The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival revealed its 2021 artist lineup featuring Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Buddy Guy, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Larkin Poe and many more.
There are really only two words to describe these two legends: guitar gods. Beck of course got his start as part of the holy triumvirate of guitar players in the 60s blues based group The Yardbirds and Buddy Guy transcends the word legend and was a heavy influence on Beck and many other great guitar players. Coming out of the Chicago blues scene, Buddy played with Muddy Waters as a house musician for Chess Records.
In the past decade or so, old school R&B has seen a resurgence in popular culture that seems to have started in the U.K. but has bounced over the pond to America in that timeless game of musical ping pong the two countries play. But James Hunter has been playing R&B for 30 plus years and by his own admission even he was 20 years late to the game. Hunter, however, is pushing the boundaries of R&B by upending the genre’s normal tropes and motifs while still somehow operating within them.
Sharing a common love of music and life on the road, Fruition were originally brought together by the lure of adventure. For the last six years, the Portland, Ore. string infused quintet has racked up the miles playing sold out shows in their adopted hometown and garnering new fans across the country. Joined by The California Honeydrops, who don’t just play music—they throw parties. This is a weekend of music not to be missed!
The Listen Up Denver! crew rolled into Telluride with one simple intention: Do not take this for granted. We were in Telluride! Man, it was amazing! The weather was epic, the beer flowed freely and the music, oh the music. The footprints of musicians including Rich Robinson, Sharon Jones, and Otis Taylor dotted the stage throughout the weekend, and while the sun warmed the day, clear and starry skies cooled off the evenings and the dancing lasted till the wee hours of the morning.
The California Honeydrops don’t just play music—they throw parties. Led by dynamic vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski, and drawing on diverse musical influences from Bay Area R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line, the Honeydrops bring vibrant energy and infectious dance-party vibes to their shows.
The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is a one-of-a-kind music meets beer experience. Sure there are festivals all summer long in this idyllic little mountain town, but none of them blend two things so suited for each other: world class Blues music and world class beer. While it’s a must-see bucket-list trip for a lover of either of the festival’s main attractions, it’s also the kind of place that welcomes newbies with open arms, full glasses, and three solid days of music.
What a night at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The weather was picture perfect and the late afternoon sun was shining on the Chihuly glass exhibit that inhabits the gardens through November. Fans of Taj Mahal and John Hiatt sipped wine as they strolled the paths, chatted with friends and took in the stunning glass that is expertly woven into the natural surroundings before being dazzled by the music that came from the stage under Chihuly’s bright orange sun.
The Chautauqua Auditorium never fails to set its own tone with each event it hosts. The historic building is set in the shadow of the Flatirons and packs a visual wow factor as you amble up the hill to the door, but then drives it home as you take your seat and absorb all the warm, wood ambiance that is standard show experience in the 116 year old structure. This line-up of the Taj Mahal Trio and John Hiatt & The Combo was a true whopper and, as you can imagine, the show was sold-out.
The Telluride Blues […]