Schedule
Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 7:00 pm (Main Stage)
Hi. I’m going to break the fourth wall here and make a confession. I’m Suzanne and I have been writing artist bios for the festival for I’ve-forgotten-how-many-years. Sometimes a band is so deeply embedded in the bones, it’s impossible to shake that personal perspective. So, I’m not even going to try here. The Black Crowes are pretty much my favorite band in all of time and space. For that I have to thank my late friend, Timmy. He just knew I’d dig ‘em, and like many things, he was right.
The first time Mr. Crowe’s Garden was to come to town many moons ago, (their band name from the way-back machine), Steve Gumble and I and seemingly half of Telluride — including Timmy — were at the Buck on a warm spring night. The place was packed. Drinks were flowing and friends were friending when Gumby whispered in my ear the festival had signed The Crowes. Mind you, it was told in confidence, as the festival’s announce date was down the road and by fiat, acts were to remain under the Cone of Silence until that day. I respected that completely, no matter how hard my friends pressed me for the inside scoop. My skin tingled, my mouth went dry, my face flushed, I was trembling with excitement. Not five minutes later I turned to Timmy at his station on the south end of the bar and blurted, “The Black Crowes are coming to Blues & Brews!” Gumby, in earshot, gave me the most priceless WTF look I’ve ever received, but a hint of a smile danced in his eyes. He forgave me, and I’ve haven’t spilled the beans since. Including this year, the third time we’ve had the Brothers Robinson play for us. But now I can say it.
The Black Crowes are playing Blues and Brews!
The band’s sibling co-founders, singer and songwriter, Chris, and guitarist/songwriter Rich, have happily mended fences after too many damned years waging a spat to end all spats. But, as their website’s About page kicks off, “The Black Crowes are leaving the bullshit in the past.” What that means for us is with last year’s Happiness Bastards album and constant touring since — not to mention the live Shake Yer Money-maker tour that heralded the start of the rock world’s most anticipated peace pact — we have an invigorated band that has picked up where it left off. Even better, I daresay.
To seem them live is to remember what a real rock and roll band can do to your brain, body and soul. For some of us it’s like going to church. A church that smells like nag champa and Colorado legal, that is adorned in velvet and hemp, that delivers a remedy for whatever’s ailing you. Every. Time. The last time the Crowes played here, there was a cold mountain rain falling from the low clouds. The weather dissuaded exactly no one. After a few raucous songs, Chris called out, “You mountain people are crazy!”
Yeah we are. And we’ve been waiting for you, right here, in the rain (or snow or cold), ever since.
I did tell Timmy again, though. Even though he shuffled off his mortal coil several years ago, I talk to him all the time. I told him The Black Crowes were coming to Telluride.
Sorry Gumby.