What are your best TBF memories?

[landshark]

Being scooped up from work by friends and a loaded car my first Telluride. Not having enough money for a pass, no ticket, sitting by the river and listening to the music and thinking, I need to be there those are my people.

[landshark]

Michael Martin Murphy and Willie Nelson. Those voices in the dark under the stars.

[Pass Port]

Didn't think it would be possible to top our first TBF. But, last year in TP hanging with Duk Tape and all the fine folks of TP really topped it. There's no doubt that being in Town Park is the best option for camping, in my opinion no matter what type of festy goer you are.

Our first year we brought my oldest son and his girlfriend. They were 20/19 at the time. Last year we brought my younger son who was 13. He's been to many festivals, and concerts and camped out for extended periods in all forms of weather so we knew he'd be alright. However he is not that into acoustic music, unless its friends he knows playing. He used to play fiddle (Bridget Law of Elephant Revival was his first fiddle teacher), but now he really plays keyboard and symphasized music. He won't admit it, because he's a snotty teenager but he does like a lot of bluegrass, especially instrumentals. Anyway I knew he'd have a blast regardless.

So we never do anything half ass, like most of you other festivarians. We come for the full amount of time possible to camp. Our son, Addison was mostly excited about this, and the fact that he knew there'd be other kids. On the first day there he tried his first Crawfish Thanks Paul , and already met almost a dozen kids around his age. By the time festival started we only saw him in the mornings, lunch, and sometimes dinner then as he crawled in the tent for bed usually around 11. He went on his first mountain bike ride, went on a few great hikes, and went out to eat dinner without any adults just kids. It changed his life. He probably only caught no more than 3-4 hours of music being inside the festival grounds, because he was having too much fun in camp, and he said he could hear it just fine.

As a parent, its rare to find a place, especially a place with so much adult acitivity, where you can feel comfortable letting your guard down a bit, and letting your child enjoy some real freedoms. It makes the experience so much more relaxing for all.

On Monday morning as were packing up, he kept crying. And as we loaded the car and said our final see you laters, he cried some more. When we got home he made me promise that we would go back. He even said he'd get a job and pay for his ticket. He talks/texts/messages with his friends from camp almost everyday. Folks are always talking about how Telluride changed their life, it's not just an adult thing. Hoping this years memories include a Ferrata trip! Is it June yet?

Hey Todd,

Haven't been looking at the forum much this winter (its been so good for us powder lovers!), just saw this. That's really cool about Addison!!   Is he going on the Via Ferrata?

[ToddG]

Hey Todd,

Haven't been looking at the forum much this winter (its been so good for us powder lovers!), just saw this. That's really cool about Addison!!   Is he going on the Via Ferrata?

Howdy Paul, I sure wish we lived close enough to take advantage of all that powder! We consider ourselves lucky if we get two ski trips a year, and unfortunately this year we only managed one.
Addison has lots of experience "on rope" but all of that has been rappelling, or caving. He doesn't really enjoy edges, or heights so I'm going to say no he won't do the Via Ferrata, though I might get him up there and let him do a tiny section to see what he thinks. He just got accepted into Jazz Band at his school and is now playing the saxophone. Lets all hope he doesn't want to bring it to TP!

[Auntie Hope]

Didn't think it would be possible to top our first TBF. But, last year in TP hanging with Duk Tape and all the fine folks of TP really topped it. There's no doubt that being in Town Park is the best option for camping, in my opinion no matter what type of festy goer you are.

Our first year we brought my oldest son and his girlfriend. They were 20/19 at the time. Last year we brought my younger son who was 13. He's been to many festivals, and concerts and camped out for extended periods in all forms of weather so we knew he'd be alright. However he is not that into acoustic music, unless its friends he knows playing. He used to play fiddle (Bridget Law of Elephant Revival was his first fiddle teacher), but now he really plays keyboard and symphasized music. He won't admit it, because he's a snotty teenager but he does like a lot of bluegrass, especially instrumentals. Anyway I knew he'd have a blast regardless.

So we never do anything half ass, like most of you other festivarians. We come for the full amount of time possible to camp. Our son, Addison was mostly excited about this, and the fact that he knew there'd be other kids. On the first day there he tried his first Crawfish Thanks Paul , and already met almost a dozen kids around his age. By the time festival started we only saw him in the mornings, lunch, and sometimes dinner then as he crawled in the tent for bed usually around 11. He went on his first mountain bike ride, went on a few great hikes, and went out to eat dinner without any adults just kids. It changed his life. He probably only caught no more than 3-4 hours of music being inside the festival grounds, because he was having too much fun in camp, and he said he could hear it just fine.

As a parent, its rare to find a place, especially a place with so much adult acitivity, where you can feel comfortable letting your guard down a bit, and letting your child enjoy some real freedoms. It makes the experience so much more relaxing for all.

On Monday morning as were packing up, he kept crying. And as we loaded the car and said our final see you laters, he cried some more. When we got home he made me promise that we would go back. He even said he'd get a job and pay for his ticket. He talks/texts/messages with his friends from camp almost everyday. Folks are always talking about how Telluride changed their life, it's not just an adult thing. Hoping this years memories include a Ferrata trip! Is it June yet?

And he's a really cool guy.
See you folks soon!
Auntie Hope

[ToddG]

Since they just keep getting better and better every year. Rain, sleet, hail, or snow I'm going to say my best TBF moments are still to come. Looking forward to TBF 2020.

[landshark]

When Ferg played a song after his Fathers passing.... that was very moving and very special.

[landshark]

Sitting on the river side without a ticket and not enough  money to buy a pass. It was a spur of the moment trip many years ago. I sat there on the riverside and listened to the music over the water and I had this feeling of, these are my people I belong here I will be back.

I came back over and over and over again and each time I saw the same faces and they always gravitated to the same tarp hoods. Like family 10,000 strong.

A tradition most summers for forever.

[landshark]

 About 2 minutes before Johnny Cash took the stage, I turned to my friend and said. "He is a tad too country for me". Then he stepped out and sang a swing tune and I had to pick up my jaw from the ground. Totally an epic performer and he was all encompassing. Made all 9999 people disappear. Epic performance. Unforgettable

[landshark]

I heard a squeal and it came from me! Robert Plant totally owned me as soon as he stepped out. Made me squeal! I never knew I could do that! LOL!

[landshark]

The sound of 10,000 folks howling at the moon. The smell of flank steak and beer and sunscreen. Music before breakfast and Gospel on Sunday. Turning around and mezmerized by not only what and who was on stage but behind me, those beautiful mountains and all those smiling faces. The way we tried but failed many years ago in our youth to sneak in on our bellies laughing our butts off under the security horses. Crazy us. Man those memories are seated deep and everlasting. Thanks.

 Listening to: me

[betcey]

Watching a 12 or 13 year-old Alison Krauss being brought on stage - can’t even remember who the act was that introduced her.

Selling a tie-dye T-shirt to a young Bela Fleck and then seeing him on stage wearing it the next day!

Yeah … that was a very very long time ago !

[Cindy Lou]

HI Betcey,  I first saw Allison and US in Santa Fe in 1987 when she was 15 and she blew me away.  Her first time in Tride was 1989 when she was 17 and I don't recall ever seeing her perform in Telluride before then, so I'm curious as to when you saw her there at age 12 or 13? She signed with Rounder in 1985. She is 50 now! Still has the voice of an angel. That show in Santa Fe was amazing. It was Alison Kraus and Union Station, followed by Tony Rice Unit, and finished up with New Grass Revival!   Man what a show that was! After 35 years I still remember how amazing the whole day was!   

[betcey]

HI Betcey,  I first saw Allison and US in Santa Fe in 1987 when she was 15 and she blew me away.  Her first time in Tride was 1989 when she was 17 and I don't recall ever seeing her perform in Telluride before then, so I'm curious as to when you saw her there at age 12 or 13? She signed with Rounder in 1985. She is 50 now! Still has the voice of an angel. That show in Santa Fe was amazing. It was Alison Kraus and Union Station, followed by Tony Rice Unit, and finished up with New Grass Revival!   Man what a show that was! After 35 years I still remember how amazing the whole day was!   

WOW, that sounds like an amazing show!
Alison wasn't playing as an official act when I saw her ... someone else who was performing  (I wish is could remember who!) just brought her onstage and introduced her, saying that she was an up and coming talent to watch. I think she only performed one song ... my memory is fuzzy. It would have been somewhere between 1983 and 1985 ... the only years I went to Telluride. I want to say it was '83.

I am soooo excited to finally be making it back often so many, many years!!
(Still desperately seeking a TP or WF ticket if you know anyone with one for sale!) 😁

[Cindy Lou]

HI Betcey,  I first saw Allison and US in Santa Fe in 1987 when she was 15 and she blew me away.  Her first time in Tride was 1989 when she was 17 and I don't recall ever seeing her perform in Telluride before then, so I'm curious as to when you saw her there at age 12 or 13? She signed with Rounder in 1985. She is 50 now! Still has the voice of an angel. That show in Santa Fe was amazing. It was Alison Kraus and Union Station, followed by Tony Rice Unit, and finished up with New Grass Revival!   Man what a show that was! After 35 years I still remember how amazing the whole day was!   

WOW, that sounds like an amazing show!
Alison wasn't playing as an official act when I saw her ... someone else who was performing  (I wish is could remember who!) just brought her onstage and introduced her, saying that she was an up and coming talent to watch. I think she only performed one song ... my memory is fuzzy. It would have been somewhere between 1983 and 1985 ... the only years I went to Telluride. I want to say it was '83.

I am soooo excited to finally be making it back often so many, many years!!
(Still desperately seeking a TP or WF ticket if you know anyone with one for sale!) 😁

My guess would be Sam Bush. He has been there since year 2 1975 I believe. My first was year 3 in 1976 but I don't remember seeing Alison! I know Sam has definitely sung praises of up and coming young musicians including Chris Thiele and Sierra Hull.