2012 was the first year that the International Bluegrass Music Association offered its Momentum Awards, a new honor devised to highlight up-and-comers in the bluegrass world. It’s not really part of the annual IBMA awards, just an opportunity to give a nod to artists and industry folks worthy of mention at the start of their careers.
Recognizing that new faces in bluegrass can pop up at any age, the awards are not specifically targeted at young people, though it makes sense that many of the nominees and award winners going forward will probably be closer to that demographic.
There is as yet no formal ballot process to choose these winners, but the IBMA is asking for suggestions from the membership and the wider bluegrass community to help select possible nominees in the following categories:
Industry
- One up-and-coming professional
- One new festival or venue
- One established musician or professional providing exceptional mentoring
Performance
- Three instrumentalists (traditional or non-traditional bluegrass instruments)
- One vocalist
- One band
Selections for both nominees and winners will be made by a special committee, headed up by Dan Keen of BMI and Echo Propp of WAMU. Nominees will be announced during the August 14 IBMA awards press conference at Music City Roots.
If you have a suggestion for someone, or several folks, who you think may be worthy of a Momentum Award, please contact Joe Lurgio at IBMA by email by Monday afternoon (7/29).
