Bluebird Bluegrass Weekend

Bluegrass Festival has done it again... another amazing weekend with crystal clear, bluebird skies all weekend long. Here are a couple highlights from a weekend full of great music, inspiring artists, delicious food, blue skies, friendly people, guitar pickin', sun shinin', Telluride Bluegrass weekend:

Thursday - Gates opened at 10:30am but the festivities started a lot earlier... Festival fanatics lined up as early as 6:00am to participate in the annual Telluride 'Tarp Run'. A swift sprint through the Town Park gates to get a first-come, first-served spot on the grass in front of Main Stage. Check out video from this year's Tarp Run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pLVuLXSiB8

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas was the highlight of the Thursday festivities. Everyone who was lucky enough to see her show Thursday night were blown away at her beautiful voice and stage elegance. In her career, she has won 26 Grammy Awards, making her the most awarded female in Grammy history. 26 Grammy Awards?!?! No wonder she rocked out Town Park stage and left everyone describing her as the Telluride "Angel". Here is a clip from her Bluegrass performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRNP_C1Llps

Friday - Even prettier than Thursday... Friday had big names with big shoes to fill after a wonderful Bluegrass kickoff. After eating Sister's famous wontons for lunch and washing it down with a cold New Belgium beer, we made our way to the tarp to soak in the sun and background music. Highlights included, the Court Yard Hounds, sister-duo featuring Martie Maguire and Emily Robison who make up 2/3 of the Dixie Chicks. They got their start years ago at the Telluride Troubador Contest which later scored them their first gig on Town Park stage. Next up was Grammy Award artist, Lyle Lovett, who dressed in style and performed an amazing set which ended with all his friends on stage. Check out video from Lyle Lovett's performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aQf89d0UiY

Friday night ended with a Bluegrass Festival staple, Leftover Salmon. Headed up by Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt, these guys know how to rock and put on a great show. They played all their old tunes and capped off Friday night in style. Check out video from Leftover Salmon's performance: http://vimeo.com/12740749

Saturday - Another amazing day in paradise... Of course, you HAVE to get a Killer Flank Steak on Saturday. It's a religious experience. After eating a Killer we went for a quick dip in the San Miguel River, another religious (but chilly) Bluegrass experience. Musical highlights include Colorado local's Yonder Mountain String Band, the Sam Bush Band, and a Bluegrass Festival wild card: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Edward Sharpe actually grew up right down the road from Telluride in the small mining town of Rico, Colorado. He and his new band have taken the charts by storm and grew a national following just in the past year. Check out a clip from his performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx6gZ9eXNtc

Sunday - You know how the saying goes... "Time flies when you're having fun". Is it really Sunday already?!? It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, but Sunday of Bluegrass Festival is my favorite day. Relaxin' on the tarp while bands such as Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers, and Brandi Carlile perform in the background is a great way to meditate on the amazing weekend and start thinking about your next year plans. Sunday's major highlight (other than the annual Marshmallow fight) was the performance from Mumford & Sons. This amazing English indie band completely came out of right field and surprised a majority of festivarians. I was able to talk with one member backstage... he said, "I've never played a festival in the world where we have felt so welcomed and met so many happy people". That about sums up the whole experience during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Check out one of their music videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

If you have never experienced the Telluride Bluegrass Festival... it's truly an event you must check off your bucket list. Start planning for the 38th Annual in 2011, I promise you won't regret it.

Town Park

Town Park Stage

Festivarians