IB bluegrass INTERNATIONAL
Vol. 32 No. 8 August 2017
RHIANNON GIDDENS Delivers Keynote at 2017 IBMA Business Conference
Also in this issue
• Wide Open Main Stage Full Lineup • Awards Finalists & Hall of Fame Inductees • Bluegrass Symposium at World of Bluegrass
International Bluegrass Editor: Kelly Kessler kelly@ibma.org
Vol. 32 | No. 8 | August 2017
Designer: Erin Faith Erdos erinfaitherdos@gmail.com
STAFF
Paul Schiminger Executive Director
Kelly Kessler Director of Communications and Professional Development
Amy Beth Hale Director of Member Services
Eddie Huffman Director of Convention Services
BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Joe Mullins, Chair Ben Surratt, Vice Chair Denise Jarvinen, Treasurer Regina Derzon, Secretary Alan Tompkins, Executive Committee member
Becky Buller-Artist/Composer/Publisher Jeremy Darrow-Artist/Composer/Publisher Jamie Deering-Merchandisers/Luthiers Mike Drudge-Agents/Managers/Publicists Silvio Ferretti- International John Goad-Print Media/Education Marian Leighton Levy-Recording/ Distribution/Marketing
William Lewis-At Large Steve Martin-At Large Stephen Mougin-At Large Mike Simpson-At Large Wayne Taylor-Artists/Composers/Publishers Bree Tucker-Myers- Event Production Bob Webster-Broadcast Media
INFO CONTACT US
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS
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Statement of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers, directors, staff or members of IBMA. Portions of International Bluegrass may be reprinted provided that explicit citation of the source is made: “Reprinted with permission from International Bluegrass, the publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association, www.ibma.org.�
TA B LE O F C ON T E N T S AUGUST 2017
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS
Photos: Alane Anno
World of Bluegrass 5
IBMA Announces 2017 Nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Awards
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Wide Open Main Stage Full Lineup Announced
15 Rhiannon Giddens to Deliver Keynote Address at IBMA Business Conference, Conference Theme is Community and Connection 16 2017 Inductees to International Bluegrass Hall of Fame 20 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients 22 Track: Songwriter 24 Track: Broadcaster 25 Track: Highlights: CLE and Talent Buyer 26 Foundation Events: Bluegrass Symposium at World of Bluegrass
departments 28 New Releases 29 Remembering Glen Inman 30 Industry News
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We value our members. This newsletter is our primary conduit for sharing news across our trade organization. Our goal is to carry news each month from all constituencies of IBMA’s membership. Deadline info: news items and press releases are due at the IBMA office via snail mail or email by the 18th of the month. Submitting before the deadline is encouraged. Email all materials to Kelly here, or mail to 4206 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216. International Bluegrass
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AUGUST 1-15 FINAL BALLOT FOR THE IBMA AWARDS AUGUST 15 ADS DUE FOR CONFERENCE BOOK AUGUST ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS: BLUEGRASS RAMBLE LINEUP, YOUTH STAGE LINEUP, CONFERENCE SEMINARS, HEALTH FAIR
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IBMA Announces 2017 Nominees for the INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS Music Awards Balsam Range and Earls of Leicester Lead the Field Nominees for the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced July 26, 2017 at a press conference at Sirius XM’s studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with Balsam Range and the Earls of Leicester leading the pack with eight nominations each. Balsam Range received six nominations for the band and two for their individual members, while the Earls pulled in five nominations, plus three for individual members. Close behind are the Gibson Brothers, with seven nominations, and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, with five nominations. These nominees will be voted on in the final ballot, sent out to members with voting privileges on August 1st, with polling closing on August 15th. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards, Thursday, September 28, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tickets for the 28th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show are available online or by calling 1-800-514-3849.
The IBMA Awards Show will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction) on Thursday, September 28th at 7:30 p.m. EDT. It will also be streamed via Facebook Live with the full show shared on the IBMA Facebook page, and the backstage interviews on IBMA media partner The Bluegrass Situation’s Facebook page. The Awards Show will be made available for rebroadcast by radio stations worldwide, thanks to the sponsorship of Chiesi USA, Virginia Tourism, Deering Banjos, Compass Records, the In-
ternational Bluegrass Music Museum, BMI, and Boston Bluegrass Union.
Individually and as a group, Balsam Range is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Performance of the Year, while individual nominations go to members Buddy Melton for Male Vocalist of the Year, and Tim Surrett for Bass Player of the Year. 2016’s Entertainers of the Year, the Earls of Leicester, are nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year, while individual nominations go to members Shawn Camp for Male Vocalist of the Year, Jerry Douglas for Dobro Player of the year, and Barry Bales for Bass Player of the Year. The Gibson Brothers racked up seven nominations in four categories: Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Performance of the Year, with individual nominations go to brothers Leigh and Eric Gibson each for Male Vocalist of the Year, and Jesse Brock for Mandolin Player of the Year. Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, with five nominations, are up for Instrumental Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year, and Recorded Event of the Year, while Michael Cleveland is nominated as well for Fiddle Player of the Year.
Molly Tuttle is the first woman ever to be nominated for an IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Award. She is nominated as well for Female Vocalist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year. International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame members Doyle Lawson, Bobby Osborne and Mac Wiseman all have multiple nominations for this year’s awards. Other multiple nominees include Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Blue Highway, Becky Buller Band, Flatt Lonesome, Sierra Hull, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Joe Mullins, the Punch Brothers, Sister Sadie, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, and Volume Five. “Congratulations to each of the Hall of Fame and Distinguished Achievement Award recipients and to the finalist nominees in the announced IBMA Awards Categories,” said IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger. “These deserving awards nominees were selected from ballots where, in most cases, the categories had more than 30 worthy candidates to choose from, with artists ranging from traditional to progressive. It is an honor to be recognized by peers for excellence achieved in our music, especially where so many have incredible talent. Good luck to all, and we look forward to seeing you in Raleigh on September 28th for a spectacular Awards Show!”
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ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Balsam Range Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver The Earls of Leicester Flatt Lonesome The Gibson Brothers
Balsam Range The Earls of Leicester Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Punch Brothers
Shawn Camp Eric Gibson Leigh Gibson Buddy Melton Russell Moore
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Balsam Range Blue Highway Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Flatt Lonesome The Gibson Brothers
Front Country The Lonely Heartstring Band Molly Tuttle Sister Sadie Volume Five
Brooke Aldridge Dale Ann Bradley Sierra Hull Amanda Smith Molly Tuttle
SONG OF THE YEAR
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Blue Collar Dreams” Balsam Range (artist) Aaron Bibelhauser (writer)
Fiddler’s Dream Michael Cleveland (artist), Jeff White and Michael Cleveland (producers), Compass Records (label)
“Going Back to Bristol” Shawn Camp (artist), Mac Wiseman/Thomm Jutz/Peter Cooper (writers)
“I Am a Drifter” Volume Five (artist), Donna Ulisse/Marc Rossi (writers) “Someday Soon” Darin & Brooke Aldridge (artist), Ian Tyson (writer)
“The Train That Carried My Girl from Town” The Earls of Leicester (artist), Frank Hutchison (writer)
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In the Ground The Gibson Brothers (artist), Eric Gibson, Leigh Gibson, and Mike Barber (producers), Rounder Records (label) Mountain Voodoo Balsam Range (artist), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)
Original Bobby Osborne (artist), Alison Brown (producer), Compass Records (label) Rattle & Roar The Earls of Leicester (artist), Jerry Douglas (producer), Rounder Records (label)
GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR “Give Me Jesus” Larry Cordle (artist), Traditional/Larry Cordle (writer), Give Me Jesus (album), Larry Cordle (producer), Mighty Cord Records (label) “Hallelujah” Blue Highway (artist), Public Domain arranged by Blue Highway (writer), Original Traditional (album), Blue Highway (producer), Rounder Records (label)
“I Found a Church Today” The Gibson Brothers (artist), Eric Gibson/Leigh Gibson (writers), In the Ground (album), Eric Gibson, Leigh Gibson, and Mike Barber (producers), Rounder Records (label) “Sacred Memories” Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Skaggs (artist), Dolly Parton (writer), Sacred Memories (album), Joe Mullins (producer), Rebel Records (label) “Wish You Were Here” Balsam Range (artist), James Stover/Michael Williams (writers), Mountain Voodoo (album), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
“Fiddler’s Dream” Michael Cleveland (artist), Arthur Smith (writer), Fiddler’s Dream (album), Jeff White and Michael Cleveland (producers), Compass Records (label)
“Great Waterton” Kristin Scott Benson (artist), Kristin Scott Benson (writer), Stringworks (album), Kristin Scott Benson (producer), Mountain Home Records (label) “Greenbrier” Sam Bush (artist), Sam Bush/Scott Vestal (writers), Storyman (album), Sugar Hill Records (label)
“Little Liza Jane” Adam Steffey (artist), Tommy Duncan/James Robert Wills (writers), Here to Stay (album), Adam Steffey (producer), Mountain Home Records (label) “Flint Hill Special” The Earls of Leicester (artist), Earl Scruggs (writer), Rattle & Roar (album), Jerry Douglas (producer), Rounder Records (label)
RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
“East Virginia Blues” Ricky Wasson and Dan Tyminski (artists), Croweology: The Study of J.D. Crowe’s Musical Legacy (album), Rickey Wasson (producer), Truegrass Entertainment (label) “Going Back to Bristol” Shawn Camp with Mac Wiseman, Peter Cooper, Thomm Jutz (artists), I Sang the Song (Life of the Voice with a Heart) (album), Peter Cooper and Thomm Jutz (producers), Mountain Fever Records (label)
“I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” Bobby Osborne with Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Trey Hensley, Todd Phillips, Kenny Malone, Claire Lynch, and Bryan McDowell (artists), Original (album), Alison Brown (producer), Compass Records (label)
“Steamboat Whistle Blues” Michael Cleveland featuring Sam Bush (artists), Fiddler’s Dream (album), Jeff White and Michael Cleveland (producers), Compass Records (label)
“’Tis Sweet to Be Remembered” Mac Wiseman and Alison Krauss (artists), I Sang the Song (Life of the Voice with a Heart) (album), Peter Cooper and Thomm Jutz (producers), Mountain Fever Records (label)
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ned Luberecki Joe Mullins Noam Pikelny Kristin Scott Benson Sammy Shelor BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Barry Bales Alan Bartram Mike Bub Missy Raines Tim Surrett
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (6 candidates due to a tie vote) Becky Buller Jason Carter Michael Cleveland Stuart Duncan Patrick McAvinue Ron Stewart
DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jerry Douglas Andy Hall Rob Ickes Phil Leadbetter Josh Swift
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jim Hurst Kenny Smith Bryan Sutton Molly Tuttle Josh Williams
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jesse Brock Sam Bush Sierra Hull Frank Solivan Adam Steffey
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Wide Open Main Stage Full Lineup Announced Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers Top the Bill
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International Bluegrass | July 2017
In keeping with an impressive array of events you’ll find only at Wide Open Bluegrass, IBMA has announced a live collaboration with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, their only music performance this year in support of their brand new aptly named recording, The Long Awaited Album. Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush will pay tribute to storied innovators The Country Gentlemen with a band featuring Jon Randall, Mark Schatz and Charlie Cushman. The Kruger Brothers offer up a tantalizing set with Kontras Quartet. Chatham County Line will bring their brand of the North Carolina sound, and Molly Tuttle, freshly nominated for three IBMA Awards - including first-ever female Guitar Player of the Year - will get the festivities rolling. Steve Martin’s musical career is an extension of the storytelling impulse that drove his work as a comedian, an actor, a screenwriter, a playwright, an essayist, and a novelist. This newest collaboration with the Grammy-winning North Carolina-based band Steep Canyon Rangers serves up stories that mix humor and melancholy, whimsy and realism, rich characters and concrete details. And lots of banjos. Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin are thrilled to host their album release celebration on Saturday Sept 30 2017 at Wide Open Bluegrass - in the state where it all began for them!
These performers join previously announced artists The Infamous Stringdusters present the Wide Open Jam; Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn; Hot Rize; The Travelin’ McCourys; 2017 Grammy winner The O’Connor Band featuring Mark O’Connor; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Balsam Range; Lonesome River Band (celebrating their 35th anniversary as a band); Sierra Hull; Sister Sadie; Flatt Lonesome; and the 50th anniversary of Japanese band Bluegrass 45, featuring the band’s original lineup. Wide Open Bluegrass Main Stage aims to bring the best in bluegrass together for one remarkable show, and for one remarkable cause: it is the principal fundraiser for the Bluegrass Trust Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to bluegrass artists and other industry professionals in times of emergency need. “It seems crazy we can announce the addition of these incredible performers to an already-stellar lineup on the Main Stage of IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, but we are! This Main Stage at the Red Hat Amphitheater will have performances that bluegrass fans cannot see anywhere else,” said Paul Schiminger, Executive Director of the International Bluegrass Music Association. “Furthermore, this is an important way for fans to help the bluegrass community. Up to 50%
of the net proceeds from ticket sales goes to the Bluegrass Trust Fund, a vital 501 (c)(3) organization that provides emergency financial assistance to bluegrass professionals when they need it most. What can be better than enjoying a truly unique weekend of music while helping those who work so hard to make that music?” “Each day at Red Hat Amphitheater, fans will be treated to exclusive live show experiences,” adds William Lewis, executive director of PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, and producer of the festival. “The Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin will unite one night only to perform brand new music. Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush are cooking up a very special show, just for IBMA, paying homage to the originators of progressive bluegrass – The Country Gentlemen. With other bands marking important anniversaries, showcasing new material, and inviting guests to sit in and jam, these unique live music experiences help create indelible memories for all involved, both in the audience and on stage.”
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HEADLINE HERE
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HEADLINE HERE
The daily lineup for the Wide Open Main Stage is:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 12:00 pm
Molly Tuttle
1:15 pm
The Kruger Brothers with Kontras Quartet
3:00 pm
Flatt Lonesome
4:00 pm
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
5:00 pm
The O’Connor Band featuring Mark O’Connor
6:30 pm
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
8:30 pm
Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush tribute to The Country Gentlemen featuring Jon Randall, Mark Schatz and Charlie Cushman
9:30 pm
The Infamous Stringdusters present the Wide Open Jam
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HEADLINE HERE
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WOB LINEUP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 12:00 pm
Sister Sadie
1:00 pm
Chatham County Line
2:00 pm
Bluegrass 45
3:00 pm
Sierra Hull
4:00 pm
Lonesome River Band
5:00 pm
Balsam Range
6:30 pm
The Travelin’ McCourys
8:00 pm
Hot Rize
9:45 pm
Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Steve Martin
Schedule is subject to change without notice. For the third year, Chiesi USA, Inc. - the Cary, North Carolina-based specialty pharmaceutical company is the principal sponsor of the World of Bluegrass event. Additionally, PNC Bank returns for the fifth year as the presenting sponsor for the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival. IBMA is grateful for the continued support of these two esteemed sponsors. Did you know single day general admission for performances at Red Hat Amphitheater during Wide Open Bluegrass starts as low as $60 for the general public and $50 for IBMA members? Additional details and pricing information - including member discounts – for Red Hat Amphitheater performances, Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, IBMA Business Conference registration, IBMA Award Show tickets and hotel reservations can be found at the IBMA website. International Bluegrass
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Rhiannon Giddens to Deliver Keynote Address, IBMA Business Conference Theme Is Community and Connection
Rhiannon Giddens, accomplished solo artist, co-founder of Carolina Chocolate Drops and 2016 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo recipient, will deliver the Keynote Address at this year’s Business Conference Tuesday, September 26, at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh. Giddens’ album “Freedom Highway” was released earlier this year to critical acclaim, and last year she was awarded the BBC2 Folk Award for Singer of the Year. Giddens came to prominence with the GRAMMY award-winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, playing banjo and fiddle. Giddens’ 2014 Grammy nominated solo debut, “Tomorrow Is My Turn,” blends gospel, jazz, blues, and country, and showcases her dazzling vocal prowess. She performed at the Obama White House, and duets with country star Eric Church on his powerful anti-racism hit “Kill a Word.” Giddens also has a recurring role on the recently revived television drama Nashville. The impressive arc of Rhiannon Giddens’ old-time music career, her knowledge of and contributions to American roots music, and her ability to introduce new audiences to ancient tones place her in a unique position to offer insights into the music industry. She shares, as well, the archetypal path followed by so many in our community: she learned bluegrass from an early age from family members who were bluegrass musicians. “We are thrilled and honored that Rhiannon Giddens will be this year’s Keynote Speaker to kick off the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass,” notes IBMA executive director Paul Schiminger. “Rhiannon has embodied this year’s Business Conference theme of Community and Connection throughout her life and musical career. Having grown up in a household filled with bluegrass music and then trained in classical voice, she has drawn upon this early foundation to form a creative musical journey. Rhiannon has achieved both critical acclaim and great career success by merging elements of old-time, folk, jazz, country, and bluegrass to reach whole new audiences. Her passion for American roots music, along with her thoughtful and purposeful career, provides each of us a lens through which we can see beyond our own barriers.”
The Keynote Address, a gathering that attracts a significant representation of the bluegrass industry’s professionals, is held the first night of IBMA’s 2017 World of Bluegrass Business Conference, and sets the tone for the week’s endeavors. This year’s conference theme, Community and Connection, holds particular relevance in bluegrass circles. Professionals and fans of bluegrass music have created a community reaching across great distances, generations, and other divides, real or imagined. Passion for a shared musical language connects old friends, new acquaintances, and strangers alike. Tunes and songs have flowed back and forth across the boundaries between genres—making clear the connections shared with folk, blues, old-time, rock and roll, and more. This constant stream has worn thin the barriers, simultaneously drawing bluegrass closer to its musical cousins while extending its reach. Across the campfire, the classroom, the boardroom, the stage, and even the globe, differences are dwarfed by the love of bluegrass music, and a dedication as artists and professionals to seeing it grow. When voices blend and work together, the bluegrass community is the force that moves the music forward artistically and powers the growth of the industry.
Seminars during the World of Bluegrass Business will include: Accessibility at Festivals, Pandora’s Artist Tools, Current Digital Formats, The Recording Cycle, Event Marketing, Inclusivity Round Table, Work Visas and Performing Internationally, Inside the Recording Release Cycle, Promoting Yourself, Artist Endorsements, Voice Health/Coaching, Publishing, The Essence of Good Songwriting, DJ/Label Relations, Royalties and Airplay for Broadcasters, One-on-One Songwriter Mentor Sessions, with more seminars to be announced.
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INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC
HALL of FAME
IBMA Announces 2017 Inductees to International Bluegrass Hall of Fame: Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard; Bobby Hicks; and Roland White The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce three new inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: trailblazing bluegrass artists Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, master fiddler Bobby Hicks, and Roland White, whose impressive career includes contributions to several seminal bands. They will be inducted at the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, Thursday, September 28, 2017, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard From their first public appearance in 1962 at the Galax Fiddler’s Convention to their final shows together in 1976, pioneers Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard put women front and center in bluegrass at a time when bluegrass was widely perceived as a genre only men could perform. Hazel, from rural West Virginia, and West Coast native Alice were both drawn to the lively Baltimore-Washington area folk and bluegrass music scene, where they met. Of four albums together, their first in 1965 featured performances with a band that included Chubby Wise, David Grisman and Lamar Grier, demonstrating that hard-driving bluegrass could be created by women as well as men. Two later albums, ranging beyond the bluegrass style, featured their original compositions and addressed political issues, including social justice. Both Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard have had numerous awards and honors bestowed upon them. Hazel gained particular acclaim for her songwriting, and Alice
Bobby Hicks
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard
has made many contributions in print, through her work at Bluegrass Unlimited and The Old Time Herald. Many of today’s leading women singers and socially conscious musicians acknowledge Hazel & Alice as an important inspiration. Hazel Dickens passed away in 2011. Alice Gerrard remains an active performer and makes her home in Durham, North Carolina. Bobby Hicks and Bill Monroe
Born in 1933 in North Carolina, influential fiddler Bobby Hicks’ first professional job with Jim Eanes came while he was still a teenager. In 1954, Hicks landed a job playing fiddle for the legendary Bill Monroe and recorded the landmark early instrumentals, “Cheyenne”, “Wheel Hoss”, and “Roanoke”. In later years, he played on the original recordings of other signature Monroe instrumentals including “Panhandle Country” and “Scotland.” Bobby also played on Monroe’s 1988 album, Southern Flavor, the first bluegrass GRAMMY winner. During the 1980s, he recorded extensively with the consummate “super group,” the Bluegrass Album Band. Beginning 1981, he also began working in Ricky Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder where he remained for 20 years before leaving to pursue a solo artist career. Today, Hicks continues to perform and makes his home near Asheville, North Carolina. International Bluegrass
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HALL OF FAME Clarence White and Roland White
Roland White Roland White has enjoyed one of the most eventful and enduring careers in bluegrass. Early in his career, brothers Roland, Eric and Clarence began performing extensively as The Country Boys, appearing on two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. Changing their name to The Kentucky Colonels, they became one of the most popular West Coast bluegrass bands of the late-50s/early-60s. In 1967, Roland became a Blue Grass Boy, hired by Bill Monroe to play guitar, and he played on such seminal bluegrass recordings as “The Gold Rush,” “Sally Goodin,” and “Walls of Time.” After two years, he was hired to play mandolin with the newly formed Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass, where he remained until 1973. He reunited briefly with brothers Eric and Clarence as the New Kentucky Colonels, until Clarence’s
About the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & IBMA Founded in 1991, the IBMA’s International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, housed in the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY, is an institution devoted to the recognition of noteworthy individuals for outstanding contributions to bluegrass music. Each year a nominating committee, consisting of music industry leaders, creates a slate of 10-15 candidates for each of two categories. From these names, a panel of more than 200 electors in the music industry casts ballots to narrow the nominees to five finalists. The panel then votes a final time to select the inductee(s) for that year. In the past, two inductees have been honored each year. Beginning in 2017, three inductees are elected - two inductees in the “Open” category and one in the “Early Contribution” category.
untimely death. Roland joined Alan Munde in the Country Gazette, where he performed for thirteen years. During his tenure with The Nashville Bluegrass Band, beginning in 1987, the band earned numerous IBMA awards, along with two GRAMMY awards and six nominations. Residing in Nashville, Tennessee, he has fronted the GRAMMY-nominated Roland White Band for the past sixteen years.
Members of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: Bill Monroe (1991) Earl Scruggs (1991) Lester Flatt (1991) The Stanley Brothers (1992) Don Reno & Arthur Lee (Red) Smiley (1992) Mac Wiseman (1993) Jim & Jesse McReynolds (1993) Bobby & Sonny Osborne (1994) Jimmy Martin (1995) Peter V. Kuykendall (1996) The Country Gentlemen (1996) Josh Graves (1997) Chubby Wise (1998) Carlton Haney (1998) Kenny Baker (1999) Lance LeRoy (2000) Doc Watson (2000) The Carter Family (2001) The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover (2002) David Freeman (2002) J.D. Crowe (2003) Curly Seckler (2004) Bill Vernon (2004) Red Allen (2005) Benny Martin (2005) The Lewis Family (2006)
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Syd Nathan (2006) Howard Watts “Cedric Rainwater” (2007) Carl Story (2007) Charles K. Wolfe (2008) Bill Clifton (2008) The Dillards (2009) The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers (2009) John Hartford (2010) Louise Scruggs (2010) Del McCoury (2011) George Shuffler (2011) Doyle Lawson (2012) Ralph Rinzler (2012) Tony Rice (2013) Paul Warren (2013) The Original Seldom Scene (2014) Neil Rosenberg (2014) Larry Sparks (2015) Bill Keith (2015) Clarence White (2016) Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin (2016) Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (2017) Bobby Hicks (2017) Roland White (2017)
Missy Raines
TALKING POINTS FOR THE WORLD OF BLUEGRASS (AND WHY BLUEGRASS LOVERS NEED TO BE THERE) Ever wish you had a short and sweet way to convey the significance of our annual bluegrass gathering to someone who doesn’t understand? We think it’s as easy as 1-2-3:
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We (the IBMA) are the trade organization for bluegrass.
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Our World of Bluegrass Business Conference and International Bluegrass Music Awards Show bring the best in our business to Raleigh. Many of them stay on to play our Main Stage and help raise money for the Bluegrass Trust Fund, which in turn gives direct aid to bluegrass pros in emergency need.
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THIS INCREDIBLE WEEK IS WHAT BLUEGRASS HAS BUILT FOR OURSELVES TO GROW BUSINESS, RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE, DELIGHT FANS AND TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.
IBMA Announces 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients Each year, the IBMA recognizes up to five individuals for their significant contributions to bluegrass music with its highest honor outside of induction into the Hall of Fame--the Distinguished Achievement Award. This year’s recipients of IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Awards are:
Norman Blake Norman Blake has never strayed far from Sulphur Springs, Georgia. Soaked in the musical influences, history, and imagery of his home region, he has deftly bridged tradition and innovation. A gifted songwriter (“Last Train from Poor Valley,” “Ginseng Sullivan,” and many more), multi-instrumentalist (most notably guitar), singer, recording artist, and GRAMMY award winner, Norman has been a prominent part of bluegrass, folk, old-time, and country music for more than sixty years. His career has intertwined with those of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Hartford, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, and countless others. His movie soundtracks in recent years include O Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain. Since 1975, he has performed with his wife and musical partner Nancy Blake.
Louisa Branscomb Songwriter, educator, organizer, and musician Louisa Branscomb is best known for writing 180 recorded songs, including Alison Krauss’ first hit and John Denver’s final hit, “Steel Rails.” Her efforts for the bluegrass songwriting community have proven catalytic in professionalizing that segment of the field. Branscomb founded the IBMA Songwriter Committee, and as its chair drafted the Songwriter of the Year Award proposal. She has advanced a community-building model through her several nonprofits to benefit songwriters, including the Woodsong Songwriter Retreat, Bluegrass Songwriting Program in the Schools, KidsWrite, the ScreenDoor Songwriter Alliance, and Southport Songwriters Festival. A member of the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame, Branscomb has won Song of the Year from both SPBGMA and IBMA. The Leadership Bluegrass alumna was nominated for Songwriter of the Year in the IBMA Awards for 2013.
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DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT
Fletcher Bright Master fiddler, event producer, philanthropist, teacher: there’s hardly a corner of the bluegrass industry that Fletcher Bright hasn’t influenced. Fletcher began his fiddling career in the 1940s when, still in high school, he founded The Dismembered Tennesseans. Influenced by Chubby Wise and Benny Martin, Fletcher has played that tradition forward as an instructor at camps in the US and abroad. He is also an ardent supporter of the American Roots Music program at the Berklee College of Music and created a scholarship which is awarded annually to a promising young fiddler. Most recently, Fletcher and his son George founded the Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival in Chattanooga, a free two-day event that draws attendees from across the Southeast. A father of five children with seven grandchildren, Fletcher lives on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, where he supports his musical addiction with his real estate business. Silver Dollar City The Branson, Missouri-based Silver Dollar City theme park has always told the story of the Ozark Mountains through bluegrass and oldtime music, crafts and culture. It began the winter of 1959-60 when the Herschend family, who still own the park, built shops in the main square area of Silver Dollar City for tourists visiting there for the Marvel Cave tour. Still a privately held corporation, SDC hosts two million visitors every year. Family bands have always been popular —including Rhonda and Darrin Vincent, Nickel Creek, and Cherryholmes. The Mountain Folks Music Festival kicked off for nine days in June 1975, evolved into the 23-day Bluegrass and BBQ Festival in 2005, and has since expanded into the entire month of May. Producer D.A. Callaway, with the local public radio station, organized the KSMU Youth in Bluegrass Contest, now one of the most important programs encouraging the next generation of bluegrass musicians. Silver Dollar City was named IBMA’s Bluegrass Event of the Year in 2011. Bluegrass Today Bluegrass Today has been publishing online since 2011, bringing news about the artists, the music, the festivals, and the people that support them to the fans and the wider bluegrass industry. Though the site is the handiwork of a crew of hard-working individuals, it is shepherded by John Lawless, online editor and chief writer, and Terry Herd, CEO. The site followed on the heels of The Bluegrass Blog, which Lawless launched in 2004 with Brance Gillihan, who left in 2011 to pursue other interests. Currently, Bluegrass Today is visited by roughly 85,000 individuals each month, generating 2.5 million page views annually.
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TRACK: SONGWRITER The 2017 WOB Songwriter Track is shaping up to be remarkable. The IBMA Songwriter Committee has slated a range of seminars and song-centric events that serve up a wealth of opportunities and a motherlode of information to move your songwriting career forward. Moderators and panelists include some of the most knowledgeable, experienced writers and publishers in the field. Make your plans now to take full advantage of this exceptional opportunity to learn from the best.
SONGWRITER TRACK SCHEDULE Publishing 101, Tues. 11:15 AM Hosted by Nashville publisher Sherrill Blackman, this panel will help you to learn all the “ins and outs” of music publishing, including PROs, licensing, royalty sources, and more. Moderator: Sherrill Blackman; Speakers: Kathy Anderson, Dawn Kenney, Cathy Fink Song Critiques, Wed. 9:00 AM An important tool in improving as a songwriter is getting constructive feedback on your songs. Bring in a demo of what you feel is one of your best songs, along with the lyrics, to the session. This panel will offer you thoughtful evaluation of both composition and presentation. Demos will be chosen at random, and writers will remain anonymous. Moderator: Jon Weisberger; Panelists: Kathy Anderson, Melody Walker Songwriter Mentor “One-On-One” Sessions, Wed. 10:00 AM This is a unique opportunity for up-and-coming writers to learn a few tricks of the trade from some of the most accomplished songwriters in our genre face-to-face. These “One-On-One” sessions are an extension of IBMA’s ongoing and very successful Songwriter Mentor program headed up by Tony Rackley. More info and details to follow. Mentors: Becky Buller, Donna Ulisse, David Morris, Steve Mougin, Dawn Kenny, Joe Newberry, Tony Rackley, Rick Lang
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The Essence Of Good Songwriting, Wed. 2:30 PM For the very first time at World of Bluegrass, you can attend an in-depth workshop on the craft of songwriting, led by some of the very best in the music industry. This unique opportunity to learn techniques that improve and hone your songwriting, and turn a good song into a great song, is an exceptional opportunity. No matter what level you are at as a songwriter, this is one you won’t want to miss! Moderator: Kathy Anderson; Speakers: Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle Songwriter Meet & Mingle, Wed. 5:00 PM A wonderful one-of-a-kind songwriter event, back by popular demand. A great way to meet and network with other writers, and rub elbows with some of our industry’s top professional songwriters, publishers, record producers, song pluggers, record label owners and artists. Held in a relaxed setting, including refreshments and cash bar. Well over 100 attendees made this a great event last year. Don’t miss it!
Getting Cuts and Getting Paid, Thurs. 9:00 AM Sherrill Blackman and his panel will discuss the “do’s and don’ts” of effective song-pitching, various markets for your songs, and how to collect your hardearned songwriter royalties. Bring your note book, bring your questions! Moderator: Sherrill Blackman; Speakers , Bradley Collins , Brandon Rickman, Bobby Rymer
Songwriter Showcase, Thurs. 1:00 PM Since its inception in 1999, IBMA has hosted this unique opportunity for songwriters to showcase their original compositions before a live audience at WOB. Great new talent has been introduced to the music industry through the Songwriter Showcase. Be sure to check it out on the Workshop stage on Thursday afternoon. It all starts with a song! Hosts: Thomm Jutz, Peter Cooper Youth Songwriter Workshop (Youth Only), Thurs. 2:00 Designed specifically for IBMA songwriters under the age of 25, here is a chance to learn some songwriting tips from one of the most creative and accomplished young musicians in bluegrass. Our youth is our future! Hosted by Sierra Hull
Song Circles, Thurs. 3:00 PM Ever popular, song circles are a way you can share your songs with other writers in a low-key setting. It is a great opportunity to network, and possibly meet potential co-writers. We offer three separate sing circles on Thursday afternoon hosted by a pair of our IBMA member writers. Song Circle 1: Aaron Bibelhauser, Mike Finders Song Circle 2: Lynda Dawson, John Cloyd Miller Song Circle 3: Irene Kelley, Lisa Aschmann
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TRACK: BROADCASTER IBMA launches the brand new Broadcaster Track at the 2017 IBMA Business Conference. This track is geared for broadcasters interested in cultivating the craft, maintaining solid business practices, connecting with artists and labels, and staying ahead of trends through peer-topeer learning and discovery. This focused track is designed to foster real industry connections. Attend and experience why the World of Bluegrass is an indispensable event for professional development and new business generation.
BROADCASTER TRACK CONTENT INCLUDES: Voice Coaching for Broadcasters NEW! How do you warm up your voice? How do you mold your voice to become an effective radio host? How do you care for and nurture your number one asset as a host? Explore these questions and more, and have some fun too! Broadcaster Track: Your Best Show Ever NEW! Everyone has ONE great idea for the perfect radio show. What was the best show you ever produced? Come share your “genius” moments, learn from each other, and workshop new ideas! Broadcaster/Label Relations and Information Exchange NEW! Broadcasters and Label Representatives, come build and nurture those relationships so critical to the success and growth of bluegrass music, and central to your businesses.
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DJ Taping Sessions Broadcaster and Artist sessions designed for conducting short live interviews and collecting station IDs and other content. Artist-DJ Reception Network with your fellow broadcasters as well as potential connections from other areas of the music industry. Light refreshments and cash bar provided. (Wed) To participate in the Broadcaster Track, register for the IBMA Business Conference. Conference registration includes all Broadcaster Track content along with all other conference events, including the Bluegrass Ramble, keynote reception, awards luncheons, and exhibit hall. Plus, we offer a special discount for all first-time Attendees: $25 off the member price, and available to members and non-members alike! Register today!
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
TALENT BUYER TRACK
CLE (CONTINUING LEGAL ED) TRACK
IBMA delivers an optimal setting for talent buyers and agents to get business done during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Business Conference.
Developed by a panel of volunteer attorneys, these sessions highlight current legal issues and the pitfalls to be avoided when developing alternative sources of revenue. This year, we welcome the Campbell University School of Law as our CLE (Continuing Legal Education) sponsor!
• IBMA’s Gig Fair (RSVP only) Tuesday, September 26, 2:15 pm. Meet artists before the showcasing begins! • Breakfast2Business (RSVP only) Wednesday, September 27, 9 am. Rosters are constantly changing, and B2B is an agreeable way for talent buyers and agents to keep up on our evolving bluegrass world. • Agent/Talent Buyer Reception (RSVP only) A relaxing and engaging networking session. The first drink is on IBMA! • The Bluegrass Ramble & Official Artist Showcases, Tuesday-Thursday, September 26-28, 6pm-1 am (Official Showcases at 7, 8, and 9 pm). The hottest new talent and the diversity of big-tent bluegrass, conveniently showcasing at the conference. • Talent Buyer Track Educational Panels, Tuesday-Thursday, September 26-28. Seminars focused on the latest trends and specific interests of buyers, promoters and agents.
Seminars include: • Legal obligations when broadcasting live performances on the internet or other media; • Blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin. Major music industry players like Spotify have adopted Blockchain for their operations, but what does it mean for the individual artist? • New rules for crowdfunding campaigns through Kickstarter, Indiegogo and the like. • How to operate sweepstakes and contests in social media, and issues associated with the use of event tickets as prizes.
Talent buyers, RSVP here for the Gig Fair, Breakfast2Business, and the Agent/Talent Buyer Reception. Agents, RSVP here for Breakfast2Business and the Agent/ Talent Buyer Reception. Artists’ sign-up for the Gig Fair begins later this summer.
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Foundation For Bluegrass Music News: Bluegrass Symposium Announced for World of Bluegrass The Bluegrass Symposium, an academic conference hosted by the Foundation for Bluegrass Music and focusing on the study of bluegrass music, will debut in Raleigh this year. Noted author and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member Neil Rosenberg, Ph.D., a Professor Emeritus of Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland, will deliver the keynote address at noon on Friday, Sept. 29 in room #304 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Rosenberg’s address, titled “Bluegrass: Scholarship and Realities,” will be based on the last chapter of his forthcoming book, Bluegrass Generation: A Memoir (University of Illinois Press). “This book portrays my experiences working in the bluegrass music business from 1961-63, mainly at the Brown County Jamboree in Bean Blossom, Indiana,” Rosenberg says. The chapter, entitled “Afterword” focuses on scholarly issues. Noted author Lee Bidgood, Ph.D. of East Tennessee State University led a committee of bluegrass music scholars to select presentations for the symposium. “It is my hope that the presentations in Raleigh will further foster the community of scholars who research and write about bluegrass music,” Bidgood says.
Neil Rosenberg, Professor Emeritus of Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland
The Bluegrass Symposium held in 2005 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green was a watershed event in bringing scholarly attention to bluegrass music. Bluegrass-focused events at Harvard (2010) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2016) have continued to gather scholars who focus on bluegrass as a style, practice and business.
Register for the Bluegrass Symposium keynote luncheon at the Foundation’s website. The deadline to register is September 1, 2017. IBMA conference and festival attendees are welcome to sit in on presentations from 1:30 – 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 and from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the 30th.
The Foundation for Bluegrass Music offers a full slate of events during World of Bluegrass Friday, Sept. 29 12:00-1:30 p.m. Bluegrass Symposium Keynote luncheon for paid academic conference attendees. Keynote speaker: Neil Rosenberg, Ph.D. 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Bluegrass Symposium Session 1: Institutions and Narratives - Chair: Jordan Laney Ryan Banagale & Keith Reed - Bluegrass and the Liberal Arts Chelsea Burns - Boston Bluegrass: Institutional Traces in the Urban Scene Ron Roach - Building a Shared Rhetorical Vision: Fantasy Theme Analysis of Discourse at Early Bluegrass Festivals 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Break
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3:15 - 4:45 p.m. Bluegrass Symposium Session 2: Performance Studies - Chair: Toby King Liza Sapir Flood - Song Choreography and Self-Expression at Bluegrass Jams Lee Bidgood - The Broken Circle Breakdown and Belgian Bluegrass Louisa Branscomb - Use of Bluegrass Songwriting as Treatment Intervention in Foster Teens with PTSD: A Qualitative Pilot Study 4:45 - 5:00 p.m. Wrap-up of Day One 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own 5 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – IBMA’s “Kids on Bluegrass” Ensembles (Wide Open Bluegrass Youth Stage, RCC) 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. College Band Showcases, Youth Stage 7-7:45 p.m. – Warren Wilson College 8-8:45 p.m. – East Tennessee State University
Saturday, Sept. 30 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Bluegrass Symposium Session 3: Performing History - Chair: Fred Bartenstein Ira Gitlin - Lonesome and Then Some: Unusual Vocal Harmonies In Early Bluegrass Recordings Natalya Weinstein-Miller - Jim Shumate: Pioneering Bluegrass Fiddler Everett Lilly - Making Bluegrass History: The Role of the Lilly Brothers in Bluegrass History 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Break 10:45 - 12:15 p.m. Bluegrass Symposium Session 4: Media - Chair: Nancy Cardwell Nathan Sykes - Farm and Fun Time Legacy: Radio and Regional Music Greg Reish - Documenting Bean Blossom: The Recorded Legacy of Marvin Hedrick Ted Olson - Reassessing a Pioneering ‘Bluegrass Label’: Tracing the Impacts of Rich-R-Tone Records 12:15 - 12:30 p.m. Wrap-up of the Bluegrass Music Symposium (evaluation) 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Bluegrass College degree program luncheon (Off-site lunch for bluegrass degree program department heads and instructors, and those interested in college level bluegrass instruction. RSVP to info@bluegrassfoundation.org for a head count. We will be buying our individual lunches.) 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Introduction to College Bluegrass Programs, moderated by Fred Bartenstein 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. College Band Showcases, Wide Open Bluegrass Youth Stage, RCC (presented by the Foundation for Bluegrass Music) 6-6:45 p.m. – Morehead State University 7-7:45 p.m. – Pellissippi State Community College 8-8-45 p.m. – Denison University
Prospective college students and their families will be interested in the “Introduction to College Bluegrass Programs” session featuring student groups and presentations from department heads on Saturday, September 30, in room 304 of the Convention Center from 2-3 p.m., moderated by IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award recipient and author Fred Bartenstein. Bluegrass College Band Showcases at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in Raleigh Sept. 29-30 The Foundation will again host the very popular bluegrass college band showcase. With bands from the following colleges on the Wide Open Bluegrass Youth Stage in front of the Raleigh Convention Center from 7-9 p.m. on Friday night and 6-9 p.m. Friday night: Warren Wilson College from Asheville, NC, led by Wayne Erbsen; East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN, directed by Daniel Boner Saturday night: Morehead State University from Morehead, KY, directed by Raymond McLain; Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN, directed by Larry Vincent; Denison University in Denison, OH, directed by Andy Carlson. For more info about the Foundation for Bluegrass Music, visit the Foundation’s website or email Nancy Cardwell. Be sure to stop by the Bluegrass Foundation booth in the IBMA World of Bluegrass Expo Hall Wednesday – Saturday, Sept. 26-30, to learn about the Foundation’s work and mission to enable individuals and organizations to support the art form through charitable donations and planned giving.
NEW RELEASES
CD Reviews by Bob Webster
The Gibson Brothers In The Ground [Rounder Records]
Sounds Of Kentucky Grass Carolina Blue [Poor Mountain Records]
Dale Ann Bradley Dale Ann Bradley [Pinecastle Records]
On the Gibson Brothers’ first-ever album of entirely original songs, their talent shines. Each song tells a storyline the listener wants to hear, and then have a sit-down conversation with the Brothers to learn even more.
Carolina Blue’s fourth recording marks their first on an organized label. From the same North Carolina region that’s home to Balsam Range and the Steep Canyon Rangers, we now have a very strong traditional band to add to anyone’s library. Anchors Bobby Powell (guitar), Tim Jones (mandolin) and Reese Combs (upright bass) have been friends and bandmates for ten years, and that shows in this project. They honor the heritage of Monroe, Flatt, and Scruggs, but write their own material deeply rooted in the first generation blueprint.
Dale Ann steps out for the second time as her own producer on a new self-titled recording. Recording with her touring band Mike Sumner on banjo, Tim Dishman on bass, Matt Leadbetter on reso-guitar, and Scotty Powers on mandolin, Dale Ann also taps Tina Adair (from the Sister Sadie band), long-time friends/band mates Steve and Debbie Gulley, Kim Fox, and Vic Graves. Don’t overlook guest Vince Gill on the Stanley Brothers duet “I Just Think I’ll Go Away.”
Eric Gibson says “Remember Who You Are” was inspired by his dad’s words just before Eric left for college. His mother and grandmother used the expression “he’s just climbing ‘Fool’s Hill.’” “Little Girl” has been with them for a decade, but now we get to hear it. There’s the gospel message in “I Found a Church Today,” and the thought-provoking “Making Good Time”, which offers comfort to travelers who may be lost, but press on regardless. “My Quiet Time,” co-written by Leigh and Shawn Camp, makes a listener want to hit replay again to soak up the depth of this one. The title track, “In the Ground,” addresses the disappearing farm life and the families who made their living on the land, making note of how many things come from the ground and where we all end up. No tricks here. The honest music is created by the Gibson Brothers and their band members Mike Barber, Clayton Campbell, and Jesse Brock. Many are proclaiming this is the best Gibson Brothers’ product yet. For sure, this one is not to be missed. Website
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The music ranges from hard driving numbers to slower ones featuring fiddle work, such as “Faded Rose.” A prison song tells of coping well with the confinement in the daytime, but “you find out they’re Hell Come the Night”. “Jesus Broke the Bonds” is an uplifting gospel number arranged in a manner that reminds one of the Johnson Mountain Boys. You may have heard the single release, “Bonnie Goodbye,” but others are equally as strong or even better in this writer’s opinion. If you like the classic sound of bluegrass with a fresh treatment, this recording will satisfy your yearning. If you haven’t discovered that sound yet, Carolina Blue will make a terrific primer for you. Website
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“Southern Memories,” the first track, is an example of Dale Ann’s co-writing skill. Stanley Brother fans are treated to two numbers, plus she refers to them on “Going Back to Kentucky.” The gospel a cappella number, “Stand by Me,” is stirring and soothing as the same time. “If You Were Mine to Lose” is a romantic heartbreak song, coupled with Crystal Gayle’s “This Is My Year for Mexico.” All the songs fit together nicely for a fine, enjoyable collection sure to satisfy fans of Dale Ann as well those who are just finding out why she has been a Grammy nominee and five time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year. This album releases August 18th. Website
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Remembering Glen Inman
I’m sad to report that Glen “Cookie” Inman of La Follette, TN, and formerly of Dayton, Ohio, passed away July 14, 2017 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 70. He played bass with Dorsey Harvey, Sherrill Jennings and me in the 1970s in the Dorsey Harvey Band. A native of LaFollette, Cookie (his CB handle was “Dog House”) also played with the Allen-Lilly Band, the Wildwood Valley Boys, Red Allen, Larry Sparks, Mike Lilly, Gerald Evans and Paradise, the Traditional Grass, the All American Bluegrass Band, and Feller and Hill. He also filled in with countless other bands when they’ve been short a bass player. You’ll find information regarding his funeral on July 17, as well as some additional biographical information at this link. -Fred Bartenstein
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INDUSTRY NEWS
August 2017
“HIDDEN TREASURE”, LI’L MARGARET’S BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME FESTIVAL, UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT On the 2nd weekend in August, banjos and fiddles will be ringing out at one of St. Mary’s County’s ‘little hidden treasures’. The beautiful Goddard Farm is located at 21810 Clay Hill Road, just off of Fairgrounds Road in Leonardtown, Maryland. Tickets and information can be found on the website at www.lilmargaretsbluegrass.com. Under new management, and with an all new, fresh lineup of traditional bluegrass bands, there will be a total of 27 hours of live music onstage and lots of “parking lot pickin’” in the campground.
Bluegrass bands from all over the East Coast will be making first time appearances to Southern Maryland. There is traditional bluegrass music to satisfy all ages including: Flatt Lonesome from Florida, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road from North Carolina, and David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition from Tennessee. Other up-and-coming traditional bluegrass acts will include Mickey Galyean and Cullen’s Bridge, Randall Hibbitts and Appalachia, Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass, The Tyler Williams Band, The Feinberg Brothers, and Northern Connection.
Feel free to call 301-737-3004 for further information.
"DR. RALPH STANLEY FOREVER TRIBUTE" AT GRAND OLE OPRY TO BENEFIT THE BLUEGRASS TRUST FUND A Grand Ole Opry tribute to a true icon and music legend - whose more than 70 years in the music industry left an indelible mark - will bring out some of the biggest names in bluegrass and country music on October 19th in Nashville, TN. Confirmed to perform at the Dr. Ralph Stanley Forever Tribute are: Dierks Bentley, Josh Turner, Bobby Osborne, Diamond Rio, T Bone Burnett, Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Drew Ellis, Nathan Stanley, Cody McCarver, and Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys. More performers will be joining the tribute, to be announced at a later date. You can purchase tickets here.
The Bluegrass Trust Fund, one of the dream goals of IBMA's founders which drove the creation of this organization, is an emergency fund for bluegrass professionals in times of dire need. Administered by IBMA, this fund has already given well over $600,000 in direct assistance to people in our community who have encountered loss, illness, and natural disasters well beyond any safety net they had. This assistance has largely been funded through the generosity of our musicians, who have performed for decades - first at Fan Fest and now at Wide Open Main Stage - to raise money for the Bluegrass Trust Fund. IBMA is grateful to the Dr. Ralph Stanley Forever Tribute for their support.
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ALLERTON’S PRAIRIE SKY MUSIC FESTIVAL DEBUTS WITH SAM BUSH, JERRY DOUGLAS BAND Sam Bush and The Jerry Douglas Band will be the headliners for the inaugural Prairie Sky Music Festival, presented by the U of I Community Credit Union, on August 18-19. The two day festival will feature eight musical acts in the estate’s 14-acre Meadow at 515 Old Timber Road, Monticello, IL. After five years of successful outdoor concerts, this will be new IBMA organizational member Allerton Park & Retreat Center’s first multiday festival, with a mix of local, regional, and national acts. Friday evening will feature Chatham County Line, with Phillip Michael Scales and Dennis Stroughmatt et l’Esprit Creole performing Saturday afternoon. Chicago-based quartet The Leadfoot Band will take the stage Saturday at 5pm, followed by The Jerry Douglas Band, and Sam Bush capping off the night. “The Prairie Sky Music Festival will take you on a musical journey through Americana as it was and is,” said Allerton’s Associate Director Derek Peterson. “With a deep respect for history, but with enough progress you will feel pure satisfaction after you experience it.” When asked about the name of the festival, Peterson noted how a setting can change a musical experience, and the unique Midwestern atmosphere in the vast Allerton Meadow, surrounded by forests instead of cornfields. “If it’s a cloudy afternoon, sunset, or star filled wonder, the open sky can draw you in,” he explained. “Mix that pull with music and you will have an afternoon and evening filled with perfection.” The concert is made possible with the support of presenting sponsor, the University of Illinois Community Credit Union, as well as the News-Gazette, The Ayers Family, Illinois Public Media, Country Arbors, The Friends of Allerton, Kirby Medical Center, AHW LLC, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD), The Herbold Family Trust, and Kennedy Hutson Associates. For tickets and more information, including the complete 2017 concert schedule visit Allerton’s website or call 217-333-3287. IBMA members can get $5 off a 2-day Festival Pass. Offer expires Sunday, August 13. Use Promo Code: IBMA. Also, take advantage of the “Sky’s the Limit” Group Ticket Discount: Buy 8, get 2 free!
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CRASH COURSE: ADVERTISING IN THE WOB CONFERENCE BOOKLET Run an ad in the World of Bluegrass Conference Booklet, and you'll get multiple impressions upon the influencers, movers and shakers in our industry. This booklet is never far from reach for the 1500+ attendees who come to get business done, and it's included with every registration. The WOB Conference Booklet is prime real estate for getting your bluegrass industry message across. Here’s what you need to know on pricing and ad sizes SPECIFICATIONS & RATES
JUST THE SPECS, PLEASE! • For all ad submissions: high resolution, 300 DPI. • Files types: PDF, JPG or Tiff accepted. • All ADs must be Black/white (greyscale). For questions or to place an ad, contact Kelly Kessler at kelly@ibma.org, or call 615-256-3222.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
August 2017
YOU NEED WOB GRAPHICS! Are you a band performing at World of Bluegrass? A presenter on a panel? An event producer taking part in the Talent Buyer Track? A radio personality registered for the new Broadcaster Track? Are you coming to World of Bluegrass to do business? Let the world know you mean business by sharing these official IBMA WOB logos. Include them in social media, e-blasts, on your website and LinkedIn page – anywhere you’d like to increase your chances of connecting with the key players in our field. Click on the images of your choice to go to that logo’s download page, and then right-click the image on your PC or Ctrl-click on your Mac and choose “Download”.
If you’re exhibiting or presenting during Wide Open, or playing the Main Stage, Youth Stage or StreetFest, pack some punch in your promo with these logos.
AWARDS SHOW
WORLD OF BLUEGRASS WIDE OPEN BLUEGRASS
WIDE OPEN BLUEGRASS
BLUEGRASS RAMBLE WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
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IB
@SIRIUS XM STUDIOS JULY 26, 2107