Telluride Blues & Brews Festival To Include Pre-Fest And Weekend Activities

The 23rd TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL will once again take over the majestic town of Telluride, Colorado in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Set for September 16-18, the annual event offers a wide variety of activities beyond those inside the festival grounds to create a truly unique mountain weekend experience. These supplemental events, including free yoga sessions, a 5K race fundraiser, an art gallery, pre-festival parties, and a film screening fundraiser, all join together to make this so much more than just any other music or beer festival.

Beyond the musical entertainment, the TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL elevates the blues and beer vanguard to a new level once again. The festival uncorks an equally impressive and diverse slate of 56 microbreweries boasting over 170 styles of craft beer and cider. This year's official beer partner Sierra Nevada Brewing Co will also be on site with a bevy of favorites for tasting, trying, and enjoying.

Beer lovers will enjoy both the Grand Tasting and the House of Brews:

Grand Tasting: Equal to the musical line-up is the comprehensive list of beer styles--from ales and IPAs to ciders, stouts and more, the 2016 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Grand Tasting offers more than 170 selections from 56 microbreweries. The Grand Tasting is set forSaturday, September 17 from 12:00-3:00 PM inside Telluride Town Park. Additional details can be found here:http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/grand-tasting-beer-styles

The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival House of Brews(http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/2016-house-brews) is the festival source for craft refreshment all weekend longfeaturing six premium craft beers and one hard cider. These unique and delicious beverages, all hand-selected by the festival staff,can all be sampled in the House of Brews, located on the north side of the festival grounds, adjacent to the festival store and main entrance.

Additional weekend activities include free Blues & Brews Yoga Sessions, Sunset Blues Concert, Mitch Woods' Club 88, an Art Gallery and free music at Blues for Breakfast:

Indulge in the free Blues & Brews Yoga Sessions(http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/blues-yoga-sessions), guided by instructors of the Telluride Yoga Festival in Telluride's Elks Park. This is an opportunity to unplug with a fluid yoga flow, activating breath practice, liberating movement and playful exercises. Guests of all skill levels are welcome to join on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 starting at 10:00 AM.

Live music kicks off the festival on Thursday, September 15 at 5:00 PM with the free Sunset Blues Concert(http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/telluride-sunset-blues-concert) at Mountain Village's Sunset Plaza. Featuring Con Brio and Israel Nash, Sunset Plaza is just a short, beautiful gondola ride up the mountain from the town of Telluride. Both 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.

After the late-night juke joints, set out for Mitch Woods' Club 88 (http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/mitch-woods-club-88) FREE jam session Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17 at 11:30 PM at Arroyo Wine Bar & Gallery(located at 220 E Colorado Ave). As host of the after-hours Piano Bar on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise for 12 years, the extraordinary boogie-woogie/jump blues piano master Mitch Woods has created a beloved tradition. Now, Mitch brings his Club 88 to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival for the same late night party. All musicians are invited.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival's Art Gallery will be held atArroyo Wine Bar & Gallery, located at 220 East Colorado Ave. Free and open to the public, the gallery features artwork from renowned Colorado performance painter Scramble Campbell, as well as photographers Barry Brecheisen, Dino Perrucci andJason Squires. The gallery also hosts original paintings from past festival poster art. Some artwork will be available for sale. The gallery will be open daily for the festival weekend from Thursdayto Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to close.

Blues for Breakfast (http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/blues-breakfast-1) offers a nice warm-up to a dynamic day full of music. Held at the intimate Elks Lodge (located at 472 West Pacific Avenue), the event features an assortment of breakfast as the first official chords of the day are struck. Admission to the event is free with breakfast including Telluride's "world famous" black bean sauté fromOak...The New Fat Alley and drinks available for purchase. Starting at 9:00 AM on both Saturday and Sunday of the festival weekend, Saturday morning will include the Telluride Blues Challenge Finals, showcasing six talented solo blues artists battling for the ultimate prize--the opportunity to play the Town Park Stage and more. Read more about the Telluride Blues Challenge here. Sunday's entertainment is led by A.J. Fullerton, a talented, young artist that has earned several noteworthy accolades. Fullerton's performance will be followed by a set from the runner-up of the Telluride Blues Challenge.

In addition, those looking to add some physical activity can participate in the Blisters & Brews 5K Fundraiser Race, while music and movie lovers can catch a special screening of "Song of the South: Duane Allman & The Rise of the Allman Brothers Band":

The Blisters & Brews 5K Fundraiser Race on Saturday, September 17 at 8:30 AM provides runners with a safe, beautiful way to view the town. The 5k Race, sponsored byBootDoctors™ Paragon Outdoors, will raise money for the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program in remembrance of dear festival friendFelix Snow. The race route climbs up the river trail giving racers the opportunity to take in the beauty of the Colorado's tallest waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls, on the way up and a gentle decline for the way back down. More information can be found here.

The pre-festival activities officially launch Wednesday, September 14 with the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival's film screening of "Song of the South: Duane Allman & The Rise of the Allman Brothers Band" at the historic Sheridan Opera House, presented by KOTO FM's DJ Jimmy Jazz and Telluride Blues Society. A pre-film VIP Reception Party will include live music, cash bar, complimentary food and raffle ticket. All proceeds from the screening and pre-film VIP Reception will be donated to the San Miguel Resource Center (SMRC), a local non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence. Details about the VIP reception and screening can be found here: http://www.tellurideblues.com/news/song-south-duane-allman-rise-allman-brothers-band-fundraiser-san-miguel-resource-center

The musical line-up for the annual TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL features an eclectic mix of live blues, funk, indie, rock, jam band, gospel and soul performances. Joe Walsh andJason Isbell lead the Friday bill, with Gary Clark, Jr. and Anders Osborne set to perform on Saturday, and The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito and Vintage Trouble closing out the festival on Sunday. Festival goers can kick off the weekend's festivities with a few pre-fest shows in Mountain Village anddowntown Telluride on Thursday. The festival site offers one of America's most breathtaking venues with three days devoted to music, craft beer and unforgettable memories. The town issurrounded by mountains, creating a divine atmosphere nestled in the heart of Colorado where the music can resound at its most powerful.

A variety of ticketing options can be found at the festival'sWebsite.

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