Tom & I signed up to volunteer for the 38th Telluride Bluegrass Festival this June and I must say it really just made my heart smile from start to finish. Camping in the authentic site of Mary E Illuium was so fun, tents popped up all around us on that first day, and we met awesome-friendly people from all around the states. We had a father-daughter duo, couples, singles, hippies, and full families that all came to listen to artists twang on strings, and belt lyrics that resonant with something deep down. I have never in all my days been at a 4 day festival, and this one really set the bar high. From the top notch vendors of food and clothes to the educational booths that were perfectly interactive and the backdrop of Tellurides jagged mountain tops and the mountain valley that sheltered us with shade and sunrays each day that kept the festivarians happy and ready to jam. The lineup was stacked with bands that I had never heard of, and that helped with days of no expectations, I had faith in the festival, that each band would groove me off of the tarp and pick me up out of the lawn chair where I would twirl and jump and stomp and shake til the last note reached the air.
My most favorite part was looking around at the people surrounding me, worshipping the freedom within the music, dancing like no one cares and singing as loud as loud as your voice will rise, was extremely fulfilling. Life should be lived like everyday is a festival, where music can inspire you to wiggle and hula hoop and you can goof around with new and old freinds and savor whats important in life. Rain poured down the last day of the festival, soggy compared and sunny is not my cup of tea, but we for the love of the festival we toughed it out, and I sprinted in the rain towards the sound of Mumford & Sons playing their opening ballod, and I let the rain beat down on me and smile. Mumford & Sons is special to me, the first time I heard them I claimed they were bluegrass, and for them to be at this festival was creme da la creme. The performance was powerful and EPIC, their music guided the weather, in a way that felt spiritual. The clouds literally disperesed the final line of the closing song, exposing freshly fallen snow on the upper peaks adjacent to the stage. It was the best thing I had witnessed, Thank you Telluride, I will be back!
a list of bands I saw: Trampled by Turtles- Younder Mountain-Old Crow Medicine Show- Bela Fleck- Sam Bush- The Decemberists- and my most cherished concert Mumford & Sons.
