Two Musical Acts Take Center Stage for the Free FirstGrass Concert

Folky Americana duo Freddy & Francine and the hilarious GrassHipPop family Bluegrass band The Cleverlys kick-off the 44th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Mountain Village’s Sunset Plaza for the Eighth Annual FirstGrass Concert Wednesday, June 14. This free show runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is made possible by the Town of Mountain Village and Planet Bluegrass. Telluride Bluegrass Festival director Craig Ferguson notes The Cleverlys, who mix traditional bluegrass with humor, are likely to make an impression on the festival crowd. Ferguson also speaks highly of Freddy & Francine, a folky Americana duo that “has a soul sense to them.” After the show, stick around for the 16th Annual Bluegrass Kickoff Party as Yonder Mountain String Band plays to a sold-out crowd at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the show beginning at 9 p.m.; all ages welcomed. For those without a ticket, take advantage of the culinary options in Mountain Village. For more information on the festival, including tickets, visit bluegrass.com. FESTIVAL TRANSPORTATION & PARKING The towns of Mountain Village and Telluride are connected by a three-stage gondola system starting at Town Hall Plaza in Mountain Village and ending in Telluride at Oak Street Plaza. It takes about 13 minutes to get from one town to the other. During the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, gondola operating hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Expect long lines during peak times. For those needing a ride to their vehicle parked on town roadways, the Planet Bluegrass Bus will pick up festivarians at Town Hall Plaza and drop off passengers near their vehicle. The bus will run Thursday through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. To assist with locating one’s vehicle, signs denoting specific parking zones – A through G – will be erected. Vehicles left on Mountain Village roadways after 12 p.m. Monday, June 19 will be towed at the owner’s expense. In addition, Dial-A-Ride will remain open until 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Since the Town of Mountain Village becomes inundated with parked vehicles during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the town has set aside specific parking spaces for its residents and businesses from Wednesday, June 14 through Sunday, June 18. Mountain Village residents who have procured a parking permit can park in the Town Hall Plaza Parking lot. Twenty-six spaces located along the rock wall are designated for permit holders and are available on a first-come, first-served basis; overnight parking is not allowed. Resident parking permits are also valid in the North Village Center lot; overnight parking is not allowed. Individuals and festivarians without parking permits must park their vehicles where directed by parking staff once the Gondola Parking Garage is full. The North Village Center pay-to-park surface lot is another parking option though overnight parking is not allowed. Short-term parking will be available for those doing business in Mountain Village; times will be enforced. Alternatively, for those parking, shopping, dining or recreating in Mountain Village, we encourage the utilization of Heritage Parking Garage, located off Mountain Village Boulevard across from Hotel Madeline. Parking is $2 for each hour and $35 maximum in a 24-hour period. COMMON CONSUMPTION AREA For the FirstGrass Concert, the Common Consumption Area is in effect. The Common Consumption Area will allow people to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating licensed establishments attached to the Common Consumption Area and move freely with beverages within the defined boundary of the concert area. Only alcohol from the participating establishments is permitted in the Common Consumption area.