[ View this email as a web page: http://www.bluegrass.com/emails/2010/PBEmail-2010-03-03.html ] =================================================================== On its own, the announcement of Lyle Lovett playing the 37th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival should be enough to inspire a raised glass of cheer and a quickly-placed ticket order at the Festivarian Mercantile. He is one of our great American songwriters - insightful, deeply musical, enormously entertaining, and thoroughly unique. Bound to no single genre, Lyle's music traverses folk, country, gospel, blues, jazz via the common language of wit, grace, and soul. When Lyle is on-stage every musician at the festival is either giddily enjoying his music from the front row or trying to find a way on-stage to be a part of his singular musical energy. But we couldn't find a reason to stop our lineup additions with Lyle. The result is one of our deepest, rootsiest Telluride gatherings in years... --------------------------- *** Telluride Bluegrass *** --------------------------- In 1990, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire won the Telluride band contest. Their band: the Dixie Chicks. Twenty years later, the superstar sisters (13 Grammy Awards, over 30 million records sold) return to Telluride Bluegrass to introduce their newest musical project, the Court Yard Hounds. Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile grabs listeners like a revelation - "the raw power of her voice and the conviction to let it loose" (New York Times). Carried by genuine personal emotion, her voice and her songs build from a whisper to a passionate roar. If you're not yet a fan, be prepared to wait in a long Country Store line to grab your CD after Brandi makes her Telluride Bluegrass debut this June. We complete the 2010 lineup with 2 brilliant artists: Keller & the Keels unites one-man jamband Keller Williams with his fiery bluegrass friends Larry and Jennie Keel. Singer-songwriter-cellist Ben Sollee suspends his voice of pure Kentucky soul over his strummed and bowed cello and an impeccable ear for melody. From Alison Krauss & Union Station to YMSB and Leftover Salmon, it's a lot of music to take-in. Good thing we'll have four magical days on our tarps. That's four days of virtuosity (Sam Bush Band; Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer; Jerry Douglas; Punch Brothers). Four days of songs and voices (Dave Rawlings Machine; Josh Ritter; Imelda May). Four days of vigorous new music (Mumford & Sons; Edward Sharpe; Carolina Chocolate Drops). Four days of bluegrass (Hot Rize; Del McCoury Band; Peter Rowan). And so much more. Four-day passes, camping, and lodging are available now at http://shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. Single-day tickets will be available in the next few weeks, along with the announcement of the single-day lineups. In the meantime, check out the festival lodging page for the latest specials from our trusted partners in Telluride and Mountain Village. There's a vintage beer cup somewhere in your cupboard reminding you of your last trip to Telluride Bluegrass. Bring it back home this June to the 37th gathering of Festivarian Nation. Music, mountains, magic. Tarps, tales, traditions. Waterfalls, whimsy, wonder. We can't wait to share it all with you. --------------------------- *** 20th Folks Festival *** --------------------------- Every time Michelle Shocked steps onto a Planet Bluegrass stage something magical happens: Two years ago she played "This Little Light of Mine" unplugged by candlelight during a power outage in the Wildflower Pavilion; in 2005 her Sunday morning gospel set at Telluride Bluegrass was so stunning she released it as the acclaimed album ToHeavenURide. We can't wait to see what she brings to the stage of the 20th Folks Festival in Lyons this August 13-15. Michelle joins a historic anniversary lineup that already includes John Prine, Ani DiFranco, The Swell Season, Richard Thompson, Jenny Lewis, Marc Cohn, and so many more. And with several artists still to be announced, we're not done yet. Folks Festival is our celebration of stories, songs, and summer's end, as the festivarian family comes together one last time along the St. Vrain River in Lyons. Bring your family, plant your chair on a tarp or right in the river, and revel in the energy of this historic 20th anniversary weekend. Three-day passes and camping (both on-site and at nearby Meadow Park) are available now at http://shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. The Folks Festival anticipation is greater than ever before - with early-bird tickets selling out two weeks ago and spaces in The Song School filling 3 months earlier than ever. ------------------ *** RockyGrass *** ------------------ We're thrilled to welcome former IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Alison Brown back to RockyGrass this July. It's been six years since the banjo virtuoso and former member of Alison Krauss & Union Station joined us in Lyons. That's six years too long. It's shaping up to be another unforgettable weekend of bluegrass as undisputed legends - Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Jesse McReynolds, Sam Bush, Bobby Osborne, Patty Loveless - share tunes with inspiring younger musicians - Infamous Stringdusters, Travelin' McCourys, Sierra Hull, Farewell Drifters - all in the key of the St. Vrain River. Your tarp is calling out to you: get your tickets and camping now to spend July 23-25 in Lyons. Tickets typically sell-out in May, so don't delay (that may be the other "M" month, but it's just 2 months away). Order now at http://shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. As always, we charge no handling fees and all RockyGrass tickets are fully refundable if returned by June 25. ------------------ *** Other News *** ------------------ Anytime Darrell Scott brings his musical gifts to Colorado, it's a cause for celebration. Our friends at etown are hosting one such celebration on Tuesday, March 16 as Darrell Scott stops by the Boulder Theater for a live taping of the etown radio show. He'll be joined by our favorite soul revivalists Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (their 2006 Telluride Bluegrass Saturday night set remains legendary). Tickets are available now at http://bit.ly/9SAiwh. Or email your name and phone number to etowntix@bluegrass.com for your chance to win a pair. If you enjoy a daily jolt of festivarian joy, become a fan of Planet Bluegrass on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/planetbluegrass In the last couple weeks we've given away pairs of tickets, shared lots of amazing music, and leaked the latest festival news exclusively to our Facebook fans - all in one very short daily Facebook post. Help us reach 5,000 fans (and beyond) by sharing facebook festivarianism with your circle of friends. Maybe they'll thank you with surprise tickets to Chatham County Line later this month. Or a space on their tarp this summer. Best, The folks on Planet Bluegrass ==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#==#== Special Thanks to our festival partners: New Belgium Brewing Renewable Choice Energy, Chaco, Telluride Alpine Lodging, Boulder Weekly, Allegro Coffee, Eldorado Natural Spring Water -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- You are currently subscribed to the Planet Bluegrass email list. 500 West Main, Box 769, Lyons, CO 80540 * 800-624-2422 Forward this email to a friend: %PERS_FRIEND% View this email as a web page: %PERS_WCOPY% Update your email list settings: %PERS_UP% Unsubscribe: %PERS_UNSUB%