The Alison Krauss website http://alisonkrauss.com/ has put up tour dates for shows with Union Station, with Jerry Douglas, and sharing the bill with the Willie Nelson family. On June 19, 20 and 21, they are playing dates in New England and upstate NY. So is Jerry Douglas not going to be at Telluride this year?
It doesn’t look good for Jerry (or Willie Nelson for that matter). That being said, last year, we had Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers play Thursday night even though they had an East Coast tour starting on Friday. It’s still possible.
Wow. It would be kind of stunning if Jerry wasn’t there. (It is easy to forget these musicians have lives and tours outside of Telluride and sometimes the logistics just don’t work out–I’m sure Johnny C hasn’t wanted to miss the last few years).
And what would that mean for the House Band? A House Band without Jerry would be different.
There could be new traditions starting for the next 40 years of the fest. The one thing I am confident of is that whoever they bring to play, the music will be phenomenal, and it will be the best four days on the planet.
Traditionally, The House Band closes out the FESTIVVVAAALLL!!! on Sunday night. This year, I’m pretty sure that would be the 22nd of June. I’ll venture a guess that if Craig has not announced The House Band yet that he has something of a “really big show” up his sleeve.
Let’s just hang in there and keep our fingers crossed Jerry and Willie can fly in on Sunday.
Auntie Hope :festivarian2 :green
Hope you’re right! I’m sure you are. There is plenty left to be announced and you know it will be great.
For a bunch of years in the early 2000s the House Band played Thursday night, then did Sunday night a few years, and went back to Thursday in 2011 (I think) when Robert Plant closed on Sunday night in the magical snow, and then went back to Sunday the last couple years, if memory serves (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t). But hey, they’re always a highlight whenever they play!
Jerry’s absense would be noticeable for sure … especially since he often gets the tap for projects and sit’ins across the board. His presence at Yonder’s PB benefit on 12/30/13 clearly added a new dimension & helped elevate their playing (Sam Bush on stage didn’t hurt either).
If Jerry can’t make it, why not book the Dusters and have Andy Hall play with the House Band. After all, he is one of the best dobro players on the planet. I would, of course, prefer Jerry play with them, but Andy would fit in musically.
This is probably wishful thinking, but I can dream.
What about Ders? He’s at the same level as Andy, maybe a scosche below b/c he’s younger. Plus, he has a hard AN in his name.
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :burn
Anders is great, and Greensky is one of my five favorite bands (largely because of him and his dobro), but when it comes to sheer musicianship, he’s just not quite at Andy Hall’s level. I think Andy would have an easier time hanging with the rest of the House Band.
The Dusters absolutely killed it at Big Sky this past weekend. I say bring 'em to T’ride!! Andy just keeps getting better as do all of those kids (just showing my age a bit).
I wish I could have made that. I just need to make friends with condos in Big Sky. That’s my goal for the rest of the year.
Wow Sugar I thought for sure you would be there. I will be seeing LOS twice this week in Durango, and next week The Infamous Stringdusters twice at the Sheridan Opera House! WOO HOO
I’m back in school and quit my corporate retail job because they didn’t care about any of us, so money’s been a little tight. I will still be in Telluride, though! That ticket’s bought and paid for.
First vote will always be for Flux (J.D.), but yes… 100% behind Any Hall for back-up Dobro in the House Band. :thumbsup
Auntie Hope :festivarian2 :green
Jerry, Jerry, Jerry! What about Edgar, Stuart and Bryan!
My bet is that Jerry will fly in Sunday morning to join the HB for the closing set. I doubt anything would keep him from making at least one day of the fest. It is a shame that he won’t be available to sit in the other days.
Y’all are making me sad now. Us computer geeks give our computer names, and my main workstation (through several different machines) has been named ‘flux’ for over a decade now. The years I had full backstage access working for the Planet, some days the only set I’d be in the poser pit for was Jerry. One of the best sets ever was the first year he had Omar with him (when they let Omar sit on the front corner where we could see him…who the hell stuck him in back the next year, anyway?).
When i told Tessa Jerry might not be there, she said “Well, I guess I’ll take the kids and you can stay home to work. No Allison, and no Jerry? No reason for you to go!”.
That’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but…but…No Flux set? I don’t get my annual Fluxitation? No chance of a Fluxgasm?
If anyone needs me, I’ll be in recluse until further notice.
I adored that set. Omar Hakim is very likely the most talented drummer I’ve ever had the good fortune to see. That first year with Jerry, Omar and Victor was absolutely killer. The next year was fun, too, but Jerry had to promote his new album. That fist year felt much more free and spontaneous.
Oh, I just have to put an end to the misery.
Of course Jerry will be at Telluride!
And, I doubt it’s just for one set!