replacements, and midperiod Stones, plus a whole lot of originality from the kid from North Carolina who was proving to be a once-in-a-generation songwriter. Yes, Ryan Adams has been cranking out incredible songs for over 20 years at the rate most of us take showers. (Not at Telluride, but, you know, usually.) And his songs—stylistically transmogrifying, numbingly gorgeous, visionarily lyrical—are brilliantly sung in Adams’ pure, sunburned vocals. Also an extraordinary producer, Adams has helmed albums for TBF alums like Willie Nelson and Jenny Lewis and has partnered on record with this year’s guests Dave Rawlings (“To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)”) and Emmylou Harris (“Oh My Sweet Carolina”). But as a talent giant, Ryan Adams stands alone, as he will on Saturday in Telluride for a very special, unforgettable solo performance.
Last year, funk-soul sensation Janelle Monáe was here at TBF, and in this program we described her as possessing “the coital musicality of Prince and the shapeshifting theatrics of David Bowie.” What a difference a few months can make. In 2016, we’ve lost not only those two all-time greats, but we’ve also said goodbye to Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, and Guy Clark, all major inspirations to the artists who play Telluride. The loss of so many musical icons is a tough reminder of impermanence and the passing of time. But it’s also a call to howl at the moon while we can and to embrace the here and now. And right here, right now, anchoring the Festival for the 42nd consecutive year, is Telluride’s most influential and enduring artist: Sam Bush. This year marks 45 years since Sam founded New Grass Revival, and while 2016 has proven that the world is turning fast and wild, we cheer the continuing almighty power of Slammin’ Sammy and the fact that so many of Sam’s key cohorts are circling around him this weekend, including the Voice of Newgrass himself, the iconic John Cowan, a special guest artist throughout the weekend. It’s quite a story. And it rolls on, buddy: Sam’s new album, Storyman, is set for official release on June 24th. But this weekend, the Country Store will offer it early for Sam’s best friends, the Festivarians. At TBF, we can feel the silent smiles and laughter of the ones that came before. And we revel in the ones with whom we share this day. In that spirit, you are invited to an exuberant, exclusive Saturday night celebration fit for a King.
“Stop All Your Worrying.” “Let’s Give a Party.” “Sing Up to the Moon.” “Dance on Your Head.” Those aren’t just Leftover Salmon song titles: They are direct orders from the band. And once you’ve been to a Salmon show, you know that they put their musical mojo where their mouths are. Then again, these are the yayhoos who titled songs “Aquatic Hitchhiker” and “Funky Mountain Fogdown.” And how are you supposed to dance on your head? Ask the Fish! Perhaps the best Leftover title manifesto is “Stay Away Monday.” After all, no one elevates the Telluride party like Salmon, who pioneered a musically heteromorphous hedonism like none other. This is the band that put the washboard in the jazzgrass, the electric mando in the countryreggae, the steel-drum banjo in the zydeco-folk. In the ‘90s, guitarist Vince Herman, mandolinist Drew Emmitt, and the late, great banjoist Mark Vann (forever, brother) took their amplified carnival-time bashgrass and combustible eclecticism across America, putting on the wildest shows for the sweatiest crowds (even when the bar held back door money for fumigation fees). In Telluride, they closed the gap between artist and Festivarian by ramping up the campground jam party and putting it up on the Shellman Stage (and then back again). In the process, late-night Salmon sets turned into shaggy-headed instrumentally-wicked song-and-dance euphoria, leading to delirium among Fungusvarians in Town Park. Well, here comes the night. Salmon is back for another zombie jamboree. And together we’re going to set our spirits free.
“I’m gonna try to get it right on my fortieth appearance at Telluride Bluegrass!” – Tim O’Brien
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
SAM BUSH Storyman
• The King of Telluride, Sam Bush’s long-awaited brand new album debuts this year at Telluride! )L [OL ÄYZ[ [V [HRL OVTL H JVW` VM `V\Y V^U • And don’t miss Sam’s sets on Saturday night and with the Telluride House Band Sunday.
BRYAN SUTTON The More I Learn
• Bryan is a GRAMMY® winner and nine-time International Bluegrass Music Association Guitar Player of the Year. • His latest album is available now! • See Bryan with the Telluride House Band Sunday.
THE EARLS OF LEICESTER Rattle & Roar
;OL ,HYSZ VM 3LPJLZ[LY PZ [OL WYVK\J[ VM 1LYY` +V\NSHZ»Z SPMLSVUN WHZZPVU MVY [OL T\ZPJ VM IS\LNYHZZ WPVULLYZ Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. ;OL UL^ ,HYSZ HSI\T PZ JVTPUN PU 1\S` :LL 1LYY` +V\NSHZ VU -YPKH` HUK ^P[O [OL Telluride House Band Sunday.
B É L A FLECK Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
• Nominated in more GRAMMY® categories than any other HY[PZ[ L]LY )tSH’s lastest album )tSH -SLJR (IPNHPS Washburn, won this year’s GRAMMY® MVY )LZ[ -VSR (SI\T :LL )tSH HUK [OL -SLJR[VULZ VU ;O\YZKH`
POKEY LAFARGE Something In The Water
• The St. Louis-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist KYH^Z MYVT H KLLW ^LSS VM American musical traditions to create distinctively WLYZVUHS T\ZPJ [OH[»Z [PTLSLZZ • 7VRL` WSH`Z :\UKH`
SIERRA HULL Weighted Mind
• Weighted Mind PZ :PLYYH»Z NYV\UKIYLHRPUN new album, WYVK\JLK I` )tSH -SLJR • See Sierra on Sunday!
Also from Rounder and Sugar Hill SVVR MVY UL^ HSI\TZ MYVT O’CONNOR BAND with MARK O’CONNOR, SARAH JAROSZ and THE LONELY HEARTSTRING BAND )L Z\YL [V JVUZ\S[ [OL ZJOLK\SL MVY \WKH[LK ZL[ HUK ZPNUPUN [PTLZ
sunDay, June 19 th
Shane Koyczan
and the Short Story Long
11:00 - 12:15pm Our Sunday morning gathering is the annual gospel hour. Some years, that’s meant a rousing invocation of the Word. Other years, it’s simply the sharing of words—Father’s Day remembrances or songs of thoughtful reflection. This time, we listen to words in an unprecedented fashion: through the powerful spoken-word poetry of Shane Koyczan. A master manipulator of language, Koyczan is a brilliant poet whose verses and vocal delivery create rich lyrical textures, while his poetry connects to deeply-felt human commonalities, stirring such deep wells of emotion as to reduce audiences to tears and later cause their hearts to swell near to bursting. In 2010, over one billion people worldwide heard the Canadian wordsmith perform his piece “We are More” at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. More recently, Shane’s passionate anti-bullying poem “To This Day” prompted a national conversation about bullying in schools; he performed the poem at the 2013 TED Conference, and the poem’s video has been viewed over 18 million times online. The author of six books of poetry, Shane has also released three albums with his backing band, the Short Story Long, including last year’s thoroughly inspiring Debris. Long story short: Sunday morning with Shane Koyczan will be a profound shared experience and a story you’ll be telling for a very long time.
De Temps Antan
Sierra Hull
Pokey LaFarge
12:30 - 1:45pm
2:00 - 3:15pm
3:45 - 5:00pm
How’s it goin’, eh? Here on Sunday, we’re loving our friends from the Great White North: First Shane Koyczan from British Columbia will make you weak in the knees, and then De Temps Antan from Quebec will have you stomping your tarp into ribbons. De Temps Antan, from La Belle Province, indeed whoop it up with the spirited beauty of Québécois folkloric music. De Temps Antan translates as “of olden times,” and these impeccable musicians conjure the songs and arrangements from Quebec’s past, when the sounds of fiddle, harmonica, accordion, jaw harp, and a variety of percussion instruments filled the air. With characteristic revelry, DTA replicate the podorhythmic style— “rhythm with feet”—and the band’s complex seated clog-tapping fuels their scintillating reels. Éric Beaudry is a gifted lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki) of layered complexities. Fiddlevarians will adore André Brunet, whose dynamic playing earned him top honors at the 2008 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition. And the electrifying Pierre-Luc Dupuis plays accordion and harmonica with rousing joie de vivre. In a rare stateside visit, the trio’s virtuosic execution and energy will inspire you to bust out your best jigs and quadrilles. On Sunday, De Temps Antan will host a brand new party for olden-times’ sake.
Sierra Hull was practically a Fetusvarian when she first astounded audiences as a prodigious mandolin player, going toe-to-toe and holding her own with Sam Bush himself when she was just ten years old. By age 11, she had paired with mentor Alison Krauss and was playing the Grand Ole Opry and the White House; by 13, she was recording solo albums and performing at Carnegie Hall. Throughout, she honed her preternaturally adroit skill on the mandolin (and as a vocalist and composer), becoming the first bluegrass musician to receive a Presidential Scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. Sierra’s major-label debut, Secrets, came out in 2008, but the secret was already out. The teen wonder had been long blowing audiences away with her miraculous lightspeed mandolin runs, her poised vocals, and her sharp original songs. Daybreak, a survey of bluegrass/ newgrass styles, followed in 2011, featuring the mando-melting instrumental “Bombshell.” Now an ancient 22, Sierra has just released the triumphant Weighted Mind. Co-produced by Béla Fleck, the record is the major arrival of Sierra the songwriter; on ten originals, she crafts jazz, blues, pop, and bluegrass contours to express deep emotional sincerity, again working well beyond her years. We are thrilled to welcome the long-awaited appearance of the incredible Sierra Hull to Telluride.
Hailing from old St. Louis, Pokey LaFarge is the gateway to the Western swing, a riverboat ride to vaudeville blues, and a wayback machine to Dixieland jazz. Pokey specializes in the kind of cowboyfolk that would sound at home in O’Bannon’s Pub, honky tonk suitable for leaning on the bar at the Buck, or early jazz that predates the New Sheridan Bar. Pokey and his dandy six-piece band mash up Jimmie Rodgers, Howlin’ Wolf, Bill Monroe, and Fats Waller via guitars, trumpets, kazoos, banjos, washboards, pianos, fiddles, and harmonicas into a rambling, shambling retro-roots stew with authentic verisimilitude and buoyant zip and zeal. Pokey pays celebratory tribute to American musical traditions, but as a singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist, he’s no mere tin-type recreation. As a charismatic performer and pictorial storyteller, Pokey’s original music is expansive, expressive, and timeless, resonating with audiences of all ages as a popular concert draw around the world. 2013’s self-titled album, containing the Midwest homage “Central Time,” and 2015’s critically applauded Something in the Water offer prime examples of Pokey’s signature approach—witty, infectious, joyful music that takes you back to yesteryear but sounds vibrantly fresh. It’s a trip you won’t want to miss, and on Sunday, Pokey LaFarge has your ticket.
“My year is subject to 3 major holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving and Telluride.” – Chris Eldridge
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
ADVENTURE MUSIC C U R R E N T & F O RT H C O M I N G R E L E A S E S
Marcos Amorim “Sea of Tranquility” available 6/17/16
Benjamim Taubkin “Piano in the House”
Clarice & Sergio Assad “Relíquia” available 7/15/16
Ricardo Silveira & John Leftwich “Cosmos” available 8/19/16
*Newly Reissued/Remastered*
*Newly Reissued/Remastered*
Darol Anger & Barbara Higbie “Tideline”
Darol Anger & Mike Marshall “Chiaroscuro” Adventure Music is pleased to support the
Trust for Public Land
All Adventure Music releases available from Amazon/iTunes/Dusty Groove America 60 EAST 56TH STREET, 9TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
in its efforts to conserve the mountains that frame Telluride’s annual bluegrass festival. Support www.TPL.org ph: 212.829.7006 email: info@adventure-music.com
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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sunDay, June 19 th
Infamous Stringdusters with special guest Nicki Bluhm
5:30 - 6:45pm 2014’s Let It Go, the Infamous Stringdusters’ thrilla-second fifth album, came out before a certain Frozen song exploded, but make no mistake: the Stringdusters’ meticulous instrumentalism, vocal artistry, and blazing energy could reduce the entire kingdom of Arendelle to ashes. No, there’s no denying the ‘Dusters for either flame-broiled bluegrass, acrobatic instrumentals, gospel-grass roof-rattlers, or musclebound rock covers. Andy Hall (dobro), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Andy Falco (guitar), and Travis Book (bass) are steeped in old-school bluegrass, playing and singing with power-in-the blood precision, but they’ll also hit jam-buffs’ sweet spots by volleying into improvisational tensionand-release cage matches. The Grammy-nominated band’s brand-stringin’new Ladies & Gentlemen pairs the quintet with an amazing lineup of female vocalists, including TBF mainstays Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz, and their special guest on Sunday, the sensational Nicki Bluhm. California singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm is the current queen of sweet country-soul. Nicki’s albums with the Gramblers—2012’s self-titled LP and 2015’s Love Wild Lost—have updated laidback ‘70s-style canyon rock for a new generation. Nicki’s 2014 scalding-hot TBF set was one of the most talked about performances of the year. Special collaborations have long been key to the Telluride magic. Nicki and the ‘Dusters continue that tradition with a feast for the senses that will bloom with endless possibilities and dust your end-of-festival blues away.
Emmylou Harris
7:15 - 8:30pm
She was born a red dirt girl in Alabama. She would become one of the most important and influential figures in American music. There’s no end to the accolades. She’s won 13 Grammys and been nominated for 26 others. CMT placed her #5 among the Greatest Women of Country Music. VH1 put her at #22 among the Most Influential Women in Rock and Roll. She received Billboard’s prestigious Century Award. She’s in the Country Music Hall of Fame. In fact, any one decade among Emmylou’s 40-plus year career would have made her a Hall of Famer. She was the foremother of country rock in the ‘70s, the polestar for neotraditionalism in the ‘80s, and the renegade of alternative country in the ‘90s. And after years as a masterful collector of songs, she reinvented herself again in the ‘00s as one of the decade’s greatest songwriters on a series of hit records. Her career is a dizzying highlight reel. She was Gram Parsons’ duet partner on the seminal GP and Grievous Angel. She became a country superstar with classic LPs like Elite Hotel and Luxury Liner, both #1 albums in the U.S. She was in The Last Waltz with The Band. She sang on Bob Dylan’s Desire. 1987’s Trio with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt sold four million copies. And she formed the Nash Ramblers with a guy named Sam Bush. Through the years, Emmylou has created songs for all of us. Now, young bands are writing songs about her. Swedish band First Aid Kit’s 2014 hit “Emmylou” is about the joy and magic of singing with someone you love. On Sunday night, all of our hearts will be singing. We love you, Emmy.
Telluride House Band
featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart
9:00 - 11:00pm Over the years, when one of our Telluride regulars reached their 25th TBF appearance, they’ve been presented with a barnyard animal on stage. As a result, the legends who make up the Telluride House Band could start their own farm. It would be quite a hoe-down: Here a MacArthur Genius, there a Grammy winner, everywhere a Hall of Famer. It’s the annual, only-in-Telluride Meeting of the Masters, the ultimate TBF jam session featuring the most elite bluegrass pickers in the world. It’s the God Squad: Sam Bush, the Newton of the Neck, on mandolin; Béla Fleck, the Tennyson of the Tension Hoop, on banjo; Jerry Douglas, the Triton of the Truss Rod, on dobro; Edgar Meyer, the Theocrat of Thump, on bass; Stuart Duncan, the Einstein of the Elbow, on fiddle; and Bryan Sutton, the Stravinsky of Strum, on guitar. These are the towering figures who form the history of Telluride Bluegrass—the music, the memories, the magic. On stage will be the cumulative force of tens of thousands of recordings and compositions and the inspiration to millions who’ve picked up instruments. It’s a thrill to see these goliaths all at once. But these guys didn’t get here by standing around. Every year, the House Band plays with increasing fire, joy, and passion, like they have everything still to prove. And it’s the Festivarians who fuel the fire. So for the last set on the last night of TBF ‘16, as the greatest bluegrass supergroup ever assembled takes the stage, we celebrate an astonishing history, an incredible weekend together in the mountains, and one more monumental thunder jam.
“So happy to be back again in Telluride. These are hills for the head!” – Bryan Sutton All artist bios written by Steve Leftridge, a St. Louis-based writer, teacher, and musician who has written for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, PopMatters, and No Depression and has attended TBF since 1997.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
November 4–6, 2016
James McMurtry u John Fullbright Jeffrey Foucault u Rising Appalachia Mark Erelli u The Suitcase Junket Anne McCue u Beth Wood Ma Muse u Sammy Brue and others TBA
Tickets: $40 —$130 Early Bird Discount 10% until July 1
MoabFolkFestival.com 43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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Making the most of the shortest nights of the year, the NightGrass series carries on the 36-year tradition of the After-Hours Jam in intimate venues around Telluride and Mountain Village. Board the free gondola to Mountain Village on Wednesday afternoon for the free outdoor FirstGrass Concert in Sunset Plaza featuring Mandolin Orange and Balsam Range. Then head over to the Telluride Conference Center for Yonder Mountain String Band’s sold-out 15th Annual KickOff Party. For the next few nights, sold-out shows are held indoors in Telluride—at the legendary Sheridan Opera House, historic Swede-Finn Hall (1 block west of the gondola on the corner of Pacific and Townsend), and at the state-of-the-art Palm Theatre (inside Telluride High School on the west end of Colorado Avenue). Tickets to NightGrass shows are completely separate from Festival tickets. Again this year we sold all NightGrass tickets through a single online lottery in April. As always, we welcome your comments about this online lottery system for NightGrass ticketing.
Wednesday June 15 th
Free FirstGrass Concert: MANDOLIN ORANGE AND BALSAM RANGE Outdoors at Sunset Plaza, Mountain Village 5-8pm • All-Ages FREE! 15TH ANNUAL BLUEGRASS KICK-OFF PARTY WITH...
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND Telluride Conference Center 9pm show All-Ages
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STILL LOOKING FOR NIGHTGRASS TICKETS? New Belgium has your miracle. Visit their booth in Greentown to try your hand at adult coloring for your chance to win NightGrass tickets. (See page 11 for more details.)
Thursday June 16
Friday June 17
Saturday Sunday June 18 June 19
THE HILLBENDERS PRESENT TOMMY Sheridan Opera House 11pm show Ages 21+*
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND Sheridan Opera House 11pm show Ages 21+*
DEL MCCOURY BAND Sheridan Opera House 11pm show Ages 21+*
PUNCH BROTHERS Sheridan Opera House 10:30pm show Ages 21+*
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS Palm Theatre 11pm show Ages 21+
* unless accompanied by parent
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THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS Palm Theatre 11pm show Ages 21+ MANDOLIN ORANGE Swede-Finn Hall 11pm show Ages 21+*
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LEFTOVER SALMON Palm Theatre 11pm show Ages 21+ SIERRA HULL Swede-Finn Hall 11pm show Ages 21+*
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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HAAS KOWERT TICE Swede-Finn Hall 11pm show Ages 21+*
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11th Annual
The hillbenders TOMMY: A Bluegrass Opry Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 7:30pm
Pete Townshend’s original vision comes to life in a new and exciting way with the banjo, dobro, mandolin, bass, and guitar.
SONS OF THE PIONEERS
September 16-18, 2016 Pepsi Amphitheater à Ft. Tuthill County Park
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 at 7:30pm
Flagstaff, Arizona
Sam Bush Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester The SteelDrivers O’Connor Band featuring Mark O’Connor Jeff Peterson à Hot Club of Cowtown Special Consensus à Finnders & Youngberg Run Boy Run à Hogslop Stringband and many more!
pickininthepines.org
Tick ets On S ale Now
The ultimate in cowboy music, founded by Roy Rogers.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & PACKAGES ON SALE NOW! Tickets to single performances begin on July 18.
LoneTreeArtsCenter.org
720.509.1000 10075 Commons Street Lone Tree, CO 80124
O’CONNOR BAND Featuring Mark O’Connor Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 7:30pm
Sophisticated instrumentals bring a fresh, powerful, unprecedented sound to this family band.
Photo by John David Pittman
NEW LOCATION 333 WEST COLORADO AVE. UNIT 2 (970) 728-9592 TELLURIDEMUSIC.COM 43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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Sustainable Festivation AND THIS PROGRAM
This year’s program & pocket schedule are printed on FSC®certified Neenah Conservation 80# Cover and 70# Text paper at OneTouchPoint Mountain States, an FSC®-certified printer in Denver. By using this 100% post-consumer recycled fiber made with 100% renewable energy, we saved 16,172 pounds of wood, 23,475 gallons of water, 1,487 pounds of carbon emissions, and 1,571 pounds of solid waste. 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.
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
DAVID GRISMAN SEXTET - FRI AUG 12 2016 SUMMER SERIES
COMPASS RECORDS NEW FAVORITES
One of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated “Country” releases of 2016.
COLVIN & EARLE - TUESDAY AUG 30 ON STAGE SUN., JUNE 19
Featuring : Nicki Bluhm • Mary Chapin Carpenter Jennifer Hartswick • Sarah Jarosz • Claire Lynch Aoife O’Donovan • Joan Osborne • Joss Stone Sara Watkins • Abigail Washburn • Lee Ann Womack Celia Woodsmith
RYAN BINGHAM - MONDAY AUG 1
David Grisman Sextet 2016 SUMMER SERIES
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 7:30 PM
2 0 1 6 S U MChautauqua M E R S E Auditorium RIES Tickets: ($25–$40 Concert Member) 2016 SUMMER S E R I E $28–$43 S chautauqua.com
MELISSA ETHERIDGE - TUES AUG 16
900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.440.7666 | chautauqua.com
coloradochautauqua
colochautauqua
COMPASS FEATURED PARTNER 2016 SUMMER SERIES
Ryan Bingham
THE STEELDRIVERS - SAT SEPT 24 with special guests
The SteelDrivers MONDAY, AUG 1 with special guests
ROOTS & BRANCHES SPRING 2016 journal
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, No Depression announced its return to print, after seven years of being an online-only publication. The Spring 2016 issue sees the quarterly roots music journal printed on 156 pages of high-quality, 100 percent recycled paper, using biodegradable ink.
7:30 PM
Chautauqua Auditorium
SATURDAY, SEPT 24Concert Member) Tickets: $28–$43 ($25–$40 chautauqua.com 7:30 PM Chautauqua Auditorium Tickets: $23–$40 ($20–$37 Concert Member)
900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.440.7666 | chautauqua.com chautauqua.com
900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.440.7666 | chautauqua.com
coloradochautauqua
coloradochautauqua
colochautauqua
colochautauqua
SUMMER FESTIVAL CLUB Sign up at compassrecords.com/ festivalclub
Receive one FREE mp3 a week from the best of Compass’ new releases and our catalog of over 600 titles all summer long!
compassrecords.com
43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
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Dates to Remember Telluride Bluegrass June 15-18, 2017 June 21-24, 2018 June 20-23, 2019
Planet Bluegrass would like to thank our Lodging Partners
And our events in Lyons, COLORADO:
RockyGrass Academy
The Song School
RockyGrass
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
July 24-28, 2016 July 23-27, 2017 July 29-31, 2016 July 28-30, 2017
August 14-18, 2016 August 13-17, 2017
August 19-21, 2016 August 18-20, 2017
2017 Tickets
Visit Bluegrass.com beginning in October for details about purchasing tickets through our online lotteries, including Telluride Bluegrass camping in Warner Field and Town Park. All other 2017 tickets go on sale in early December.
RESERVE YOUR 2017 LODGING NOW AT
WWW.BLUEGRASS.COM/TBFLODGING
Virtual Tarp
Throw down your virtual tarp, commune with your fellow Festivarians, and be the first to hear about lineups, tickets, and giveaways…
festivarian.com • facebook.com/planetbluegrass
Online Survey
For 43 years we’ve been striving to evolve and refine every aspect of the Festival experience. Your voice is a vital part of this ongoing process. Complete our online Festivarian survey and you’ll be entered to win a pair of 4-day passes to the 44th Annual next June.
www.bluegrass.com/tbfsurvey
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43 rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival
FAT TIRE AMBER ALE IS BREWED AND BOTTLED BY NEW BELGIUM BREWING FORT COLLINS, CO & ASHEVILLE, NC
Life’s a ride. Bring good Beer. 25 years ago we rolled the first Fat Tire out of our garage in Fort Collins and embarked on an epic ride. This summer we celebrate with a fleet of Detroit Bikes to give away, the one and only Tour de Fat, and a big birthday bash in August at our new Asheville, North Carolina brewery.
REGISTER TO WIN BIKES, SWAG AND EVEN A TICKET TO OUR BIRTHDAY PARTY IN ASHEVILLE
NEWBELGIUM.COM
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