The ‘long EWOB period’ (30 April–5 June) ended with the 24th Big Bear Festival at Zuidlaren, the Netherlands. Eighteen festivals in five countries, along with scores of other events over the continent, formed part of EWOB 2006.
New events this year included Bluegrass Fest 2006 (www.bluegrassfest.sk), held on 13 May in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, with well known bands from the Czech and Slovak Republics, Austria, and the Netherlands; and the 1st Bluegrass in Basel Festival on 2 June in Basel, Switzerland, with bands from the USA, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. EWOB 2006 also included long-established festivals such as Big Bear, the 15th Annual International Music Festival Dobrofest in Trnava, Slovak Republic, and the 41st Pfingstfestival in Neusüdende, Germany.
A strong growth in support was noticeable: ticket sales at the Ninth EWOB Festival at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, were up by more than 25 per cent over the 2005 figure, while the 7th Spring Bluegrass Festival at Willisau, Switzerland, did even better as the bands played to a sold-out crowd—ticket sales increased by a third over 2005.
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Ninth EWOB Festival: Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, 25–27 May 2006
At the EBMA’s EWOB Festival & Trade Show in Voorthuizen the following titles were awarded:
#1 European Bluegrass Band 2006
2. 4 Wheel Drive (NL; winners in 2002)
Audience Popularity Award
1. 4 Wheel Drive (NL)
The EBMA’s fifth Annual General Membership Assembly took place on 25 May at 6.00 p.m.. The financial report and budget were approved, and the existing board and the auditors were elected for a further year. Tthe open meeting on 26 May at 11.00 a.m. introduced a new and effective method of reporting and assessing the state of bluegrass in the different countries, devised and proposed by Petr Brandejs, EBMA vice-chair.
Angelika Torrie, EBMA treasurer and operator of A.R.T. Promotions, together with Dan Dorschel from Denmark, hosted a special get-together of bluegrass event producers and promoters from all over Europe to discuss the current situation and strengthen the ties already established.
The winning ticket in the raffle for the Gibson A-9 mandolin was drawn on 10 June. The winner is Petra Klepper from Emmen, NL with raffle number 0477. The instrument was given to her at the Gibson Europe Head Office
Bidding for the Gibson Hound Dog guitar, Deering Vega Little Wonder banjo, and Lebeda F5 Premium Plus mandolin will remain open till the end of October 2006.
Deering Vega Little Wonder 5-string banjo: highest bid at the moment is 600 euros.
Gibson Hound Dog dobro guitar: highest bid at the moment is 590 euros.
Lebeda F5 Premium Plus Mandolin: highest bid at the moment is 1600 euros.
The organisers reserve the right to sell any instrument earlier in response to a very convincing bid. Any instruments unsold by 31 October will be sold to the highest bidder at that time. All correspondence to Rienk Janssen (rienk @ ebma.org; tel +31 599 312663).