2017 Sunset Blues Concert
Join us in Mountain Village's Sunset Plaza for our FREE Sunset Blues Concert on Thursday, September 14th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm featuring Monkey Junk and Brian Keith Wallen. Sunset Plaza is just a short, beautiful gondola ride up the mountain from the town of Telluride! The event and gondola ride are free and open to the public, and the event is rain or shine.
The Sunset Blues Concert is sponsored by Telluride Ski Resort, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, TMVOA, and the Town of Mountain Village.
Monkey Junk
Monkey Junk is Steve Marriner (vocals, harmonica, baritone guitar and Hammond organ), Matt Sobb (drums and percussion), and Tony D (lead guitar), a swampy, funky trio from our great neighbor to the north, Canada. This oft-decorated band took its name from a Son House interview, in which the great bluesman, describing how the blues is about love, reportedly said, "I'm talking about the blues. I ain't talkin' 'bout no monkey junk." The Ottowa-based trio is a fixture on the blues scene in their native Canada, and have racked up numerous Maple Blues Awards, as well as Juno Awards and nominations, winning in 2012 for Blues Album of the Year, To Behold. Marriner has a gritty, old soul voice, and Sobb’s rock solid platform pins down their swampy groove over which Tony D’s guitar work soars. Is Canada a great country or what? Universal health care and Monkey Junk. Good stuff. For more information click here.
Brian Keith Wallen
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. For more information click here.