Wednesday was another day of overwhelming options with so many cool things to see and learn about. There were the obvious music showcases of performers, the Momentum Awards Luncheon, and workshops on many aspects of the business.
One of the things I find people often have very positive feedback on are the receptions where bands and DJs can meet, song writers can meet each other, agents and talent buys can mingle, or the international musicians can meet and greet. Those networking opportunities are worth their weight in gold for some folks.
A pleasant and unexpected option for the day also involved some free health care screenings, which for many people trying to make a living in bluegrass music were warmly welcomed. Many industry professionals took advantage of the eye exams, dental check ups, and/or had custom ear plugs made which were all free for conference participants. I saw the many happy faces of participants taking advantage of these wonderful offerings, and commenting on what a fantastic service it was to have at World of Bluegrass. Music Cares was responsible for the Healthy Essentials program which provided the dentistry and the custom ear plugs and is the charitable arm of the Grammies.
Also on Wednesday, the exhibition hall opened up with its smorgasbord of yummy instruments to savor, and innovators offering new services and ideas. One such company is called Tune Fox. Bennett Sulivan and Jirka Markalous invented a new app to help people find new ideas on the banjo. It is presently available for IOS devices, but a web version will be coming soon. One of the aspects of this app that sets it apart is the ability to quickly discover different styles for a tune, and can see and hear the tab play o your device. You can look at a song transcribed in Scruggs style, then can click a button to change to a melodic or more bluesy style. For the week of IBMA they are offering the app at a discounted price of $5.99. One does not need to be at the convention or a member of any organizations to get the discount either. More details can be found online.
Here are a few video clips of music from the Momentum Awards show for your viewing and listening pleasure. (The awards were covered in more depth in two earlier Bluegrass Today stories.)
Presley Barker and Wayne Henderson…
Loose Strings at the Momentum Awards luncheon…
Shadowgrass at the Momentum Awards luncheon…
Menefee, Grier, McDowell, and Abernathy…
