With the warming temperatures and the approach of Spring, the mountain communities are gearing up for a summer full of festivals. Telluride Jazz Festival leads the way with their diverse lineup announced today for the summer, set to grace the majestic mountain town for the 42nd time on August 3 through 5, 2018. Since 1977, the Telluride Jazz Festival has been a world-class destination for American Jazz aficionados and has included acts such as Muddy Waters, Herbie Hancock, Victor Wooten and Dizzy Gilespie who famously remarked about Telluride, “if this ain’t paradise, heaven can wait.”
This year, the lineup includes an eclectic mix of live jazz, funk, soul and gospel, among others. Some of the big names include Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Irma Thomas, Soul Queen of New Orleans, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band. According to festival director Steve Gumble, the “new kids on the block” like BADBADNOTGOOD, Turkuaz and Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles are “changing the face of jazz.” These newer faces are bringing in younger crowds, too.
Tickets are limited to Telluride Jazz Festival and this keeps the weekend on an intimate level. Telluride Town Park, where the shows are played, is truly a spectacular live music venue. Surrounded by 13,000 feet mountains, aspen trees and (if you’re lucky) that Colorado bluebird sky, the artists and audience seem to exist in a Rocky Mountain bubble for the weekend. There are two stages at Telluride Jazz Festival, the main stage and a secondary stage, “Society Stage” — which is free to attend. A complete lineup for both stages will be announced later this spring.
Tickets are already on sale with Early Bird three-day passes starting at only $145 plus taxes, while supplies last. Tiers after the Early Bird are: Early Bird All That Jazz, Patron Experience, VIP Experience, “Jazz After Dark” and four-day camping passes. Single day tickets are set to go on sale May 23, 2018.
2018 Initial Lineup:
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Irma Thomas, Soul Queen of New Orleans
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band
BADBADNOTGOOD
Turkuaz
Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
GoGo Penguin
Sammy Miller And The Congregation
No BS! Brass Band
Nachito Herrera Trio – “A Night in Habana”
Polyrhythmics
Tyree Morris and The Hearts of Worship
The Lao Tizer Quartet
Crescent Super Band
Stillwater All-Stars
J-Calvin
Telluride Student All-Stars Jazz Ensemble
The Hooligan Brass Band
The Inevitables
The McCarthy Trio
The Speakeasy Jazz Quartet
Telluride Jazz Adventure Academy Band
Go here for updates on concert announcements and more sent to your inbox. All Photography Courtesy of The Telluride Jazz Festival & Andrew Rios.