This evening in Chattanooga, TN, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards were given to deserving winners in the bluegrass community for their efforts over the past year, as voted by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
The show, hosted by the mandolin-heavy team of Sam Bush and Sierra Hull, also featured performances by top acts like Sister Sadie, The Del McCoury Band, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Sierra Hull, a Sam Bush All-Star band, and Patty Loveless with Sister Sadie, Stuart Duncan, and Justin Moses, plus an all hands finale.
The show also honored the newest inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Byron Berline, Barry Poss, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, and The Lost & Found.
And the winners are:
New Artist Of The Year – Mason Via
Guitar Player of the Year – Cody Kilby
Gospel Recording Of The Year – Some Day – Blue Highway (artist); Olive Stockton/Tim Stafford (writers); Blue Highway/Dan Boner (producers); Rounder Records (label)
Banjo Player of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
Female Vocalist Of The Year – Jaelee Roberts
Collaborative Recording of the Year – Broken Angels – The Grascals and Dolly Parton (artists); Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson (writers); Kent Wells (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)
Bass Player of the Year – Mike Bub
Instrumental Recordings of the Year – Big Daddy Rabbit – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Feat. Nathan Livers) (artist); Nathan Livers (writer); Michael Cleveland (producer); Yeah Man Records (label)
Vocal Group of the Year – Authentic Unlimited
Mandolin Player of the Year – Sierra Hull
Instrumental Group of the Year – East Nash Grass
Male Vocalist of the Year – Greg Blake
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year – Justin Moses
Music Video of the Year – The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap – Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (artists); John Thomas Crain, Charles Edward Daniels, William Joel DiGregorio, Fred Laroy Edwards, Charles Fred Hayward, James W Marshall (writers); Bryan Sutton (producer); Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation (animator)
Fiddle Player of the Year – Andy Leftwich
Song of the Year – Can’t Outrun the Blues – Trey Hensley (artist); Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes (writers); Pinecastle Records; (label), Brent Maher (producer)
Album of the Year – All God’s Children – East Nash Grass (artist); Jake Stargel/East Nash Grass (producers); Mountain Fever Records (label)
Entertainer of the Year – Billy Strings
Congratulations one and all!
