Telluride
Tour 2026
Voodoo Orchestra · La Onda Caribeña
AUGUST 6–10 · ARTIST GUIDE
Welcome to Telluride
"Great music deserves great places."
There are music festivals, and then there is Telluride. Tucked into a spectacular box canyon high in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, it's one of America's most beloved festival destinations — where world-class musicians and music lovers gather each summer for a weekend of unforgettable performances surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
For Soundhouse, this tour is about more than performing. It's a chance to experience music in one of its purest forms — live, outdoors, in front of an audience that genuinely loves great musicianship. Whether you're on the Main Stage, entertaining guests at Hotel Madeline, or leading the parade as the Hooligans Brass Band, remember that every performance represents not only you, but your fellow Artists and the entire Soundhouse community. Let's make it unforgettable.
The Soundhouse philosophy
Why we tour
The world is our stage. Rehearsals develop musicianship and performances build confidence — but travel challenges our Artists in ways that simply aren't possible at home. When Artists step into a new place, navigate unfamiliar surroundings, and represent their community on a new stage, they develop adaptability, professionalism, independence, cultural awareness, teamwork, and leadership. Music simply becomes the passport that opens those doors.
Steal this idea
Notice how experienced performers recover gracefully from mistakes. Audiences rarely remember the mistake — they remember the confidence.
The story
About the festival
Since 1977, the Telluride Jazz Festival has drawn the world's finest musicians to this remote corner of the San Juans — Grammy-winning legends, boundary-pushing innovators, rare super-groups, and some of the country's best young bands sharing the same Town Park stage. Its reputation isn't built on size; it's built on setting and spirit. Soundhouse big bands have performed here almost every year for nearly two decades — so you're not just attending a festival, you're carrying a Soundhouse tradition forward.
- A historic Victorian mining town founded in the late 1800s
- Population around 2,500
- Elevation 8,750 feet, ringed by 13,000–14,000-foot peaks
- Home to world-famous music festivals all summer long
- Consistently ranked among America's most beautiful mountain towns
Five days, one page
Schedule at a glance
| Day & date | Focus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Thu · Aug 6 | Travel & Opening Concert | Charter bus to Telluride · check in at Bear Creek Lodge & Mountain Lodge · Opening Concert at Hotel Madeline, 5:00–7:00 PM (both bands) |
| Fri · Aug 7 | Jazz Festival Day #1 | Voodoo Orchestra on the Town Park Main Stage, 2:00–2:50 PM · festival all day |
| Sat · Aug 8 | Parade & Jazz Festival Day #2 | Second Line Parade as the Hooligans Brass Band from Elks Park, 12:00 PM · festival in Town Park |
| Sun · Aug 9 | Mountain Village | Telluride All Star Combo at Hotel Madeline, 10:00 AM · La Onda Caribeña, 11:30 AM · end-of-tour party, 6:00 PM |
| Mon · Aug 10 | Journey Home | Load out, depart Telluride, arrive back at Soundhouse in the evening |
Call times
Plan on a call time 90 minutes before every performance for load-in, setup, and soundcheck.
Who's leading the trip
Tour staff
Tour Director
Damon Morreale
Soundhouse Staff
Caleb Chapman
Tommie Chapman
Support Staff
Brandalee Streeter
Cameron Parker
Kristine Parker
Day by day
The itinerary
Months of preparation lead to this: both bands travel to the San Juan Mountains and open the festival weekend up in Mountain Village.
The marquee day: Voodoo Orchestra takes the Town Park Main Stage in the heart of the festival's lineup, then the group enjoys world-class music all afternoon and evening.
Sharing the bill
Voodoo's afternoon slot sits right in the middle of the Friday lineup, with the full canyon as a backdrop and Grammy-winning artists on the same stage the same day. It doesn't get much bigger than this.
Both bands join forces as the Hooligans Brass Band for the festival's Second Line Parade down Main Street, then take in a stacked afternoon of music.
One band for the parade
For the Second Line, Voodoo Orchestra and La Onda Caribeña combine into a single group — the Hooligans Brass Band. A New Orleans-style Second Line is a moving performance where the band and the crowd become one parade through the streets. Bring energy, stay tight, and represent Soundhouse the whole route.
Five days in the San Juan Mountains — two stages, a Main Street parade, and a hundred moments in between that no rehearsal room could ever teach.
Who's playing this year
Sharing the stage
Friday, Aug 7 · Town Park Main Stage
For three decades, Philadelphia's Disco Biscuits have rewritten the rulebook of live music — pioneers of "trance-fusion" who fuse jam-band improvisation with pulsing electronic dance music. Tonight's rare "Powered Down" set strips the electronics away for a raw, acoustic-leaning performance. Listen for the way they stretch a single idea into long, hypnotic build-ups, gliding from one section to the next without ever fully stopping.
Voodoo Orchestra
That's you · 2:00 PMThis is the big one. Soundhouse takes the Town Park Main Stage right in the heart of Friday's lineup — the same stage, the same day, as Grammy winners and national touring acts. Lock in, play with intention, and soak up every second: the whole canyon is listening.
Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Blues for Allah at 50A Grammy-winning super-producer behind the Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt — and president of Blue Note Records — assembles an all-star Detroit ensemble for a once-in-a-lifetime set celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead's Blues for Allah. Listen for how a legendary producer's ear shapes every moment, with each musician serving the song.
Endea Owens & the Cookout
A Juilliard-trained powerhouse bassist out of Detroit — you've seen her on the Late Show house band — Endea turns every performance into a joyful, foot-stomping block party built on groove and community. Listen for how the bass can drive an entire band, locking the pocket while lifting everyone around it.
Also on Friday: DTF (Deitch, Teitel, Fribush), a groove trio featuring Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch, and the University of Colorado Thompson Jazz Combo.
Listen for
How rhythm-section players create space instead of filling every beat. The best grooves are as much about what's left out as what's played.
Saturday, Aug 8 · Town Park Main Stage
Few bands on earth are as tight as Lettuce. Forged at Berklee and road-tested over three decades, this funk juggernaut has earned a dance-till-the-encore following on the strength of impossibly deep grooves. Tonight they honor the 100th birthday of Miles Davis through their own funk lens. Listen for how a modern funk band reinvents a jazz icon — re-grooving the music and making it unmistakably their own.
Robert Randolph
Raised on pedal steel in the sacred-steel gospel tradition, Robert Randolph fronts one of the most electrifying live acts in American roots music — part church revival, part rock show, part dance party. Listen for the pedal steel wailing like a lead guitar and singing like a human voice, all at once.
Adrian Quesada's Trio Asesino
A Grammy-winning guitarist and producer — the creative force behind Black Pumas and Grupo Fantasma — Adrian Quesada deals in smoky, psychedelic Latin soul dripping with vintage tone. Listen for fuzzed-out, cinematic guitar riding hypnotic Latin grooves that feel like the soundtrack to a lost '70s film.
Theo Croker
A visionary trumpeter and grandson of jazz legend Doc Cheatham, Theo Croker bridges deep jazz tradition and the pulse of hip-hop, soul, and R&B. Listen for shimmering modern textures and head-nodding grooves layered over rich harmonic roots — jazz made for right now.
Also on Saturday: the Telluride Student All-Stars and the Julian "J3PO" Pollack Trio round out the day.
Watch for
How often musicians make eye contact right before a transition. Great ensembles talk constantly — without saying a word.
Saturday's main event
The Second Line Parade
One of the highlights of our Telluride tour is leading the Second Line Parade down Main Street to the festival grounds. This New Orleans tradition is all about celebrating music, community, and joy — as we make our way through town, we'll be playing, dancing, and inviting the crowd to join the celebration behind us.
Dress the part
Dress in festive Mardi Gras style — your chance to be creative and have fun. Think:
- Colorful hats or fascinators
- Feather boas
- Sequins and glitter
- Bright, fun accessories
- Mardi Gras beads
- Masks
- Decorated umbrellas
You don't need an elaborate costume — just add a little Mardi Gras flair. The more colorful and festive, the better.
The most important thing
Bring the energy
Bring your biggest smile, lots of energy, and a willingness to have fun. As the group leading the parade, we set the tone for everyone who joins in — a chance to create unforgettable memories while sharing the joy of live music with hundreds of festival-goers.
Festival survival guide
The mountain
Expect the altitude
Even in great shape, you'll notice 8,750 feet — shortness of breath, quicker fatigue, mild headaches, and faster dehydration are normal the first day or two. Drink lots of water, go easy on caffeine and energy drinks, eat regular meals, don't push yourself the first day, and tell a staff member if you feel dizzy or sick.
The sun is intense
Higher elevation means much stronger UV — it's easy to burn even when the air feels cool. Bring sunscreen SPF 30+, sunglasses, a hat, and lip balm with SPF.
Dress in layers
Weather changes fast: a cool morning, warm afternoon, a 3 PM thunderstorm, and a chilly evening in one day. Temps run low 40s overnight to low 70s midday and can drop 20°+ after sunset.
Stay hydrated · watch for wildlife
The air is very dry, so carry a water bottle and drink throughout the day. You may spot deer, marmots, foxes, hawks, and the occasional elk — never feed wildlife, and always give animals plenty of space.
The town
The gondola is your commute
Our condos in Mountain Village sit across the ridge from the festival and downtown, so the free gondola is how we get everywhere — every trip to Town Park or Main Street runs through it. The ride is about 12 minutes and completely free, no ticket needed, running daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight (later on festival Friday and Saturday). Build it into your timing, expect longer lines on festival days, and always ride with your group.
A walkable town
Downtown Telluride is small — coffee shops, ice cream, pizza, boutiques, and art galleries are all a few minutes apart on foot.
Festival vibes
Outdoor performances all day in Town Park, lawn seating, friendly audiences, world-class musicians — a relaxed, family-friendly scene that runs rain or shine.
Food & photos
Telluride has great restaurants but it's a small mountain town — expect longer waits and higher prices on festival weekends, so we'll lean on the condo kitchens and grocery runs. It's also one of the most photographed places in Colorado: don't miss Main Street, the waterfall at the end of the valley, Town Park, Mountain Village from the gondola, and sunset over the peaks.
Come prepared
Packing list
Pack light — space on the bus is limited. Tap to check items off as you go.
Performance
Clothing (August)
Health & personal
Tech & gear
Money
Optional but smart
Represent Soundhouse
Code of conduct
During the tour
- Always stay in groups of four or more.
- Never go anywhere alone (see rule #1!).
- Any problem at all — homesick, sick, anything — talk to Mr. Chapman.
- Alcohol, tobacco, or drugs are absolutely prohibited. Zero tolerance; any issue means immediate dismissal.
- You represent our band, organization, and state at all times.
At the condo
- Leave rooms clean and orderly — staff will check regularly.
- Report any damage immediately to Mr. Chapman or staff.
- Other guests share the building — no running, loud music, or loud parties.
- Male and female Artists in the same room only with the door open. At curfew, everyone is in their own room; stock up beforehand.
While traveling
- Music on headphones only.
- Baggage max: one suitcase, one carry-on, and your instrument.
- Bring your own meds (aspirin, carsick meds, etc.).
- Keep conversation at a normal level.
Performances
- Unload your own instrument and assigned equipment.
- After every show, double-check that all gear is packed. If everyone helps, load-out is fast.
No exceptions · Curfew & room rules
Any violation of curfew or being in the wrong room will result in immediate termination of your tour, and you will be sent home at the earliest opportunity.
See you in
the canyon
Telluride isn't unforgettable because of its mountains, or even its festival. It's unforgettable because of what happens when remarkable music, remarkable people, and a remarkable place come together. Many musicians dream of playing festivals like this. This week, you're one of them.
Perform with confidence. Listen with curiosity. Represent Soundhouse with professionalism. Most of all, enjoy every moment — because before you know it, these five days will become stories you'll be telling for years.