Bluegrass Blog’s IBMA Coverage Provides Unique Perspective

The Bluegrass Blog has now issued five different episodes of it’s coverage on the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards that took place earlier in October.

Host Katy Daley speaks briefly with many of the stars of the bluegrass industry, including the award show’s host Del McCoury and Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, who as a duo won seven different awards.

Although Daley revolves much of her conversation around “So, who are you wearing tonight?” the interactions between her and the musicians provide a rare, intimate perspective.

Not often in Del McCoury asked to “take a spin” and show off his clothing.

Much of the interaction between Daley and the artists seams awkward, which comes as no surprise. Bluegrass artists typically don’t chat about their hair-stlyer or the brand of shoes they’re wearing.

Daley presents more of a “red carpet” persona in her interviews and is generally uninformed about which artists are performing where and when and which artists are nominated for awards.

It is also noticeable when Daley does know what she’s talking about, as she makes a point to show her previous affiliations with certain artists.

See for yourself on the Bluegrass Blog’s Web site. You will be entertained by the interactions between Daley and the artists.

IBMA Award Winners

Yesterday marked the end of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s fan festival in Nashville, Tenn.

The festival lasted three days and hosted more than 60 live performances, including the majority of artists who attended the awards ceremony.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards were presented Friday, Oct 3 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

Also performing was Del McCoury, who hosted the event and was nominated for Entertainer of the Year with his family band, the Del McCoury Band.

Dailey and Vincent effectively stole the show, winning seven awards in their first year as a performing duo. Listed below is a complete listing of the musical award winners.

Entertainer of the Year - Dailey and Vincent

Vocal Group of the Year – Dailey and Vincent

Instrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

Male Vocalist of the Year – Jamie Dailey

Female Vocalist of the Year – Dale Ann Bradley

Song of the Year – “Through the Window of a Train,” Blue Highway (artist), Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley (songwriters)

Album of the Year – Dailey & Vincent, Dailey and Vincent

Recorded Event of the Year - Everett Lily & Everybody and their Brother

Instrumental Album of the Year – Sound of the Slide Guitar, Andy Hall.

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – “By the Mark,” Dailey and Vincent

Emerging Artist of the Year – Dailey and Vincent.

Instrumental Performers of the Year

Banjo – Kristen Scott Benson

Fiddle – Michael Cleveland

Guitar – Josh Williams

Dobro – Rob Ickes

Mandolin – Adam Steffey

Bass – Barry Bales

For a more complete listing of award recipients from the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards, visit their Web site.

Del McCoury to host IBMAs

Del McCoury, one of the last great Bluegrass legends of the founding generation, will host the International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) on October 2.

Del, dubbed “the king” of today’s Bluegrass by mandolin player Sam Bush, is hosting the most important Bluegrass awards ceremony as a commemoration of his fiftieth anniversary of an active Bluegrass career.

As pictured in the photograph to the left, Del performed last year at the IBMAs with his band, The Del McCoury Band. Del’s supporting cast includes his eldest son Rob on banjo and his youngest, Ronnie, on mandolin.

Jason Carter plays fiddle and Alan Bertram holds down the rhythm on bass fiddle. The band will play at the Grand Ole Opry Sept. 26, 27 and 30 in the week leading up to the IBMAs.

Del has won nine Entertainer of the Year awards at the IBMAs and is nominated this year as well.

Now 69 years old, Del has enjoyed one of the most successful Bluegrass careers; having been a part of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in his youth and now having shared the stage with his sons for a decade, Del would say, “it just doesn’t get much better.”