INCLUDING DAVID BYRNE, ELVIS COSTELLO, CONOR OBERST
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Planet Bluegrass announces the complete single-day lineup for the 36th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, taking place during the longest days of the year, June 18-21, in southwestern Colorado. In addition to previously announced headliners David Byrne and Elvis Costello, the festival will feature the all-star collaboration of Three Girls & Their Buddy, the L.A. super-group Works Progress Administration, rising jamgrass stars Greensky Bluegrass, and much more. Camping and tickets - including single-day passes - are now available at www.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422.
Embracing the collaborative spirit of the festival, Three Girls & Their Buddy brings together long-time friends of the festival Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller for a special set sharing the songs and stories that have defined their venerated careers. Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris will also be performing her own set on Sunday evening.
The new L.A. eight-piece supergroup Works Progress Administration brings together another diverse group of artists, including Glenn Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Lucinda Williams), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Imposters), and Davey Faragher (Cracker).
Two young bluegrass bands complete the main stage lineup. Rising jamgrass quintet Greensky Bluegrass return to Telluride, where they won the band contest in 2006. Hailing from Georgia, The Lovell Sisters (three sisters ages 17-22) bring award-winning instrumental chops, strong sibling harmonies, and a youthful sass to the Telluride stage.
For four days the Town Park stage will be filled with adventurous acoustic music extending well beyond the confines of “bluegrass" into the broader genre of “Telluride bluegrass." Since New Grass Revival introduced rock and soul songs and a jamming aesthetic to Telluride in 1975, the festival has birthed a musical family around the diversity of roots music - with numerous artists celebrating more than 25 consecutive years on the main stage.
This year's lineup introduces two new legendary artists to the Telluride family - David Byrne and Elvis Costello. For his Telluride debut, Elvis Costello will be joined by his bluegrass-influenced acoustic band The Sugarcanes. David Byrne, the innovative leader of Talking Heads and influential solo artist, comes to Telluride in support of his “electric gospel" collaboration with Brian Eno.
The 36th Annual lineup fills the spectrum of modern acoustic music: from progressive jams (Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth) to the rootsier side of indie (Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis); from soulful and insightful songwriters (Kasey Chambers, Zac Brown Band, Todd Snider) to fresh explorations of bluegrass branches (Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, The Steeldrivers, Crooked Still, The Greencards).
The festival is built around the many legendary artists who have defined the Telluride Bluegrass sound for 36 years. Tim O'Brien and Jerry Douglas kick things off on Thursday morning with a special duet set, while the festival concludes on Sunday night with an epic set from the Telluride House Band (Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton). Sprinkled throughout the weekend are performances from these and other virtuosic artists, including the shaman of Telluride Peter Rowan, the voice of newgrass John Cowan, and a special collaboration between Bela Fleck and Malian kora player Toumani Diabate.
In the coming weeks, Planet Bluegrass will announce schedules for the NightGrass series of late-night indoor shows as well as the intimate performances and workshops in Elks Park. The festivities continue day and night in campgrounds and condos where jam sessions have given birth to numerous bluegrass bands including Leftover Salmon.
Complete single-day lineup:
Thursday, June 18:
David Byrne * Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band * Three Girls & Their Buddy: Emmylou Haris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin & Buddy Miller * Peter Rowan * Zac Brown Band * The Lovell Sisters * Jerry Douglas & Tim O'Brien
Friday, June 19
Railroad Earth * Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes * Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate * Jenny Lewis * John Cowan Band * The Greencards * Crooked Still * Blue Canyon Boys
Saturday, June 20
Gaelic Storm * Sam Bush Band * Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson * Telluride Troubadour * Yonder Mountain String Band * Jerry Douglas Band * Punch Brothers Play & Sing Bluegrass * Greensky Bluegrass
Sunday, June 21
Telluride House Band * Emmylou Harris * Tim O'Brien * Todd Snider * The Steeldrivers * Works Progress Administration * Mike Farris & The Roseland Rhythm Revue
Located within an easy day's drive of Denver, Santa Fe, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival attracts 10,000 “festivarians" from around the world to the historic mining town of Telluride, Colorado (population 2000). The town is located at the end of a box canyon, under the 14,000 foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains.
