When Blues & Brews Came After 9/11

September 12, 2022

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A scenic view of a town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. The slopes are covered with yellow autumn trees under a clear blue sky, with gray rocky peaks in the background.

by Matt Hoisch

Picture by Julia Caulfield

Over two decades ago, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 shook the world. For many, so much of life suddenly felt unstable and uncertain. In Telluride, the Blues & Brews Festival was preparing for their 8th annual celebration of beer and music when the Twin Towers fell on a Tuesday. The festival was scheduled to begin that Friday. The organizers had to decide what to do. With the 21st anniversary of 9/11 just behind us and the 28th annual Blues & Brews festival around the corner, KOTO’s Matt Hoisch brings us this piece incorporating several interviews about that festival and archival records from the 2001 Blues & Brews.

A special thanks to G Douglas Seitsinger who produced the 2001 KOTO Blues & Brews broadcast and Jennifer Thurston who produced a 2002 retrospective of the festival which provided all the archival interviews and performances for this piece.

Featured Songs:

“Haltegriff” by F.S. Blumm

“Sesam” by F.S. Blumm

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