2011 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Wrap up!

THANK YOU!

September 21, 2011 (Telluride, CO) – The 2011 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival ended with blues skies, warm smiles and snow capped mountains in the San Juans above Telluride. All we can say is THANK YOU! As we sift through the videos, photos, reviews, and online posts, we're left with a deep appreciation that Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is one of the most beloved festivals around. Many thanks to all of you who come together year after year to make each and every Blues & Brews a unique celebration of music, family, friends, and good fun. We're already looking forward to next year!

Special thanks to all our guests, volunteers, staff, sponsors, venders, and especially the Town of Telluride. We’ll see you next year! 

Please keep in touch with us through Facebook and Twitter for festival photos, videos, and news and THANKS FOR AN INCREDIBLE 2011!

TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS SUNSET BLUES CONCERT ~ September 15, 2011

 SUNSET BLUES CONCERT FEATURING THE SUGAR THIEVES

September 12, 2011 (Telluride, CO) – Just another reason to attend the 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival!The Telluride Blues & Brews festival is delighted to announce a free concert to kick-off the weekend's festivities, the Sunset Blues Concert, which will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, featuring Arizona’s voted Best Blues Band, The Sugar Thieves. 

There is no better way to launch the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival than with Sugar Thieves guitarist Mikel Lander and singer Meridith Moore. They have proven that hard work, massive talent and big dreams can get you where you want to go. The band’s dedicated intent and serious chops has brought them to this lofty achievement playing the festival main stage and the Sunset Blues Concert. Instantly embraced here in Telluride, the band is wildly popular in Arizona where they’ve been voted Best Blues Band in Arizona, among other accolades. And at the International Blues Challenge of 2009-10, they were named as one of the Top 10 unsigned bands. The Sugar Thieves’ mission is to re-introduce the blues to the next generation. Along with soulful originals, the Thieves feature classic blues songs from the 1920s-40s and serve it all up sultry and warm.

The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will also feature featuring headliners Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Additional performances include The Robert Cray Band, Zappa Plays Zappa, moe., Marcia Ball, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Mavis Staples, Anders Osborne, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more.

The 2011 Festival promises a magical three-day celebration of live blues, rock, funk, gospel, jam band, aspiring new talent, and some of the biggest stars on the Festival circuit today! With over 20 nationally touring acts on the main stage, blues with breakfast, and late-night jams in five Juke Joint venues; musical entertainment abounds in Telluride at the 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

Additional Festival highlights include a wide variety of food and craft vendors, the festival’s House of Brews beer tent featuring various craft beers, the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition, the festival Rainbow Kids area and Kid’s parade.

Along with an amazing weekend of music and entertainment, Telluride Blues & Brews proudly presents the Grand Tasting Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 on the festival grounds. One of the premier beer tasting events in the Southwest, the Grand Tasting features more than 150 beers from over 50 microbreweries, including those from the Telluride Blues & Brews official beer sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, who will be featuring the Festival’s signature special brew, Back Porch Lager.

There are limited quantities of tickets available; with only several hundred single day tickets left in stock.  Single Day tickets, Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes are currently on sale.

For Festival information or to purchase tickets visit us online at www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 today. Tickets available locally at Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave.

The 4th Annual Coolest Campsite Challenge

Attention Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Campers!

 

In addition to a fun-filled weekend with great music, delicious beer, breathtaking scenery, an action packed kid-zone, and intimate late night Juke Joint shows, we are proud to announce an additional fun activity for all festival campers to enjoy. The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is proud to announce the Coolest Campsite Challenge.

Back for its fourth year, the Coolest Campsite Challenge is great way for you to participate in making the festival campground extra festive, while having the opportunity to win some sweet Blues & Brews Festival prizes.

How it works!

Every festival camper can participate and there is no registration required! Come to the festival, find your campsite and turn it into a unique, fun, colorful and themed paradise. During the festival, the Blues & Brews staff will send around seasoned campsite judges to look for the coolest campsite. Judges will be looking for campsites that have a defined theme that are creative and original. Judges will also be looking for sustainable and community oriented sites. Above all, judges will be looking for the coolest camp site in town park!

Get creative, go all out, and make a campsite that is cooler than all others. Just remember to keep it PG, as families do occupy the campground. Also, make sure to label your campsite so we know who we are judging.

What’s in it for you?

If your campsite is creative, original, and picked as the coolest camp site you will receive two 3-Day Passes to the 19^th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival to be held September 14-16, 2012, along with all bragging rights that comes with having the coolest campsite in Telluride.

Second coolest campsite will receive two camping passes to the 19^th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

The third coolest campsite will receive two Blues & Brews souvenir t-shits.

Winners will be announced Sunday morning on the festival main stage.

Are you up for the challenge? Start preparing now, as this year’s competition is sure to be creative, colorful, fun and fierce. See you next week at the 18^th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Just remember the sky is the limit, your campsite is what you make it and nothing beats a cool campground.

LAST FESTIVAL OF THE SUMMER HAPPENS IN TELLURIDE, COLORADO ~ The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival September 16-18, 2011

August 31, 2011 (Telluride, CO) - The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is less than three weeks away and the excitement is building in the box canyon of Telluride, CO. This year's festival boasts new and unforgettable performances to grace the stage of Telluride Town Park, featuring headliners Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Additional performances include The Robert Cray Band, Zappa Plays Zappa, moe., Marcia Ball, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Mavis Staples, Anders Osborne, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more.

"This year is one of the most eclectic and exciting lineups in the history of the festival," said Steve Gumble, President and founder of the Festival. "This weekend boasts amazing musical talent and late night Juke Joint performances to bring the house down!"

The 2011 Festival promises another magical three-day celebration of live blues, rock, funk, gospel, jam band, aspiring new talent, and some of the biggest stars on the Festival circuit today! With over 20 nationally touring acts on the main stage, blues with breakfast, and late-night jams in five Juke Joint venues; musical entertainment abounds in Telluride at the 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

Additional Festival highlights include a wide variety of food and craft vendors, the festival's House of Brews tent featuring various craft beers to choose from, the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition, the Sunset Blues Concert, the festival Rainbow Kids area and Kid's parade.

Along with an amazing weekend of music and entertainment, Telluride Blues & Brews proudly presents the Grand Tasting Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 on the festival grounds. One of the premier beer tasting events in the Southwest, the Grand Tasting features more than 150 beers from over 50 microbreweries, including those from the Telluride Blues & Brews official beer sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, who will be featuring the Festival's signature special brew, Back Porch Lager.

There are limited quantities of tickets available; with only several hundred single day tickets left in stock.  Single Day tickets, Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes are currently on sale.

For Festival information or to purchase tickets visit us online at www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 today. Tickets available locally at Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave.


Photo credits By Barry Brecheisen

Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition! Do you have what it Takes?

Do you have the blues? The Telluride Blues and Brews Festival presents the 11^th annual Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition to take place Saturday morning at the 18^th annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. We are calling unsigned talented blues artists to come play raw, solo, and acoustic in beautiful Telluride, Colorado. Top six artists will be invited to play at the "Blues for Breakfast," at the Elks Lodge in downtown Telluride in front of blues fans and judges looking for the most outstanding blues performance.  Competitors will be judged on overall live performance, presentation, and use of instruments, vocals. 

Competition Director Valerie Brazis presents
2006 winner David Mowry with the grand prize -
a Gibson acoustic guitar. Photo: Dino Perrucci

You think you have what it takes? Submit a clean recording of you and only you playing one or two songs, either by CD, tape, or electronically online at www.sonicbids.com. Send your CD’s and tapes, with a $10 entry fee to:

Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition

 P.O. Box 2966

Telluride, CO 81435 

Make sure to include your name, a short bio about your-self and your contact information!

What’s in for you? Top six finalists will receive a Telluride Blues & Brews Festival T-Shirt, a 3-Day Pass to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, and a $25 gift certificate to Telluride Music Company. The winner will receive a chance to play on the legendary Town Park main stage that has housed performances from legends like Buddy Guy and BB King.

Blues and Brews Festival attendees make sure to stop by the Acoustic Blues Competition to be held during the Blues for Breakfast Saturday morning at the Elks Lodge for great breakfast, exciting competition, and of course phenomenal blues music. This is not a competition to be missed.

Artists dust of your guitar, get out your recorders and get ready for the blues competition. Everyone else start your Saturday off right with "Blues for Breakfast," and the Acoustic Blues Competition. For more information about the Acoustic Blues Competition check out the Acoustic Blues Competition page on the Telluride Blues and Brews website.See you in September!

Brewery Profile: Home of the Brave Beverage Company

Home of the Brave is not your typical microbrewery. Located thousands of miles away from Telluride in the beautiful city of Honolulu, Hawaii and a mission to serve men and women in the United States Military, this new venture is as unique as the beer they brew. Recently a member of the Blues and Brews staff got to talk with Home of the Brave president and founder Glen Tomlinson about the Home of the Brave Beverage Company  and their beer. This is what he found out.

 In 1991 Glen Tomlinson started Home of Brave Company in conjunction with the 50 year anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The company was started to educate the military, island visitors, schools, and veterans by conducting tours and historical educational programs in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tomlinson’s family owns the Home of the Brave historical WWII museum that features one of the largest and most unique collections of WWII memorabilia in the pacific. After 20 years of working with the United States Military, Tomlinson decided to start a beer company.

Tomlinson explains “My two sons moved from the islands to Colorado to go to college.  Duke went to school in Ft. Collins and Baron went to Ft. Lewis in Durango, CO.  Both boys fell in love with craft beer and started home brewing with their friends. Prior to graduation, they were determined to get into the craft beer business and proposed that we create quality beverages for the U.S. Military.”

As the Home of the Brave Beverage Company was born, so was their first beer Pilot Pale Ale. Pilot Pale ale was created by O’Dell brewer Jeff Doyle and brewed in collaboration with Maui Brewing Company. Tomlinson says “We couldn’t have done it without the help of Garrett Marerro, president of Maui Brewing Co. who took us under his wing and in the true spirit of craft brewing, helped us get started”.  Garrett continues to support Home of the Brave Beverage Company, brewing their draft beer at the award winning Maui Brewing Co.

Tomlinson describes Pilot Pale ale as “craft-brewed with bread like malt character so as to avoid sweetness, while still maintaining just enough body to balance out a delicate dry bitterness, fermented with an American ale yeast strain. You can taste the natural fruity esters from fermentation that harmonize with a generous aroma hop addition of spicy citrus floral American hops.  It has a light crisp dry finish that leaves just a breath of bitter bouquet.”

In addition to Pilot Pale Ale, Home of the Brave, also brews Landing Zone Lager and is working on a dark lager scheduled to release in December, to commemorate the 70^th year anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Home of the Brave brews are currently being served at military bases to support the troops and restaurants on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Keep an eye out for Home of the Brave brews as Sprecher’s Brewing in Wisconsin is now producing Home of the Brave  bottled beer and sodas for continental US distribution. Check out the unique Home of the Brave Beverage Company more at their website here.

Also, make sure to attend the grand tasting on Saturday September 17^th at the Telluride Blues and Blues festival. Enjoy great music, try some Home of the Brave brews strait from Hawaii and ice cold craft beer from 55 other microbreweries.  As Glen Tomlinson says in Hawaii “Aloha!!!  We’re very excited to be a part of the exciting Telluride Blues & Brews festival!  Mahalo Nui Loa.”

Artist Profile-Artist Profile Fitz and the Tantrums

Dapper suits, vintage organs and a fresh, modern view on soul music. Have you heard Fitz and the Tantrums yet? If you haven’t joined  the crowd,  you will soon. In the past few months Fitz and the Tantrums have gone from a relatively unknown LA band, to a band in the global spot light with their debut album Pickin Up the Pieces . A few weeks ago Pickin' Up the Pieces exploded to number one on the new artist album charts, and 18^th on the Indy charts. This week Pickin’ Up the Pieces is ranked 41^st on the Indy charts, and 7^th on the new artists charts. Pickin' Up the Pieces also received a rave review of three and half out of four stars by Rolling Stone Magazine.

So what is all the hype about? Fitz and the Tantrums are making a unique sound that is bringing soul back into new music. Instead of using a guitar as the center piece of their music, they use saxophone and an organ. Their music can be described as a soulful, hand clapping, foot stomping, energetic explosion. When listening to songs like “MoneyGrabber” and “Breakin the Chains of Love” you can’t help, but want to dance.  Add soul tingling live shows it is no surprise this band is picking up new fans every day.

The birth of this soulful explosion happened when band member Fitz got an organ. Only seven hours after receiving this organ Fitz wrote a soul anthem “Braking the Chains of love.” The lead singer Fitz explains “I’ve always been a singer,” but with so much music, I felt that I was trying to push a square peg through a round hole. I was being not true to myself, and it never felt right until I wrote that song, and I sang like that. I thought, this feels so real, so natural.”

Fitz and the Tantrums

After that, Fitz and the Tantrums recorded a full album in Fitz’s living room, was personally invited to tour with pop-artists Maroon 5, open for Flogging Molly, played in front of thousands at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, and is now selling out stops all over the country.

Check out their website and listen to their debut album Pickin Up the Pieces today, available on iTunes and record stores all over the country. Also, get ready to stomp your feet and clap your hands, as Fitz and the Tantrums will be playing the 2011 Telluride Blues & Brews festival. Catch them on the main stage Friday September 16^th at 3:50PM and later that night for their Juke Joint show at 10:00 PM the Sheridan Opera House.

TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL SINGLE DAY TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JULY 1

The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival single day tickets go on sale this Friday, July 1st at 10am (MST). Every September, the bands, the fans, and the barrels of beer roll into Telluride Town Park for the annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. The Festival is a three-day celebration of live blues, funk, rock, gospel and soul performances with 20 plus national touring bands, and over 50 of the best microbreweries in the country.

The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will feature headliners Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Additional performances include The Robert Cray Band, Zappa Plays Zappa, moe., Marcia Ball, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Mavis Staples, Anders Osborne, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more.

"This year is one of the most eclectic and exciting line-ups in the history of the festival," said Steve Gumble, President and founder of the Festival.

Along with an amazing weekend of music, the Telluride Blues & Brews proudly presents the Grand Tasting Sat., Sept. 17, 2011. One of the premier beer tasting events in the Southwest, the Grand Tasting features more than 150 beers from over 50 microbreweries, including those from the Telluride Blues & Brews official beer sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Additional Festival highlights include a wide variety of food and craft vendors, the Rainbow Kids area and Kid’s parade, Blues for Breakfast concerts, late night after hour’s shows at local Juke Joints, and the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition.

Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes are on sale now.

For Festival information or to purchase tickets visit us online at www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 today. Tickets available locally at Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave.

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND COMPLETES THE TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL LINEUP

The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival returns to Telluride Town Park September 16-18th to kick-off another incredible year of good music, good fun, and some of the best microbreweries in the country. This year's event marks the 18th Annual festival and Blues & Brews is proud to announce five-time Grammy winning Robert Cray to the festival lineup.

Robert Cray leads the Blues Hall of Fame for the Class of 2011. Cray has established himself as one of the most popular artists in blues and has been a dominant force in blues ever since. He helped to reignite the blues on the national scene in the 1980s with his breakthrough album "Strong Persuader" in 1986. His soulful voice, creative guitar work, meaningful songs and dazzling live performances, shows why Cray has earned his rise to international fame and an inductee for the 2011 Blues Hall of Fame. Don't miss The Robert Cray Band's intimate performance under the stars in Telluride Town Park.

Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes are currently on sale now. Single day tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday go on sale July 1st.

For Festival information or to purchase tickets online visit www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 today.

The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Lineup is Announced!

The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival announced an unprecedented lineup of talent today, including headliners Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. This year's Festival lineup shifts to new heights boasting new and unforgettable performances to grace the stage of Telluride Town Park.

"This year is one of the most eclectic and exciting lineups in the history of the festival," said Steve Gumble, President and founder of the Festival. "This weekend boasts amazing musical talent and late night Juke Joint performances to bring the house down!"

VIP and Early Bird 3-day passes are SOLD OUT!

VIP and Early Bird 3-day passes are SOLD OUT for the18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Regular 3-day Festival passes, and Juke Joint tickets are on sale now. 3-day passes sell for $160.00* each, and Juke Joint tickets sell for $25* per night. Single day tickets go on sale Friday, July 1, 2011.

Don't forget camping! Festival camping is just 10 bucks per day when you purchase a  4-day camping pass, available at $40 with limited supplies left. Camping is adjacent to the festival grounds starting Thursday, September 15th.

Renowned as one of the most scenic music festivals in the country, Telluride Blues & Brews is located within the world-famous resort town of Telluride, CO, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.  The Festival is a three-day celebration of music and microbrews held in an outdoor music venue nestled within the aspen trees. A humble wooden stage with towering mountain peaks provides a natural showcase for the Festival's talent. For Festival-goers, the pristine mountain valley makes the perfect dance floor. 

Entire Festival lineup to be announced next Wednesday, April 20th. For more Festival information visit www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 today. Tickets available locally at Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave.

*All ticket prices subject to a $2.50 per day Town of Telluride fee and/or ticket handling fee.

Early Bird 3-Day Pass Sale

Festival early bird 3-day passes are almost sold out! Early Bird three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes for the 18th Annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival are on sale now. Early Bird Three-day passes are available for $145.00* each, as Juke Joint tickets sell for $25* per night. Single day tickets go on sale Friday, July 1, 2011. Festival camping is available adjacent to the festival grounds for 4 nights starting Thurs., Sept.15. VIP 3-day passes are SOLD OUT!

Entire festival Line-up to be announced April 2011. For more information on the festival visit www.tellurideblues.com or call 1-866-515-6166 today.

*All Ticket prices subject to $2.50 per day Town of Telluride Fee and/or ticket handling fee.

3DAY VIPs SOLD OUT!

As dedicated festival fans sat by their computers & phones ready for the 10am on sale yesterday a group of faithful local fans gathered at Telluride Music Company to be among the few with VIP tickets for the 2011 Festival. VIP tickets at Telluride Music sold like hot cakes and they were sold out by 10:20am! Online sales went fast too!

Still looking for tickets? We still have 3 DAY Early Bird Tickets left (less then 500) be sure to get them while we still have them. Once these sold out regular  3 Day passes will be available for purchase at the full price rate of $160.00 plus handling fees.

What's in it for you!

As March 1st draws closer you may be asking yourself what does a 3 day pass get me.. a 3 day pass to the 2011 Festival gets you so much more than just general admission to one of the most scenic festivals in the country. Your 2011 3 day pass also includes the Grand Tasting on Saturday from 12-3PM with over 50 micro breweries from across the West With over 100 different flavors of beer to taste, it’s an opportunity to tap into the “cream of the barrel.”  The art of the micro brew is displayed at its finest, and the brewers serve only their best recipes.

The 2011 Festival features live blues, rock, funk, gospel, and soul performances, the best micro brews in Colorado, food and craft vendors, children’s activities, an acoustic blues competition and more.

2011 Festival Tickets on Sale March 1st!

Tickets for the 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival go on Sale Tuesday, March 1st @ 10am Mountain Time. Tickets are available online at www.tellurideblues.com or toll free at 866.515.6166. 


Stay tuned for updates on ticket prices!

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

General Admission Tickets for the2/10/11 are SOLD OUT! This is going to be a great show!

Check out Grace's interview on the George Lopez Show!

Tickets are selling fast!!

Less then 50 tickets left online (www.tellurideblues) for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on 2/10/11! Get them while you can. Tickets are still available in Telluride at Wizard Entertainment.