Always in search of a balance between the traditional and the contemporary, the official Sister Cities of Nashville, Tennessee, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, shared the spotlight in a special conference called Your Roots Are Showing, held January 13-18, 2026 in Belfast. Across six days, music industry leaders and artists from both countries mingled at panels and showcases – and perhaps an Irish pub or two. Immediate friendships were formed throughout the event, proving that folk music still has the power to bring strangers together.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Amy Grant, Jim Lauderdale, and Mac McAnally led the impressive list of Nashville artists at the Folk iN Fusion concert event at Waterfront Hall on opening night, alongside Irish performers such as Wallis Bird, David Keenan, and Lorraine Nash. Other American roots artists taking the stage included Ron Block, Wyatt Ellis, Jessica Willis Fisher, Rissi Palmer, and Dee White, while Lorraine Nash, harpist Niamn Noade, Gerry O’Connor, and Clare Sands represented the Emerald Isle with their folk songs.
In addition, Paddy Keenan of the Bothy Band was recognized with the Anam Award at the opening night concert, with lifelong friend Paddy Glackin accepting on his behalf. Irish music icon Sandy Kelly performed and co-hosted Folk iN Fusion with Brenda Willis. The all-star evening concluded with a group performance of “Nashville Blues,” “People Get Ready,” and “We All Shall Be Reunited.”
Wallis Bird performs at the FOLK iN FUSION concert, which kicked off Your Roots Are Showing Conference at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.
Ron Block takes the stage at Folk iN Fusion.
Wyatt Ellis, mandolin, performs with Andy Teno (banjo), Noah Goebel (fiddle), Nathan Beaumont (guitar), and John Bird Jr. (bass).
Jessica Willis Fisher plays the fiddle during Folk iN Fusion.
Flanked by Brendan McCreanor (right), Paddy Glackin accepts the Anam Awards on behalf of his friend, Paddy Keenan of the Bothy Band.
Amy Grant performs during Folk iN Fusion.
David Keenan
Sandy Kelly performs with Wyatt Ellis and the evening's house band.
Jim Lauderdale, who also led a Tai Chi session during the conference, performs at the opening night concert.
Mac McAnally of the Coral Reefer Band performs.
Lorraine Nash
Niamn Noade, playing the harp.
Gerry O'Connor plays fiddle.
Singer-songwriter and host of 'Color Me Country Radio,' Rissi Palmer.
Clare Sands
Dee White
Through a wide variety of panels, leading industry figures shared their knowledge and experiences with an audience of aspiring artists and others in the international roots music community. The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tracy Kelly, personally welcomed attendees to a panel discussion about the 100-year history of the Grand Ole Opry, moderated by author Craig Shelburne with panelists such as former Opry GM Pete Fisher and performers Amy Grant, Rissi Palmer, Jessica Willis Fisher, and Brenda Willis.
Conference producers Charlene Sloan and Brendan McCreanor, Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly, and Amy Grant pose for a photo at Your Roots Are Showing. Photo by Colin Gillen.
Other panels offered insight on booking agencies, contracts, distribution, publicity, publishing and social media, among many other topics. Wyatt Ellis led a mandolin workshop, songwriters and producers Kristian Bush and Brandon Bush hosted a conversation about the role of rules in the creative process, and music supervisor Andrea von Foerster of Firestarter Music shared stories about placing music in TV series such as Yellowstone and Landman. On Friday afternoon, Amy Grant discussed the origins of her career in a keynote interview before taking questions from captivated audience members.
While many of the showcasing artists are based in Ireland and Northern Ireland, listeners were also treated to showcases by performers from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the United States, and Wales. During programming breaks, some attendees ventured into Belfast for a visit to the Titanic Museum, St. George’s Market, or a Black Taxi Tour. Others simply explored the streets of the city center, taking photos of the architecture or seeking out a perfectly poured Guinness. BGS staff strolled the picturesque city taking photos on our Camp Snap camera.
A view of the River Lagan in downtown Belfast.
It's always a lovely day for a Guinness in Belfast.
The SS Nomadic, which ferried passengers to the Titanic, at the Titanic Belfast museum.
Friend At Hand whiskey store and museum.
Looking down Hill Street toward Friend In Hand in Belfast.
Queen's Arcade in Belfast.
Photo Credit: All photos from Your Roots Are Showing and Folk iN Fusion by Colin Gillen, courtesy of Your Roots Are Showing. Lead image: The entire lineup of Folk iN Fusion join each other on stage for a concert finale.
Editor’s Note: On September 27, 2025, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music held a collaborative symposium entitled Wasn’t That A Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958-1965. Over the course of the day, attendees at the Arrow Street Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, enjoyed sessions and panels on such subjects as Club 47, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan at Newport Folk Fest, a conversation with Peter Wolf, and much more. The symposium programming was captured and filmed, and over the last few weeks we’ve shared select sessions with our audience right here on BGS. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about how Boston was at the epicenter of the folk revival in the ’50s and ’60s.
Speakers: Deana McCloud (moderator), Tom Paxton, Ralph Jaccodine, Ellis Paul, Jim Brown
About the Video: After the Folk Revival era, how has “folk” changed? What were the pivotal moments and artists who influenced these changes, while continuing the traditions of folk? What do you see as today’s folk scene and why is it still relevant?
“… Sadly, this is our last panel of the day. I say ‘sadly,’ because I’ve enjoyed and learned so much today and I hope all of you have, too. I hope that if we do this again that you all will come again, because it’s been such a great day for this community.
“Our final session today is on ‘Post-Revival Folk’ and it will be moderated by Deana McCloud and she’ll be speaking with Ralph Jaccodine, Ellis Paul, Tom Paxton, and Jim Brown. Enjoy!” – Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center
Editor’s Note: On September 27, 2025, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music held a collaborative symposium entitled Wasn’t That A Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958-1965. Over the course of the day, attendees at the Arrow Street Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, enjoyed sessions and panels on such subjects as Club 47, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan at Newport Folk Fest, a conversation with Peter Wolf, and much more. The symposium programming was captured and filmed, and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll be sharing select sessions with our audience right here on BGS. Tune in and enjoy learning more about how Boston was at the epicenter of the folk revival in the ’50s and ’60s.
Speakers: Bob Santelli (moderator), Elijah Wald, Douglas Brinkley, Jeannie Brand, Court Carney.
About the Video: When Bob Dylan traded his acoustic guitar for electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, he ushered in a shift to the traditional folk scene. How did the audience and his fellow performers respond, and why? How did this change folk at the time and continue to influence the genre?
“Continuing the series from our Symposium, we tackle one of folk music’s defining moments: Dylan going electric at Newport ’65. What followed changed everything. This panel brings clarity, context, and insight to a moment that continues to shape American music.” – Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center
Editor’s Note: On September 27, 2025, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music held a collaborative symposium entitled Wasn’t That A Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958-1965. Over the course of the day, attendees at the Arrow Street Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, enjoyed sessions and panels on such subjects as Club 47, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan at Newport Folk Fest, a conversation with Peter Wolf, and much more. The symposium programming was captured and filmed, and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll be sharing select sessions with our audience right here on BGS. Tune in and enjoy learning more about how Boston was at the epicenter of the folk revival in the ’50s and ’60s.
About the Video: Joan Baez first played Club 47 when she was 17 and performed there every Tuesday night until her career took off at Newport Folk Festival. How did this shift from local coffeehouse performer occur, who and what were the pivotal influences on Joan and her career, and how do music archaeologists study her career?
“This panel on Joan Baez is one of the richest conversations we hosted at our September Symposium – a panel that captures Joan Baez’s artistic legacy through the voices of people who’ve both lived and studied her story up close. It’s smart, emotional, and full of perspective you won’t hear anywhere else. We’re excited to share it with BGS readers.” – Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center
Editor’s Note: On September 27, 2025, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music held a collaborative symposium entitled Wasn’t That A Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958-1965. Over the course of the day, attendees at the Arrow Street Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, enjoyed sessions and panels on such subjects as Club 47, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan at Newport Folk Fest, a conversation with Peter Wolf, and much more. The symposium programming was captured and filmed, and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll be sharing select sessions with our audience right here on BGS. Tune in and enjoy learning more about how Boston was at the epicenter of the folk revival in the ’50s and ’60s.
Our first installment focuses on the origins of the folks scenes in Boston and Greenwich. Watch above, learn more below.
“Origins of Boston and Greenwich Folk Scenes”
Speakers: Melissa Ziobro (moderator), Mitch Greenhill, Jim Brown, Jim Rooney, Tom Paxton
About the Video: “Recorded at the Wasn’t That A Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958-1965 symposium presented by the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, ‘Origins of Boston and Greenwich Folk Scenes’ traces the beginnings of the American folk revival through the voices of those who lived it. Moderated by Melissa Ziobro, curator at the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, the panel features Jim Brown, Jim Rooney, Mitch Greenhill, and Tom Paxton in a wide-ranging conversation about the artists, venues, and cultural currents that gave rise to one of the most influential movements in American music.” – Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center
After 11 incredibly successful years of partnership with Raleigh, North Carolina, the International Bluegrass Music Association will holds its World of Bluegrass business conference and Bluegrass Live! festival for the first time in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this week. From September 16 to 20 the biggest week in bluegrass will return to Tennessee, this time nestled between the Tennessee River and the mountains, foothills, and ridgetops surrounding this lovely city rich in art, music, food, and culture. Chattanooga has a long history with bluegrass, old-time, and hillbilly music of all strains, so it’s sure to be a perfect home for World of Bluegrass.
As we like to do each year going into the week of events, music, and jamming we all colloquially refer to as “IBMA,” below you’ll find our preview of World of Bluegrass, Bluegrass Live!, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, and the move to Chattanooga. You’ll find information on the festival lineup, official showcase artists playing the Bluegrass Ramble, the layout of the festival and conference footprint, and more. Plus, we’ll have a few tips and tricks for local attractions and must-do/must-see activities while you’re in the River City.
Not able to attend IBMA World of Bluegrass this year? Never fear! Select events and programs from the packed-full conference slate will be livestreamed. You can find info on how to tune in – and what you’ll be able to see – below.
We hope that we’ll see you in Chattanooga this week for IBMA World of Bluegrass!
The Footprint
You gotta know how to get around the new host city, right?! If, like us, you had gotten used to the layout and logistics of Raleigh over more than a decade of conferences held there, IBMA wants to give you a head start on getting around their lovely new territory in downtown Chattanooga. The convention center, awards show venue, and Bluegrass Ramble venues may be a bit more spread out than in Raleigh, but there are plenty of excellent bars, restaurants, and attractions to explore above, below, and in between so keep your eyes peeled as you stroll.
Don’t forget that the convention center itself is also a Bluegrass Ramble venue! The other handful of Bluegrass Ramble venues are just a couple of blocks away to the south. Plus, the five stages for the weekend festival, Bluegrass Live!, are just around the corner from the convention center, too, where the exhibit hall, workshop stage, and international stage will all be hoppin’ with activity.
Put on your explorer hat and your favorite step-tracking device, we’ve got ground to cover!
What To Do
The Tennessee Aquarium (Photo by Kelley Lacey).
While in Chattanooga, you simply must take advantage of the many first-rate and world-class attractions that stud the city like jewels downtown, on the outskirts, and on the mountaintops overlooking the city and Tennessee River. The Tennessee Aquarium, situated along the riverbanks just a handful of blocks from the conference and festival, is a beloved and award-winning non-profit institution that perfectly showcases the aquatic ecosystems of Appalachia, Tennessee, and the world. Their work through the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute directly benefits the habitats you can see just outside their doors – that kind of local impact is something special. From sturgeon and hellbenders that call the waters around Chattanooga home to oceanic species of fish and jellyfish to exotic birds and reptiles, the Tennessee Aquarium is certainly worth a visit while you’re enjoying a week full of bluegrass.
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway descends from Lookout Mtn. to Chattanooga. (Photo by Kelley Lacey).
There are far too many amazing Chattanooga-area attractions to list here, but your shortlist for off-site, non-bluegrass activities for the week of World of Bluegrass certainly ought to include Lookout Mountain (especially the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway), Ruby Falls, Rock City, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic District, and many, many more.
Ruby Falls, an underground waterfall, on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.
World of Bluegrass
Now, don’t forget, IBMA World of Bluegrass is work. (Even if it doesn’t feel like it!) Don’t miss the many opportunities for networking, professional development, education, creative cross-pollination, and more during the business conference portion of World of Bluegrass, held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The full schedule for the conference – with panels, showcases, luncheons, awards presentations, and much more – can be found here, so you can sketch out your priorities and must-sees.
A few highlights and standouts we see on the schedule that might inspire you: Jim Lauderdale himself leads Tai Chi each day, so you can start your day connecting with your body and warming yourself up after all-night jamming. On Tuesday, learn about ReString Appalachia, a non-profit program helping put instruments back in the hands of victims of Hurricane Helene. Plus, don’t miss the ever-popular Gig Fair that afternoon, too.
We’re especially excited for the keynote address on Tuesday evening, as our own podcast host and CBC broadcaster Tom Power interviews Billy Strings, with a performance by Junior Sisk to kick off the event. We’re excited to bring you the keynote conversation in the near future as a bonus episode of Toy Heart with Tom Power.
On Wednesday, up-and-comers in the IBMA scene will be honored at the Momentum Awards Luncheon, as well as mentors and industry players. It’s always an exciting and energetic event that celebrates talent, skill, and effort at all levels in bluegrass. Elsewhere in the afternoon, archivist, historian, and musician Jen Larson will dive into the legacy and impact of Bluegrass Hall of Famer Hazel Dickens with her presentation titled “Hazel Dickens, A Bluegrass Life and Legacy at 100.”
There will be town hall meetings throughout the week, as well, where IBMA members can voice their feedback, ideas, and concerns and take an active role in the organization’s future. On Wednesday, the DEI Town Hall will be held at 4:20 p.m. and on Thursday the general IBMA Town Hall will be held at 9 a.m.
Of course, Thursday is chocked full of great programming, too, but we’d be remiss if we did not point out Dom Flemons’ panel, “Rooted Rhythms: African American Contributions to Bluegrass Music.” The first panel of its sort at IBMA, there’s plenty to be learned about the true multi-ethnic origins of bluegrass at this presentation. Don’t miss the Industry Awards Luncheon, the IBMA Songwriter Showcase, and the Women’s Council Meeting on Thursday, too. And, of course, the conference all culminates Thursday night with the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards show, held just up the road at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Hosted this year by Steve Martin and Alison Brown, it promises to be an exciting and engaging celebration of bluegrass music and its makers yet again.
There’s so much more going on throughout the conference, so don’t forget to dive into the full schedule so you don’t miss a thing.
The Bluegrass Ramble
Now, how about some music!? On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, IBMA Official Showcasing artists and bands will descend on Chattanooga for the Bluegrass Ramble, a series of performances held around official conference venues that will highlight the depth and breadth of the bluegrass scene while spotlighting artists and musicians with new albums, new shows, and new opportunities for bookers, promoters, industry professionals – and fans, of course!
Check out the full lineup of Bluegrass Ramble artists below, but here are a few we’re excited to catch while we’re in Chattanooga: fiddler and dancer Hillary Klug, who recently toured with Cirque du Soleil’s country show, Songblazers (watch above). There’s certainly a reason she’s amassed thousands and thousands of followers online. If you haven’t caught her electric and joyful show before, now is the time.
Some of the best bluegrass being made today is actually old-time, so we’re glad to see plenty of old-time, hillbilly, and mountain music represented throughout the week of World of Bluegrass and on Bluegrass Live! – we’re especially excited to catch showcases by George Jackson & Brad Kolodner.
Mountain Grass Unit are all the rage these days and if you haven’t yet had the chance to catch them live, don’t let your Bluegrass Ramble opportunities slip by. The cutting edge of jamgrass’s second (or third?) generation, these are shredders who can and will transport you beyond the bluegrass veil and into new horizons. These guys are going places and Chattanooga is just one stop on their journey to the stratosphere.
And what about the future of bluegrass? Oh yes, it’s in good hands, as nearly everyone declares when they encounter the picking and singing of young Wyatt Ellis and his band. Maybe “prodigy” is a tired description, but it’s certainly accurate in this case. We’ve covered Wyatt quite a bit over the years and always enjoy watching him grow, mature, and find himself in his music and picking style.
There are many more acts you won’t want to miss during the Bluegrass Ramble, of course! Here’s the full list of showcasing artists, duos, musicians, and bands at this year’s World of Bluegrass: Backline, Burnett Sisters Band, Caroline Owens & New Company, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Foggy Mountain Spaceship, George Jackson & Brad Kolodner, Greenwood Rye, Hillary Klug, Jackson Hollow, Mark Schatz & Bryan McDowell, Mason Via, Michael Prewitt & CrunchGrass Supreme, Mike Mitchell Band, Mountain Grass Unit, Remedy Tree, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Special Consensus, The Faux Paws, The Foreign Landers, The Sentimental Gentlemen, The Sullivan Sisters, The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, The Unfaithful Servants, Under the Rocks, Veranda, Vickie Vaughn, and Wyatt Ellis.
How To Livestream
Tune in from afar, if you can’t be in Chattanooga with us! You can catch several events from World of Bluegrass streamed online for free! The keynote address with Billy Strings in conversation with Tom Power, the IBMA Momentum Awards, and the IBMA Industry and Distinguished Achievement Awards will all be livestreamed on IBMA’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Like/follow or subscribe now so you don’t miss a single stream: IBMA Facebook; IBMA YouTube.
The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, one of the most exciting nights of the year in bluegrass, will be carried exclusively by Volume.com. But don’t worry, livestream tickets are free! Tune in for once-in-a-lifetime performances, Hall of Fame inductions, and all of your favorite bands and instrumentalists taking home awards – as voted on by their peers and colleagues!
These livestreams are a great way to participate from afar while you plan your journey to join us in Chattanooga next year.
Bluegrass Live!
On Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20, IBMA Bluegrass Live! will bring the best in bluegrass, old-time, Americana, and beyond to the downtown streets of Chattanooga, superlative roots music wafting throughout the River City. Though you may be disappointed by the last minute headliner swap – Sierra Ferrell recently announced she wouldn’t be able to perform at IBMA – you should not despair, as this lineup boasts the absolute best in bluegrass from top to bottom and bottom to top. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, direct from their Americana Honors & Awards win of Duo/Group of the Year, will be stepping in to fill Sierra Ferrell’s slot – what a pair of pinch hitters! Attendees will also enjoy performances by the Wood Brothers, Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Sister Sadie, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter, East Nash Grass, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, and so many more.
Overwhelmed by your options here, too? We don’t blame you! There’s so much you won’t want to miss, so here’s the full schedule for IBMA Bluegrass Live! to help make your plans:
Tennessee Sounds Perfect Stage, located in Miller Park – Friday, September 19
2:05PM – 3:20PM Alison Brown 4:30PM – 5:45PM Jim Lauderdale & The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys 7PM – 8:15PM Sierra Hull 8:45PM – 10:15PM The Wood Brothers
Saturday, September 20
2:05PM – 3:20PM AJ Lee & Blue Summit 4:30PM – 5:45PM Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter 7PM – 8:15PM The Infamous Stringdusters 8:45PM – 10:15PM Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Pinnacle Financial Partners Stage, located in Miller Plaza – Friday, September 19
Don’t have your tickets yet? It’s not too late! Click here to purchase single and two-day tickets to Bluegrass Live! The festival will also include free programming on several stages, too, so there are options to enjoy for fans and audience members at all levels.
In fact, it’s not too late to line up admission for any part of World of Bluegrass, from the conference to the Bluegrass Ramble to the awards show to Bluegrass Live! You do want to join us in Chattanooga for the first year in this brand new beautiful host city, right? Get all the info on World of Bluegrass here and make your plans to join us – the fun gets officially going tomorrow, September 16, in the Scenic City.
Photos courtesy of Chattanooga Tourism Co., photo credits as marked. Lead image: Downtown Chattanooga by Kelley Lacey.
Graphics and logos courtesy of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Today, July 16, 2025, the nominees, inductees, and recipients of the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards were announced in Nashville, Tennessee at a special live event broadcast from SiriusXM’s studios co-hosted by Sierra Hull and Bluegrass Junction radio host and programmer Joey Black. The announcement broadcast also featured live on-air performances by Hull and the Travelin’ McCourys.
Alison Krauss & Union Station lead the nominations following the release of their first album in over a decade, Arcadia. Between Krauss, and Union Station’s band members, the group have amassed nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year – for which their last win was in 1995 – Album of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year. Billy Strings, who last took home an Entertainer of the Year trophy in 2023, received five nominations – for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Guitar Player of the Year.
Alison Brown & Steve Martin have racked up a handful of nominations between them this year, too, and Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland’s excellent new duo album – and the pair of fiddlers themselves – appear all across the nominees list, the duo collecting nine nominations together and separately.
And, for the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the IBMA, a Black person will be inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Arnold Schultz, a seminal figure in bluegrass, blues, and old-time credited with greatly influencing the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, will be the first non-white member of the genre’s hall of honor.
“Our mission is to inspire innovation by recognizing the great work done by artists this past year and to honor tradition by inducting new members into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame,” said Ken White, executive director of IBMA, via press release. “The early influence of Arnold Shultz on Bill Monroe continues to shine through in the playing of even the youngest member of Kids on Bluegrass.”
Joining Schultz in this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees are the Bluegrass Cardinals and Hot Rize. Additionally, IBMA announced 2025 recipients of their Distinguished Achievement Award, including Alan Arthur Knoth, Penny Parsons, Ron Thomason, Sidney Austin, LLP, and Missy Raines.
IBMA’s annual conference, World of Bluegrass, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, and the organization’s annual festival, IBMA Bluegrass Live! will take place this year in a brand new host city, Chattanooga, Tennessee. The conference will run September 16-18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, the event’s showcase series, will also run Sept. 16-18 in local venues. The 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, where the winners, recipients, and inductees will be honored by their peers and fans, is scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 18; IBMA Bluegrass Live! will be heldSept. 19-20.
Find more information on IBMA and all of this year’s World of Bluegrass events in Chattanooga here and find the full list of nominees, recipients, and inductees below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station Appalachian Road Show Billy Strings East Nash Grass The Del McCoury Band
SONG OF THE YEAR
“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown, Steve Martin, Featuring Tim O’Brien Songwriters: Steve Martin, Alison Brown Producers: Alison Brown, Garry West Label: Compass Records
“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriter: Jerry Cole Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“Coal Dust Kisses” – The Grascals Songwriters: Susanne Mumpower, Jerry Salley Producer: The Grascals Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“My Favorite Picture of You” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Songwriters: Darin Aldridge, Brooke Aldridge, Dennis Duff Producers: Darin Aldridge, Mark Fain Label: Billy Blue Records
“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland Songwriters: Terry Herd, Jimmy Yeary Producers: Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland Label: Fiddle Man Records
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station Label: Down the Road Records
Carter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland Producers: Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland Label: Fiddle Man Records
Earl Jam – Tony Trischka Producers: Tony Trischka, Lawson White Label: Down the Road Records
Highway Prayers – Billy Strings Producers: Billy Strings, Jon Brion Label: Reprise Records
I Built a World – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Producers: Brent Truitt, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Label: Sugar Petunia Records
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station Authentic Unlimited Blue Highway Sister Sadie The Del McCoury Band
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings East Nash Grass Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway The Travelin’ McCourys
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Blue Collar Gospel” – Jerry Salley Featuring The Oak Ridge Boys Songwriters: Rick Lang, Bill Whyte, Jerry Salley Producer: Jerry Salley Label: Billy Blue Records
“Dear Lord” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Songwriter: Daniel Davis Producers: Darin Aldridge, Mark Fain Label: Billy Blue Records
“Even Better When You Listen” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers Songwriters: Rick Lang, Mark BonDurant Producer: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers Label: Billy Blue Records
“He’s Gone” – Jaelee Roberts Songwriter: Kelsi Harrigill Producer: Byron House Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“Wings of Love” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriters: Jesse Brock, Stephen Burwell, Jerry Cole, Eli Johnston, John Meador Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Bluegrass in the Backwoods” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland Songwriter: Kenny Baker Producers: Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland Label: Fiddle Man Records
“The Drifter” – Danny Roberts Songwriter: Danny Roberts Producers: Danny Roberts, Andrea Roberts Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“A Drive at Dusk” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriter: Jesse Brock Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“Kern County Breakdown” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland Songwriter: Buck Owens, Don Rich Producers: Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland Label: Fiddle Man Records
“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, Alison Brown Songwriter: Ralph Stanley Producer: Alison Brown Label: Compass Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
AJ Lee & Blue Summit Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Jason Carter Red Camel Collective Wyatt Ellis
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien Songwriters: Steve Martin, Alison Brown Producer: Alison Brown, Garry West Label: Compass Records
“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill Songwriter: Vince Gill Producers: Darin Aldridge, Mark Fain Label: Billy Blue Records
“Cora Is Gone” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski Featuring Rob McCoury, Billy Strings Songwriter: Mac Odell Producer: C.J. Lewandowski Label: Turnberry Records
“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts, Vince Gill Songwriters: Terry Herd, Jimmy Yeary Producers: Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland Label: Fiddle Man Records
“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, Alison Brown Songwriter: Ralph Stanley Producer: Alison Brown Label: Compass Records
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings Dan Tyminski Del McCoury Greg Blake Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
AJ Lee Alison Krauss Brooke Aldridge Jaelee Roberts Sierra Hull
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alison Brown Gena Britt Kristin Scott Benson Ron Block Tony Trischka
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Barry Bales Mike Bub Missy Raines Todd Phillips Vickie Vaughn
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Jason Carter Maddie Denton Michael Cleveland Stuart Duncan
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Andy Hall Jerry Douglas Justin Moses Matt Leadbetter Rob Ickes
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings Bryan Sutton Cody Kilby Molly Tuttle Trey Hensley
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alan Bibey Jesse Brock Ronnie McCoury Sam Bush Sierra Hull
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien Songwriters: Steve Martin, Alison Brown Producer: Alison Brown, Garry West Videographer: Joseph Spence Label: Compass Records
“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill Songwriter: Vince Gill Producer: Jenny Gill Videographer: Travis Flynn Label: Billy Blue Records
“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriter: Jerry Cole Producers: Bryce Free, Kyle Johnson Videographer: Bryce Free Label: Billy Blue Records
“Gallows Pole” – Appalachian Road Show Songwriter: Traditional, arr. Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve, Darrell Webb Producer: Steve Kinney Videographer: Steve Kinney Label: Billy Blue Records
“Tennessee Hound Dog” – The Grascals Songwriter: Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant Producer: Ty Gilpin Videographer: Nate Shuppert Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“The Auctioneer” – The Kody Norris Show Songwriters: Leroy Van Dyke, Buddy Black Producer: James Gilley Videographer: Nate Wiles Label: Rebel Records
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Hot Rize The Bluegrass Cardinals Arnold Schultz
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Alan Arthur Knoth Penny Parsons Ron Thomason Sidney Austin, LLP Missy Raines
The 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be held September 18, 2025 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Tickets and more information here.
Photo Credit: Alison Krauss by Randee St. Nicholas; Billy Strings by Dana Trippe.
This year, a new event will debut at the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina. Presented by IBMA and The Banjo Gathering, Roots Revival: Black Stringband Symposium will explore Black contributions to bluegrass and traditional music over two days of the week-long event with six especially programmed sessions.
On Thursday, September 26, conference-goers, virtual participants, and symposium attendees will engage with sessions like “Navigating Narratives: Being a Black Woman in Folk Music” and “Alive in the Archives.” On Friday, September 27 programming will include “Making Instruments” and “Journey of a Song,” featuring musicians Hubby Jenkins, Amy Alvey, and Mike Compton, as well as two special showcases: “Black Music in Appalachia” and “Beyond Bluegrass.” (See a full schedule with panel descriptions below.) Virtual passes for the symposium are available here, in person passes can be purchased here.
“First of all, I’m extremely excited to be part of this event,” said artist, scholar, and educator Brandi Waller-Pace, who will be participating in the symposium programming. “I’m happy to see something happening at IBMA that provides a platform for black people from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences to talk about all of these key things within these musical forms that we have been excluded and erased from. I really hope that this is the beginning of more widespread recognition and acknowledgment for our contributions in this field and for our own cultural reclamation.”
Other artists, creators, and experts on the symposium’s lineup include Art Bouman, Dena Ross Jennings, Kelle Jolly, Jen Larson, Valerie Díaz Leroy, Waller-Pace, Tray Wellington, Nelson Williams, and many more. Organizers Lillian Werbin, of the Banjo Gathering, Elderly Instruments, and Bluegrass Pride, and Kristina Gaddy, author of Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History, set out to spotlight the many ways in which Black musicians, builders, and researchers navigate bluegrass and traditional music spaces as they built the event from the ground up.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with IBMA on Roots Revival,” explains Gaddy via email. “We’ve put together these panels to highlight both the important history and contributions of Black Americans in bluegrass and traditional music, and to showcase how these traditions evolved over the 20th century and continue to be innovated by Black musicians in the 21st.”
“It is a humbling experience to bring these conversations forward,” added Werbin. “I am looking forward to hearing insight and delving into the experiences each panelist brings to the space.”
Sponsors from across the roots music landscape showed up in force to make the symposium happen, with programs supported by organizations and companies like the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, Bluegrass Pride, the DC Bluegrass Union, Folk Alliance International, Pisgah Banjos, and of course the IBMA Foundation, Elderly Instruments, IBMA, and the Banjo Gathering.
Roots Revival, the first event of its kind programmed in tandem with IBMA, will work to tell a more complete story about the origins and influences that shaped the bluegrass genre as we know it today. Make plans to attend World of Bluegrass and Roots Revival today.
Roots Revival: Black Stringband Symposium
Raleigh Convention Center (500 South Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC) Room 304
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 1:30PM – Welcome 2:00PM – “Navigating Narratives: Being a Black Woman in Folk Music”
“Navigating Narratives: Being a Black Woman in Folk Music” builds on the “Avoiding Tokenism in Trad Music” panel from 2023, and includes panel of Black women in the traditional music industry explores how they each build upon their experiences and the expectations placed upon them to create authentic representation in the industry.
3:30PM – “Alive in the Archives”
This panel will explore how Black bluegrass and folk musicians use source and archival recordings to bridge the gap in person-to-person transmission of music between Black musicians who were recorded in the 20th century and musicians today. Musicians and scholars will play some tunes and discuss their research methods and limitations.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 11:15AM – “Making Instruments”
Within the history of American traditional music, Black instrument builders have often been overlooked, from the creators of gourd banjos in early America to contemporary makers today. They will explore how building instruments honors the history of the music while making it more accessible to broader audiences.
12:45PM – “Journey of a Song”
This panel and showcase will explore how songs from the Black tradition became bluegrass standards. Musicians Amy Alvey, and Hubby Jenkins will play some songs and they’ll also be in conversation with cultural historians Valerie Díaz Leroy and Jen Larson, discussing how we can accurately and appropriately bring music’s history into our performances and recorded work.
2:15PM – “Black Music in Appalachia” Showcase
In this showcase, Black Appalachian musicians Dena Ross Jennings, Kelle Jolly, and Tray Wellington will be performing and discussing the influences the region has had on their music.
3:45PM – “Beyond Bluegrass” Showcase
In recent years, Arnold Shultz has been acknowledged as a core figure in Bluegrass history. This showcase features musicians Darcy Ford, Art Bouman, and Nelson Williams and how they build a diversity of styles and bring in other traditional music into their repertoire.
From February 21 to 25 the global folk music community will descend on Kansas City for Folk Alliance International’s 36th annual conference. This year, the event’s theme is Alchemy: A Transformative Force, as the non-profit organization puts it: “Showcasing the power of music to provide the change needed in the world.”
“The power of alchemy can manifest, for example, when an artist processes their individual pain into words and vibrations that connect and comfort listeners,” FAI continued via press release. “The alchemy theme invites us to lean into processes of discovery and experimentation and to think about how we nurture the sparks of creativity that light fires of change…”
Over five days at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center the conference will feature a variety of panels, keynote addresses, networking events, education, and – of course – limitless music. Between official and private showcases there will be reportedly more than 2,000 performances by folk musicians from across the genre spectrum. This year, there will also be a handful of summits held during the conference including a wellness summit, a legal summit, The Black American Music Summit, and the Indigenous Music Summit. The event’s keynote speakers include Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary), singer/composer and Grammy-winner Lucy Kalantari, and David Israelite (President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association).
BGS will be on hand for FAI 2024, as well! With our friends from Good Folk we’ll be hosting “The Good Room” (#717 at the Westin) featuring three nights of music celebrating Good Folk, BGS, and Good Country. See artists and performers like Nat Myers, Willi Carlisle, Kyshona, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Humbird, and many more Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at the conference. (Full schedule below.)
To prepare for the big week, we want to share a few events, artists, showcases, and highlights we’ve got on our schedule for next week’s Folk Alliance International in Kansas City. You can still register for the conference and join us as we celebrate and learn from folk music alchemy!
The International Folk Music Awards
On Wednesday, February 21, the opening day of the conference, the International Folk Music Awards will be handed out in an evening ceremony. Based on members’ votes, the organization will hand out awards for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year, as well as a handful of Spirit of Folk awards, several Lifetime Achievement honors, and inductions into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame. Plus, FAI hands out three very special, activism- and impact-geared recognitions as well: the Rising Tide Award (recipient Sara Curruchich), the People’s Voice Award (recipient Alynda Segarra), and the Clearwater Award (recipient LEAF Global Arts Festival).
Not attending FAI or able to make the IFMAs on Wednesday night? Do not worry! Like years prior, you will be able to stream the awards via Folk Alliance’s YouTube Channel.
For the first time since FAI 2020, the Indigenous Music Summit will return to the conference for an Indigenous Community Gathering. It’s something of a precursor of the organization’s banner 2024 event, to be held in what’s now called Toronto at the beginning of June. Though the gathering on Friday at Folk Alliance 2024 is open only to Indigenous delegates, there will be an IMS showcase also on Friday from 11:30pm to 2:30am in the Pershing Place ballroom that’s open to all attendees. Be sure to catch showcase performances by Mikhail Laxton, Ila Barker, Nimkii and the Niniis, Andrina Turenne, Olivia Komahcheet, and Shauit.
The Good Room
Good Folk LA, BGS, and Good Country combine to bring you three evenings of excellent roots music in room 717 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. See the full schedule for our private showcase above. The first night, programmed in partnership with Abby Litman of Good Folk LA, will feature Humbird, Hannah Connolly, and many more. Our BGS geared night will include bluegrass (AJ Lee & Blue Summit), country (Mary Bragg), blues (Nat Myers), and so many more styles and sounds. The final night, celebrating our new brand and email newsletter Good Country, will culminate with a rowdy and fun Hootenanny Jam, preceded by our current Artist of the Month Willi Carlisle, Kaïa Kater, Malachi Graham, and more.
We hope you’ll stop by room 717 while you’re at Folk Alliance to say hey, have a beer or seltzer, and enjoy some first class folk, bluegrass, country, and beyond.
Keynote Addresses
Folk Alliance always boasts a jaw-dropping slate of keynote addresses – as well as panels, discussions, affinity groups, and more. This year’s conference will continue that excellent track record with keynote addresses and conversations that feature five-time Grammy Award-winner Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary; two-time Grammy Award-winner and Latin Grammy nominee, Lucy Kalantari; and President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), David Israelite.
Hear Stookey in conversation with Deana McCloud on Thursday, February 22 at 2:00pm, as the pair chat about “Alchemy Through the Years.” Folk Alliance had this to say about the session in their official schedule: “Noel Paul Stookey has been altering both the musical and ethical landscape of this country and the world for decades – both as the ‘Paul’ of the legendary Peter, Paul and Mary and as an independent musician who passionately believes in bringing the spiritual into the practice of daily life.”
David Israelite will speak on the Value and Creativity of Creators on Friday, February 23 at 3:30pm, “[speaking] on the value to society of creativity and creators, addressing the needs of those benefiting from the use of music to support and respect the contributions of the folks making music.” The event description continues: “The importance of staying vigilant in the protection of our cultural contribution and providing for sustainability is key. We can’t allow for a ‘scorched earth policy’ that has become of the approach of certain music users because songwriters and music publishers, many of which are small businesses, need certainty and reliability on knowing what their income is and will be, in order to keep creating and providing society with the impactful alchemic process that it advances in communities globally.”
Finally on Saturday at 10:30am, Lucy Kalantari will speak on “Producing Alchemy” with Austin-based musician and activist SaulPaul facilitating the conversation. “Lucy Kalintari [will speak] on transforming creativity while helping artists transform stories and sounds. Explore the alchemy of an idea transmitted to an audience. She will [be] discussing the alchemy of collaboration, when artists work within a genre to push its conventions, and when artists cross ‘genres’ to collaborate.”
Folk Alliance proudly advertises their conference as gathering more than 2,000 showcases under one roof and, in the pantheon of music festivals, conferences, and the like they certainly stand out in the quality and efficacy of their showcases. Whether official or private, there are truly countless opportunities to hear the most buzzed about newcomers, true living legends, and newly discovered talents, too. Besides our own lineup for our private showcase in room 717 (see the schedule above), here are a few official and private showcasing artists we’re excited to catch at Folk Alliance.
We love Liv Greene’s music, especially this almost four-year-old number, and are really looking forward to their upcoming, yet-to-be-announced album. We’re hoping to catch some of that new material during Folk Alliance, so when you encounter this heartfelt, poetic songwriter during the conference, keep your ears open for new songs – we hear they are coming. (Read more about Liv in a recent Out Now interview.)
ISMAY
ISMAY’s pastoral, Northern California country is effortlessly raw and real – they did make it onto our “Three Chords and… Authenticity” Good Country playlist, after all. We’re excited to hear some of their just released album, Desert Pavement, at their Folk Alliance showcases as well as catching the screening of their new film, Finding Lucinda, on Friday at 3:30pm. Our own managing editor, Justin Hiltner, will lead the Q&A following the screening of the film, which tells a story of Lucinda’s remarkable path as a legendary artist through the eyes of ISMAY (AKA Avery Hellman.)
Mikhail Laxton
From Australia via Ottawa, soul-folk singer-songwriter Mikhail Laxton is a don’t miss showcase artist at this year’s conference. We already mentioned his set as part of the Indigenous Music Summit showcase, but he’s posted his full FAI schedule for addition to your day planner, as well.
Nat Myers
Have you heard modern bluesman Nat Myers’ music? This PBS News Hour episode is the perfect introduction to this Easy Eye Sound recording artist. (That’s Dan Auerbach’s label, by the way.) Myers’ brand of timeless, gristly, warm, and charming blues will be on perfect display in the halls of Folk Alliance, for sure.
Rainbow Girls
Fresh off their brand new album release late last year, folk-rock trio Rainbow Girls will be ready to welcome you to whatever in Kansas City. They’re a chosen family band that’s as charming as they are biting, sharp musicians and songwriters. Check out Rachel Baiman’s interview with the group ahead of their FAI appearances.
Viv & Riley
Viv & Riley are true old-time musicians, but their songs are always forward-looking, too. They’ve been a notable old-time, bluegrassy, string band duo for more than a few years, but we recently featured them on our column One to Watch because, well – you oughta be keeping an eye on ’em! Do so at Folk Alliance, you’ll thank us. Want more? We had them on Basic Folk recently, too!
Willie Watson
Our old pal Willie Watson will be at FAI this year!? Sign us up!! How is this iconic session nearly 10 years old, already? Good memories with Watson, for sure, and we’re just about ready to make some new ones in Kansas City.
(Editor’s Note: On Thursday, September 28, 2023, BGS contributor, musician, songwriter, and bluegrass industry leader Jon Weisberger presented BGS with IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award at the organization’s annual business conference. Below, enjoy Weisberger’s award presentation speech, adapted for print, and photos from the Industry Awards luncheon.)
The International Bluegrass Music Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award was created as the organization’s first honor, just a year after its 1985 founding. Among the first recipients were Bill Monroe, gospel songwriter Albert E. Brumley, and (now-BGS contributor) Neil V. Rosenberg.
After 1991, when the Hall of Honor (now the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame) was established, the DAA became a way to recognize a variety of accomplishments — a lifetime of achievement for many recipients, but also activities taking place in more compressed timespans, as when the Coen Brothers and T Bone Burnett were recipients in 2001 for the singular act of creating the film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and the accompanying soundtrack album. And while most of the recipients are people, some are entities, like WSM’s Grand Ole Opry (2000), the Station Inn (2003), and Bluegrass Unlimited magazine (2016).
Country Gongbang, of South Korea, perform during the IBMA Industry Awards Luncheon. (Photo by Rob Laughter)
Either way, the award criteria direct the selection committee to consider those who “have fostered bluegrass music’s image with developments that will broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility.” Further, the award criteria state, “Their contributions should be unique given the relative period of time in which they were made and should embody the spirit of one who pioneers or opens new possibilities for the music.” These are descriptions that fit the Bluegrass Situation perfectly.
Having celebrated its 10th anniversary just last year, this site contains an extensive amount of material that recalls a multitude of highlights from that first decade. So rather than recount them, I chose, when presenting the award—an invitation for which I’m deeply grateful — to recognize what Ed Helms, Amy Reitnouer Jacobs, their dedicated staff and many contributors have done to broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility and open new possibilities for the music is to look at why these things are important and how they have met the challenge.
For more than 50 years, bluegrass music has been dependent, for the renewal of its audiences and of its musicians, on exposure beyond its cloistered garden. From The Beverly Hillbillies through the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Circle album through the mainstream success of Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss to O Brother and, more recently, artists like Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings, our music has needed not only community-building institutions that cater to those already familiar with it, but a plethora of vehicles that expose new audiences to this music.
BGS executive director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs reacts to Jon Weisberger’s DAA presentation. Justin Hiltner, managing editor, looks on. (Photo by Willa Stein)
This is how many people, including many in the IBMA, first became aware of bluegrass, and in the past decade, no one has done more to introduce this music to new audiences than the Bluegrass Situation. By covering the broad range of roots music under its “bluegrass” rubric, and by insisting on presenting the full range of bluegrass music and musicians in all their diversity, the Sitch has invited hundreds of thousands into the fold — and the same is true of the events the Bluegrass Situation has organized and sponsored.
Indeed, one of the Sitch’s distinctive contributions has been its dual role as a chronicler of the broad array of bluegrass and related musical artists and as a presenter, bringing the artists and the music they make directly to audiences. Especially through its curated stages at major music festivals, the Bluegrass Situation has introduced thousands — tens of thousands by now — to artists like bluegrass Hall of Famers Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, and Sam Bush.
Amy Reitnouer Jacobs speaks to the Industry Awards Luncheon audience. (Photo by Dan Schram)
In this way, the Sitch has spent more than a decade devoted both to the important work of bringing a wide variety of roots music to audiences across the country and around the world, and to the important work of bringing the whole array of bluegrass artists, from Larry Sparks, Junior Sisk, Michael Cleveland, and High Fidelity to the Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Molly Tuttle, and Billy Strings to the attention of those attracted to the Sitch’s website and events by its coverage and presentation of all the other roots music artists within their purview. So, someone who visits the site to read an Allison Russell feature has an opportunity to learn about Lynn Morris, while another who attends the Bourbon & Beyond festival to see The Black Keys might have their ear caught by the sound of Dan Tyminski or The Cleverlys performing on the Sitch’s curated stage.
These are the kinds of connections — and the kind of day in, day out, year in and year out work — that, in the words of the Distinguished Achievement Award criteria, “broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility.” These are the ways in which bluegrass is able to draw in new generations of fans — and new generations of musicians and industry activists, too. For more than 10 years, now, Ed Helms, Amy Reitnouer Jacobs and the Bluegrass Situation have been doing the work, and all of us in the bluegrass community have benefitted from their efforts. It gave me great pleasure to present them with this award.
L to R: Justin Hiltner, Amy Reitnouer Jacobs, Jon Weisberger at the 2023 IBMA Industry Awards Luncheon. (Photo by Willa Stein)
Photos by Rob Laughter, Dan Schram, and Willa Stein as noted; Lead image of Hiltner, Reitnouer Jacobs, and Weisberger by Dan Schram; All photos courtesy of IBMA.
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