More Than Just A Music Festival…
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival takes place in the world-famous mountain town of Telluride, Colorado, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Blues & Brews is a three-day celebration of blues, funk, jam bands, indie, rock, gospel and soul performances accompanied by some of the best craft breweries in the country, a wide variety of food and craft vendors, children's activities, late night shows, and much, much more. Even though the festival only lasts for three days and four nights, once you get to Telluride, you won't want to go home.
The historic mining town of Telluride is situated 8,750 feet above sea level and is an acclaimed ski town by winter and the festival capital of Colorado in the summer. Telluride's Main Street, just steps away from the festival grounds, is home to a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and bars.
Yes, like most festivals there’s a Main Stage, but at Blues & Brews and in Telluride there’s so much more! With multiple stages, yoga sessions, stand-up comedy, late night shows, beer styles to try, world-class restaurants, alpine surroundings and more, there are plenty of events planned to enhance your festival experience, above and beyond the music on the Main Stage.
The Music
Three Stages, Five Late Night Venues, Over Thirty Artists
From legends like The Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, Robert Plant, Lou Reed, ZZ Top and Joe Cocker, to rock n’ roll torchbearers like Anders Osborne, Samantha Fish, Gary Clark Jr. and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and blues traditionalists like BB King, Buddy Guy and Bonnie Raitt, there’s been no shortage of live music talent at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival! Find yourself here, surrounded by towering peaks enjoying over 30 bands on Main Stage, indoor Blues Stage and the rustic Campground Stage.
Our team strives to curate an artist lineup with a consistent, diversified and eclectic mix of blues, rock, soul, funk, gospel, roots, jam bands, and stand-up comedy.
Late Night Shows
Once the late night shows get jamming, a walk down Telluride’s Main Street feels like a walk down Beale Street in Memphis. When the evening sets in the music is far from over in Telluride! The nightlife in Telluride is thriving scene built on a strong, musically-charged local culture and there’s plenty to experience each night of the festival. Thursday’s kick-off events include the Bal De Maison Opening Show and luxurious Music Maker Foundation Fundraiser Dinner. Friday and Saturday evening hosts five different “Juke Joint” shows each night showcasing a variety of artists up close and personal, along with a stand-up comedy venue. On Sunday, the festival concludes with the celebrated Fais Do-Do Closing Show. Click here to see more.
The Beer
Try one, try them all - there’s no shortage of outstanding craft beer at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.
The Brewer’s Showcase provides attendees with opportunities to interact directly with breweries and to sample rare, new and classic beer offerings while supporting local, regional and national craftsmanship in the craft beer industry.
The Showcase is a multi-faceted experience with events spanning the entire festival weekend. The Showcase will host five intimate tasting sessions with 28 breweries pouring unlimited samples for attendees. The Showcase also featured a themed bar presented by the Colorado Brewers Guild serving one-of-a-kind, multi-brewery, collaborative beers along with a House of Brews bar with rotating beer styles each day. To top it all off, the Showcase will kick off with a multi-course beer pairing dinner that will pair modern mountain dishes with special craft beer.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will return as the long-standing craft beer partner to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Throughout the event, Sierra Nevada will pour many of their classic styles along with six rare, specialty beers and a unique "festival-only" flavor.
Food & Drink
Prepare for a Weekend of Food Heaven!
If you enjoy food like we do, the savory, mouthwatering food menus from the Festival vendors will keep your taste buds satisfied all weekend long. Our vendors’ menus satisfy even the most particular diet. Gluten-free? They've got you covered! Vegan or vegetarian? No problem! Paleo diet? You're in luck! Click here to check out the full menus and plan for a scrumptious weekend.
Cocktails
Enjoy standard cocktails available throughout the festival made with premium Whiskey, Tequila, Vodka, Gin and mixed with high quality Margarita or Bloody Mary Mix, Ginger Beer, Club Soda, Tonic Water, Lemonade, and more.
The Outdoors
Enjoy free morning Yoga Sessions, run the Blisters & Blues 5K Race, demo mountain bikes with Revel Bikes and hike with Backpacker Magazine - all before you enjoy the music!
It’s no secret that Telluride, Colorado is one of the best places in the world for outdoor recreation! We recommend taking some time while you’re here to experience the endless miles of trails and breathtaking scenery of the towering San Juan mountain peaks.
Join us and our friends from Backpacker Magazine, Revel Bikes, Boot Doctors and the Telluride Adaptive Sports program to enjoy the outdoors each morning before the festival.
Free Yoga Sessions
Relax, breath deep and unwind. Guided by a professional yoga instructor, enjoy a fluid yoga flow at the free Blues & Brews Yoga Sessions. Learn activating breath practices, liberating movements and playful exercises in the fresh alpine morning air. Nestled in the cozy amphitheater of Elks Park in downtown Telluride, the Yoga Sessions are a fun and inspiring way to start your mornings.
New to yoga or considering for the first time? Join in and discover the healing power of yoga. Guests of all skill levels are welcome to join.
Location
Telluride Elks Park - Colorado Ave and S Oak St (inclement weather location - Blues Stage (Town Park Pavilion)
Time & Date
10:00 - 11:00 am on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival
What To Bring
Water, yoga mat, towel and active wear (come with or without - these items are suggested but not mandatory to join in the class)f all skill levels are welcome to join. New to yoga or considering for the first time? Join in and discover the healing power of yoga. To learn more, click here.
Protect our Winters Group Hike
Kick your Sunday morning into high gear!
Join other festival-goers on a brisk but leisurely hike on one of Telluride’s most popular trails up to the beautiful Bear Creek Waterfall. Hosted by Festival partner Protect Our Winters, the group hike begins on Sunday at 9:00 am from the Protect Our Winters booth inside the festival grounds. The group will access the trail from the end of South Pine Street and enjoy a steady 2-mile climb leading up to the falls. Hikers should plan for approximately 1 hour to reach the falls.
Location
Meet at the Protect Our Winters Booth at the entrance of the Main Festival Grounds
Time & Date
9:00 am on Sunday of the Festival
What To Bring
Water, active wear, hiking boots
Blisters & Brews 5k Fundraiser Race
"Run, Walk and Roll"
Blisters & Brews is a 5k Fundraiser Race on the morning of Saturday, September 16, giving attendees the opportunity to exercise before the Festival. Presented by the Telluride Blues Society and Christy Sports the 5k Race will raise money for the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program in remembrance of dear festival friend Felix Snow.
The course begins in Elks Park and climbs up the bike path to Pandora Mine and returns along the same route. Racers will follow Colorado Avenue east and pick up the river trail, climbing to the Pandora mine. Racers will turn around and enjoy cruising down to the finish at Elks Park. Two aid stations will provide water electrolytes and snacks.
Through registration fees, donations and the generous support of the Telluride community, we were honored to be able to raise over $5,000 for the Telluride Adaptive Ski Program since the start of the program. We're looking forward to another amazing year of support.
Don't want to run, but want to support? Non-athletic support donations are also available.
Location
Telluride Elks Park - Colorado Ave
Time & Date
Saturday of the Festival
7:15 - 8:00 am - Race Registration Open
8:30 am - Blisters & Brews 5k Race Start
9:30 am - Race Award Ceremony
10:00 am - Free Blues & Brews Yoga Sessions
Revel Bikes Mountain Bike Rides & Demos
The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is thrilled to team up with Revel Bikes. Based in Carbondale, Colorado, Revel Bikes makes some of the absolute best full-suspension mountain bikes. Mountain bikers are welcome to join them for a morning mountain bike ride with their team. Stop by the Revel booth in the Main Festival grounds for a chance to check out their new lineup of bikes and sign up for a demo.
Mountain Bike Group Rides
Mountain bikers! Join festival partner Revel Bikes for exciting morning mountain bike rides around Telluride’s renowned single track! These rides will start and end right near the festival gates on Saturday and Sunday mornings before the music starts on the Main Stage. Stop by the Revel Bikes booth in the Main Festival grounds for ride details. Make sure to bring your mountain bike (if you do not have a demo reserved), helmet, water, snacks and any other riding gear.
The Guides
Everything You Need To Know
Got tickets to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival? Nice work! Now … what’s your plan when you get here?
With so much going on in one weekend, it can’t hurt to have a little guidance. Curated by our staff experts, we are proud to present the comprehensive Festival guides. Whether you’re just browsing through or looking for the answer to a specific festival question, our interactive guide has you covered. Use the search bar or filter buttons to quickly locate popular topics. Click below to explore the list of opportunities for fun.
Music Maker Drink House
Step into the past, present and future of authentic, unspoiled blues music and culture.
The Music Maker Drink House at the Blues Stage will give you a glimpse into authentic blues culture. Curated by the Music Maker Foundation, with a mission of traditional American music preservation, the Drink House features:
Original art exhibition and tintype photography shot by Tim Duffy, founder of the Music Maker Foundation.
Listening stations with original vinyl records. Bring a friend and use the dual headphones to sample classics from the blues genre and discover new and up-and-coming artists.
Artist meet-and-greets from the Music Maker roster. Shake hands, ask questions and learn more about the artists that make this great organization.
Since its inception, the Music Maker Foundation has supported over 435 artists and provided 12,006 grants for traditional blues, soul and gospel artists who would never have been heard otherwise. See their artists perform on our stages, support their fundraising goals and make sure to stop by the Drink House to experience pure blues culture from the folks who operate the foundation!
Philanthropy
Telluride Blues Gives Back And You Can Get Involved
The power of music to gather, evoke emotion and send a message is undeniable. The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is committed to partnering with and supporting causes and nonprofits local and national.
Sustainability
Education, Reduction, Offsets, Advocacy and Celebration - Keeping the Scene Clean and Green at Blues & Brews
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is dedicated to keeping our environment clean and green. Join us in our commitment to ensuring a greener future for the Town of Telluride, our Festival and the planet.
The power of music to gather, evoke emotion and send a message is undeniable. We’re committed to using our resources to promote sustainability and encourage environmental responsibility. We act with the planet in mind and are dedicated to a high standard of sustainability. Our festival sits in a gorgeous public park located on a beautiful planet and we intend to keep it that way for generations to come.
Through partnerships, action and we focus on waste reduction, environmental education and advocacy, energy offsets and earth celebration, we aim to have the most positive impact as possible.