This was our 7th year straight at TBF. As always, it was a phenomenal event. Words cannot capture the awe of the artists/events. Hats-off to Planet Bluegrass and the organizers of this year’s festival; you folks never cease to amaze with your selection of artists. Of particular note, John Fogerty… a totally awesome, dynamic, energetic and kick-a** performance! Another standout event was the Doc Watson tribute at Elks Park; a what I suspect was a last minute addition to honor a True Legend. Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and the awesome fiddle player whose name escapes me at the moment did a phenomenal job of paying homage to one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Kudos also to the guy who saw a $20.00 bill fall out of my pocket at the KOTO beer tent and returned it to me (he wouldn’t even let me get him a beer for his kindness … I chalk that up to true festivarianism).
Another Kudos goes out to ALL of the volunteers; from the traffic control, ticket takers, bag and wristband checkers to the folks with the ‘grab-sticks’ sorting out recyclables from compost; you all were instrumental in making another festival a sterling success.
Thank you again to everyone that contributed to another joyous respite from the throes of the trials and tribulations of the other 361 days of the year ;).
:wave This Fest Ferg, brings people together on many levels and in every size ,shape and form. Pretty special and it all started with you :medal Better then bein a rock star cowboy
So The Devil Makes Three, A +++ :medal I really liked em :flower
K.D. Lang, She has got this solid, clean voice of which I think the Sis Boom Bang added a bit o Vegas to her edge. KD accapella would of been slammin, IMO :flower
The House Band, who cares if they don’t have a set list :lol They always deliver. Top notch each man and women alone, but together a just for us listen :medal :medal :medal
John Prine, always perfectly delivered, as I remember each song :cheers. Sweetness :flower
John Fogerty. Holy crap Batman! Rocked the house EPIC! Came out strong and ended strong, one song after another with no breath in between. KILLER PERFORMANCE!!! I will remember this one till I die Ferggie. Slammin good fun. A tad loud but HEY, it was flippin fun. :medal :medal :medal :medal :medal :medal :medal :medal GOD I FEEL GOOD! Whats next? :lol
One other thing. After Glen’s set I wanted to buy a CD and the Merch tent was already closed. I think you should warn the crowd :talk to let em know. :flower
i went one day. here’s what i think about the tunes i saw/my day
Devil Makes Three - this is my favorite band right now and i was so excited to see them. their afternoon set slayed! i wore a sign on my back all day looking for NG tix. I also looked on this forum for a few weeks to no avail… but i did get in… that will be discussed later!
jerry douglas - always kills it. it was really hot and his set makes for great afternoon tunes, while i was eating my lunch and putting my feet in the river.
YMSB - im not a huge fan of this band but they always play a great show at tellurideand this was no exception. we went up front and had a great dance party.
During KD lang we went back to lawson for “happy hour”. During this time we went up to the new Telluride Brewing Company. I had their Fishwater IPA that was named after a widespread panic song and the brewer was happy to show us around. Great brew and great folks, they seem to be sitting on a gold mine of demand not able to supply it all yet!
Sam Bush. goodness… we all know what the sam bush set at telluride is like. all i can say is Cripple Creek > Cripple Creek was insane, all those musicians on stage! The metal song was pretty funny too.
Left before Bruce because I wanted to try for DM3 nightgrass tix at the bar. Went over there with my finger in the air and found a girl who sold me tix! While it was cool to see them in a small bar, I was kind of upset that they played basically the exact same show as they did in the afternoon. Still a great set.
I seem to be in the minority, but I enjoyed Dan Mangan and his philosophical ramblings.
Laura Marling didn’t seem nearly enthusiastic enough. And she started 15 minutes late. Too bad, because she was one of the artists I was most looking forward to.
Elephant Revival was a great nightgrass selection. They need to be regulars in Telluride.
Bela/Chris was impressive, and in the state of dozing off I was in part of the time, made some interesting mental connections.
Punch Brothers Happy Hour! First Helm tribute of the weekend (of I think four total)! Ahoy!
Bela Fleck & Marcus Roberts Trio was one of my favorite sets of the weekend.
Fogerty rocked.
Went to Head For The Hills & DM3 at the saloon… That venue totally sucks if there are more than fifty people there. Won’t be attending any shows there in the future. Despite a great set from HFTH.
Saturday was all about Elks Park. Watched the instrument workshop and Bela/Meyer/Thile, went over to main stage for DM3, and went back for the Guthrie tribute and Seryn. I spent more time at Elks Park on Saturday than I did at the main stage. I love Elks Park, and at least the last couple of years, Saturday has been the day to spend there.
Sam Bush! Up On Cripple Creek was my favorite moment of the festival. Big Bottom was a truly unforgettable experience, too.
Bruce was great. I regret leaving early to hit up DM3 nightgrass.
Joy Kills Sorrow (both Friday at Elks and Sunday main stage) was one of my favorite new bands this year.
Brett Dennen was one I wasn’t sure I’d like…but I liked him.
Glen Hansard was a lot more entertaining than I thought he’d be. And I loved the third Levon tribute of the weekend. Possibly my favorite.
Missed the House Band since I wanted to guarantee a balcony seat at Punch Brothers, but I see I missed another Levon tribute. Oh well.
Punch Brothers nightgrass was phenomenal. Loved getting some R&B from the guys, some killer soloing that I haven’t even seen from these guys after six previous times seeing them, a Weezer cover, an Ed Helms appearance, and the guys just having a great time on stage. Ahoy!
There were great tributes to Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Levon Helm all weekend. One great musician recently died, who was not, I feel, properly memorialized at the festival: Adam Yauch.
Last review was awesome. You clearly know how to do bluegrass. Agreed on elks park shows.
Also agree an Adam Yauch tribute would have been welcome. He was a good soul and deserves mention regardlesss if he had no influence on bluegrass that I’m aware of. Although perhaps no bad could really be suited to take that on, but id love to see one try if done in good fashion
One great musician recently died, who was not, I feel, properly memorialized at the festival: Adam Yauch.
The one whom got ZERO mention anywhere – and an oversight on my part, too – was
the great banjo player Doug Dillard.
As for my .02…
Fave Set: The Doc Watson tribute at Elks Park. A must-download set with great stories, emotional moments (Bryan Sutton) and of course great playing.
Seven other fave sets from last week:
John Prine - John had me in tears five times, and perhaps my fave tune of the set was “Christmas In Prison.”
John Fogerty - 105 minutes of no-bullshit old-school rock & roll, with some extended guitar by John as well.
Telluride House Band - When musical giants rule the earth.
Leftover Salmon @ The Palm - While I wish there was not an earlier curfew, Salmon threw down with Billy Payne, whom also offered up a solo rendition of “Rooster Rag”, one of the new Feat tunes co-written with Robert Hunter. Another highlight was the new “Light Behind The Rain”, a great new tune co-penned by Andy Thorn and Benny Galloway.
Elephant Revival @ The Sheradon - Like watching a bed of roses blossom, a sterling performance from beginning to end. This bands needs to be on the main stage next year, so that Bonnie Paine’s special voice can glisten in the mountains! This has to happen next year, Planet Bluegrass!
YMSB @ Mountain Village - Bela to close the first set as guest, and Sam Bush on fiddle the rest of the way. Combine it with four guys who came ready to play, and the results were mighty fine. Bonus points for a well-done cover of the Garcia-Hunter gem “Reuben & Cherise.”
John Cowan Band Gospel Hour – Good to hear the man’s powerful pipes fill up the Telluride Canyon with spirit and soul.
Doing well for themselves:
Head For The Hills, whom played a rock solid set showing how far they have come. They’ve likely locked a set at next year’s Rockygrass as a result. They earned it all the way.
Most overrated:
Glen Hansard - I know he has plenty of fans here, but I’m sorry: I just find him very overwrought and overbearing in approach and taste, to the point he is for me an automatic “skip” at every Planet Bluegrass festival in my book. YMWV.
Seryn - Nice harmonies, but far too saccharine for my taste overall.
Unexpected gem:
John Frazier & Friends @ Elks Park - The last workshop was a fun & warm jam session with John, his wife Rebecca (playing music again after the couple had their second child), Chad Cobb [fiddler for John Cowan], Jeff Autry [guitar for John Cowan], Andy Thorn, Jacob Jolliff [Joy Kills Sorrow mandolinist] and joined by Bridget Kearney [Joy Kills Sorry bassis] for a mixture of bluegrass standards and fun workshop questions.
I have started posting videos on YouTube covering:
6/21 - Elephant Revival @ Sheridan Opera House
6/22 - Doc Watson tribute workshop @ Elks Park
6/23 - Leftover Salmon @ Palm Theatre
6/24 - John Frazier & Friends workshop @ Elks Park
I’ll start a thread with the links, accordingly, and still have some videos to upload.
Some more kudos to the people who DIDN’T steal our chairs that weren’t locked up, leaning on a signpost right outside the main entrance every night, and to the guy who returned my friend’s camera bag, with the expensive camera and several hundred in cash to him after finding it in a porta john. What an amazing group of musicians, and what an OUTSTANDING group of individuals to spend a week with. You all rock.
Although I left right after JCs Gospel set, here are my musical highlights…
Elks Park Doc Tribute- Amazing set, J Wood describes it wonderfully :medal
John Fogerty-TownPark- Holy Snikes, that was the most enjoyable collective dancing I’ve witnessed at Utarpia, I saw Jerry and Bob back him in 1989 at the AIDS Benefit show in Oakland, Ca, and well, 23 years later, he crushed Tride, so much fun
John Cowan and Friends Gospel set was the perfect send off music. Unlike years past where I have left town sad, his music and return to the Box Canyon filled me with Joy.
Utarpia peeps I love you more than words can tell! Can’t wait to do the 40th with all of you festivarians!
I loved the picking up at Run a Muck. There wasn’t much last year that I remember, so it was fun to not have to seek it out as much this year. I could sit in our living room and watch some fantastic musicians having a blast. :cheers
:wave
I agree with the folks that mentioned the Run a Muck picks this year. It is such an honor to be surrounded by so many amazing musicians, One of our goals this was was to create a venue for pickers to perform in the campground. It worked really well.
This was a very distracting year for me with the new job starting here in a few days. I cherish all of my campmates and their wonderful energy and am really grateful that everyone left the drama at the door.
The festival, for me, is mostly about the camaraderie we have in the campground during the pre fest. It is so nice to have the chance to hang with all of you beautiful people for a week or so on the summer solstice. I am so grateful that next year my drive will only be about 5 hours instead of the 22 hour marathon of the past decade or so.
