2017 Blues For Breakfast
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
Start your mornings off proper with blues music, a hearty breakfast and drinks at Blues for Breakfast! Starting on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am, Blues for Breakfast offers a pleasant warm-up to a dynamic day and late night full of music. Join us at the Telluride's intimate Elks Lodge (located at 472 West Pacific Avenue), for a bite to eat as the first official chords of the day are struck.
Saturday, September 16: Telluride Blues Challenge Finals → 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday, September 17: Brian Keith Wallen and Telluride Blues Challenge Runner-Up → 9:00 am - Noon
Telluride Blues Challenge Finals
Saturday’s Blues for Breakfast stage will see six talented solo blues artist battling for the top spot in the Telluride Blues Challenge, the opportunity to play the Town Park Stage and other prizes. The Telluride Blues challenge, accepts recorded submissions from unsigned artists located all-over the world. The experts from Blues & Brews and the Telluride Music Company will judge the artist submissions and invite six finalists to compete in the Telluride Blues Challenge. These artists are talented, hungry and will put on a must-see show to kick off the second day of the festival.
Complete with a breakfast spread and full bar including breakfast cocktails during the event. Admission to the competition is free! Breakfast and drinks available for purchase. This event is a great way to see up-and-comers in the blues genre while starting your Saturday morning off before the Grand Tasting and music starts in the festival grounds. Watch as competitors perform 20 minute sets that will be judged on the quality of their overall live performance, instrument use, vocals, and presentation.
Read more about the Telluride Blues Challenge, click here.
Brian Keith Wallen and the Telluride Blues Challenge Runner-Up
What will strike you first about seeing Brian Keith Wallen perform is the focused energy he brings in buckets full. Next is the way you’re mesmerized by his guitar work – at once shambolic and precise. The rhythm he stomps out is feral and true. The first time we saw this gent play, we knew he’d be perfect for the rolling intimacy of our Durango Blues Train summer series. He’s a crowd favorite and this year in Telluride, he’ll be performing not once but thrice. You have zero excuse to miss him. The son of Indiana has traveled the world playing everything from house concerts to rock clubs, from cities of renown to scenes of his familiar farmland home. Check out his blog about the life of a traveling musician. It’s insightful, filled with gratitude, and downright poetic at times. His blues come from that place. Treat yourself. To read, listen and watch more, click here.
Sunday morning will also feature a full set from the runner-up of the Telluride Blues Challenge.
Food and Drink
The Telluride Elks Lodge will prepare a traditional breakfast spread featuring classics like black bean sauté, scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns, toast, bacon and sausages. Coffee, juice and breakfast bar drinks will also be available. Admission is free! Breakfast is $12, Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and other breakfast bar drinks are extra.