I’ve only been to the TBF once, in 2005, after a session of radiotherapy treatment for cancer, which left me weak (unfortunately I couldn’t even manage the walk up to Bridal Veil Falls). Getting to Telluride from the UK was an experience in itself - although I’d travelled extensively in the States, never in Colorado. Had a great hotel and walked down to the ‘stadium’ when I fell to pieces and cried at the sheer beauty of the place coupled with the fact that I had actually made it…and then on came Jorma Kaukonen, whose playing I’d always enjoyed and whose album Blue Country Heart is one of my all time favourites.
It was an awesome set and a magical moment that will stay with me for as long as I’m around
Well, after much participation on this forum pre-Telluride 2007, I am excited to be back as I prepare (and get excited) for 2008…
I have to say that I had such an amazing first TBF experience this year. Despite the fact that I had to bump a dude clear across the room with my booty when he was pushing and shoving some of us at the Yonder Mountain nightgrass show.
I have to admit that I can’t remember who was on stage, but the hubby and I had been sitting around just chilling and having a good time, when a song came on it seemed everyone in the whole festival knew. There was this resounding whoosh as EVERYONE stood up and started dancing (those of us who weren’t already). It was almost as if time stopped during the song, and I will continue to kick myself for forgetting who was playing or even what day it was. No one was buying anything, and everyone who got up to go to the bathroom held on until it was done. Such a feeling of community, oneness, and just plain happiness. That feeling has stayed with me all these months, and I just can’t wait to get back again.
What a great question to bring memories flooding back…
in 2005 thinking that the sound sytem was playing Nickel Creek between bands then suddenly realizing they were playing live on the side of the stage and racing over to see them live for the first time.
Sharing the bluegrass experience with my daughters, the oldest who’s idea it was to go to TBF and the youngest who loved it so much that it has become our annual trip together.
The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band in the family tent in 05.
Sunday morning 07 when one of the musicians opened the day with this amazing deep long pure note that made me pause and really look around and feel the moment.
The Dougie MacLean Band last year.
Counting Crows talking about making all of their songs bluegrass for the Festival last year.
Watching a family friend in the instrument tent playing with fellow musicians with a look on his face like a kid at Disney World.
Now you got me very curious! Ok, you have ZERO recollection of the artist, song, time of day, day of week, anything??? Sister, I want to party with you!
As a newbie, I don’t have a lot to offer in the “memories” department, but I’ve really enjoyed reading this thread! I’ve only been to one festival (2006), and I’ll be there again in 2008. I won’t make it every year (cost, time, blah, blah, blah…), but TBF will be a recurring event for the rest of my life! Here are a few things I recall, including a few “newbie blunders” - hope you enjoy!
Camping at Illium! While it’s far removed from the main action around Town Park, the setting, facilities, transportation, and of course the people were wonderful!
Two days before the festival started, hiking from Illium to Mountain Village and taking the gondola into town so I could use my laptop at “Baked In Telluride” to find out where in the heck my buddy from Nevada was, only to learn later that Illium had wireless connectivity! (file that one under “blunder”, although the hike itself was wonderful!)
Seeing Victor Wooten walking his bicycle down the sreet as I sipped a brew in the Opera House bar (is that the right name? I failed to take good notes). I found it so cool that such a highly anticipated musician could just walk around town without be accosted by fans or paparazzi (sp?); It’s weird, but this single event is one of the things that cemented my desire to return to TBF…
Seeing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the first time (there’s a much longer story behind why this was so important, but I won’t get into that here - ask me later over a beer if yer interested…)
Seeing Edgar Meyer and Mike Marshall together, although it was a bit sad that the crowd was rather small for their set.
Giving away my NightGrass ticket for John Prine. When I bought it, I had no idea that his show was the same time as the Flecktones, so I was faced with a bit of a dilema. I met a guy on a neigboring tarp who loved Prine, but didn’t get a ticket before they sold out. I gave him mine. A gift of music has few equals, for both the recipient and the giver.
Fumbling with my tarp because I had no idea how to properly secure it against the (nearly) ever-present wind.
There’re more (naturally), but I try to avoid long posts and this one has already become too long. I’ll be happy to share more later…
One of the many beautiful memories that I have from my first festival last year
Emmylou was on stage and her angelic voice was floating through the air. My eyes as blurry and wide as they could be I looked to my right and noticed that the sun was setting ever so beautifully right into the V of the canyon. I look to my left and the moon is coming up over the mountain peaks. The waterfall in full view. I turn to my wife and say "Laure maybe we never made it to Telluride maybe we were in a bad crash where we died and this is actually heaven. :angel
Ya know Ron I think it is safe to say that telluride frequently dominates my thoughts. I even broke down the calander for my students the other day in such a way that makes telluride feel all that much closer. Lookin forward to meetin all you folks.
I certainly hope I’ll be lucky enough to meet some of you this year - I didn’t get into Town Park, so I’m doing the condo thing at Mountain Village, but I sure hope our paths cross sometime - I’d LOVE to share stories face-to-face!
By the way, I’ve been following the pre-festival events thread as well, and it sounds like a lot of you are seriously into home brewing. A buddy of mine from Iowa wanted to join me this year but couldn’t because he and his wife just welcomed their first baby into the world (so all their vacation time will probably be spent with family around the country), but he’s been a huge home-brewer for many years, and he’s a musician (upright bass, mostly), and he REALLY wants to do TBF sometime. Sounds like I’ll have to try harder to get into Town Park in future years!
Howdy Dan
and welcome to the Insainity
We have some great brewers , alas i am but a novice
but was pleased with my product
Look for us at Smugglers or The Last Dollar Saloon
:cheers
