It would be so easy to rebrand his latest side project as Trampled by Winter or Dead Man Turtles. Apparently, Dave Simonett, the primary songwriter, singer, guitarist and frontman of Trampled by Turtles, had something completely different in mind with Dead Man Winter.

Trampled by Turtles, the Minnesota quintet, put on a dazzling performance that couldn't be topped on Day 2 of the 38th Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

The buzz has been building for Mumford & Sons since their first appearance at Telluride last year, and it may have reached epic proportions on June 19, 2011.

Colin Meloy sarcastically said he was offering one number "free of charge" as the campaign theme song for Michele Bachmann. The "Calamity Song," drew raucous cheers and applause from the left-leaning crowd.

"The first time I played here, which was about 15 years ago I guess, I looked up during the set and saw the waterfall and forgot the entire second verse of the song I was playing."

Along with her band the Bootleggers, Nora Jane Struthers has followed the formidable footsteps of bands such as the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek by winning the prestigious Telluride band contest.

The quintet that once performed shows in front of 10 to 20 people in Colorado headlined a sold-out concert on April Fool's Day 2011 at Denver's Ogden Theater. Now they are poised to make their first appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

If Abigail Washburn didn't already have a job as an earnest clawhammer banjo player who takes adventurous side trips away from the bluegrass realm that has served her so well, the singer-songwriter could run for mayor of Telluride. And win.