Blues and Brews raises a glass for 17th year
By Joe kovack
www.tellurideblues.com
September 17-19
Telluride Town Park
Telluride, Colo.
Colorado’s favorite pastimes? Music, microbrews, and the great outdoors. The Telluride Blues and Brews festival has been combining all three for the past 17 years. Nestled at 8,750 feet in the small mountain town of Telluride, the Blues and Brews festival brings its annual array of blues, rock, soul, gospel, funk and microbrews to the amazing scenery of Telluride Town Park, where the three-day festival takes place, this year with headliners B.B. King, ZZ Top and the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.
With the 3rd annual Coolest Campsite Competition, and the Acoustic Blues Competition, the opportunities to win free admission and great prizes bring a sense of participation and creativity for guests. Volunteer opportunities also offer a chance for free admission on all three days. With only two, five- to six-hour long shifts, one can enjoy the festival while being an integral part of the show.
With the town just a short walk away, there are plenty of places to keep the music and outdoor lover occupied for the entire weekend. And don’t forget the grand tasting of 50 microbrews on Saturday afternoon!
Travel time: (As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Telluride, Colo.)
Total Est. Time: 6 hours, 53 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 330 miles
YOU NEED TO KNOW: When you go to get your festival pass, make sure you spend the extra few dollars and get the juke joint pass. That pass will get you into the evening concerts up and down Main Street, which begin at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Be aware, however, that a juke joint pass does not guarantee that you will get into the show of your choice, but it does guarantee that you will get into one of the juke joints – it all depends on the capacity of each venue.
PRICE: $$
Camping: Nearby, plus multiple hotels, but book early.
