Sunday, August 14 at 9:30 pm | Doors at 8:45 pm (Sheridan Opera House)
After Yola closes down the Main Stage, the festival concludes with a special performance by The Motet on Sunday, April 14 at the Sheridan Opera House. Join us for this energetic show in what is sure to be a memorable way to end the 2022 Telluride Jazz Festival.
The Motet
The Motet was founded in Boulder in 1998 by drummer David Watts and has kept the dial set on funk ever since (and soul and jazz). The acclaimed core of the band is Watts, Joey Porter on keys, Garrett Sayers on bass, Drew Sayers on keys and saxophone, and Ryan Jalbert on guitar. They are often joined for live shows by horns, vocalists and other instrumentalists. With Watts driving the bus, the rhythm is locked in and — again — very funky.
They are a staple on the national festival scene and have played its biggest stages in their time as road warriors — think Bonnaroo, Electric Forest and Bumbershoot to name but a few. And Red Rocks Amphitheatre might as well be their home away from home.
Their following in Colorado is the definition of devoted and Telluride is no different. We love them. They’ve visited the valley and have soaked in these mountain vibes many times.
As 2022 was about to dawn, the Marshall Fire tore through dense residential areas near Boulder, incinerating more than 100 homes, including Watts’ and his partner’s home. Fortunately, no one was home (save for their beloved dogs, who perished in the blaze), but Watts lost everything. Had he been home, he most likely would have been at his kit, headphones on, staying sharp. Losing everything left him with a deep sense of gratitude.
“There is something cathartic to seeing your life’s work in a smoldering ruin,” Watts wrote. "All material possessions in this world are temporary, including our bodies, and there will come a day for all of us when we have to give it back.”
He reminds us in a Westword interview earlier this year, that when there is nothing else, we have our friends, family, and a community that, in The Motet’s case, is bonded by music.
"Let’s hold tight and appreciate the most basic thing we have in this life: each other.”
And we love it funky, so our gratitude for this incredible band to take their talents on the road, no matter what, is immense. Take a look at your tarp companions, give ‘em a hug, and give it up for The Motet
The Motet will play on the festival's Main Stage Saturday, August 13, at 8 pm. Learn their story, hear their music and watch more videos on their artist page here.