IBMA

Along with about 100,00 other people, I attended IBMA in Raleigh at the end of September. I’m reliably informed that it wasn’t 100 million people but it certainly felt that way. Crowds were a big part of the theme this year and that’s great, because crowds of people...

IBMA – The Bluegrass Wonderland

It’s not surprising that bluegrass music – with its tons of local associations – also has an all-encompassing international association as well. However, the local bluegrass associations and societies are primarily fan-based. They provide a focal point for like-minded...

IBMA – Three Keynote Addresses

At the recently concluded IBMA World of Bluegrass meetings in Nashville, three keynote addresses were scheduled to set the tone. Together, the three speeches described a bluegrass arc from our blugrass past to several ideas about what our future could and might look...

IBMA – Where Bluegrass Gets Done

Right now – right NOW, the IBMA World of Bluegrass is going on in Raleigh, North Carolina. You remember Raleigh, right, from the Andy Griffith Show? If Sheriff Andy Taylor had important state business, he had to go to Raleigh to do it. County stuff could could...

IBMA 2012 Report

Dear Friends, I was unable to file my IBMA report for last month’s 1st Monday Welcome Column, so at the risk of offering up ancient history I will unburden myself herewith. There’s much to say about the biggest event of the bluegrass year, but I think it is most...