It’s not utterly unwarranted to be curious as to why a lot emphasis is expended on sure occasions just like the annual Telluride Bluegrass Competition in Colorado. It’s as a result of these occasions don’t simply entertain revelers on a neighborhood or regional degree. They work as incubators for expertise, launching pads for stars, and the implications of what transpires each on and off the stage are sometimes momentous and worldwide in scope.
Through the 52nd annual Telluride Bluegrass Competition in 2025, the people supergroup “I’m With Her” that includes Sarah Jarosz, Sarah Watkins, and Aoife O’Donovan made their return after first forming on the competition 11 years in the past. The Punch Brothers are just about a perennial performer at this level after additionally first forming within the wee hours of a Telluride jam session. The ensemble’s latest member, Brittany Haas, grew to become 2025’s most collaborative performer, sitting in on quite a few units.
Greensky Bluegrass made their fifteenth look on the competition this 12 months. Their first was after they performed their approach on stage as band contest winners, proving these sorts of contests can matter. For Ken Pomeroy, her profession is simply getting began, and her debut look to Telluride could possibly be like a springboard. For Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms who’ve been stalwarts of the West Coast conventional nation and old-time scene for many years, lastly attending to carry out on the Telluride stage was candy validation.
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are one of the vital pure expressions of music as you’ll find within the pure universe. Caleb Klauder is just like the West Coast’s model of Hank Williams—a timeless songwriter with a timeless voice and disposition. And Reeb is sort of a easy and candy nation tune incarnate.
Songwriter Olive Klug obtained a large standing ovation for his or her set. DUG had many buzzing over the weekend. However of all of the debut and opening acts, it’s in all probability Montgomery, Alabama’s Mountain Grass Unit who will obtain the most important goosing put up Telluride after performing the pre-grass present Wednesday night, then an early set on the principle stage Thursday, after which drawing maybe the biggest crowd on the free Elks Park stage on Friday ever assembled. A easy 20 second clip of lead guitarist Luke Black posted on social media remains to be going viral as we converse.
Soul revivalists Lake Road Dive don’t play bluegrass or something resembling it. Lead singer Rachel Worth defined that after they had been arising, they weren’t actually being accepted wherever … besides at bluegrass festivals like Telluride, which they performed for his or her fourth time in 2025. They did carry out their tune “Occasion On The Roof” with Sarah Jarosz, Brittany Haas, and Wes Corbitt in a bluegrass fashion in tribute to the followers which have supported them from the start.
Although the guts of the Telluride Bluegrass Competition is most definitely bluegrass, it’s how the fest is prepared to vary past bluegrass to all types of roots music that makes it so impactful and resonant. Landmark units by Jason Isbell (learn evaluation), Zach High (learn evaluation), and the official unveiling of the Southern rock supergroup Toy Manufacturing unit Undertaking (learn evaluation) are the explanation that Telluride Bluegrass performances don’t simply keep in Telluride, or in bluegrass.
There’s at all times some complete wildcards on the lineup as nicely, just like the funky Thee Sacred Souls out of San Diego who definitely placed on an lively present, although it didn’t actually really feel like something you hadn’t seen or heard earlier than. The Rebirth Brass Band was the right wildcard of genuine New Orleans road jazz, and was sensible to schedule in the course of the annual Telluride Child’s Parade that had a Mardi Gras theme. The air is slightly thinner at 8,700 ft, particularly for a brass band. However they huffed and puffed, and made for a hell of a superb time.
Maybe probably the most paradoxical and enthralling efficiency of the whole week got here by way of Australia’s Kasey Chambers. From her shocking ’90s pop hits to her hardcore conventional nation tearjerkers, you by no means knew what Chambers would spring on you subsequent, absolutely embracing her loopy Australian self. “After they requested me to play once more, slightly wee got here out,” Chambers declared from the stage—one of many many hilarious moments she delivered.
However the temper went from humorous to critical and impressed when Kasey picked up a banjo, and did an emotionally-roiling rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Your self,” which for some will go down as one of many largest moments of the whole 2025 competition.
But that is nonetheless a bluegrass competition at the start. The Travelin’ McCroury’s are at all times fan favorites, particularly after they’re so nicely versed, cater they’re despatched to the viewers. One thing tells me they don’t play three Grateful Useless Covers when performing in South Carolina. New fiddle participant Christian Ward positively was in a position to fill the sneakers of the just lately departed Jason Carter who left to start out a solo profession.
And capping all of it off was the just lately reunited Alison Krauss and Union Station, who proved why they had been worthy of being featured because the grand finale. Dan Tyminski hasn’t joined the reunited lineup, however he performed his personal set together with his new band earlier within the week. Russell Moore is now the opposite main vocalist with Alison Krauss. They had been additionally joined by Stuart Duncan on fiddle who was there performing within the Telluride Home Band that additionally included Union Station’s Jerry Douglas.
Jerry Douglas talked about it was his forty first or forty second look on the Telluride Bluegrass Competition. He couldn’t bear in mind which one. But it surely sort of doesn’t matter, as a result of no one will beat the appearances of Telluride’s “King” Sam Bush, who’s been at each competition besides the very first one.
Alison Krauss graced the competition together with her angelic voice, and was surprisingly humorous all through the set. “I first performed this Competition after I was 17. Now I’m 100,” she stated. The competition concluded with Alison and Union Station singing principally acapella underneath a road lamp in intimate and awe-inspiring moments.
And naturally, one of many largest highlights of any Telluride Bluegrass Competition is the unbelievable vistas the city presents, the unparalleled views from the stage that encourage the performers and leads to Landmark units, and in 2025 not like the previous couple of years, not a drop of rain fell, and sunshine bathed Telluride’s City Park.
Surprisingly, Telluride didn’t promote out this 12 months. So despite the fact that it’s not low cost or straightforward to get to, it’s not not possible to realize entry. It’s additionally maybe one of the vital child pleasant music festivals in existence, whereas each younger and outdated can select their very own Telluride Bluegrass journey to make lifetimes value of recollections.
Sometime nicely sooner or later, the entire performers on the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Competition, together with all of the patrons and personnel will all have handed on. However the music, moments, and extra of 2025 will eternally stay on within the legacy of one of many world’s most premier roots festivals, if not the preeminent one as folks proceed to collect to impress human fingers on wooden and wire, and regale one another in tune weel into the long run. It’s musical bliss at 8,700 ft.
All photographs and media by Kyle “Set off” Coroneos. Apologies to any artist or band not talked about or pictured. For extra video/photographs from Telluride and different stay occasions, comply with Saving Nation Music on Instagram.
…and sure, famous Telluride seasonal resident Oprah Winfrey made an look within the viewers at one level.
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