dfnw membership sucks

Archtop Eddy

Quote -- I'm thrilled to see DF come to my state, but why have it 5+ hours from the bulk of the population of Colorado? -- End Quote.

I think I can shed a little light on this.

Bottom-line: Djangofest Colorado is in Crested Butte because Crested Butte is paying the bills.

It costs big bucks to put on a Djangofest, and in this case Crested Butte has come up with the funds -- nobody else has.

Nick realizes it would be more inviting if it was on the Front Range--we discussed this. It would have also made it more viable for the many fine GJ bands in the Denver/Boulder area to attend and draw their fans.

However, Crested Butte isn't paying the big bucks to have the DF in Boulder, Denver, Castle Rock or the Springs (all potentially good front-range Colorado locations).

The trick will be to build a buzz where it's at -- in Crested Butte, work up a viable showing, and hopefully have options in future years to move it to a front-range location. With this said, Crested Butte is a beautiful location, worth the effort to visit, and clearly worth a tip of our hats for their willingness to take a chance on a Djangofest in Colorado.

djangology

While I certainly think its nice that Crested Butte gives you a good deal on the festival, I think that having the festival nearer to the city would enable the festival to grow far bigger ultimately. Just a thought.

Archtop Eddy

I think that having the festival nearer to the city would enable the festival to grow far bigger ultimately. Just a thought.

I agree -- and I hope someday that will be the case. However, for now it's baby-step time, and if Crested Butte wasn't paying for the festival, there wouldn't be a DF in Colorado at all. Also, remember, some folks argued when the DFNW started at Whidbey Island, it too was inconvenient. And while perhaps not as out of the way as Crested Butte, I think ultimately it was the beauty of Whidbey Island and Langley that won us over. Crested Butte has the same sort of the natural beauty. Ski resorts in Colorado all look for ways to draw people in the summer, and some of our biggest annual concert events happen at far away resort areas such as Telluride (even more remote than Crested Butte). It's hard to say at this point, but Djangofest Crested Butte may too become one of these "hard to reach but worth the effort" Colorado concert events. Only time will tell.

Klezmorim

Archtop Eddy wrote:

...some of our biggest annual concert events happen at far away resort areas such as Telluride (even more remote than Crested Butte). It's hard to say at this point, but Djangofest Crested Butte may too become one of these "hard to reach but worth the effort" Colorado concert events. Only time will tell.

Thanks, AE, for putting some perspective on this "distance-djamming" discussion.

For those of us "recovering Bluegrassers," the name "Telluride" at one time had the same draw as "Mecca" or "Jerusalem." Many saved up for a couple years to attend. And Telluride's festival is still going strong after *35* years.

May DFCo do as well!

A.K. Kibben

Having lived in Colorado in the 70's and having performed with many of the artist that have performed at Telluride, I can tell you it is a BlueGrass Woodstock. Last attended in '91... First attendence in '74 the year following the first attempt that was canceled...
My hat's off to AE and whomever else involved...
"Crusty Butt" is beautiful!!!
I could be the fledgling start of a Great GJ Festival!
If I ride my motorcycle up, I hope to find a loaner guitar...
You know, save on gas and have a blast!
Hint, Hint!!!

A.K.

A.K. Kibben

"Sweet Lunacy"
History of Boulder Rock!
Seen it Ho Dad's!!!
Colorado mecca of fine musical talent...
I think AE might remember the "Astronauts"
No?
I'll call Rich Farfield, and he and AE can surf away!!!

djadam

Eddie, thanks for the explanation - that makes a lot of sense. I hope in the future it can be a little more accessible though. The money spent on gas could easily go to higher ticket prices to cover a closer location.

It's interesting that you bring up Telluride. There are some clear parallels between bluegrass and GJ, except perhaps for the massive explosion in popularity that bluegrass has enjoyed. That popularity gets people to Telluride. But until that happens for GJ (yeah, right!), I'd like to see our events more accessible in order to encourage newcomers and people who aren't as ravenous as bluegrass fans.

Let's face it, GJ will never* reach the popularity which bluegrass currently enjoys here in the states, but that doesn't mean there isn't a ton of room for growth. Considering the similarities in acoustic instrumentation, you'd think we could get some more converts right out of that community. Heck, I wouldn't mind seeing the GJ event organizers taking a page from the Planet Bluegrass book and using some less-than-pure swing to draw in some folks. Grisman at a swing fest? I'm sure some purists are groaning, but the guy made some sweet music with Grappelli.

*Never say never? I said it, so please let me be proved wrong in my lifetime!!

Archtop Eddy

I'm glad if I was able to help shed some light on the "why Crested Butte?" question; and I hope after all is said and done, folks from Boulder and Denver will make the drive to Crested Butte for the DF Colo.

This festival needs all our support.

If fellow-Coloradans haven't been able to make it to Seattle, I believe this will be a great substitute experience. And this goes to folks in all the western states.

I've been to six out seven DFNW; each has been different and it's been exciting to see bigger acts each year come to the festival. However, I also remember what an incredible gas it was to attend the first few Djangofests at Langley.

At first, the folks there didn't have any idea who all these crazed guitar players were and it was a real thrill to turn-on the locals to our special interest in Django music. It was great to be able to easily mix with the artists -- where just by the fact that you made the effort to be there you were equal to all -- at least in your enthusiasm if not your chops. It was great to learn new things about GJ, to put faces with names, to jam on tunes with others who found it as thrilling as you did. In the end, you made friends that will last a lifetime because you shared this experience together. You were there when it began and you you were an instrumental part in making it happen.

I suspect this is why folks (many folks) drive each year from Portland Oregon to be a part of the Djangofest in Langley. They have a great GJ scene in their own backyard -- but it's at Djangofest where they meet everyone from around the region, around the States, and now even from around the world. Just for grins, I checked it out on Google maps; the drive from Denver to Crested Butte is 4 hours and 25 minutes -- a mere 20 minute longer than the 4 hours and five minute drive Portlanders have been making each year to get to DFNW.

For years Colorado has suffered from artists flying over our beautiful mountains, going from east coast to west coast and back and not landing here to perform for us. We said for years, we should have a Djangofest in Colorado, and now the artists are coming to our mountains and Crested Butte has put up the money. It may not be exactly where we'd like it, but without our support, next time, it may not be here at all.

So it's Crested Butte or bust! See ya'll there.

A.E.

gipsygirl

df colorado yea its good to have a fest in colorado and if crested butte is paying thats understandable to have it there(from the $ point of view) for the organizers. but its very out of the way and pricey for many of us.(and it doesn't matter where the other fest are or not) i think the fest will be for vacationeers and skiers ect.. no guitar players i know are going there. maybe us regular fest goers should skip this one and maybe next time the fest will be on the range where everything is a bit more accessible and accommodations are less expensive. there are some other great locations available and great groups in colorado. the organizers should know that alot of gj players are on tight budgets, it would be cheaper for me to attend a fest in colorado, but not at expensive touristy crested butte. maybe next year if its some where else.

Archtop Eddy

Thanks for hearing me out, and I'm sorry I won't be seeing you at Crested Butte. Like you said, it's not for everyone given location, cost , etc. Personally, I know of guitarists who are planning to attend -- it's just that I'd like to see more! Maybe next year it will be at a location better suited for folks who can't attend Crested Butte this year. We'll just have to wait and see. Keep jamming until then my friend.