IBMA Board Band to perform in May

IBMA Board BandMany of us know that the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association is largely made up of bluegrass musicians, but how often do we get a chance to see them play?

Well anyone who’s in Nashville on May 11 will have an opportunity to catch The IBMA Board Band perform a special show at 5:30 p.m. at the Station Inn. On stage will be Alan Bartram, Becky Buller, Danny Clark, John Goad, Stephen Mougin, Joe Mullins, Tim Surrett, and Jon Weisberger. Special guests may appear, and fellow Board member Ben Surratt will handle the audio.

They are set to perform until 7:30 p.m., following a full day of meetings to handle IBMA business. No extensive rehearsals are planned, so it should be a fun, loose, jam-session environment.

Admission will be $12 at the door, and all proceeds will go to support the IBMA Youth Council. This is an officially sanctioned IBMA agency, responsible for outreach to young pickers and fans, plus with responsibility for youth activities during World of Bluegrass and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival each year. They receive only minimal funding from the organization, and will certainly welcome this additional source of funds.

Former (and acting) IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell started the Youth Council a few years ago, and shared a few words about the importance of their work.

“Many of us involved in leadership roles in the bluegrass music industry started out as young musicians. For a variety of reasons, not all of us end up performing professionally—but we do end up starting bluegrass-related businesses; running labels, associations and events; building instruments and a variety of other things in the bluegrass world. If our teen and 20-something members can start networking with each other now to plan and organize events that offer value to young IBMA members and World of Bluegrass attendees now, it will benefit them as future industry leaders in the future. We need to teach our next generation to organize, network and lead, as well as play music together, because they’ll be filling our shoes soon.”

So if you’re in Nashville on May 11, show your support for the IBMA – and their Youth Council – and enjoy some quality bluegrass at the Station Inn.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.