Congratulations to the LBG class of 2010!

The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2010.

Leadership Bluegrass 2010, hosted 9-11 March at BMI in Nashville, Tennessee, was facilitated by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and professional meeting facilitator, who was also the chosen moderator for the IBMA's International Bluegrass Summit of 2008 and for the first European Bluegrass Summit in 2009.

The 2010 class includes Chris Keenan of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, held annually in Longford, Ireland, since 2002. Chris is the only European entrant this year and one of only three class members from outside the USA. In the above photo by the IBMA's Nancy Cardwell, Chris is second from the right in the second row from the front. More details will be appearing on the IBMA website.

European Bluegrass Directory, 2010/2011

A reminder that all entries for the eighth edition (2010/2011) of the EBMA's European Bluegrass Directory should be delivered to Thierry Schoysman not later than the end of this month, which is also the end of this week.

More details appeared on the EBB on 14 January 2010. Contact Thierry by e-mail.

2nd European Bluegrass Summit at Bühl, Germany, 5–7 Feb. 2010

Summit attenders on the Schütte-Keller stage after the concert on 6 Feb. (photo: Daniela Busam)

Following the success of the first European Bluegrass Summit in February 2009, a second Summit was held on 5-7 February 2010 under the auspices of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA), with objectives that included the following:

* To provide an opportunity for a wide audience of up to forty participants to meet face to face, bond, and get to know each other,
* To follow up on issues and decisions taken at last year’s summit, and to identify and explore other areas of common concern,
* To exchange information about existing local projects to provide tool kits to each other.

As in 2009, Bühl/Baden, in southern Germany, was the location. Bühl city council, which hosts the annual Bühl International Bluegrass Festival, placed first-rate facilities in Bühl Civic Centre at the disposal of the Summit, free of charge. Thirty people from twelve countries - including Rienk Janssen, IBMA board member, and John Wirtz, chair of the IBMA international committee - came at their own expense to take active part in the Summit, and were welcomed to Bühl by the mayor, Herr Hans Striebel. In two days of intense discussion, participants identified the following subjects as matters of priority, and examined them in working groups:

* Associations and membership, including the future structure of the EBMA and its relationship with national associations;
* The future form of a European bluegrass magazine and website;
* The involvement of young people in bluegrass;
* Festivals (including sponsorship and legal issues) and the promotion in the US of bluegrass from Europe and other non-US regions.

A bluegrass concert starring Blackjack (CZ), sponsored by the city of Bühl and provided free of charge to the Summit and its participants, was held on Saturday 6 February at 8.00 p.m. in the Schütte-Keller, a focal point of bluegrass activity in Bühl.

At 1.00 p.m. on Sunday 7 February, proceedings ended among a general spirit of friendship and common purpose. The work groups will continue to develop proposals to the EBMA board or for a more general purpose. There was full agreement that the second Summit had been successful in carrying constructive cooperation a stage further, and plans are being made for a third Summit in February 2010. Comments from attenders included:

'I am really pleased with some of the points discussed at this second meeting and it is obvious that we now have an established event to allow for open discussion of the issues that concern us all in Europe and in our different countries.'
'I think we've placed another milestone in establishing a Pan-European bluegrass awareness and legacy, and I see our small but strong community making each time little but significant steps forward.'
'I'm really excited about the next two years and I think Buhl is going to become a central part of the European bluegrass calendar.'
'Good meeting and I feel good about the future.'
'I was so moved all three days feeling the European spirit during the discussions and during the jam sessions.'

Many photos taken during the Summit, a report by Friedrich Hog (in German) on the Blackjack concert, and coverage in the local press can all be seen here.

IBMA asks (and answers): 'Where are we?'

Thanks to Dan Hays, executive director of IBMA, who has issued the following figures:

Top 10 Locations of IBMA Professional Members in countries other than the US:

Canada - 47
Japan - 15
Australia - 13
England - 13
Italy - 9
Denmark - 7
Germany - 7
Switzerland - 7
Netherlands - 6
Ireland - 6

Norway, France, and the Czech Republic would tie for the top 10 with just a couple more pro members.

We have pro members in 22 countries and are especially proud of our 1 member in South America (Brazil). I believe he has more square miles to cover than anyone!

The EBB cordially supports the South American member, Erio Meili of Brazil's Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association, who replies to Dan Hays: 'Cheers and keep up with your good job.'

IMFCON in Amsterdam, 8-9 Apr. 2010

Rienk Janssen reports that the International Music Festival Conference to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 8-9 April 2010, welcomes speakers from all festivals in all musical genres. For more details, see the European Bluegrass Blog for 16 Dec. 2009. For any questions or comments, please contact:

Wyatt Royce
Conference Program Manager
International Music Festival Conference
+1 561-748-6775
e-mail

European Bluegrass Directory, 2010/2011

Dear bluegrasser,

Every two years the EBMA edits a directory containing useful bluegrass contacts in Europe: bands, clubs, festivals, luthiers, promoters, radios, associations, publications... It is now time to prepare the 2010 update.

I'm looking for people in every European country who can help updating the data of their region. The idea is to start from the data of last issue. I have those in excel files in which you can update, add, and delete the data you know.

If you're interested in helping, reply to this message NOW. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

***************

Chèr(e)s bluegrasseus,

Tous les 2 ans la EBMA édite un annuaire contenant des contacts utiles pour le monde bluegrass européen: groupes, clubs, festivals, luthiers, organisateurs, radios, associations, publications... Il est maintenant temps de préparer la mise à jour 2010.

Je recherche des personnes dans chaque pays européen qui peuvent aider à mettre à jour les données de leurs régions. L'idée est de démarrer avec les données de la dernière édition. J'ai des fichiers excel dans lesquels vous pouvez rajouter, enlever, et modifier les données que vous connaissez.

Si vous souhaitez aider, répondez à ce message MAINTENANT. Toutes les suggestions sont les bienvenues. Merci d'avance!

Thierry Schoysman
Rawhide
Sons of Navarone
Bluegrass in Belgium

Contact Thierry by e-mail.

Showcase Opportunity at World of Bluegrass

SHOWCASE ARTISTS SOUGHT FOR IBMA BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2010
Postmark Deadline January 15**

In an effort to promote bluegrass and related forms of music, IBMA hosts artist showcase performances which help meet the industry's need to see what's new in the music, as well as open doors for acts by creating an opportunity to present themselves at the World of Bluegrass Business Conference. These presentations are one of the primary highlights of IBMA's convention, where more than 1600 music industry leaders gather annually.

Being a showcase artist helped us advance a year or two ahead in our career by getting in front of all the folks, fans and promoters that come to IBMA. We also got great media attention from the ads, website posts and many videos that were taken while we were there. We did interview's with Eddie Stubbs on WSM 650 AM, bluegrasscountry.org, Fox News in Nashville and Chris Jones with Sirius-XM. We took part in the DJ taping session with radio hosts around the world and also set up an article with Bluegrass Unlimited for 2010. It was an honor to be featured as a showcase band, be able to network and meet people all week and tell them of our music and what we have to offer. - Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Bands who apply to showcase at World of Bluegrass in Nashville next year are not required to be IBMA members, but are asked to submit a $25 fee to help defray the expenses associated with the selection process. Artists invited to showcase are extended complimentary registration for the full conference, but they must pay an additional $150 showcase fee and must be (or become) IBMA members upon accepting the invitation.

The showcases are designed to introduce any one or all of the following to the bluegrass industry:

* Emerging talent capable and willing to broaden their market
* Established bands who have significant changes in their act
* Artists who have significant, new recorded product.

The board-appointed Talent Committee's selection process involves a fair, but subjective evaluation based on each applicant's entertainment value, level of professionalism, potential appeal and quality of work. Depending on the number of acts which apply, the selection process takes approximately three months. IBMA makes the full selection criteria available upon request.

The dates for World of Bluegrass 2010 are September 27-October 3.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2010 SHOWCASES

Any act wishing to showcase at the 2010 IBMA Business Conference should submit the following to IBMA by January 15, 2010:

* Five complete promotional packages for each act making application. Must include a CD work representative of the act. May be a demo, studio cuts not yet released or a completed project (please remove any shrink wrapping)
* If sending a demo or non-completed work, you are encouraged to express to the committee the status of the work and/or expected completion/release.
* Complete contact information on the group
* A $25 application fee, payable to IBMA.

International Bluegrass Music Association
2 Music Circle South
Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37203
+1 615.256.3222
e-mail

This release can be viewed here in its original form.

The next European Bluegrass Directory

The EBMA's European Bluegrass Directory is at present in its seventh edition (2008/2009), with over 770 entries. There have been many developments in European bluegrass since it was compiled two years ago, and the EBMA board of directors has decided that an eighth edition (2010/2011) shall be produced in print, using the same format as for previous editions.

Thierry Schoysman of Bluegrass in Belgium is in charge of compiling the new edition. While the EBMA national representatives will have an important role in gathering and forwarding information, the board welcomes contributions from bands, event organisers, luthiers, media people, and everyone else who is active in bluegrass in Europe. All material should be delivered to Thierry Schoysman not later than February 2010.

The format for a European Bluegrass Directory after 2011 will be considered in the context of other European bluegrass publications.

International Music Festival Conference (IMFCON) Europe, 8-9 April 2010, in Amsterdam

Thanks to Mary Burdette, member of the IBMA and of the organising team of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (USA), for forwarding this announcement by the International Music Festival Conference (IMFCON) of its next meeting, to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 8-9 April 2010:

The International Music Festival Summit is inviting the most accomplished music festival executives and directors to share their expertise with a high-level audience of executives eager to launch or expand their own music festival initiatives. Speaker titles include: Executive Director, Festival Director, Managing Director, Artistic Director, Program Director, VP of Programming, President and CEO, Director of Marketing, and Project Manager.

The professionals that are best suited are those individuals who can share real-world experience, discuss trends and issues in depth, and outline best practices. The conference curriculum includes topics addressing funding and sponsorship, programming, operations and management, publicity and public relations, digital technology, and acquisition and distribution. The deadline for submissions is 15 February 2010. For any questions or comments please contact:

Wyatt Royce
Conference Program Manager
International Music Festival Conference
+1-561-277-9452
e-mail

Mary Burdette comments:

A Grey Fox colleague and I attended the 2009 IMFCON in Las Vegas last week. We were very happy with the topics and speakers and even happier with the contacts we developed. I would encourage colleagues (especially European festival people) to attend the next conference coming up in April in Amsterdam! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I'll be writing an article for the next IBMA newsletter. We really did learn new and exciting things. It was great to think outside the box with other event producers.

Grey Fox was the only bluegrass festival per se at this conference. We made some great connections to the 'outside world' of music festivals. It was a small gathering (about 70 people including speakers) of jazz, jam, eclectic, world and other music festivals. So it was really easy to have access to the speakers and to other participants. Some of the other events included Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Summerfest, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Newport Jazz, etc. I would think that the Amsterdam conference would be a great mix as well.

Contact Mary Burdette by e-mail.

IBMM - an Italian translator needed

The International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro, KY, takes its international responsibilities seriously and is a good friend to bluegrass from outside the USA - as shown in the EBB report of 6 October. Now Gabrielle Gray, director of the IBMM, announces:

A website improvement we're excited to announce is our addition of international language translations of all the permanent features on our site, such as our Hall of Fame Bios and historical sections. They will be presented in French, Spanish, Russian, German, Czech, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese.

We are excited to be able to help make bluegrass history and culture even more accessible to more fans around the world. Since our announcement, we've lined up translators for all languages except Italian, but we're confident that we'll locate someone soon!

The Italian bluegrass scene should be well equipped to help out the IBMM in this latest of its welcome initiatives in support of bluegrass music worldwide.

The IBMM's annual River Of Music Party (ROMP) festival in 2010 will include - in addition to Acousticure (Hungary), the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), and the Mideando String Quintet (Italy) - a reunion of all living Blue Grass Boys who played with Bill Monroe, and the annual Pioneers of Bluegrass Reunion.

EBMA board meeting in Prague

The EBMA board: Martino Coppo, Richard Hurst (chair), Dagfinn Pedersen, Angelika Torrie, Petr Brandejs, Rienk Janssen

The full membership of the EBMA board of directors attended a successful and productive meeting in Prague on 20-22 November. All issues arising from the agenda were discussed, including:

*Review of activities and developments since AGM and La Roche Festival
*2nd European Bluegrass Summit – 2009 task teams update – action plan for Feb. 2010
*Non-US artists performing/not performing at IBMA WOB – review and report
*Website and European Bluegrass Blog update and performance
*Print media updates [magazine publication report and future plans]
*Review of national representatives and contributors project
*Internal structures and EBMA strategy 2011 and beyond

A job well done (NB: board members pay all their own expenses)

Treasurer and webmaster Angelika Torrie reports:

Rosta Capek did a great job in arranging for our accommodation and meeting facilities, and with the help of Jiri Kralik (aka Fiddle George) we had a wonderful evening out jamming with some of our Czech musician friends. Ondra Plucha and Risa Podhrasky of Blackjack, Jiri Kralik, Jiri Bok, and Tom Drdaki joined board members Petr Brandejs, Martino Coppo, and Angelika Torrie in playing, while the others and some guests enjoyed listening into the late hours.

Partner with the Bluegrass Museum in the new Ambassadors Program!

The International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro, KY, sends this message to all bluegrass associations:

Dear Bluegrass Lovers,

The International Bluegrass Music Museum wants to partner with you! We’re starting an official Bluegrass Museum Ambassadors Program, and we’re inviting your association to participate.

Your association will appoint or elect a person who is willing and enthusiastic about being an Ambassador from your association to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. This Museum Ambassador will work with the Bluegrass Museum on special projects, report news and information for our newsletter, report Museum news back to your association for members and newsletters, encourage Museum membership and donations, encourage donation of bluegrass artifacts to the Museum, and attend a yearly meeting of Ambassadors at ROMP in Owensboro each year. ROMP takes place the 4th weekend of June.

Ambassadors will receive a complimentary IBMM membership, a VIP ROMP pass (which includes VIP access to all events, backstage privileges, meals with Artists/Pioneers), and an Ambassadors t-shirt. The museum will arrange low-cost lodging for your stay at ROMP, getting you in on our artists’ rates (typically $54/night + tax).

What we need from you:

Designate your official Museum Ambassador and send us the following information.

Association name:
Ambassador:
Mailing address:
Phone number:
E-mail address:
T-shirt size: S M L XL 2XL

Please mail this information to the address below or by e-mail to Gabrielle Gray

International Bluegrass Music Museum
Attn: Bluegrass Ambassadors
207 East Second Street
Owensboro, KY 42303

G2: back from 'two incredible weeks'

The G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007, are back from the 'two incredible weeks' of their third trip to the USA. The highlights included appearing on the Bluegrass Legends concert series in Chicago, on the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington, KY (the show can be seen here), and of course at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009 (see photo above).

The band will spend an extended period in North America from June 2010. To book them in the US and Canada, contact Roe Entertainment; for bookings in Europe, contact

Tobias Strömberg
Åsegård 72
686 97 Lysvik
SWEDEN
Cell: +46-070-2294505
e-mail

You can sign up here to receive G2's newsletters.

More news from EBMA national representatives...

In addition to the news from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Portugal that has appeared on the European Bluegrass Blog since 6 November - provided by EBMA national representatives - the next issue of Bluegrass Europe magazine will include national reps' reports from France, Switzerland, Germany, and Ireland.

Kent Miller reports on the successful Swiss Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest (7 November) and its role in strengthening and increasing the bluegrass community; Christopher Howard-Williams reports on the France Bluegrass Musique Association's 8th Winter Bluegrass Weekend in Vichy (30 October-1 November) - 'after eight years, the town of Vichy is becoming an important centre for bluegrass music in France' -

- Angelika Torrie, as the new editor of Bluegrass Buehne, reports on promising developments on the German bluegrass scene, including the 1st Munich BlueGrass Festival (16-17 October), where the eleven bands included Coolgrass (above) and the Girlie Band (below);


and Richard Hawkins reports on the new crop of successful mini-festivals in different parts of Ireland.

Leadership Bluegrass 2010 deadline: 13 November

Trisha Tubbs of IBMA reports:

Leadership Bluegrass 2010 applications are due next Friday, 13 November!

If you know people who you think should apply, please tell them about LBG and that the application deadline is 13 November. They can learn more about LBG and download the application form here.

Be sure to let them know that because only twenty-five people are in each year's program and that there are far more applications than spaces, that they may need to apply several times and shouldn't be discouraged if it takes awhile for them to get into the program. (Some folks have had to apply over four times before they could get in).

Register now for 2nd European Bluegrass Summit!

As announced on the European Bluegrass Blog on 24 September 2009, the 2nd European Bluegrass Summit will be held on the weekend of 5-7 February 2010 - generously hosted again by the city of Bühl, Germany, which is making all facilities and infrastructure available to the Summit free of charge.

A free bluegrass concert by Blackjack (CZ; #1 EWOB Audience Popularity Award winners 2009; photo by Jan de Mooij) will entertain attendees on the evening of Saturday in the famous Bühl Schüttekeller, also sponsored by the City.

As last year, attendees are invited from all quarters in Europe; the costs and arrangements for travel, subsistence, and accommodation are the entire responsibility of the participants. The EBMA hopes that as many people as possible with a serious concern for the future of bluegrass in Europe will attend. Full details are given on the Summit page of the EBMA website.

Registration for attending the Summit should be made by 14 November 2009 by e-mail OR by post to EBMA, Holeerain 29, CH-4102 Binningen, Switzerland.

IBMM leads from the front

The International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) at Owensboro, KY, has made a major contribution to raising the profile of European bluegrass in the USA. First, by booking three winners of the #1 European Bluegrass Band award at the annual European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) festival at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, to appear at the IBMM's annual River Of Music Party (ROMP) festival in 2010; and secondly, by urging other event organisers to follow this example and lay the foundations for regular exposure in the US for bands from outside.

Acousticure (Hungary; #1 2008; above), the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden; #1 2007; right), and the Mideando String Quintet (Italy; #1 2006; below) will all be performing at ROMP on 26 June 2010. IBMM executive director Gabrielle Gray has issued a 'Call to action' to event organisers, IBMA members, and other bluegrass supporters throughout the USA to

... route these great musicians from festival to festival during the summer of 2010, making it more affordable for everyone and giving the EWOB winners the exposure their winning has merited them... These three EWOB bands, and all their 1st place predecessors, won because their music is extraordinary and immensely appealing.

And the proposal is not just for a one-off special effort in 2010:

Here's the challenge: let's get our act together and give international bands a series of events in which to perform, every year, from all around the world... It's both good for business and for the planet.

The 'Call to action' has already evoked positive response, especially from the western USA. Peter Thompson of Redwood Bluegrass Associates in Northern California, whose concert schedule runs from October to May, reports:

... we're wide open to European bands who want to try a club/concert tour during these months, perhaps in conjunction with appearances at one of the winter festivals in the western US... The annual Live at EWOB releases, which always get my nomination for Recorded Event Of the Year, are packed with terrific bluegrass.

Linda Bolton of the Albuquerque Folk Festival, held annually in late June, reports:

If you can get other June festivals interested, and the routing works, we'd love to have a great European bluegrass band at AFF.

The IBMM is also selecting a band from Japan to appear at ROMP 2010.

The ROMP stage, Yellow Creek Park, at twilight

EWOB Festival 2010: Time to apply!

The Steering Committee of the European World of Bluegrass Festival, the only European festival ever to win the IBMA's prestigious Bluegrass Event of the Year Award, announces:

TIME TO APPLY!
Festival Dates: MAY 13-14-15, 2010
Application Dates: SEPTEMBER 20-NOVEMBER 20, 2009

BLUEGRASS BANDS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD:

Join us at the EWOB Festival 2010 in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands. It's time to apply for your band's EWOB 2010 showcase! Applications are online RIGHT NOW here. Don't miss your chance to be part of this unique event.

The European World of Bluegrass Festival is one of the world's coolest festivals!
* Featuring 42 bands in 3 fun-filled days
* Including a few special guest artists from the USA and Canada
* European Bluegrass Band Awards competition
* Winners are chosen BY THE MUSICIANS!
* #1 European Bluegrass Band goes to Nashville to play at IBMA World of Bluegrass one year later
* Be part of EWOB's famous workshop program
* Bands get to play for many festival and concert promoters
* Music press from the USA and Europe
* Bluegrass radio DJs/
Link to view more details!!!

#1 European Bluegrass Band 2009:
Downtown Ramblers (Sweden)

EWOB will send the Downtown Ramblers to Nashville to IBMA's World of Bluegrass in 2010.

Rienk Janssen, one of the EWOB Festival's founders, retired from EWOB in July. The EWOB Steering Committee thanks him for his years of service to the EWOB Festival.

The Steering Committee has been restructured to include 7 people, rather than 5, and the many tasks involved in planning and organizing the annual festival have been redelegated. The new info is on the Contact page of the EWOB Festival website, so you can find the right person to contact on various issues.

For more details and news, read the full text of the EWOB Steering Committee's release here.

IBMA award winners 2009

Thanks to Lilly Drumeva of Bulgaria, a former member of the EBMA board, for news of the winners at this year's International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Show, which took place last night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Lilly notes:

I was very happy to see that Jesse Brock [left] won Mandolin Player of the Year. Jesse plays on my album Time after time, available on CD Baby. He lived in Bulgaria for some time.

Read the full list of this year's winners here.

Nechville Banjo Summit at WOB 2009

Nechville Musical Products announces a Banjo Summit Reception to be held as part of the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Nashville. The event takes place in Room 1809 of the Renaissance Hotel on 1 October from 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. There will be refreshments, discussions, product sampling and of course, jamming! We at Nechville hope to see you all there!

_____________________________

Al Price, Nechville Musical Products
(253)670-3208
e-mail
SKYPE: alpricebanjo

First European band to play on IBMA Awards Show

The original Bluegrass Blog carried yesterday a post on the forthcoming appearances in the USA by the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007. These include playing on the IBMA Awards Show, where they will be the first European band ever to do so.

The post also includes sound clips from their next CD (still in preparation) and a video from the band's show at the Station Inn in Nashville during their 2008 visit.

Presenting European bluegrass at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009

Rienk Janssen, IBMA and EBMA board member, reports:

The EBMA again will have a booth at IBMA's business conference during the World of Bluegrass 2009. We will have it on 28-29-30 September and 1 October, but not during Fan Fest. Many bluegrass professionals will be there to be informed about what is happening in the bluegrass world.

Bands, associations, promoters, etc. who are members of the EBMA can promote their activities at this booth, free of charge.

Any promotional materials that you would like us to present there, you may bring to our booth on Monday 28 September, or they can be sent to:

EBMA / Booth # 30
attn. Rienk Janssen
World of Bluegrass Trade Show
c/o Freeman
Nashville Convention Center
601 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203-3724

Please take care that everything is there before 28 September. (Send only materials that we can discard afterwards, as I will not be able to ship things back to you.)

G2 and Toy Hearts in the US, Sept.-Oct. 2009

Among their other appearances in the US this autumn, the G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden (above; #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007) will be appearing at the American Legion Hall, 1030 Central Street, Evanston, Illinois, as part of the Chicago-based Bluegrass Legends Concerts series, on Saturday 23 September at 8.00 p.m. (doors open 7.00 p.m.). Other dates in their tour can be seen on the band's MySpace site.

The Toy Hearts (UK) begin their autumn tour of the US tomorrow (Thursday 3 September) at the three-day Tri-state Bluegrass Festival in Kendalville, IN, followed by six appearances in Texas and a further six in Nashville during the IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009. Full details of the tour can be seen here. They have also recorded an EP for the tour, with six tracks (five of them original songs). See today's post on the original Bluegrass Blog.

IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009 - and EWOB

The IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009 will be held in Nashville, TN, from 28 September to 4 October 2009, comprising the Business Conference, Awards Show, and Fan Fest. You don't need to be an IBMA member to attend! Complete event info and a link for registration can be found here.

The IBMA have also produced a fine video showing the reasons why people keep coming to World of Bluegrass. Plenty of familiar faces can be seen, and outstanding music can be heard, here. (It sounds as if the opening music is 'The old mountaineer' from Michael Cleveland's latest CD, with Jens Kruger on banjo.)

The current issue of the IBMA's e-newsletter includes a report on EWOB 2009 by Richard Hurst, chairperson of the EBMA, with special mention of the EWOB Festival, and a link to the Jan de Mooy photos on the Bluegrass Blog, as well as other international news.

Good news from IBMA

The International Bluegrass Music Association has recently published its reference list of bluegrass recordings eligible for nomination for an award, compiled from product reported as released between 31 March 2008 and 1 April 2009.

The list includes the latest CDs from two European bands: Tutte le direzioni by the Mideando String Quintet (Italy), #1 European Bluegrass Band 2006, released on the Velut Luna label; and From Vyborg to L.A. by Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers (Finland), released on Goofin' Records.

Also on the list is Home away from home, by Vincent Cross & Good Company. Vincent Cross, though now based in New York, is a former member of the bluegrass community in Ireland, with which he keeps in close contact. The IBMA adds:

This list does not necessarily contain 100% of the bluegrass recordings first released during the eligibility period, so members are not restricted to the entries on this list when making their first ballot write-in nominations.

G2 to showcase at World of Bluegrass 2009

G2 at IBMA's Fan Fest, Sat. 4 October 2008 (photo: Thierry Schoysman)

On 13 April the European Bluegrass Blog reported the recording of a new album by the G2 Bluegrass Band of Sweden (#1 European Bluegrass Band 2007).

Yesterday the International Bluegrass Music Association announced that G2 are among the thirteen acts chosen to present official showcases at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2009 from among 121 applications. Further details are on the Bluegrass Blog.

The European Bluegrass Blog gives its warmest congratulations to G2, and looks forward to their keeping this solid roll going!

European bluegrass in the mainstream US media

Druha Trava

Bluegrass in Europe is the subject matter of 'Bluegrass thrives, far from home', a major article published yesterday (9 April) in the New York Times and International Herald Tribune. The author is Ruth Ellen Gruber, whose Sauerkraut Cowboys blog also makes available today the full text.

The article leads off with the concert in Prague in early March by Lilly Drumeva of Bulgaria, and goes on to outline main features of the European bluegrass scene: notably the vigorous Czech scene, epitomised by the performance by Druha Trava in Prague for President Obama on 5 April; the recent European Bluegrass Summit meeting in Bühl, Germany; and the programme of events in the forthcoming European World of Bluegrass (EWOB), with its flagship event, the EWOB Festival in the Netherlands. Other major European bluegrass festivals during the year are also noted.

The article's publication is also welcomed in the Bluegrass Blog, from which the above photo of Druha Trava is reproduced.

Leadership Bluegrass 2009

The IBMA is pleased to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2009, pictured here at BMI in Nashville on 12 March (photo by Priscilla Warnock).
Row 1: Larry Cordle;
Row 2 (L-R): Brandi Hart, Becky Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Joe Weed, Pete Wernick, Tom Mueller, Leah Ross, Barry Mazor, Sammy Shelor;
Row 3: Gary Jolicoeur, Jim Van Cleve, John Abrams, Janet McGarry, Karl Kersey, Tom Thorpe, David Crow, Penni McDaniel, Lee Michael Demsey, Ronnie Reno;
Row 4: Alan Tompkins, Dwight Worden, Tommy Sivert, C. Roger Moss, Danny Clark, David Preston.

Leadership Bluegrass, now in its tenth year with more than 225 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music along with related leadership issues.

Leadership Bluegrass 2009 was hosted 10-12 March at BMI in Nashville, TN, and was facilitated again by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and professional meeting facilitator.

Update 20 March: Hannah Johnson, of the Toy Hearts (UK), the only LBG 2009 member from outside North America, is quoted at length in the Bluegrass Blog, ending with: 'I would highly recommend the course to anyone!'

EBMA Facebook group has 100 members

Angelika Torrie, treasurer and webmistress of the EBMA, reports:

The Facebook group of EBMA has as of today exactly 100 members. And this is the link. It's limited to Facebook users, but then again it's free worldwide.

European Bluegrass Summit report now on line

Angelika Torrie (front centre above), treasurer and webmistress of the EBMA, reports:

Dear attenders of the European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl
Dear non-attenders, who were not able to attend but are interested

The report on the Summit has been finalised and is now available online - along with all related documents - on the EBMA website at EBS 2009.

There, you will also find a button directing to a new externally hosted section, the EBS Google site. It's a nice tool to be able to save information and for designated people (with a Google account) to add documents and/or comments on various issues. This site is still being developed but it sure is a good start. Any comments are welcome.

IBMM's Mando Camp 09

The International Bluegrass Music Museum at Owensboro, Kentucky, will hold its Fourth Annual Monroe-style Mandolin Camp on 11-13 September 2009. A maximum of fifty students will be able to take part.

The teachers (who will give a combined concert on the Saturday night) will be Mike Compton, camp & curriculum director; Dr Richard Brown, associate director; Skip Gorman; Tim O'Brien; Jody Stecher; and Butch Waller. Special guests: Tom Ewing, Monroe historian and concert performer, and Will Kimble, luthier. One-to-one master classes will be part of the programme.

For full details, including video footage from previous Camps, see the IBMM's Mando Camp 09 website. Gabrielle Gray, IBMM's executive director, says:

The Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp is the ultimate gathering spot for Monroe enthusiasts. Satisfy your desire to 'Know Monroe' by spending the anniversary of his birth and passing at the museum and the camp dedicated to preserving his legacy.

European Bluegrass Summit

These people (plus some more) from all over Europe actively took part in the European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl at the Bühl Civic Centre. Watch out for some findings of this promising conference soon!

The above photo, taken at lunchtime on Saturday 7 February, shows:

Front row: Lilly Pavlak (Czech Republic/Switzerland), Lili Drumeva (Bulgaria), Angelika Torrie (Switzerland), Hannah Johnson (GB/England), Hannie Lamers (Netherlands)
Second row: Richard Hawkins (Ireland), Fred Bartenstein (US), Ruth-Ellen Gruber (US/Italy), Christopher Howard-Williams (France), Loek Lamers (Netherlands)
Third row: Olaf Glaesmer (Germany), Regine Maier (Germany), Moira Wirtz (GB/England), Joel Espesset (France)
Fourth row: Peter Wroblewski (Germany), Alexander Gubanov (Russia), Peter O. Ruby (Czech Republic), Rosi Miller (Switzerland), Michael Zumstein (Germany), Kent Miller (Switzerland), Harald Harland (Germany)
Back row: Rienk Janssen (Netherlands), Chris Keenan (Republic of Ireland), Richard Hurst (Northern Ireland), John Wirtz (GB/England), John Sheldon (Scotland), Dagfinn Pedersen (Norway)

Top albums of 2008 include 10 years of EWOB

Liz Meyer reports:

We're pleased to announce that 10 years of EWOB [Strictly Country Records SCR-66] made the Top 10 Albums of 2008 on the Folk Radio Chart, representing radio airplay on Folk & Bluegrass radio shows. (The chart is international but is concentrated mostly in the USA and Canada.)

These DJs, who select from a wide range of folk and bluegrass albums, not only recognise the historical and cultural significance of this release, but report being surprised and delighted by the high level of musicianship and the quality of the recordings. In fact, 10 years of EWOB is the ONLY bluegrass album to make the Top 10!

For the top 123 albums on the Folk Radio Chart, see this list on the EWOB Festival website. The five most-played tracks from 10 years of EWOB are:

1) Fragment, 'Fields of gold'
2) Rawhide, 'The typewriter'
3) Liz Meyer with Nugget, 'I've got a feelin''
4) Claire Lynch Band, 'A little further in the hole'
5) The Chapmans, 'Cold and lonely'

Not G2

Thanks to Fred Bartenstein of the IBMA for this link to a video posted on YouTube by a contributor in Sweden.

No, the video doesn't show G2: it shows a trio (bass guitar, rhythm guitar, and electric lead guitar) picking 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and 'Bye bye blues' in a farmyard, with the tempo and percussive element coming from a tractor with the engine running.

It's good to see this return to the roots of country music. Electric instruments, of course, would not be allowed at a bluegrass event. We're not sure if there's been any ruling so far on diesel power...

Fred Bartenstein, among his many other accomplishments in bluegrass, conducts the annual IBMA Leadership Bluegrass classes. He did a similar fine job for the IBMA's International Summit meeting at World of Bluegrass 2008, and will do the same for the European Summit to be held in Bühl/Baden, south-west Germany, on 7-8 February 2009.

Your band - at IBMA's World of Bluegrass?

How does your band get on to the programme at IBMA's World of Bluegrass, other than by winning the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band at the European World of Bluegrass Festival?

The procedures for becoming part of IBMA's World of Bluegrass - whether on one of the nineteen official showcases or one of the innumerable private 'after hours' showcases throughout World of Bluegrass week - are set out in a detailed report for the use of international bands, drawn up by Hannah Johnson, lead singer and mandolinist of the Toy Hearts (UK). The advice it contains includes the IBMA's own instructions on applying for official showcases and on hunting for 'after hours' spots, with a list of the 'after hours' hosts who presented in 2008.

Most importantly, the report's advice is based on the Toy Hearts' own personal experience in going through these procedures. To quote Hannah's introduction:

Performing at IBMA really was an amazing experience and provided a truly unique opportunity for networking and making contacts. For any international bluegrass band considering applying... DO! You may not get much sleep, but you will have the time of your life! It is never too early to start thinking about applications...

The last point deserves stressing: the deadline for applications for official showcases is 15 January 2009. The full text of Hannah's report can be read here.

European Bluegrass Summit - Application deadline extended to 24 Dec. 2008

Night Run, who will play at a special pre-Summit concert

The European Bluegrass Summit meeting is to be held in Bühl/Baden, south-west Germany, on 7-8 February 2009.

The City of Bühl is sponsoring a special concert to mark the occasion, to be held on Friday 6 February at the Schüttekeller on Blumenstrasse, with the Night Run Bluegrass Band (D). The concert is free to all Summit attenders; regular admission charge will be €13.

The number of attenders has already reached a quorum, but there is still room for others who may wish to attend, whether as individuals or representing an organisation. Please e-mail your application no later than 24 December 2008. Your place on the Summit will be confirmed to you by 29 December 2008.

Full details, including an application form, are on the European Bluegrass Blog for 12 November.

European Bluegrass Summit deadline

A reminder that anyone wishing to take part in the European Bluegrass Summit meeting, either as an individual or representing a group or association, should send in their completed application today.

The Summit is to be held in Bühl/Baden, south-west Germany, on 7-8 February 2009. Its main aims are:

* To provide an opportunity for a wide audience of up to forty participants to meet face to face, bond, and get to know each other,
* To highlight issues affecting the promotion of bluegrass music in Europe,
* To explore the issues facing different countries and different cultures in Europe,
* To motivate people to work together more closely and to communicate more effectively.

Full details, including an application form, are on the European Bluegrass Blog for 12 November.

Bühl prepares for Summit and Festival

Walter Fuchs and Ruth Ellen Gruber, photographed during a press conference in Bühl in 2007

On 5 December the European Bluegrass Blog mentioned Ruth Ellen Gruber, creator of the blog sauerkrautcowboys. She has applied to attend the European Bluegrass Summit meeting at Bühl/Baden, south-west Germany, on 7-8 February 2009.

Arrangements at Bühl for the Summit are in the care of Walter Fuchs, organiser of the annual Bühl International Bluegrass Festival. The 7th Bühl Festival will be held on 1-2 May 2009. Read the Festival flyer here; a preview of the 2009 programme appeared on the EBB on 1 November.


Walter with Alecia Nugent at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008

European Bluegrass Summit: deadline next week

Preparations for the European Summit meeting, to be held in Bühl/Baden in south-west Germany on 7-8 February 2009, are well advanced, and applications are being received. The deadline for applications to take part in the Summit is Wednesday 10 December - one week from now.

Full details of the Summit, including an application form, are given on the European Bluegrass Blog for 12 November. Anyone wishing to take part, either as an individual or representing a group or association, should send in their completed application by 10 December.

Banjo Newsletter: 35 years of achievement

Nancy Nitchie and her son Donald accept the Distinguished Achievement Award, with Tony Trischka (left), who gave the introductory address.

The most important periodical for banjo players was founded by Hub Nitchie and his wife Nancy in 1973 as The Monthly Newsletter: The 5-String Banjo, renamed Banjo Newsletter in February 1974. After Hub passed away in October 1992, his son Donald took over as editor, with Nancy as business manager; later their other son, Spencer, joined her. Together they started work on the Maryland Banjo Academy in 1997.


Maryland Banjo Academy

At the IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008 in Nashville, Banjo Newsletter received a Distinguished Achievement Award at the Special Awards Luncheon. Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for these photos. Lilly recalls:

Nancy and Hub are (were) about my oldest bluegrass friends. I met them at the Bean Blossom festival in 1976, and then again in Carlisle at the Banjo Jamboree in Canada later on. They brought me with their car back to New York for my flight to Europe.

At that time Spencer was a little boy. I can still remember Hub shawed his hair and used some kind of spray to color his head green, so he looked like the green cover of his magazine. Nancy and Donald are still my good friends.


Lilly Pavlak and Nancy Nitchie (with Strictly Country magazine) outside the IBMA trade show stand at World of Bluegrass 2008

European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl, 7-8 February 2009

For the attention of those involved in European Bluegrass Music:

A successful two-day International Bluegrass Summit took place in Nashville as part of the 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass. This meeting was `facilitated’ by a professional mediator whose method of running the meeting guaranteed constructive discussion and outcomes. A summary of issues raised from this discussion can be seen here.

One very positive outcome was the formation of a new European Summit Steering Committee as a sub-committee of the IBMA International Committee. This Steering Committee includes IBMA International Committee chair Richard Hawkins, IBMA International Board representative Rienk Janssen, British Bluegrass Music Association chair John Wirtz, and Scottish Bluegrass Association secretary John Sheldon.

Following up on this success, bluegrass associations, event organisers, promoters, and activists within the European bluegrass community are now invited to take part in a two-day EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT. This summit meeting will use the same professional mediator and methods of ‘facilitation’ as used in Nashville, and is supported by the IBMA.

Aims of the EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT 2009 are summarised as follows:

* To provide an opportunity for a wide audience of up to forty participants to meet face to face, bond, and get to know each other,

* To highlight some of the issues affecting the promotion of bluegrass music in Europe,

* To explore the issues facing different countries and different cultures in Europe,

* To motivate people to work together more closely and to communicate more effectively.

The European Bluegrass Summit will be held on the 7th and 8th of February 2009 in the town of Bühl/Baden, southern Germany. Full details of the Summit meeting location, the Summit schedule, and a list of hotels, are set out here. The application form for the European Bluegrass Summit is shown below.

The costs and arrangements for travel, subsistence, and accommodation are the entire responsibility of the participants.

We look forward to your participation and we would be pleased if you would circulate this invitation to other person you think should be invited.

Yours sincerely,

Rienk Janssen, Richard Hawkins, John Wirtz, John Sheldon
IBMA European Summit Steering Committee

Applications for a place on the European Bluegrass Summit 2009 are invited from all interested parties.

To apply, please send in the following information by e-mail no later than 10 December 2008. Your place on the Summit will be confirmed to you by 12 December 2008.

Full name:

Nationality:

Postal address:

e-mail address:

Landline telephone including country code:

What is your intended mode of transport?

Do you represent a National Bluegrass Association – if so, which country?

Do you need help with translation during discussions?

What is your involvement and activity in bluegrass music?

EBMA on Facebook

Angelika Torrie, treasurer and webmistress of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA), reports:

I just created a Facebook group for EBMA. Feel free to join and share. It's all new, so I have to feed it yet. At least it's a link into this new world.

Keep it pickin',

Angelika

Use this link to join.

Lilly Drumeva in Nashville and Wisconsin

Early October 2008 Lilly Drumeva visited the United States; her stops included Nashville, TN, where she attended the International Bluegrass Music Convention, and several towns in the state of Wisconsin, where she performed with the Nob Hill Boys bluegrass band, based in Madison.

A highlight of the trip was the International Summit Meeting in Nashville, held on 30 September and 1 October at the Nashville Convention Center, part of IBMA’s conference program. Lilly was invited together with other bluegrass leaders from Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia to discuss issues of bluegrass music outside the US. The meeting was very fruitful and was a milestone for development of bluegrass music internationally.

Lilly’s schedule was very busy: during IBMA’s conference she performed also at the International Suite together with Nashville’s Al Goll on Dobro; she visited Aristo Media on Music Row and met with managing director Jeff Walker (Aristo is one of the distribution companies providing material for Lilly’s TV show in Bulgaria); she attended workshops and seminars, receiving singing lessons from Nashville’s vocal coach and singer Kathy Chiavola. The weather was beautiful and there was time for visits to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Opryland Hotel, and for a trip on the General Jackson riverboat.

After a full week in Nashville, Lilly continued her journey to Madison, WI. She was welcomed by John Fabke, mandolin & guitar player, radio presenter, and bluegrass activist in the area. Lilly was a guest on John’s radio program 'Pastures of plenty' in Madison and performed with his band the Nob Hill Boys in Fort Atkinson, WI. She was backed by Paul Kienitz on fiddle, Jon Peik on banjo & bass, and John Fabke on mandolin. Lilly received also lessons from Paul and played twin fiddle with him on stage. The weather was cold but sunny and there was time to visit some of Madison’s attractions and the house of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green, WI.

On the way home Lilly made a short stop in Chicago, IL. All in all, a very busy and exciting trip, doing business, meeting friends and playing lots of music.

The full text with photos of Lilly at the Summit and with Kathy Chiavola, Cia Cherryholmes, Al Goll, and the Nob Hill Boys, can be seen here.

G2 on the Red Carpet

G2 at Fan Fest, Sat. 4 October 2008 (photo by Thierry Schoysman)

During IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008 in Nashville, TN, a reception was held before the Awards Show for those involved in the show. The Bluegrass Blog laid down a red carpet in the reception room, and Katy Daley of BluegrassCountry.org interviewed many of those attending. The results can be seen on the Bluegrass Blog in a series of videos.

Episode 4 includes an interview with G2 (Sweden; #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007), in which the band talk about their prospective move to Nashville in a year or two.

Europe at IBMA: more photos

Red Wine: Dino DiGiacomo, Stefano Cavallo, Martino Coppo, Silvio Ferretti, Marco Ferretti

Thanks to Thierry Schoysman of Bluegrass in Belgium for these photos, from among the many he took at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008 in Nashville two weeks ago.

Red Wine (Italy) are shown above during their spot in the main evening showcase schedule on Tuesday 30 September; and G2 (Sweden) in the International Showcase, one of their many appearances in Nashville during the week.


Tobias Strömberg (dobro), Christoffer Olsson (guitar), and Jimmy Sunnebrandt (bass) of G2 in an intense vocal trio

A major event of World of Bluegrass 2008 for IBMA members from outside the USA was the two-day International Summit meeting; two-thirds of those attending came from Europe.


Members of the International Summit meeting, ready for the official photographer

G2 at IBMA's Awards Show 2008

G2 at the awards stand (photo by Tami Roth)

The G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden (#1 European Bluegrass Band 2007) represented Europe at the IBMA Awards Show, where they had a warm welcome as presenters of the awards for Recorded Event of the Year and Guitar Player of the Year. G2's banjo-player Jens Koch took the opportunity to invite US musicians to cross the Atlantic, where 'tens of euros' can be made by playing bluegrass in Europe.

G2's day-by-day experiences of World Of Bluegrass 2008 are shown in a blog on their website. Details of the larger European presence at IBMA appeared on the European Bluegrass Blog on 14 September.

Europe at the IBMM's ROMP, June 2008

Red Wine and G2 on the ROMP stage at Owensboro

At the International Bluegrass Music Museum's ROMP (River Of Music Party) festival in Owensboro, KY, this past summer, European bluegrass was well represented by Red Wine (Italy) and the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden; #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007).

Thanks to Jens Koch, banjo-player of G2, for photos from ROMP, where Christopher Olsson (lead vocals and guitar) held the guitar workshop, together with Skip Cherryholmes and Jim Hurst, and Tobias Strömberg (dobro) the dobro workshop, together with Andy Hall. Jens adds:

We met our good Italian friends from Red Wine – it's always so nice to meet Martino, Silvio, Luca and Stefano. These fellows asked us to join them onstage for 'I'll stay around' during their set. Fun! When it got close to us, dark clouds conquered the sky, which made us worried - the night before, the show had to be cancelled when the storms came and gave ROMP a real shower. However, as we entered the stage, the sun was shining again. (Is this good luck or what?) Our show went well and the crowd was awesome! ... When the 'Dusters asked us up to join them for their two last songs, we all agreed that there couldn't be a better ending on our amazing US tour.

Jens's full day-by-day account of G2's tour in the USA, in three instalments, can be read on the band's website.


The Infamous Stringdusters and G2 (photo by Darwin Davidson)

Europe (and the rest of the world) at IBMA's World of Bluegrass

IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008 begins in Nashville on Monday 29 September. An important event in the schedule will be the International Summit meeting (30 Sept.-1 Oct.), aimed at reaching a new consensus on IBMA's priorities for assisting the growth of bluegrass worldwide. Europe is strongly represented, with over half of the thirty members attending the Summit.

European musicians at World of Bluegrass will include the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden; #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007) and Johnny Butten (UK; current holder of the Guinness Records title 'World's Fastest Banjo Player'). The EBMA will again be hosting the International Suite showcases at the Nashville Convention Center (NCC), Room #104. The schedule is:

Tues. 30 Sept.
11:00 Janet McGarry (Canada)
11:30 G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden)
12:00 Widow Maker (Canada)
12:30 The Toy Hearts (UK)
01:00 Lilly Drumeva (Bulgaria)
01:30 Johnny Butten (UK)

Wed. 1 Oct.
11:00 Red Wine (Italy)
11:30 C-Denny Band (Canada)
12:00 April Verch (Canada)
12:30 J.B. Rochat & Joost van Es (Switzerland/Netherlands)
01:00 Johnny Possum (New Zealand)
01:30 Tabea Anderfuhren, Aaron Till, & Steve Ledford (Switzerland/USA)

For details of other showcase appearances at World of Bluegrass by European performers, see the individual artists' websites.

G2's schedule in the US begins on Sunday 28 September at the world-famous Station Inn, Nashville, and includes an interview (with music) on Bluegrassradio.org (1 Oct.) and a slot on the main IBMA Fan Fest programme (4 Oct.). Red Wine, as well as playing in the main evening showcase programme (30 Sept.), will play for the IBMA Awards Reception Party (2 Oct.) and will go on to play at the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival (3-4 Oct.) and - for the second time - at the massive Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco (5 Oct.).

EBMA General Membership Assembly

The EBMA Board of Directors invites you to the Seventh EBMA General Membership Assembly. As an active member of the EBMA, you have the right to attend the assembly as well as the right to vote, elect, and be elected. As a supporting member, you are welcome to attend the assembly.

EBMA's 7th General Membership Assembly
Thursday 1 May 2008, 18:00–19:00
't Trefpunt, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Acceptance of last years’ AGM minutes
3. Reports of Activity by EBMA Board of Directors for 2007/2008
4. Acceptance of Financial Report 2007
5. Election of EBMA Board of Directors for 2008/2009
6. Election of Financial Auditors for 2008
7. Acceptance of Budget for 2009
8. Changes to Bylaws
a. Change in §1 'with headquarters in Pratteln, Switzerland' [old] to 'with headquarters at the treasurer's office' [new]
9. EBMA Goals for 2008/2009
10. How YOU can be an active part of EBMA!
11. Questions and Answers

Make sure to attend EBMA's European World of Bluegrass 2008 Festival in Voorthuizen, NL (1-3 May) and also the EBMA Open Meeting on Friday 2 May at 11:00. We look forward to meeting you there!

Sincerely,
Paolo Dettwiler
Chair, EBMA Board of Directors

Take care of those hands

The Bluegrass Blog today carries a post entitled 'Why banjo and extreme sports don’t mix'. It's based on the hard experience of Jens Koch, banjo-player for the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden). Jens broke his left wrist badly while snowboarding three years ago, and the process of recovery was long and painful. Read the details on the Bluegrass Blog.

G2, who won the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band at the EWOB Festival 2007, will represent Europe this year at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass.

Leadership Bluegrass 2008 Class

Leadership Bluegrass 2008 graduates: front row 1, L-R: Marty Raybon, Dana Thorin, Lucy Weberling, April Verch, Lorraine Short, Debbie Durant, Cindy Gray, Ron Cox, Tim Graves, Roger Siminoff; middle row 2, L-R: Katy Daley, Rebekah Weiler, Roger Ryan, Katy E. Leonard, Bill Hartley, Mike Marceau; back row 3, L-R: Serge Bernard, Matt Lindsey, Tim McFadden, Richard Hurst, Carl Jackson, Diane King, Wayne Taylor, Ethan Burkhardt, Arnie Fleischer (photo by Priscilla Warnock)

Leadership Bluegrass (LBG), now in its ninth year with more than 200 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level, interactive learning experiences, designed to build commitment, motivate talents and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry. Each year approximately 25 individuals are selected to take part. LBG 2008 was hosted 25-7 March at BMI in Nashville, TN, and the course was facilitated for the ninth consecutive year by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and broadcaster as well as a professional meeting facilitator.

The above photo includes Richard Hurst and Roger Ryan from Ireland, the only European class members this year. The full IBMA press release is here. For information on LBG 2009, contact Nancy Cardwell at (615) 256-3222, 888-GET-IBMA or e-mail.

Join the IBMA now!

If you're seriously involved in bluegrass and not already a member of the IBMA, there's never been a better time to join.

The IBMA is offering, for a limited period, a 35 per cent reduction on the subscription for new members in the professional category - $45 instead of $70. At the present currency exchange rates, it's an even better bargain for people in Europe. Full details are here.

IBMM's ROMP, 26-8 June

The International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) holds its annual River Of Music Party (ROMP) by the Ohio River in Owensboro, KY, on the last weekend in June. ROMP 08 begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday 26 June at the Riverpark Center, Owensboro, which also hosts the Legends Concert at 7.00-10.00 that evening, featuring the Sullivans, the Lewis Family, and the Isaacs.

The shows at Yellow Creek Park on Friday 27 June and Saturday 28 June feature twenty-one top-notch bands, including Red Wine (Italy) and G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), the current #1 European Bluegrass Band. Full details of the programme can be seen here or here.

Country Gazette

Country Gazette magazine, which has promoted country music and bluegrass in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe for the past thirty-five years, will cease publication with the next issue. The owners and moving spirits of CG are Hans and Jannie van Dam, who will be retiring.

Award-winning US bluegrass writer and photographer Stephanie P. Ledgin, who is the elected Print Media/Education representative on the board of the IBMA, says:

Country Gazette was one of the first non-US magazines I recall absorbing as a bluegrass newbie in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. It goes without saying that it has been vital in establishing and furthering the worldwide presence of bluegrass and country music.

This latest folding of a print publication (no matter the reason) reinforces for me... that... it is critical that we pay attention to the very rapidly changing face of how media functions and delivers in the 21st century and how it impacts our music and dissemination of information... And I'll say in closing a very huge thanks to the van Dams for giving us Country Gazette for so many years, and I wish them all the best.

European bluegrass wanted for RBI airplay

Bob Mitchell of Louisville, KY, reports:

Radio Bluegrass International has given me a weekly two-hour bluegrass program. 'The Best of Bluegrass' will be broadcast from the International Bluegrass Museum website. The first internet broadcast will probably be in March or April.

I've recorded eight programs and played several tracks from your recordings of the EWOB Festival - I want to include more music from around the world. I'd be interested in receiving CDs for possible airplay. I can not promise each artist will be played, but I will give everyone equal consideration. Traditional bluegrass only, please. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know. Best wishes from the United States,

Bob Mitchell
5800 Coach Gate Wynde (309D)
Louisville KY 40207
1-502-897-0256
e-mail

Niall Toner interviewed on IBMM's RBI

Mike Lawing of the International Bluegrass Music Museum at Owensboro, KY, reports that there will be a short interview at 8.30 a.m. Central US time tomorrow morning (Friday 8 February) with Niall Toner of Ireland, on the Museum's twenty-four-hour internet radio service, RBI (Radio Bluegrass International).

RBI has been a free service to listeners since the IBMM launched it in May 2007. As from Tuesday 8 January 2008, all Museum members have been assigned a password which allows access to the RBI stream as part of their memberships. Listeners who do not wish to join the IBMM will be able to listen to RBI by paying a monthly subscription of $4.00.

To obtain your password, send an email with PASSWORD in the Subject column to Mike Lawing or call him at +1 (270) 926-7891. There is no extra charge to existing members. All new members will receive their password when their membership purchase is complete.

Leadership Bluegrass 2008 Class

The twenty-five members of this year's IBMA Leadership Bluegrass Class include Richard Hurst of the Ulster American Folk Park, who organises the annual Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, Northern Ireland, and is a prospective member of the board of directors of the EBMA. Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland is the only other class member from outside North America. Katy Leonard, now an IBMA staff member, who did her thesis at the University of Limerick on bluegrass in Ireland, is also in the class.

The full list and more details of the Leadership Bluegrass programme can be seen here. Contact the IBMA office for information on future Leadership Bluegrass programmes: +1 615 256-3222; e-mail.

Broadcast interviews from World of Bluegrass 2007

Niall and Steve Huber

Niall Toner reports that on 27 and 28 December 2007, at 6.00-7.00 p.m. each evening (Irish time), the Irish national station RTE Radio One will broadcast the first two programmes in the 'Nashville Sessions' series. These will feature writers, performers, and instrument-makers interviewed by Niall and his producer Aidan Butler during their visit to the IBMA convention in Nashville during October 2007. Guests include Greg Cahill, Pete Wernick, Barry and Holly Tashian, Steve Huber, Goldheart, Broken Wire, Si Kahn, Steve Kaufmann, Keith Sewell, Wendy Buckner, and many more. Details of further interviews with bluegrass people will be announced in early 2008.


Niall and David Harvey of Gibson

The NTB are currently working on CD #3, provisionally titled We believe in clean endings, featuring again all original material. Recording should be completed before mid-January, with hopes of a release date in early February. The NTB schedule for 2008 includes the Athy Bluegrass Festival; see details here.