TELLURIDE, Sept. 10, 4:16 p.m. - Here it is, the grand finale to Telluride’s fabulous festival season, with the 14th Annual Blues & Brews Festival about to get underway.

The musical line-up is bigger than ever, with seasoned blues veterans, fantastic funksters and straight-up rock n’ roll.

The three-day blues festival is on the fast track, and in just 14 years has become one of the most respected events of its kind.

“We feel very fortunate,” said Executive Director and festival founder Steve Gumble.

“There’s a lot of competition, with so many festivals now,” Gumble added. He  boasted that this year’s musical lineup is going to be stellar, however, citing the return of The Black Crowes, plus appearances by Los Lonely Boys and Keb’ Mo’, among others.

“We’re very excited to be able to bring in the Radiators with Bonerama this year. Basically, we can recreate the Earth vs. The Radiators record on stage. That’s one of my favorite albums, and with both bands here, it’s possible. Kind of old school, in a new format,” he explained.

An avid music aficionado, Gumble often seeks out the best in new talent, and this year is no exception. “I think Joe Bonamassa is going to blow people away,” he exclaimed. “He’s my secret weapon this year, and is absolutely great.”

Last year, the “secret weapon” was Grace Potter, and Gumble said he’s making an exception to his usual rule: “We’re thrilled that Grace Potter is coming back. You know, we don’t usually book the same acts two years in a row, but she is so phenomenal, I was like, if she wants to play, sure -- let’s have her here again this year.

“Another artist I’m looking forward to is John Mooney, who is fantastic on slide guitar. I’m a big fan of the slide, and we’ll see a lot of that this year,” he added.

The spectacular lineup this year also includes the return of one of the most venerable and long-running bands around, The Radiators, who’re rolling in for another rollicking romp. Bassist Reggie Scanlan said the legendary fishheads are hitting a milestone. “We’re coming up on our 30-year anniversary in January,” he explained. “We’re getting ready to re-release everything in our catalog that we own, and I think we’re gonna’ go into the studio and record two or three new tracks to release with the set.

“It’s amazing that any five people can stay together that long without killin’ each other,” he laughed. “We are all friends and we’re together a lot, we tour all the time. You know, we’re not like the Stones who take five years off and then go on a world tour. This band has been never taken time off. We’re on the road nonstop.”

Throughout their long career, the hard-working Rads have continually pumped out fresh, groovin’ tunes, including their latest CD, Dreamin’ Out Loud, which was released last year.

Scanlan continued: “It’s a project that never ends, and I think it has worked for so long because we let it go where it wants to go. We take an organic approach, and don’t dictate to the music too much. On a practical business level, there’s no point in breaking up. The competition is so crazy out there, it would be nuts to throw it away!”

The Radiators have a couple of sets at different venues this weekend, including the Main Stage on Sunday evening and the sold-out Fais Do Do at the Sheridan Opera House.

“When we do the festival thing, we’ll have the Bonerama horn section. For the juke joint, Bonerama will open for us, although we like to use their tuba player whenever we can,” he laughed. “Anytime we’re in the same town, we jam together. It’s a whole new universe, and you know, it’s pretty massive when we all get on stage.”

Scanlan noted that the band loves coming to Telluride: “I can‘t wait to get back to Telluride. I love that place. Any town where all of the streets lead to a hikin‘ trail, that‘s my kind of place! Y‘all got it made up there!”

The band that has endured thirty years on the road, Hurricane Katrina and an ever-changing music scene plans to keep on pumping out the tunes.

“As long as the fans keep coming to support us, we’ll just keep going indefinitely,” said Scanlan. Indeed, the fans will be out in force this weekend for The Radiators, who will undoubtedly spark it up with their funky New Orleans blend of R&B, blues, jazz, Zydeco, soul, and oh, yeah, a good dose of the blues. Welcome back, guys.

So what about that secret weapon? Not even 30 yet, Joe Bonemassa is already a phenom, a guitar master who began touring with B.B. King at the ripe old age of 12.

“It was rockin’!” exclaimed Bonamassa on working with the ultimate blues legend. “Everything was an adventure, like your first time at Disneyland, and you’re like, wow -- taking pictures of every stupid thing,” he recalled. “Every day was this grand adventure. Playing with B.B. King, that’s a life-altering experience.”

Known for his deliriously fluid style and insane covers, Bonamassa has recently garnered Guitar Player Magazine’s Best Blues Guitarist of the Year Award and released his 7th solo CD, Sloe Gin, which includes deep covers and rocking originals.

Bonamassa explained: “I like to mix it up a bit. ‘Sloe Gin’ is as interesting a cover as you can get. It was written by Bo Ezrin and Michael Kamen for Tim Curry, so you know you’ve got a good cover.” The CD also includes a cover of Bad Company’s “Seagull.” “That was one I felt comfortable singing, and I thought I could pull it off.”

That’s an understatement. Sloe Gin is a triumph that reveals the ever-evolving style of the guitar wizard.

“The last record I did, You and Me, was more raw. This one is more sophisticated. Sloe Gin is part of my core. It’s who I am.”

The prolific guitarist, vocalist and songwriter speaks nearly as fast as he plays, and at a rapid-fire pace explained his restless motivation: “I just want to keep exploring new things. I get bored easily, I think it’s undiagnosed ADD or something,” he joked. “I’m never satisfied with arrangements or recordings. I’m always changing things up. I keep trying to reinvent myself from record to record,” he added.

Joe Bonamassa has also been involved with the “Blues in the Schools” project for many years. Developed by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, the program helps kids learn about the heritage of the blues and the important music in the genre. 

“I like kids,” said Bonamassa. “I think they should know who Muddy Waters is, who B.B. King is,” he added. “I also think kids should know that when they listen to Led Zeppelin, they’re listening to the blues. There’s a whole legacy there, and I just wanna’ help keep the blues alive for future generations.”

So the secret is out, and you’ll want to catch Joe Bonamassa a couple of times, including his performance on the Main Stage Friday afternoon and at the juke joint show at the Conference Center in Mountain Village Friday night. Smokin’!

Rising stars Grace Potter and the Nocturnals return to the Blues & Brews stage this weekend, ready to re-rock the town. The band is on their way to the top, especially considering their recent performances on Good Morning America, Austin City Limits and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

“Things are good,” said the effervescent Potter. “I was born for it. I’ve wanted to be an actress since I was a little girl. I’m one of those reach-for-the-stars kind of people.” She added, “In fact, when I was little, I saw The Little Mermaid, and I told my mom, ‘Someday I’m gonna’ be the real little mermaid!’ I always have wanted to be rattling it a bit, but you’ve gotta’ stay humble, too!”

The strategy seems to be working, with the Nocturnals heading out on the road in support of Government Mule, following the release of the phenomenal This is Somewhere CD. “It’s a really good fit. They’re just killer,” said Potter. “Our sound is kind of raw. We try to rag it out and get to the roots of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s not like a perfectly trimmed garden. I like it a little dirty with a few weeds,” she mused. 

The prodigous Potter said she owes a lot to her talented band: “The guys are the heart and soul of the band. When I write a song, I’m thinking of the way Scott would play it on guitar or how Matt would roll it out on drums. And Brian has a certain style on bass. We’re very much like a family. We’ve been together long enough that we can finish each other’s sentences,” she laughed. 

Potter shared that her own family will be joining her in Telluride this coming weekend: “When we played in Telluride last year, I was very comfortable in that environment because I grew up near Mad River Glen. It’s a wild collection of crazy mountain people,” she added. “This year my family is all coming out, including my sister, who’s a crazy tele skier from Jackson Hole, and my Dad ‘Sparky,’ who was a borderline Olympic skier. It’s a whole crazy crew!”

They should fit right in.

Audiences will have a couple of chances to catch the band this weekend. Said Potter, “We’ll do it like we did last year, with the festival appearance, and then we’ll rock it at the Opera House later on!” Don’t miss Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, superstars in the making.

In addition to the massive lineup in Town Park, the festival includes the juke joints downtown, where music will spill into the late-night hours. The juke joints this year include The Elks Lodge, The Fly Me to the Moon Saloon, Las Montanas, the Sheridan Opera House, and the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village. Already, the Bal de Maison and Fais Do Do have sold out. Hopefully you’re one of the lucky ticket holders. If not, don’t despair, there will be buckets of blues pouring out of every venue in town.

Some of the local haunts you’ll want to visit include Tommy’s, where the Wednesday Night Open Mic with Andrew Wynne will undoubtedly be a blast.  Tommy’s also features live music this weekend, including John Alex Mason with his deep country blues on Friday night, and again for happy hour on Saturday. Saturday night sees the return of Shelby James & The Cryin’ Shames at Tommy’s. The Phoenix rockers return on Sunday afternoon for another happy hour set.  

At The Last Dollar, look for several hot local bands this week, including Boxcar tonight, and The Hugs on Friday. Brown Dog will have music in the window this weekend, too, featuring the return of the fabulous Dan Walker and Telluride’s own Dave Andersen, with his rootsy, beatbox style. Look for The Noir Bar and The New Sheridan to hop throughout the weekend as well. 

Meantime, a buzz is brewing at the Bubble Lounge, which has its own secret weapon lined up, with Lubriphonic set to do several shows. The band’s new CD Super Moncho grooves with organic roots and funk. 

The band is made up of heavies from the Chicago blues scene, including drummer Rick King. “We’ve all played with so many legendary blues players in Chicago. Everybody from Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells to Lenny Kravitz,” he explained. “It’s not that you get tired of playing the blues, it was just time to do our own thing,” he continued. “Our guitar player Giles Corey has a knack for writing really catchy tunes, and it just feels really good to do this original thing.” King added that the project has been going for a couple of years.  “We all still gig to float our financial boats,” he explained. “But if we had it our way, we’d tour 250 days a year with this project. We’re all road dogs, and we want to get out there. Plus we all get along so well -- there’re no jerks in the band.”

The powerfully grooving Lubriphonic will be joined by Telluride’s talented DJ Jahson, aka Jason Litwin, who is also quite a percussionist. “I wanted to get these guys out here during Blues fest so everybody could hear how great they are. I think they’re going to blow everyone away,” gushed DJ Jahson. 

“I love having a percussionist on board, it adds a whole new element,” said King of Jahson. “I just hope we can all fit on the stage at the Bubble Lounge!”

Be sure to catch the Chicago cats this weekend for one or more shows at the O2 bar. Look for Lubriphonic to move and groove you, baby.

Of course, things start heating up tomorrow, with Tishamingo rolling in for the final Sunset Concert in Mountain Village. The band wowed audiences at Jazz Aspen Snowmass at the beginning of the month, and are now well acclimated to the altitude. “We’ve been hanging out in Aspen for a little while,” said vocalist and guitarist Cameron Williams. “We’re really looking forward to coming back to Telluride this weekend.” The Georgia rockers will be hovering at the fest for several days and are slated for numerous appearances around town, including performances at the Fly Me to the Moon Saloon tomorrow night and Friday, plus their set on the Main Stage in Town Park. The Southern-rocking, hard-hitting Tishamingo has forged their sound through years of touring and are super tight.  Last year’s release The Point is a masterwork produced by John Kurzweg, and definitely belongs in your collection. Look for this band to kick it down hard like sour mash at the free Sunset Concert on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and throughout the weekend.

There will be so many great players in town over the next few days, it’s hard to touch upon them all, but look for big names to pop up in small places, including Alex Maryol, who appears at the Elks Lodge for “Blues for Breakfast” on Sunday.

Along with the music, something else is new this year: Blues & Brews is going greener than ever before and shooting for zero emissions. Executive Director Steve Gumble explained: “It’s relatively easy to do this. We’ve partnered with Sustainable Waves and Green Mountain Energy. Green Mountain is a company that will go and invest in wind power and sustainable energy.”

The “greening” of festivals appears to be the wave of the future, with organizers researching how to compensate for the energy being consumed by the thousands of people who travel to such events.

“We calculated our fuel, energy and electric consumption for all of those who are traveling here, and we came up with a number representing how much energy is going to be used. Then we wrote a check for the carbon offsets. With that money, Green Mountain purchases the wind power and plants enough trees to offset that usage,” he continued. “Basically, we’re contributing to the system to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Also new this year is the “Be Green Ticket,” which can be purchased for an additional two dollars when festivarians buy a pass. Gumble explained the environmental value of the ticket, saying: “It allows people to essentially purchase carbon credits. I’ve been amazed how many people are stepping up to the plate and paying the extra couple of bucks for this. It’s very cool.”

The festival requires vendors to use biodegradable silverware -- which can be composted -- and has long promoted recycling and composting by attendees.

Of the greening effect, Gumble said it takes a dedicated staff to make it all work. “You know, I was down at Town Park for the Labor Day picnic, and I was horrified by all of the plastic cups all over the soccer field. Our regular staff works hard to compost and recycle so that when our festival closes for the night, we leave the park clean.”

Gumble added that 55 breweries will be on hand this year, with over 150 different kinds of beer on tap in Town Park. So what about all of those beer cups? “The festival-goers are really the best recyclers. If you think about it, pretty much every house in town has a collection of Blues & Brews cups!”

Okay, so break out the vintage cups, and be sure to check with the helpful staff at the composting and recycling centers on the festival grounds to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible throughout the weekend. Word.