Telluride Bluegrass 2025: Musical Bliss at 8,700 Feet

It’s not completely unwarranted to be curious as to why so much emphasis is expended on certain events like the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado. It’s because these events don’t just entertain revelers on a local or regional level. They work as incubators for talent, launching pads for stars, and the implications of what transpires both on and off the stage are often momentous and international in scope.

During the 52nd annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2025, the folk supergroup “I’m With Her” featuring Sarah Jarosz, Sarah Watkins, and Aoife O’Donovan made their return after first forming at the festival 11 years ago. The Punch Brothers are pretty much a perennial performer at this point after also first forming in the wee hours of a Telluride jam session. The ensemble’s newest member, Brittany Haas, became 2025’s most collaborative performer, sitting in on numerous sets.

Greensky Bluegrass made their 15th appearance at the festival this year. Their first was when they played their way on stage as band contest winners, proving these kinds of contests can matter. For Ken Pomeroy, her career is just getting started, and her debut appearance to Telluride could be like a springboard. For Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms who’ve been stalwarts of the West Coast traditional country and old-time scene for decades, finally getting to perform on the Telluride stage was sweet validation.

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are one of the most pure expressions of music as you will find in the natural universe. Caleb Klauder is like the West Coast’s version of Hank Williams—a timeless songwriter with a timeless voice and disposition. And Reeb is like a simple and sweet country song incarnate.

Songwriter Olive Klug received a massive standing ovation for their set. DUG had many buzzing over the weekend. But of all the debut and opening acts, it’s probably Birmingham, Alabama’s Mountain Grass Unit who will receive the biggest goosing post Telluride after performing the pre-grass show Wednesday evening, then an early set on the main stage Thursday, and then drawing perhaps the largest crowd at the free Elks Park stage on Friday ever assembled. A simple 20 second clip of lead guitarist Luke Black posted on social media is still going viral as we speak.

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Soul revivalists Lake Street Dive don’t play bluegrass or anything resembling it. Lead singer Rachael Price explained that when they were coming up, they weren’t really being accepted anywhere … except at bluegrass festivals like Telluride, which they played for their fourth time in 2025. They did perform their song “Party On The Roof” with Sarah Jarosz, Brittany Haas, and Wes Corbitt in a bluegrass style in tribute to the fans that have supported them from the beginning.

Though the heart of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival is most certainly bluegrass, it’s how the fest is willing to range beyond bluegrass to all forms of roots music that makes it so impactful and resonant. Landmark sets by Jason Isbell (read review), Zach Top (read review), and the official unveiling of the Southern rock supergroup Toy Factory Project (read review) are the reason that Telluride Bluegrass performances don’t just stay in Telluride, or in bluegrass.

There’s always some total wildcards on the lineup as well, like the funky Thee Sacred Souls out of San Diego who certainly put on an energetic show, though it didn’t really feel like anything you hadn’t seen or heard before. The Rebirth Brass Band was the perfect wildcard of authentic New Orleans street jazz, and was smart to schedule during the annual Telluride Kid’s Parade that had a Mardi Gras theme. The air is a little thinner at 8,700 feet, especially for a brass band. But they huffed and puffed, and made for a hell of a good time.

Perhaps the most paradoxical and enthralling performance of the entire week came via Australia’s Kasey Chambers. From her surprising ’90s pop hits to her hardcore traditional country tearjerkers, you never knew what Chambers would spring on you next, fully embracing her crazy Australian self. “When they asked me to play again, a little wee came out,” Chambers declared from the stage—one of the many hilarious moments she delivered.

But the mood went from humorous to serious and inspired when Kasey picked up a banjo, and did an emotionally-roiling rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” which for some will go down as one of the biggest moments of the entire 2025 festival.

Yet this is still a bluegrass festival first and foremost. The Travelin’ McCroury’s are always fan favorites, especially when they’re so well versed, cater they’re sent to the audience. Something tells me they don’t play three Grateful Dead Covers when performing in South Carolina. New fiddle player Christian Ward definitely was able to fill the shoes of the recently departed Jason Carter who left to start a solo career.

And capping it all off was the recently reunited Alison Krauss and Union Station, who proved why they were worthy of being featured as the grand finale. Dan Tyminski hasn’t joined the reunited lineup, but he played his own set with his new band earlier in the week. Russell Moore is now the other major vocalist with Alison Krauss. They were also joined by Stuart Duncan on fiddle who was there performing in the Telluride House Band that also included Union Station’s Jerry Douglas.

Jerry Douglas mentioned it was his 41st or 42nd appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. He couldn’t remember which one. But it kind of doesn’t matter, because nobody will beat the appearances of Telluride’s “King” Sam Bush, who’s been at every festival except the very first one.

Alison Krauss graced the festival with her angelic voice, and was surprisingly funny throughout the set. “I first played this Festival when I was 17. Now I’m 100,” she said. The festival concluded with Alison and Union Station singing mostly acapella under a street lamp in intimate and awe-inspiring moments.

And of course, one of the biggest highlights of any Telluride Bluegrass Festival is the incredible vistas the town offers, the unparalleled views from the stage that inspire the performers and results in Landmark sets, and in 2025 unlike the last few years, not a drop of rain fell, and sunshine bathed Telluride’s Town Park.

Surprisingly, Telluride did not sell out this year. So even though it’s not cheap or easy to get to, it’s not impossible to gain access. It’s also perhaps one of the most kid friendly music festivals in existence, while both young and old can choose their own Telluride Bluegrass adventure to make lifetimes worth of memories.

Someday well in the future, all of the performers at the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, along with all the patrons and personnel will all have passed on. But the music, moments, and more of 2025 will forever live on in the legacy of one of the world’s most premier roots festivals, if not the preeminent one as people continue to gather to impress human fingers on wood and wire, and regale each other in song weel into the future. It’s musical bliss at 8,700 feet.

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All photos and media by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos. Apologies to any artist or band not mentioned or pictured. For more video/photos from Telluride and other live events, follow Saving Country Music on Instagram.

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…and yes, noted Telluride seasonal resident Oprah Winfrey made an appearance in the audience at one point.

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