the telluride bluegrass festival

Ok, here's how telluride happened...

It started with this posting on craigslist:


"Hey there,

One of my best friends was planning on coming to town, but she had some last minute business stuff prevent her from flying into colorado. It's also pretty late notice for my friends to get off work... so, here's the deal.

I have 1 extra 4 day pass to the telluride bluegrass festival... which is FREE for you. I'm looking to go down with someone who is very laid back, friendly, and ready for a really good time. Actually, an epic time... this is going to be an amazing trip. We're going to meet all kinds of rad people, listen to fantastic music, and let the good times roll. So, back to you... Male or female, doesn't matter. If female, I require NO drama. Actually, that goes for everyone... NO DRAMA. I prefer someone in their mid twenties. Also, we'll probably be camping - so you have to be comfortable with that. "


Well, it worked. I found a random girl to go on the trip with me and she turned out to be a great festivarian.

And was I right about this being an epic trip? Of course I was... Here are some highlights:

Miguel from oregon. Dude was stoned out of his gourd. It was hilarious. Repeatedly mentioned making the drive from oregon to colorado and successfully passing through two "zero tolerance" states. He also brought up stephen stills, and we talked about the album "manassas". After trying to figure out what town the album was recorded in... We suggested longmont probably 5 times. Then out of the blue, miguel says, "LONGMONT! LONGMONT, COLORADO... That's the town". Yeah miguel, I think you're smoking medical herb to relieve your herb problem. Ha, it was hilarious.

Dudie poo from indiana. Campground is deserted, but he's alone, drunk, and blasting the band "rusty truck" at 150 decibels from his truck. Why isn't he at the festival. Try "Cos I don't give a F^@%!" and "I'm from F^@%in Indiana, just look up at the mountains right now. All I effin need is right here! Cos I don't give a F^@%!". Well put, dudie poo.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. She invites a guy onstage. They dance. He suggestively dances with this 60 year old black woman in front of 10,000 people. You wouldn't want to be with your mother as you watch this. It was so wrong but so funny. Someone must have a tape of this somewhere.

Backstage passes. Gotta roll backstage. Thanks asstonian.

Grilling. A fest isn't a fest without some italian sausage, sweet onions, and bell peppers. Those are my favorite 2 vegetables.

Ice cream miracle. Actually, the dirty dreaded kids were looking for a "merakel" and tried to fund their ways with homemade ice cream. I think the flaver was called "raspberry choco dreads". Yeah, sounds delicious.

Oh did I mention the music? If you haven't heard of him already, check out casey driessen. He used to play with blue merle a couple years ago, and he's in a nashville band called wisechild. But regardless, he's a mind blowing fiddle player. http://www.myspace.com/caseydriessen

Ok, time to end this post. I didn't mention the flecktones or sam bush or the decemberists or yonder mountain or luke bulla or nickelcreek... But they were all awesome. Long live future man.

peace