Nominees for the 2016 International Bluegrass Music Association awards were announced this morning. Judging by the list, modern bluegrass is alive and very, very well. From Sam Bush to Sierra Hull, so many artists we love got tapped. And, of course, it's no surprise that the Earls of Leicester and Del McCoury racked up a bunch of nods. Hats off to you all!
Entertainer of the Year
Balsam Range
The Del McCoury Band
The Earls of Leicester
Flatt Lonesome
The Gibson Brothers
Vocal Group of the Year
Balsam Range
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Earls of Leicester
Flatt Lonesome
The Gibson Brothers
Instrumental Group of the Year
The Earls of Leicester
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Punch Brothers
Sam Bush Band
The Travelin’ McCourys
Song of the Year
“Black River” — Sierra Hull (artist and songwriter)
“Long Way Down” — the SteelDrivers (artist), Elizabeth Mala Hengber, Tammy Rogers King, Jerry Salley (songwriters)
“Radio” — Steep Canyon Rangers (artist), Graham Paul Sharp (songwriter)
“Thunder & Lightning” — Lonesome River Band (artist), Adam Wright (songwriter)
“You’re the One” — Flatt Lonesome (artist), Dwight Yoakam (songwriter)
Album of the Year
Bridging the Tradition — Lonesome River Band
It’s About Tyme — Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Runaway Train — Flatt Lonesome
The Muscle Shoals Recordings — the SteelDrivers
Weighted Mind — Sierra Hull
Gospel Recorded Performance
“All Dressed Up” — Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
“In The Heat of the Fire” — Flatt Lonesome
“Rocking of the Cradle” — Lonesome River Band
“The Savior Is Born” — Becky Buller
“Won’t You Come and Sing for Me” — Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
Instrumental Recorded Performance
“Cazenovia Casanova” — Frank Solivan with Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas
“Fireball” — Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley, and Alison Brown
“Hogan’s Goat” — the Boxcars
“Hogan’s House of Music” — Ron Block
“Smartville” — Ron Block
Emerging Artist
Band of Ruhks
The Lonely Heartstring Band
Mountain Faith
Sister Sadie
Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle
Town Mountain
Recorded Event
“Fireball” — Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley, and Alison Brown
“Highway 40 Blues” — Special Consensus with Della Mae
“In the Pines” — Carl Jackson and Brad Paisley
“Longneck Blues” — Junior Sisk and Ronnie Bowman
“Pretty Woman” — Frank Solivan with Del McCoury
Male Vocalist
Shawn Camp
Del McCoury
Buddy Melton
Tim O’Brien
Danny Paisley
Female Vocalist
Becky Buller
Dale Ann Bradley
Claire Lynch
Amanda Smith
Rhonda Vincent
Banjo Player
Charlie Cushman
Jens Kruger
Mike Munford
Noam Pikelny
Sammy Shelor
Bass Player
Barry Bales
Alan Bartram
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
Fiddle Player
Becky Buller
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart
Dobro Player
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Josh Swift
Guitar Player
Chris Eldridge
Jim Hurst
Kenny Smith
Bryan Sutton
Josh Williams
Mandolin Player
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Frank Solivan
Adam Steffey
