Thanks, Miki :blush :flower
wow, way too many to mention…
but one that stands out was Solomone Burke looking out over the mountains, clearly seeming overwhelmed by the setting (at least to me), and singing “What a wonderful world”. The king brought a tear to my eye, it was the best rendition I have ever heard.
Of course, there are way too many buttwothat stand out for me right now are:
The love and excitement felt when the Greene’s pulled up.
The wonderful Hippie wedding that many of us took part in at Town Park.
I have a somewhat unique history with this festival; I attended the festival in 1983 and 1984, and then missed 22 festivals and returned in 2007 and 2008 (I am hoping to keep this new streak going). I would have to say that my favorite memories from the first two festivals were
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The incredible beauty of Telluride and surrounding area!! It was the first time that a boy who grew up on a farm in Oklahoma had ever seen the Rocky mountains (what a place to start!!!).
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Having the first drink I had ever had in a bar in the Fly me to the Moon Saloon, and then having a half dozen more for good measure, and then discovering how elevation intensifies the drinking experience. I remember falling a lot on the way back to the festival, and finding that fact extremely funny!
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Jamming with Bela Fleck!! I had only been playing the banjo for about 3 years and I was there with the now defunct Imerial Banjo Company as a vendor. At one point Bela came by and sat down for a bit and tried out one of the banjos. I was sitting there playing a banjo at the time, so we played a few songs together.
In the new era I would say that my two favorite memories are
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Seeing my 12-year-old sonTristan fall in love with Telluride the same way I had on his first visit, and seeing him this year onstage playing with Sharon Gilchrist and members of Uncle Earl and the Duhks, along with other talented young musicians in an Elk’s park set called “The Next Generation”!!
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Competing in and winning the 2008 Telluride Band Competition with my band “The Blue Canyon Boys”, especially hearing my original instrumental “Jalapeno Flashback” and our cover of the Cheap Trick song “I Want You To Want Me” bounce off of the canyon walls and come back at us as we played them on the big stage during the band contest finals on Saturday morning! Talk about a cool form of reverb!!!
Welcome Back
Jv !
:cheers
Jeff! hi!!! It’s me LuAnna in Wichita … I did see you there but only from a distance and I was in Elk Park when your son was on stage. I took pictures. … oh… I noitced that you did, too, but you are welcome to mine also.
btw, I had a Winfield highlight when I stopped by Stage 6 and caught you jamming there… with Jake Schepps and that accordian player whom I didn’t know. (That jam is on YouTube)
Thanks for stopping by the forum. See ya at Winfield?
LuAnna (whom you would recognize as a fan of Big Twang)
well, actually I look like my avatar except not skinny and no trampoline!
I woke up this morning having flash backs of Sammy in his skirt :lol.Love that guy :lovedr
Gotta say it, that man has a great set of legs. Not only a pretty face, and a rockin’ performer… :flower
Sammy is FUN!!!
Only my second festival but already I have memories that will last forever
Reconnecting with the friends I made last year and making new ones this year…lifelong
The spectacular scenery…I’ll always be in awe of it
Disc golf in Mtn. Village…I’ll take a bad day on that course over a great day on my regular course
Los Lobos – I Got Loaded (w/ a Lovelight verse) > Not Fade Away > Bertha…standing near the front, exhausted from dancing, wondering how in the world are they going to follow that up…they come out for the encore and rip into Cinnamon Girl
Crooked Still – Main Stage, The Sheridan & Elk’s Park
Arlo
Telluride House Band – Same Old River…I had tears in my eyes
Utarpia
The list goes on and will continue to grow each year
LOVED SAMMMMY IN HIS 5 STAR BATHROBE! TRES CHIC!
Yeah, I’m gonna make him mine someday, and the entire PBG team :lol :medal :lovedr :festivarian Think I’m delusional ??? :flower
Hello 1st post ever! This was my first year in Town Park, second year at the festival and I’ve marked down both experiences as insanely fun. One of the best memories, if I had to pick, occurred when we arrived, just the two of us gals, in an already crowded Town Park on Saturday evening without a clue as to what to do. Adam (from the camp host) was the first of many to take us under his wing, giving us a personal tour of the area, and providing many useful tips along the way.
Then we wandered looking for just the right spot and I randomly asked some guy, only half joking, if he’d seen any camping spots around. Well, lo and behold, he hopped up, said, “I’ll see what I can do!” And he cleared the way (out of a piece of his own area) for what became our own little home in Town Park. That was Brian, the second person to take us under his wing.
The third began when our neighbors saw us trying to set up our enormous circus tent, which we had borrowed and had no clue about how to set it up or how large it was going to be. They all hopped up and helped out and told us to sit down and eat some of the dinner they had just cooked!
From that evening on came the onslaught… community like I’ve never seen it before, the feeling of kinship and fun fun fun… simply put, I think I was in heaven for 10 days. Not long enough!!
Oh, and other best memories, the marshmallow war during Swell Season, horseshoes, the dance-off on sunday night during the house band, the dance-off last year (Avi vs. the tennis team during Guster), realizing a tarp running ability, people making sure there’s a drink in your hand, crunchy frog shots and hooch (and tie-dye bathrobes!), games of cock-blockery, coming up with names for the gondola (womb-on-a-wire is my favorite I think, thanks for reminding me Ashley). The list goes on and on!!
Thank you everyone who made this possible!! I love you all and can’t wait for next year!!
How am I supposed to get back to work after this??
My best memories from this year:
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Sarah being the first person to see me walk into Town Park and calling out my name.
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Being the first person to see Daniela pull into Town Park and passing her a shot of hooch through the window.
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Seeing Arlo perform ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ live on stage…41 years after it was first released!
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Hippie Jerry walking up to me on the tarp Saturday and saying “I’m too fucked up to cook. Where’s the hooch?”
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Gropple snow during the Duhks…and putting some into our Nalgenes to cool our drinks!
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Marshmallows zinging past my head.
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Closing the festival with the Telluride House Band singing ‘Same Ol’ River’ with all my Utarpia family.
Loved your mempost! Great Enthusiasm !! :thumbsup
All the smiling faces, all around. 
The late night pickin circles who didn’t kick me out for singing off-key :pickin :oconnor
Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers :lol
The goosebumps Johnny C always give me. :kiss
Darrell opening up the festival. :pickin
Meeting Mamie, Jess and Jesse, and Peter and Cheri. Those whiskey sours were awesome!
Seeing Hope wearing the Fleck Head shirt I gave her.
Karlos’s brisket.
And Tom, you naughty boy! 
I’ll see you real soon.
:flower
Seeing Hope wearing the Fleck Head shirt I gave her.
Feeling the THUD of my heart when Cindy Lou handed me a classic 1991 Telluride Bluegrass Long-Sleeved Pink Shirt that read “Fleck Head”. '91 was the first year I saw Mr. Fleck in concert (along with the Flecktones) and my musical life hasn’t been the same since. It’s the same music that brought me to Telluride and all of you, my wonderful family from Town Park!
Thanks for everything, Cindy Lou! None of it would have happend without you in 2008! :flower
More Later!
Auntie Hope :pickin :green
Moments to cherish:
Visiting Tiki Folks in Flagstaff
Having the pre-fest private party fest vibe in Pagosa – Great idea Jen, thanks for hosting CSI and Hooch
Five ABGATERS soaking their feet in hot water ready for relaxing toe jobs before the rush hits.
Painting a tent on Blane’s toes
Having a group ABGAT breakfast at Camp Get Enough
Seeing Lilly and Seamus splashing about in the stream and then crashing in the car
Borrowing stuff from the Governor’s McMansion
Hearing Michelle wake me up Saturday morning with a loud We love you Courtness
Giving out the tasty treats during erection support
Helping BAS get to the first birthday party that I was legitimately at (I had to wait 4 years)
Giving out the tasty treats for Tropical Tuesday
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the friends I hadn’t see in a year
Hearing the screams when the Wander’In Greens Wander Camper pulled into Town Park
Having James B sing Packing for Telluride at Camp Get Enough
The Goddess Walk About – Thank you Run A Muck for the best reception
Getting a chance to do laundry after 2 weeks on the road and seeing the BAS sound check (Planet, bring them in for real next year, they are worthy)
Cooking with Karen, we make a great team and she wakes up even earlier than I do
Seeing Mark from Alabama almost every morning for coffee check in and relax time
Having camp live music surround my tent when I went to sleep at night
Having camp live music with the girls from Tiki leading the BAS boys
Getting to know Erin from Fishbone, she’s so fun
Having the great camp helpers – thanks for carrying water and rinsing dishes, you make the cooking and giving so much nicer.
Delivering tasty treats to tarp line sleepers and sitters
Having Elliot and Taylor stop by to paint or do crafts or just chat
The beautiful watch I got from Erin
Hearing about how my friend Suzanne was invited to brunch at the house up by the waterfall.
Every day of the festival on the tarps
Sitting under Totally Lit’s sun shelter
Telling Vince Herman he was a rat bastard for screaming festival in the wee hours of the morning, he says it wasn’t him. Then telling him it would be great to see/hear them at the New Orleans Mardi Gras Ball that I go to. I’ve wanted to tell them that for years.
Going to Orvis Hot Springs on Monday
Visiting Tiki Folks in Flagstaff
The only bummer of this whole trip was when I came home to find out my sweet Miss Kitty has passed away that morning. I have to mention it because my heart has been in suspended silence trying to come to terms with the what if’s and if only, missing her sweet presence in my room (or her room).
Thank you Festivarians and Planet People. Until next year….
Just getting to hang around all of you for a week or as I put it in one of my songs “just a little time away from me” - I like the stage acts but it is Town Park that brings me back.
Someone start the countdown.
EJ
YES… Pagosa was a great kick-off leading into ABGAT. That ABGAT breakfast was both incredible and impressively decadent!
Did anyone ever paint over that Yosemite Scene on the Gov’s McMansion. 
Drifting off to sleep to great pickin’ is indeed one of the best things about the Telluride experience for me. I think I have the absolute best tent spot in all of Town Park - right up against the back of Fishbone’s Tarp Majal where as I lay there warm in my bed watching the firelight dance on the wlls of my tent, it’s as if I am right there amidst the music and conversation.
Ahhh Orvis. Yes, there is magic there!
Music floating through the air, smiling faces on and off tarps, the hugs, the handshakes, my Fishbone Family, the familiar faces of long-time festivarians… building community and regaining balance in this too-often chaotic world. TBF is so much MORE than a music festival!
-Joe
Nicely said, I’m in complete agreement, imagine that, a forum post that gets complete agreement.
:woohoo :fish :woohoo :fish :woohoo :fish :dog You got that right lil’ brother. :flower