Seven Big Reasons to Put the Telluride Jazz Festival on Your Music “Must-Do” List
Mountains, music, and a postcard-perfect setting make for an irresistible combination at the 42nd annual Telluride Jazz Festival to be held August 3-5 in Telluride, Colorado. But if you haven’t put it on your list of must-attend music events, here are seven big reasons why you should.
1. Telluride: Home to a little over 2,400 people, Telluride ranks as one of the most picturesque towns anywhere in the country. Nestled among the 13,000-foot peaks of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, The views from Main Street are breathtaking, and the town’s core was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964. Colorful Victorian homes and historic buildings have been lovingly restored throughout Telluride, and art galleries, gourmet restaurants, boutiques, micro-breweries, and intimate music venues dot the town.
2. Music: It’s a toss-up deciding which is the bigger draw – the stellar acts on the festival’s lineup or its bucolic setting. But the music never disappoints. Over the last four decades, the eclectic but jazz-centric lineups have included the best in jazz, funk, soul and jam. This year’s lineup includes Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Irma Thomas, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Turkuaz, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, The Polyrhythmics and many more. And with a maximum of 3,000 people allowed into the festival grounds, the event is an intimate musical experience that few places can match.
3. The Great Outdoors: This is not a festival where you’ll drop in for just a few days. You’ll want to build an entire vacation around the event and explore natural wonders that draw outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. Telluride’s alpine environment offers limitless choices for active travelers like hiking, camping, biking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and more. Some hiking trails, alpine lakes and picturesque waterfalls dotting the 160-thousand-acre wilderness surrounding Telluride are easily accessible right from downtown. Of course, just basking in the beauty of the area with a cold brew and a good book in hand is always an option for those just looking to chill.
4. Food: Two things will keep me coming back to a city again and again – music and food. Telluride has both, with master chefs like Nobu veteran Andrew Tyler, who opened There, and “Top Chef” winner Eliza Gavin, who holds cooking classes at 221 South Oak. A huge selection of less tony but no less delicious offerings can be found all over town in cafes such as Sidework and Brown Dog Pizza.
5. Festival Activities: A lot more than music will be going on during the festival and around town. Yoga, artist workshops, a historical walking tour, a wine and spirits tasting, music education, a kids area, a jazz art walk and more are on tap for the weekend. There’s even a second-line parade, complete with floats, Mardi Gras Indians, costumes and a brass band that will make its way through downtown Telluride. Click here for a list of activities.
6. Music Education: Nurturing the next generation of musicians and music education is at the heart of Telluride Society For Jazz mission, which will be offering free concerts all weekend at The Society Stage in Elks Park in the town’s historic district. The public is invited to interact with the artists and music students, who will be showcasing their talents, all while learning about jazz, its culture, history and methods.
7. Music After Dark: Telluride’s music venues will be hosting a number of artists over the course of the festival. The party kicks off on Thursday, August 2, at the historic Sheridan Opera House with a private performance by Sammy Miller and The Congregation, who have played with such artists as Queen Latifah and Lady Gaga. The performance is open only to festival-goers who have purchased passes for the festival’s Patron Experience, which offers pass holders VIP treatment.
Once the music ends in Town Park, the primary site for the festival, Friday and Saturday nights will be humming with “Jazz After Dark” at Telluride’s many music venues. And it doesn’t stop there. Just as “Jazz After Dark” is ending, late night kicks in with The Liberty Sessions, with performances at The Liberty Bar & Lounge.
After the festival grounds empty, Sunday will close out with Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles at The Liberty Bar & Lounge which will be packed with funk, jazz and soul aficionados. Henry, the wildly talented keyboardist for Snarky Puppy, and his handpicked band of funksters will be delivering an intoxicating blend of jazz, blues, Afrobeat, R&B, gospel and soul to bring the festival to a rousing end.
For more information and how to purchase tickets, click on the links below.