The San Juans Sing in the Summer

Music has become a defining characteristic of Telluride.  Besides hitting the slopes or enjoying the multitude of outdoor activities, locals and visitors alike are drawn to Telluride year-round for the well-known music festivals.  Bluegrass in the San Juans originated back in the 1970's through the annual 4th of July celebration.  By 1974, bluegrass had earned its own weekend. That year the first Telluride Bluegrass Festival and first Telluride Film Festival joined the World AerobaticHang Gliding Festival (initiated in 1972) as the town’s key to year-round prosperity.

Music has served as a cultural conduit to year-round growth for Telluride and particularly during the summer.  There is no better way to launch the summer season than with the Telluride MusicFest in late July.  The hills do truly come alive with beautiful chamber music at these four evening concerts.  Beyond the 39th Annual Bluegrass Festival, the summer is filled with the Telluride Jazz Festival and Telluride Chamber Music Festival in August and the 19th Annual Blues and Brews Festival in September.

We can now add another one to Telluride's lively summer music festival scene.  This past week the Telluride Town Council gave unanimous approval to a request by KOTO Radio to host a two-day music festival in Town Park on August 25-26.  The festival will occupy the weekend between Telluride’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge stage and the Telluride Film Festival, both of which are expected to draw huge crowds to town.  We look forward to hearing what talent KOTO will secure.


Don't forget to stop by our neighbors and friends at the Telluride Music Company when you visit us for any one of these music festivals.  Family owned and operated since 1992, they're located 2 blocks down the street from us and serve as the regions most complete music store, offering a large selection of new released, unique and hard to find music.  You can also pick up your festival tickets there! 

Ski and Support the Telluride AIDS Benefit

The Telluride AIDS Benefit (“TAB”) is a non-profit organization committed to fight, fund, and educate by raising awareness about HIV/AIDS locally and globally. TAB accomplishes this through innovative global programs, their peer education and middle/high school education workshops, and adult outreach through education and events. Their largest event is the Telluride AIDS Benefit, which generates financial support for HIV education programs and for client care in Western Colorado.

One of the contributors to TAB is the Telluride Gay Ski Week (“TGSW”), an annual week-long gay ski event produced by StraightOut Media & Marketing with support from the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association. This year's 9th annual Telluride Gay Ski Week will take place February 25 - March 3, 2012. As the "Top Gay Ski Week" in the country, as ranked by Gay.com, T-12 is back and better than ever! As always, there will be a full week of events and parties planned, some of which include the Academy Awardswatching party and the popular White Night Party. Join A-List: New York and ski week alum, Reichen Lehmkuhl from LOGO's hit show "The A-List" as he host's the Tuesday Night Dance Party.
 

So get your T-12 full party pass and enjoy an unforgettable weekend set in the beautiful backdrop of Telluride, Colorado, while raising money for the Telluride AIDS Benefit!

Telluride in the Movies

Originally know as a mining town, Telluride is now known for its ski resort and year-round festivals. It has further evolved over the past 30 years and now serves as the backdrop and has been featured prominently in movies. Being home to an international film festival, Telluride is popularly known and adored by industry insiders and Hollywood elite. Although, it is most beloved by the ski film industry, which has experienced a major shift in recent years.

It used to be mostly “ski porn,” repetitive footage of skiers and boarders catching air or charging down difficult terrain, set to pulsating, loud music. Lately, a transformation has started where ski films have been elevated to a cinematic art form.

Two recent releases that serve as great examples of this new school of ski films are:

- Solitaire, Sweetgrass Production/Nick Waggoner’s latest film, which has been earning critical praise and lots of awards and recognition for its beautiful portrayal of backcountry skiing.

- The Art of Flight, by extreme snow boarder Travis Rice and director Curt Morgan, hits more mainstream by telling great ski stories - like when snowboarders had to dive into icy waters high in the Andes of South America to reach their helicopter before it ran out of fuel to fly them out.

This week, The Sheridan Arts Foundation, Telluride Historical Museum and Travis Julia presented Super Cut: 39 Years of Telluride in Ski Movies. This compilation film featured clips of Telluride ski film footage from a variety of a major films produced over the 39 years of resort history. The film, which was compiled by Telluride local Dean Rolley, also featured commercials shot in and around the Telluride area.
 

Through film and other cultural outlets, Telluride has had a notable effect on pop culture. Film's creative and emotional pulse has helped expose Telluride and its beautiful story to everyone who enjoys beautiful terrain, sunshine, and cultural festivals. No longer is it only for ski bums.