IBMA 2011

Of all the great jam sessions during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass this week, the hottest of all took place Friday night when Clay Hess gathered with some friends to celebrate the release of his solo project, Rain. And what friends they

We also heard from Bryan Sutton this morning, who like Rob Ickes, was unable to attend Thursday's IBMA Awards Show and receive his trophy. Bryan's Guitar Player of the Year award was accepted by his Hot Rize bandmate Pete Wernick,

Rob Ickes asked us to share this note regarding his absence at Thursdays IBMA Awards show, and his resulting inability to accept the 2011 Dobro Player of the Year award in person. "I wish I could have been at the awards

Roy Swann has sent along another fine batch of photos from the 2011 IBMA Awards show.

When I'm not seeking truth and justice as the Assistant Prosecutor for Lincoln County, West Virginia, my wife Valerie and I are putting all our energy into re-launching the music career we deferred twenty-five years ago to raise a family in a stable,

Dear IBMA, Please stop asking the most accomplished artists in our business to read corny lines from a teleprompter, or to engage in cringe-inducing banter for the sake of a light-hearted awards show. Last night's production made Hee-Haw look like high art. Nashville is

Graham Sharp, banjo player with Steep Canyon Rangers, asked us to share these words of gratitude on behalf of the band regarding their selection, along with Steve Martin, as the 2011 IBMA Entertainer of the Year. "Standing on stage at the

Here is another batch of pictures from last night's International Bluegrass Music Awards at The Ryman in Nashville, taken by Roy Swann.    

This batch comes from noted Virginia photographer Dean Hoffmeyer.

A few impressions of Thursday night's IBMA awards, in no particular order: The folks at IBMA put on another nice evening, and Sam Bush was his usual likable self as host. But no one will ever change the fact that all