Words & Images by: Dino Perrucci

16th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival :: 09.18.09 – 09.20.09 :: Telluride Town Park :: Telluride, CO

The calendar turned to fall and baseball is heading into the playoff push, so it must be time for Blues & Brews. Nestled beneath the mountains that surround Telluride Colorado, Town Park provides one of the most beautiful settings I’ve ever seen live music in. Celebrating its 16th year, the festival always attracts a great mix of not only blues but also funk, gospel, R&B and a little New Orleans flavor, with style each spread across generations. In addition you have more than 50 of the country’s top microbreweries competing for your taste buds during the Grand Tasting on Saturday. To say, “A great time is had by all,” is an understatement.

One of my favorite aspects of any festival is the chance to catch new artists that you’ve never seen or heard before. This year my favorite new band was Jason Ricci & New Blood. Lead vocalist and harmonica player Ricci incorporates the sounds of older blues masters as well as exploring newer sounds pioneered by John Popper. Ricci and his band played both the Thursday night Bal de Maison (the annual opening night show) at the Fly Me To The Moon Saloon as well as a main stage set on Friday. Other bands that I really enjoyed for the first time were Otis Taylor’s African Orchestra and NYC’s own London Souls. London Souls are a power trio in the tradition of Cream and the James Gang and they tore up The Fly Me To The Moon on Friday night. Also on Friday night Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real brought their country rock to the Sheraton Opera House. Lukas the son of Willie, shares his Dad’s rich voice.

Though I’ve seen them each many times, what I was most looking forward to was Anders Osborne and Buddy Guy, both playing on the main stage on Saturday. While their styles vary greatly, what they share is a sense that every ounce of their being goes into their playing. Anders nighttime show at the Sheraton Opera House was the most talked about set of the weekend. His band, featuring Kirk Joseph on Sousaphone and Simon Lott on drums, was super tight as they played several new Osborne compositions.
Once again the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival delivered sights and sounds that could only be found in such a special place. See you next year!

Continue reading for pics of Saturday and Sunday at the 2009 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival…

Continue reading for pics of the nighttime action around the 2009 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival…

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