Ear to the ground

“Sorry man, I just wiped out.”

-The comments of a staggering man after he spilled two 12-packs of canned beer into the intersection of College Drive and Second Avenue

A velvet visit

One of rock’s greatest living icons is blowing through the Four Corners region later this summer. Lou Reed will headline the opening of the 13th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival on Fri., Sept. 15.

One of the most enigmatic and greatest rock visionaries of all time, Lou Reed has kept the attention of the music world for more than 40 years. From his time as principal lead singer and songwriter of the legendary group Velvet Underground to his recordings as a solo artist, Reed has released a string of immortal classics. They include “Sweet Jane,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Heroin,” “Sister Ray,” “Rock & Roll,” “Venus in Furs,” “Lisa Says” and others. As an added bonus, Reed’s Blue & Brews performance is one of only five dates he has planned for the United States in 2006.  

For those with aspirations of spending three days in the Telluride Town Park, the rest of the lineup is looking pretty solid. Howard Tate and Watermelon Slim have been added to the main stage Sat., Sept. 16. Tate’s songs have been covered by everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin to Ry Cooder and B.B. King. Watermelon Slim is the only known Vietnam War soldier to have recorded a protest record.

Sun., Sept. 17, brings Joe Louis Walker and Tinsley Ellis, two artists pushing the envelope on contemporary blues. Also on tap for the weekend are the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bruce Hornsby, John Mayer and Tab Benoit, among many others.

Getting folksy

For Durangoans less inclined to take a walk on the wild side, tickets for the 11th annual Four Corners Folk Festival also went on sale this week. The festival takes place from Sept. 1-3 on Reservoir Hill in Pagosa Springs.

Some of this year’s featured performers are: Delbert McClinton, Dar Williams, the Drew Emmitt Ensemble, the Waybacks, Eddie From Ohio, the Biscuit Burners and more. For more information, pay a visit to www.folkwest.com.