Always on My Mind: Telluride Blues & Brews Festival and Willie Nelson

My Guy Willie

O.K., maybe not always on my mind, but at least quite often. I’m crazy about Willie Nelson and I can’t imagine a better place on earth to see him for the first time but right here in my beautiful backyard of Telluride, Colorado. For the eighteenth year in a row, Telluride Blues & Brews is gracing our most golden season—late summer—with a festival that combines world-class music and tasty brews in an unparalleled setting. And this year, Willie is one of the headliners.

View from the Stage at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

This three-day celebration goes off all over town by day and night in Telluride’s strikingly scenic Town Park as well as in indoor and outdoor venues in town. By day, you can enjoy live blues, rock, funk, gospel and soul and then at night you take it to the juke joints and after-hours jams all around town. The whole festival experience is one big glorious goodbye to summer, hello autumnal glory. This year Telluride Blues & Brews takes place September 16th, 17th and 18th and although lodging sells out fast for this peak weekend, there’s still plenty to choose from for planning a memorable trip to Telluride.

Plenty of Brewskies During this Perfect Season for Drinking Beer

I’m already imagining the heartfelt twang of Willie reverberating throughout our beautiful box canyon. Punctuated by soaring peaks, changing aspens, towering pines and outcroppings of red and slate-colored rocks, the scene doesn’t get much better. But seeing Willie on the park’s humble wooden stage in this majestic setting will surely add a lot. I’m also looking forward to unforgettable performances by other artists from this year’s lineup including Robert Cray, Marcia Ball, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Sugar Thieves and, of course, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. And that’s just to mention a few! For me, my favorite part of the festival is the Sunday morning gospel hour, this year featuring Mavis Staples. Now, that’s what I call going to church.

Saturday’s Grand Tasting showcases more than 150 beers from over fifty microbreweries, an event that always provides a marvelous feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Sipping suds in the sun makes poking around the festival booths—filled with an eclectic array of clothing, gift ideas and food—all the more fun. This family-friendly celebration is also great for kids, especially on Sunday afternoon when their own creative spirit takes center stage during the Kid’s Parade through the park.

Ah, yes. Just like many of T-ride’s other famed festivals, Telluride Blues & Brews must be experienced at least once in your life. I’ve seen many memorable acts here including  B.B. King, John Mayer and Bonnie Raitt.

But this year with Willie is sure to be the show that will remain always on my mind.

The Kid’s Parade: Another Sunday Highlight