Does this mean Billy Strings will be opening for the Conference Center show and not playing First Grass? I know Billy has been opening for the Travelin’ McCourys on tour. That would be kind of a bummer (for me, anyway).
I don’t believe it means opening at the conference center, you’d think PB would have listed that as part of the NG line-up if so. Cindy, as far as the YMSB bumping, Brian said in the original post on this thread “As we mentioned in the write-up on the NightGrass page… a huge thanks to Yonder Mountain String Band for sliding over to make room for this year’s special Dierks Bentley show at the Conference Center. Yonder’s 16-year run of epic Kick-Off shows remains legendary.” Somewhere there was also an official PB statement regarding YMSB’s move from their typical Saturday slot in order to fit Live From Here in that time slot, maybe that is in the line-up thread. Even though I won’t be attending the Dierks show, I think its real cool that its happening, their show last year was epic. So I too don’t believe “bumped” is the proper way to describe it, sounds though YMSB worked with PB to accommodate these changes. I think having them on Sunday really boosts Sundays appeal as one of the best line-up days, though like we all have been saying there’s not any day on this years schedule that isn’t absolutely amazing!
Todd, it seems a bit odd to me also :huh but Telluride’s Sunset Concert series (Firstgrass) shows Billy opening for the Lil Smokies - https://tmvoa.org/events/firstgrass-sunset-concert-2/
And Dierks show on Bands in town show Billy opening for him - https://www.bandsintown.com/e/22296262?app_id=js_www.dierks.com&came_from=242&affil_code=js_www.dierks.com
So I’m not sure, maybe it’s a mistake, but it appears he is playing both! May need extra Rumballs for that opener!! :cheers
I just can’t wait to see all the little cups of Rumballs going up the Ganjala! :cheers :pirate
I was wondering about that but I think he can do both…
He opens at First Grass, does his set then RUNS to gondola, runs to Dierks.
We rock out to Lil Smokies then run to Dierks, I reckon our decision will be Smokies or Billy for second time that night
It’s a good dilemma
Tough call but Passport, I reckon we are up for it, get in some training cause on my reckoning we’re oing to be dancing from 11am till about 2am the entire week. The only free night is Punch Brothers close out and let’s face it, someone is bound to have a ticket or two spare.
FESTIVAL is coming, I am totally pumped
The venue for the First Gass stage and the conference center are pretty close together. You’ll pretty much walk right past the conference center on the way over to the first grass area.
That’s what I was going to say Erndog!! :pirate
Just to clear up the confusion, Billy is playing FirstGrass and not opening for Dierks.
Bandsintown is wrong.
:cheers
D.
Nice buzz-kill Dustin! :pirate
:bag
How often is Bands in Town wrong!
Cool, that helps considerably…
You gotta admit, this Forum was very clever at calling Firstgrass er first 
Thanks for setting us Firstivarians straight Dustin. :cheers
AF, that’s because at the first whiff of a Billy/Smokie Firstgrass, the excitement propelled many to start sniffing around ourselves. So glad Billy and the Smokies are opening this years incredible FESTIVAL!!
And Pirate, an extra rumball … maybe a bottle of 1942 with friends … there will be no killing of said buzz from that show!! :horsey :burn
If you read MY post I wrote that I DON"T think YSMB got bumped. If you read the posts of this topic, someone named OBCHUCK is the person who said that. I’ve been to the majority of the kick-offs from the beginning. I also pointed out that it is Dierks Bentley and the Travelin’ McCourys. Several people on here keep say Dierks and Del, which is inaccurate. If it was Del McCoury Band it would be listed as such. First Grass will be Billy Strings, then Lil Smokies. Look at the posts on Bluegrass.com for accurate information. Thank you Dustin for TRYING! I read the posts, and to me they are quite clear as to who, when, and where each band will be.
His site is wrong then. There is no opener for the kick-off concert. There is FIRST GRASS featuring Billy Strings. Once he has played, there will be a second band, the Lil Smokies. FIRST GRASS is OUTSIDE at SUNSET PLAZA. IT IS A FREE SHOW.
Dierks Bentley with the Travelin McCourys will play inside at the CONFERENCE CENTER after the First Grass shows are over. A separate TICKET IS REQUIRED for this NIGHTGRASS KICK OFF and ALL the official Planet-sponsored nightgrass shows at various venues around town.
Whoever said something about running back and forth to the gondola and the shows apparently has never been to Mountain Village. You WALK from place to place. The gondola gets you from town up to Mountain Village and back. From Mountain Village another section of the gondola takes you over to the parking garage and the post office and grocery/liquor store in Mountain Village. Good luck to you, just go with the flow.
at the top of this page on the right-hand side, there is a link to take you to the Planet Bluegrass site. Click on that, choose Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Their website has the entire line-up and the nightgrass schedule. The workshop schedule won’t post until closer to festival.
All I can say about this is that I would hate to be the band that “follows” Billy Strings. The bar will be very high (and open).
Have you not seen Lil Smokies before? It won’t be a problem for them.
Yes, I’ve seen the Smokies. Have you seen Billy Strings lately?
Oh yeah, quite a bit actually. I think it’s a terrific pairing for these two bands. I’d be very happy just going to First Grass and all the nightgrass shows and skipping the main festival. I’m not TOO concerned with keeping my attendance record intact. :abduct