Traditional music celebrated at the Telluride Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Soul, Rock Festival

11:07 a.m. June 21, Telluride Town Park (under cloudless, piercing blue skies) – First, a little history and explanation. This is officially known as the Telluride Bluegrass  and Country Festival and for forty years have played bluegrass and country music on this stage, but it’s never been anything like a conventional, traditional bluegrass festival. Take right now as I type away in the press tent. Lake Street Dive has a funky, bass-driven groove going with trumpet and scat singing. Coming up today is former Boulderite Tim O’Brien, and bluegrass-inspired jam band Trampled By Turtles, the iconic Peter Rowan, Punch Brothers, Boulder’s String Cheese Incident, the Masters of Bluegrass and then Dispatch into the night. This is a power lineup, but it ain’t bluegrass.

The music from the 40th Telluride Bluegrass is being streamed live at koto.org.