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IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS BEGINS TODAY

Bluegrass Artists, Fans and Industry Eagerly Anticipate Full Week Including Business Conference, 20^th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show and Bluegrass Fan Fest

NASHVILLE, TENN.  (September 28, 2009)--It's the highlight of the year for bluegrass musicians and songwriters, industry executives, fans and enthusiasts.  The International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) annual World of Bluegrass events, including the IBMA Business Conference, the 20^th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium and Bluegrass Fan Fest, begin today and continue through October 4 at the Nashville Convention Center.  Last year, World of Bluegrass drew over 20,000 attendees, including representatives from all 50 states and 15 countries.

The 20^th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, co-hosted by Grammy^®-winning Kathy Matteaand the legendary bluegrass band Hot Rize, will be held on October 1 at the Ryman Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Awards will be presented in 17 categories, recognizing excellence in the bluegrass genre over the past year.  TheLonesome Pine Fiddlers and The Dillards will be inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.  The show promises an evening of warm memories and opportunities to recall highlights from the award show's 20-year history, as well as stellar performances by Mattea and Hot Rize, along with Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Del McCoury, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, The Dan Tyminski Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, G2 Bluegrass Band, The Gibson Brothers, Danny Paisley and Junior Sisk, and Sierra Hull & Highway 111.  

Awards show tickets are available for purchase by calling the Ryman box office at 615-889-3060 or Ticketmaster at 615-255-9600. 

The awards show will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio on Bluegrass Junction (Sirius channel 65, XM channel 14) and syndicated to more than 300 stations across the U.S. and around the world.  National sponsors for the show include Martha White, GHS Strings, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos, Bluegrass Music Profiles and the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

The IBMA Business Conference (Monday, September 28 - Thursday, October 1), sponsored by Bluegrass Unlimited and D'Addario Strings, is the only convention focusing on the business of this unique genre, featuring artist showcases, professional development seminars, member constituency meetings, networking sessions, late-night showcases, jam sessions and more.  There is also an exhibit hall with over 100 booths operated by instrument manufacturers, booking agencies, record labels, bluegrass publications and others.

According to recent data from Simmons Research, the number of bluegrass fans has increased 16% during the past two years, totaling 20,000,000 in the U.S. alone. 

The theme for this year's business conference is simply "Finding Answers in Today's Music Market," and a new Open Forum will kick off the convention on Monday, September 28.  

Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher will deliver the keynote address for this year's business conference on September 28.  Fisher, who respects the traditions of country and bluegrass music, is an astute businessman and manager who has been instrumental in helping the Opry survive, evolve and thrive during the past decade.

 

More than 300 showcase performances are planned during the conference.  It's the best place to introduce new acts, new songs and new recordings, and connect with key decision makers for bookings, media, broadcast and distribution.  Showcases from Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Audie Blaylock & Redline, The Bankester Family, The Crowe Brothers, The Davidson Brothers, G2 Bluegrass Band, Gold Heart, Donna Hughes, The Martins, The Quebe Sisters Band, Billy Boone Smith and Spring Creek will be featured during the week, in addition to scores of privately-hosted shows.  For a full showcase schedule, visithttp://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/afterhours.asp

Over 20 seminars will provide a spirited forum on topics ranging from key legislative issues to market research, broadcasting, product endorsements, event production and contract issues, social network marketing, and much more.  Special events include a Gig Fair (described by participants as "speed dating between event producers and talent reps"), a DJ Taping Session, Songwriter Circles, Mentor Sessions, a Crash Course for Artists, a Crash Course for Bluegrass Songwriters and a Health Fair.   New to the program for 2009, IBMA has added educational labs, presenting an opportunity to get hands-on experience using skills discussed in seminars and to demonstrate new tools and technology.  For a full business conference schedule, visithttp://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/schedule.asp.

The Special Awards Luncheon, to be held on October 1, recognizes Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year, Bluegrass Event of the Year, Print Media Person of the Year, Best Graphic Design for Recorded Projectand Best Liner Notes for Recorded Project, along with the year's recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award, an honor which recognizes individuals, groups and businesses for ground-breaking work and fostering the music's image and accessibility.  This year's Distinguished Achievement Award recipients include two former members of Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys, Hylo Brown and Jody Rainwater--the latter who also pursued a career in radio.  Pati Crooker is a long-time bluegrass festival producer from Maine; Dick Spottswood is an author, musicologist and Washington, D.C. radio personality; and Joe Wilson is known for his accomplishments as a folklore advocate and presenter.

Bluegrass Fan Fest, sponsored in part by Special Design Health Care, Martha White, Martin Guitars, Pinecastle Records, Knee Deep in Bluegrass, WSM-AM 650 and The Tennessean, will be held from October 2-4.  Inside the comfortable setting of the Nashville Convention Center, fans will enjoy music from more than 60 phenomenal acts on three stages, including the Main Stage, the Masters Workshop Stage and the Grand Master Fiddler Championship.  Performing artists confirmed at press time include Dailey & Vincent, The Del McCoury Band, The Grascals, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dale Ann Bradley, Cherryholmes, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, J.D. Crowe & The New South, Mountain Heart, John McEuen, The Dan Tyminski Band, Adam Steffey & Special Guests, The Infamous Stringdusters, The SteelDrivers, Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Ronnie Bowman, Joe Diffie, The Kruger Brothers, Cadillac Sky, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Bradley Walker, Alecia Nugent, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Larry Stephenson Band, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Lou Reid & Carolina, Danny Paisley & Southern Grass, Missy Raines & the New Hip, Balsam Ridge, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Grasstowne, Audie Blaylock & Redline, NewFound Road, Special Consensus, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Sierra Hull & Highway 111, Sarah Jarosz, Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, The Randy Kohrs Band, Blue Moon Rising, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, The Dixie Bee-Liners, Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman, The Jeanette Williams Band, G2 Bluegrass Band, Pam Gadd, The Crowe Brothers, Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, The Church Sisters, A Carter Family Tribute featuring Special Guests and Kids on Bluegrass 2009.   For a complete schedule, visithttp://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/fanfest.asp.

In addition to the exciting music and opportunities to interact with artists face-to-face after they perform, Fan Fest attendees will enjoy visiting a bluegrass music-themed exhibit hall with more than 100 booths, taking part in a number of special promotions and giveaways, and of course jamming with musicians of all ages and levels of expertise.

Proceeds from Fan Fest ticket sales benefit the Bluegrass Trust Fund, established to help bluegrass professionals during times of emergency need, as well as IBMA's marketing and educational events during the year. All artists appearing at the event donate their time and talents for the cause.  Tickets are available on-site at the Nashville Convention Center on October 2 and 3 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.  For additional information and pricing visit www.ibma.org.

Returning to the festival is the popular Fan Feast breakfast on Friday morning, Oct. 2.  For only $20, fans can enjoy breakfast served by the biggest stars in bluegrass.

IBMA is the bluegrass music industry's non-profit trade organization with over 2,500 members in over 30 countries including artists, composers, labels, broadcasters, educators, association leaders, publishers, merchandisers, luthiers, journalists, agents, managers, events producers and others.