One of our absolute favorite mountain jazz festivals is happening this weekend, August 9-11 in Telluride, Colorado. The lineup looks to be fantastically funky, featuring Trombone Shorty and the Orleans Avenue (headlining for the first time) in addition to a host of other fine performers like Lettuce, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and Victor Wooten. It’s kind of like they brought a little bit of New Orleans Jazzfest to Telluride this year!

We’ve written quite a few posts on Mr. Shorty, aka Troy Andrews and his amazing band, so he is no stranger here. If you have yet to experience a Trombone Shorty show, there aren’t many better places to see him, imo. I’m guessing that the unique mountain vibe will impress upon the guys and provide for a really splendid show. It is likely that you’ll also see Shorty around town jamming it up with Eric Krasno & Adam Deitch (Lettuce) among others in the late night scene. Any time that “New Orleans” feel seeps into a a music festival it becomes all about the music and the various performers will jump at the chance to sit in with their buddies all night.

Lettuce (a previous Telluride Jazzfest headliner) always comes correct. With Adam Deitch on drums and Eric Krazno on the guitar you really can’t go wrong. These guys will funk just as hard as the rest, bringing their own blend of in your face east coast funk/soul to the mix. Robert Randolph will add the R&B, just killing it on the lap/pedal steel with his own style of high energy blues-rock-funk. Already a regular at Telluride Jazzfest over the years, Victor Wooten is no stranger to danger either. While he is most notable for his work with Bela Fleck, he has been performing solo for years and is a true bass player’s bass player. He will definitely impress with his tremendous technical ability.

If you’re planning on going to Telluride and this is your first time, keep a few things in mind. The first is that you’re in the mountains, and it gets cold at night, even in the summer! Right about the time the sun dips over the hills (~ 6:30-7pm) it gets downright chilly. The festival goes till 8pm, so make sure to bring a jacket, and make sure that jacket is waterproof. August is monsoon season in that neck of the woods, so even a day that starts clear and beautiful could drown you like a rat if you’re not prepared.

Second, the festival is on the east side of town, in the “Town Park”. It’s not really a far trot from anywhere in town (and the walk is nice), but keep that in mind if ease of access is your thing. Definitely stay out of the mountain village, as you’ll be confined to either driving down the hill or having to use the gondola which generally shuts off before the music in town does. Pro-tip: For those going on the cheap, you can usually get pretty close to the music without actually having to buy a ticket and you can even camp near the festival. Although it’s not quite a much fun, the audio is still pretty clear and audible.

Finally, make sure to book things in advance! Telluride is pretty small, so getting reservations for hotels, dinner, etc. can be tough at the last minute. Here are a few of my favs: 1) Telluride Hotel for lodging. They are pet friendly and they offer a shuttle service around town and to the festival. Although a little pricey, it is worth the splurge. 2) If you like Italian fare, you have to dine at Rustico Ristorante, located in the center of town on the main street. Make sure to sit outside if the weather is nice. 3) Bridal Veil Falls is a must see. These falls are located at the very east end of town, before you head up Imogene Pass, and are in just about every picture of Telluride there is. 4) Take a peek at Wilson Peak! This is the iconic 14er that is on the Coors can and one of the top photographed peaks in Colorado, if not the U.S. The 14er hike is legit, so make sure to plan ahead if the summit is your goal. Otherwise, there are several places in and around the area to stop and gaze, take photos and genuinely appreciate the picturesque scenery. 5) Last but not least, for the hard core who love to 4×4, Telluride has no shortage of awesome four-wheeling. If you’re up for the challenge, start your campaign into Telluride by going over Imogene Pass from Ouray. It will definitely add some nice flavor to the trip and you’ll have massive style points over the normie yuppie crowd who’s Range Rovers never see anything but asphalt.

All in all, we hope you enjoy the festival. Colorado has some great mountain festivals, but Telluride is really unique. Go experience it for yourself!