I try to keep an open but I really can’t understand this Kacey Musgraves booking. After an initial search seeing she is a reality TV contestant and then a few youtube videos of vapid, pop country, the final straw was seeing her CMT duet with Katy Perry. Why would telluride book this act? This type of music seems inherently contradictory to the ethics and musical principles of this great festival…
I don’t know sean, I haven’t heard of her … let alone seen her prior to the TBF announcement.
Full disclosure: truth be told, I’m not really a huge fan of the “festival format” in general … I’d much rather see a full 3 hours of music from a single band who I really like vs. 1:15 from many different artists. Or another way I like to put it: I’d much rather rip the roof off of my mouth eating a half a box of Cap’n Crunch vs. getting one of those variety packs of cereal where you get 8 different little boxes. Full immersion of a main entry vs. sampling of finger food.
Having said that, I believe TBF is by far the best of the Telluride festivals in so far as giving headliners as full a slot as possible (1:30 → 2:00). More to the point: I think there’s a very good variety which PB brings to the table in so far as divergent music and how it’s sequenced throughout the course of a festival. I think there’s something to be said about orchestrating a good ebb / flow … of which “female country” is but one spoke of the wheel which keeps everything turning while keeping interest.
While I have my own preconceptions about KM based upon watching a couple YouTube clips, and maybe her genre isn’t what I’d seek out … I do believe it has it’s “place”. Regardless, I’m always willing to give anyone a chance.
What he said.
She did get the Grammy for County Album of the year and many regard her as an accomplished song writer. I’d withold judgerment until after her performance at the festival. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by live performances over recorded material by a number of artists.
Well, if you take a closer look at the placard above the stage every year, it actually says “Telluride Country and Bluegrass Festival”.
Of course we all know that’s not so true either since they book a variety of musical genres.
We all still call it the Telluride Bluegrass Festival or TBF (not TBGF since bluegrass is one word). :lol
I’ve heard of Kasey but haven’t heard her music.
I’ll leave my opinion of her until after I’ve seen her set. :flower
One of my favorite things about Telluride is how in tune with the festivarians the Planet is. When they have an artist that they know won’t appeal to everyone, they usually put them opposite an incredible workshop or nightgrass show. And if not, that could be a great time to check out one of the local pubs, grab a Telluride brewed beer and slow down a bit.
I don’t know much of anything about Kasey. I intend to familiarize myself with her sound before the festival. If it’s a late night set, I think it very likely I’ll find a nightgrass show to go to. If it’s not, I’ll probably listen in from camp.
That’s what I was thinking…
I’d heard of Kasey awhile ago when I heard a great review of her CD on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175369125/kacey-musgraves-countrys-blunt-and-poetic-new-voice
Convinced me it was worth a listen. She’s a bit more ‘country’ than what I usually listen to, though I think she’s a good song writer and will sound great in the mountains.
At least I’m hoping so. Always great to see the Planet mix the regulars with artists new to the greatest four days on the planet.
Thanks for the link, it was really interesting to read the review and I have a better appreciation of her now.always good to have an open mind on these things!
Her soft, raspy voice and her lyrics are just so good. She is a cross and I personally think it is hard to define her style :medal
I’m ready lets go :cheers