The International Bluegrass Music Assocaiation has announced the nominees for the 17th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards.
The nominations are more evenly spread among prominent acts this year, with no one running away with the lead. Repeating as last year’s most nominated artist, Alison Krauss & Union Station leads the pack with 7, followed by Blue Highway with 6. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage each garnered a total of 5, followed by last year’s surprise Entertainer Of The Year Cherryholmes with 4.
The awards will be presented on Thursday September 28 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN, in an awards show and gala hosted by Marty Stuart. The IBMA is excited about finally being able to hold the awards show in a larger hall this year, and tickets should be far more widely available to the general public than had been the case in years past.
Bluegrass Today is providing expanded coverage of the nominations for these awards, with posts that include the names of each nominee, along with links to their web sites, bios and audio, in each of the 17 award categories. We hope that this coverage will aid members of the press who will be reporting on the awards, as well as IBMA members who want to do some research before casting their votes.
The list of nominees for the Special Awards will be posted shortly.
To view the nominees, click on the (more…) link at the end of this sentence, or click on the title of the post.
Entertainer Of The Year
This award is for a performing act who displayed the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voters should give consideration to recorded and in-person performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and over-all contributions to the bluegrass music image. The award goes to member(s) of the performing act.
The nominees for Entertainer Of The Year for 2006 are:
Cherryholmes | web site | bio | audio |
The Grascals | web site | bio | audio |
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | web site | bio | audio |
The Del McCoury Band | web site | bio | audio |
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage | web site | bio 1 bio 2 | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Vocal Group Of The YearThe award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of vocal performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform vocally. The award goes to each group member.
The nominees for Vocal Group Of The Year for 2006 are:
Blue Highway | web site | bio | audio |
The Grascals | web site | bio | audio |
Alison Krauss & Union Station | web site | bio | audio |
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | web site | bio | audio |
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage | web site | bio 1 bio 2 | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Instrumental Group Of The YearThe award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of instrumental performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform instrumentals. The award goes to each group member.
The nominees for Instrumental Group Of The Year for 2006 are:
Blue Highway | web site | bio | audio |
Alison Krauss & Union Station | web site | bio | audio |
The Del McCoury Band | web site | bio | audio |
Mountain Heart | web site | bio | audio |
| Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder | web site | bio 1 bio 2 | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Male Vocalist Of The YearAward for the outstanding male vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.
The nominees for Male Vocalist Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Ronnie Bowman | web site | bio | audio |
Russell Moore | web site | bio | audio |
Tim O’Brien | web site | bio | audio |
Marty Raybon | web site | bio | audio |
| Larry Sparks | web site | bio | audio |
Dan Tyminski | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Female Vocalist Of The YearThe award for the outstanding female vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.
The nominees for Female Vocalist Of The Year for 2006 are:
Dale Ann Bradley | web site | bio | audio |
Sonya Isaacs | web site | bio | audio |
Alison Krauss | web site | bio | audio |
Claire Lynch | web site | bio | audio |
Rhonda Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Song Of The YearThis award is for any song, new or old, which was released or showed significant chart action within the eligibility period. Any song which has been nominated for this award in previous years is ineligible. The award goes to the songwriter and artist.
The nominees for Song Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Song Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Songwriter(s) links to writer(s) |
| Brand New Heartache | Cherryholmes | Cia Cherryholmes |
| He Lives In Me | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | Frances P. Simpson |
| Look Down That Lonesome Road | Tim O’Brien | Tim O’Brien |
| Marbletown | Blue Highway | Mark Knopfler |
| Train Long Gone | Claire Lynch | Dennis Linde |
Review past recipients of this award.
Album Of The YearAward for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists, first commercially released during the specified time period (Award to artist(s), producer, and label).
The nominees for Album Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Album Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Celebration of Life Musicians Against Childhood Cancer | Various | Skaggs Family |
| Cherryholmes | Cherryholmes | Skaggs Family |
| Cornbread Nation | Tim O’Brien | Sugar Hill |
| Let ‘Er Go Boys | Michael Cleveland | Rounder |
| Marbletown | Blue Highway | Rounder |
Review past recipients of this award.
Instrumental Album Of The YearThis award is for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists featuring instrumental music, new or old, first commercially released during the eligibility period. An album project is eligible when 50% or more of its songs are instrumental performances. (Award to featured artist(s), producer, and label):
The nominees for Instrumental Album Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Album Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| The Best Kept Secret | Jerry Douglas | Koch |
| Hide Head Blues | Jim Mills | Sugar Hill |
| Let ‘Er Go Boys | Michael Cleveland | Rounder |
| Not Too Far From The Tree A Collection of Guitar Duets with Heroes and Friends | Bryan Sutton | Sugar Hill |
| Three Ring Circle | Rob Ickes, Andy Leftwich &Dave Pomeroy | Earwave |
Review past recipients of this award.
Recorded Event Of The YearThis award is for a recorded album performance on which 50% or more of the songs represent special collaboration between two or more featured artists (individuals or groups) who do not regularly record together and who are known primarily for their contributions and public performances separate from one another. These acts must have performed together, as a unit, on a musical recording released during the eligibility period with each separate act receiving special billing on the record label and/or songs on which they are featured. (Award to featured acts, producer and label):
The nominees for Recorded Event Of The Year for 2006 are:
Review past recipients of this award.
Gospel Recorded Performance Of The YearThis award is for an outstanding gospel recorded performance, of one or more songs, new or old, first commercially released or showed significant chart action during the eligibility period. Recorded performance may be vocal, instrumental, or a combination of both. The award goes to the featured artist(s), producer, and label.
The nominees for Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Song Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Gettin’ Ready | BlueRidge | Pinecastle |
| He Goes To Church | Cherryholmes | Skaggs Family |
| He Lives In Me | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | Crossroads |
| Lazarus | Blue Highway | Rounder |
| When The Morning Comes | Paul Williams & The Victory Trio | Rebel |
Review past recipients of this award.
Emerging Artist Of The YearAward for a group or individual, new to the national bluegrass scene, which has made considerable advances artistically and/or commercially during the eligibility period. The band or individual should be performing under its/his/her name on a regular basis and not have more than two previous finalist nominations for this award. (Award to each group member or individual):
The nominees for Emerging Artist Of The Year for 2006 are:
3 Fox Drive | web site | bio | audio |
Audie Blaylock & Redline | web site | bio | audio |
Blue Moon Rising | web site | bio | audio |
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper | web site | bio | audio |
Steep Canyon Rangers | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
Instrumental Performers Of The Year
The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. Nominations and awards will be made in six (6) sub-categories: Banjo, Bass, Dobro, Fiddle, Guitar and Mandolin. The awards go to the artists.
The nominees for Banjo Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Terry Baucom | web site | bio | audio |
| Ron Block | web site | bio | audio |
| J.D. Crowe | web site | bio | audio |
| Jim Mills | web site | bio | audio |
| Sammy Shelor | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
The nominees for Bass Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
| Barry Bales | web site | bio | audio |
| Mike Bub | web site | bio | |
| Jason Moore | web site | bio | audio |
| Missy Raines | web site | bio | audio |
| Marshall Wilborn | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
The nominees for Fiddle Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
Hunter Berry | web site | bio | audio |
Jason Carter | web site | bio | audio |
Michael Cleveland | web site | bio | audio |
Stuart Duncan | web site | bio | audio |
| Ron Stewart | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
The nominees for Dobro Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
Mike Auldridge | web site | bio | audio |
Jerry Douglas | web site | bio | audio |
Rob Ickes | web site | bio | audio |
Randy Kohrs | web site | bio | audio |
Phil Leadbetter | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
The nominees for Guitar Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
Jim Hurst | web site | bio | audio |
| Tony Rice | web site | bio | audio |
| Kenny Smith | web site | bio | audio |
| Bryan Sutton | web site | bio | audio |
| Josh Williams | web site | bio | audio |
Review past recipients of this award.
The nominees for Mandolin Player Of The Year for 2006 are:
