photos by David Halterman

The 14th annual Bluegrass Meltdown, what may arguably be Durangos best-kept secret in live entertainment, flowed into local venues, coffee shops, hotels and street corners last weekend with virtually nonstop music throughout the three-day event. Four venues within blocks of each other offered a walking smorgasbord of performers ranging from growing local and statewide bands, to critically acclaimed Grammy-award winning musicians. Whether at Saturday nights highly anticipated Superjam at the Durango Arts Center, the late night pickin of Waiting for Trial at Carvers, or the impromptu acoustic circles in the Strater lobby, crowds could be found and seats could not, as audiences stood shoulder to shoulder to turn an ear to the harmony of strings. These photographs are a tribute to the memory of Bluegrass Meltdown friend and contributor Linda Paulmeno.