Billy Strings, a Michigan-born and Nashville, Tennessee-based genre-bending flatpicking guitarist and singer-songwriter, was previously named Entertainer of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2023. A two-time Grammy Award winner for Best Bluegrass Album — Live Vol. 1 (2025) and Home (2021) — he also was named Artist of the Year (2022 and 2023) in the Americana Music Honors & Awards presented by the Americana Music Association, as well as Pollstar’s Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic. He was previously honored as both Guitar Player and New Artist of the Year in the 2019 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards and was named Guitar Player of the Year again in 2021, while his song “Red Daisy” was 2022’s Song of the Year. Billy Strings, who turns 33 on Oct. 3, grew up playing traditional bluegrass with his dad. In the years since, he has been among the artists who have helped to expand the boundaries of the genre, widening its appeal.

Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland’s “Outrun the Rain” won the coveted Song of the Year award and was also named Collaborative Recording of the Year, while the 2025 release on which it appears, Carter & Cleveland, was named Album of the Year. Carter, a five-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, has played with the Del McCoury Band for 30 years and is a founding member of the Travelin’ McCourys, winners of the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. The Kentucky native’s fiddling prowess can also be heard on albums by such notable artists as Asleep at the Wheel, Diercks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs. Southern Indiana-based Michael Cleveland, whose 2024 release, Tall Fiddler, won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame (2018) and was a recipient of a prestigious 2022 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has been recognized 13 times as the IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year and six times for Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year, while Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper has been hailed as its Instrumental Group of the Year multiple times. And has also received awards from the society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPGMA). The subject of a 2019 biographical documentary film, Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story, the much sought-after musician has also performed with such noted artists as J.D. Crowe and the New South, Vice Gill, The Kruger Brother, Tim O’Brien, Andy Statman, and Mary Stuart, among others.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association, a nonprofit trade organization that connects, educates, and empowers bluegrass professionals and enthusiasts, honoring tradition and encouraging innovation in the bluegrass community worldwide (ibma.org).

A complete list of 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards recipients appears below, along with brief information about three Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees.

Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings

Song of the Year: “Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland

Songwriters: Terry Herd & Jimmy Yeary

Producers: Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland

Label: Fiddle Man Records

Album of the Year: Carter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland

Producers: Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland

Label: Fiddle Man Records

Vocal Group of the Year: Authentic Unlimited

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Travelin’ McCourys

Gospel Recording of the Year:

“He’s Gone” – Jaelee Roberts

Songwriter: Kelsi Harrigil
Producer: Byron House
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

Instrumental Recording of the Year:

“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Allison Brown
Label: Compass Records

Collaborative Recording of the Year:

“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts & Vince Gill
Songwriters: Terry Herd & Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

New Artist of the Year: Red Camel Collective

Male Vocalist of the Year: Greg Blake

Female Vocalist of the Year: Alison Krauss

Banjo Player of the Year: Kristin Scott Benson

Bass Player of the Year: Vickie Vaughn

Fiddle Player of the Year: Maddie Denton

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses

Guitar Player of the Year: Trey Hensley

Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull

Music Video of the Year: “The Auctioneer” – The Kody Norris Show

Songwriters: Leroy Van dyke & Buddy Black
Producer: James Gilley
Videographer: Nate Wiles

Label: Rebel Records

Hot Rize (a pioneering bluegrass band), The Bluegrass Cardinals (known for its flawless harmonies, virtuoso playing, and original music), and Arnold Shultz (an influential African American musician) were inducted into Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame during the awards show.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show is the centerpiece of World of Bluegrass that extended from September 16-20. Considered the genre’s annual industry gathering and family reunion, IBMA’s World of Bluegrass also featured a three-day business conference (replete with a wide array of professional development programming, sponsored artist showcases and late-night hospitality functions, and plenty of networking and relationship-building opportunities), the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble (a series of showcases at various Chattanooga venues), and the two-day IBMA Bluegrass Live! – a festival of live performances and fan experiences.

“We are so thankful and a little overwhelmed,” says Joe Mullins, the bandleader and banjo player. “To be included in the Entertainer of the Year category alongside some of our heroes and bands we’re huge fans of, was very humbling. To receive the award from our peers provides us with great encouragement and inspiration. What a wonderful blessing!”

Last year’s Song of the Year winners for “If I’d Have Wrote That Song” and 2012 IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers also shared the 2019 award for Collaborative Recording of the Year with guest artist, Grand Ole Opry member and nine-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year Del McCoury for “The Guitar Song.” The Del McCoury Band took home the award for Album of the Year for Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass.

Joining the group as first-time winners in their respective categories were Sister Sadie (Vocal Group of the Year), Billy Strings (Guitar Player of the Year and New Artist of he Year) and Alan Bibey (Mandolin Player of the Year).

The complete list of award winners in 17 categories voted on by IBMA’s professional members follows:

Entertainer of the Year: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Vocal Group of the Year: Sister Sadie
Instrumental Group of the Year: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (its fifth win in his category)
Song of the Year: “Thunder Dan” – Sideline (artist), Josh Manning (writer), Tim Surrett (producer), Mountain Home Music Company (label)
Album of the Year: Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass – Del McCoury Band (artist), Del and Ronnie McCoury (producers), McCoury Music (label). This marks the band’s second win in this category.
Gospel Recording of the Year: “Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout” – Claire Lynch (artist), Jerry Salley (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Darlin’ Pal(s) of Mine” – Missy Raines with Alison Brown, Mike Bub, and Todd Phillips (artist), Alison Brown (producer), Compass Records (label)
New Artist of the Year: Billy Strings
Collaborative Recording of the Year: “The Guitar Song” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury (artists), Joe Mullins (producer), Jerry Salley (associate producer), Billy Blue (label)
Female Vocalist of the Year: Brooke Aldridge (her third win in this category)
Male Vocalist of the Year: Russell Moore (his sixth win in this category)
Banjo Player of the Year: Kristin Scott Benson (her fifth win in this category)
Bass Player of the Year: Missy Raines (her eighth win in this category)
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Phil Leadbetter (his third win in this category)
Fiddle Player of the Year: Michael Cleveland (his 12th win in this category)
Guitar Player of the Year: Billy Strings
Mandolin Player of the Year: Alan Bibey

Here’s a link to view the official video for Sideline’s “Thunder Dan,” the Song of the Year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWrdtE-jKQs

These IBMA Industry Awards also were presented on Sept. 26:

Broadcaster of the Year: Michelle Lee
Event of the Year: Blueberry Bluegrass Festival in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
Liner Notes of the Year: Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey, Akira Otsuka, Dudley Connell, Jeff Place, and Katy Daley
Graphic Designer of the Year: Michael Armistead
Writer of the Year: David Morris
Songwriter of the Year: Jerry Salley
Sound Engineer of the Year: Ben Surratt
Distinguished Achievement Awards: Katy Daley, Mickey Gamble, Dan Hays, Allen Mills, and Moonshiner

In addition, Mike Auldridge, Bill Emerson and The Kentucky Colonels were formally inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame during the awards ceremony that was co-hosted by McCoury and Jim Lauderdale.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards Show was a centerpiece of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s annual five-day World of bluegrass, the genre’s annual industry gathering and family reunion. Held in Raleigh for the seventh consecutive year, World of Bluegrass also featured a wide array of professional development seminars, meetings and forums, artist showcases and late-night hospitality functions, an exhibit hall, plenty of networking and relationship-building opportunities, and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival.

A multi-award-winning Nashville-based quartet, The Farm Hands received four awards. Its fourth Pinecastle Records release, Colors, took home Album of the Year honors. Two of its previous recordings, Dig in the Dirt and In A Country Town, had been named Album of the Year in 2017 and 2014, respectively. “Rural Route,” one of the tracks on Colors, was named Song of the Year — an award the band also received last year for “Dig in the Dirt.” The Farm Hands also were named Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall), while Tim Graves, the quartet’s Grammy Award-winning resophonic guitarist and a member of SPBGMA’s Hall of Greats, was named Dobro Player of the Year for the tenth consecutive year and the 13th time overall. Succeeding The Farm Hands as Bluegrass Entertainers of the Year were Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – who also were named Bluegrass Vocal Group of the Year.

Rhonda Vincent regained the title of Female Vocalist of the Year after Charli Robertson of Flatt Lonesome ended her winning streak last year. A member of SPBGMA’s Hall of Greats since 2014, Vincent has won Entertainer of the Year honors multiple times. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage band members Hunter Berry and Josh Williams continued their winning streaks as Fiddle and Guitar Performer of the Year, respectively. Russell Moore was named Male Vocalist of the Year. Songwriter of the Year honors went to Donna Ulisse; the award had been bestowed on Daryl Mosely (The Farm Hands’ bass player) for the previous two years.

A complete list of the SPBGMA’s 2018 Bluegrass Music Awards winners follows:

Bluegrass Promoter of the Year: DA Callaway
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year: Sirius XM 062 – Bluegrass Junction
Bluegrass DJ of the Year: Kyle Cantrell (Sirius XM 062)
Songwriter of the Year: Donna Ulisse
Album of the Year: Colors by The Farm Hands on Pinecastle Records
Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year: Mickey Harris
Dobro Performer of the Year: Tim Graves
Guitar Performer of the Year: Josh Williams
Mandolin Performer of the Year: Alan Bibey
Banjo Performer of the Year: Kristin Scott Benson
Fiddle Performer of the Year: Hunter Berry
Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year: Russell Moore
Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Bluegrass Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Bluegrass Instrumental Group of the Year: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall): The Farm Hands
Bluegrass Entertainer(s) of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Bluegrass Song of the Year: “Rural Route,” The Farm Hands on Pinecastle Records

Receiving the bluegrass music industry’s highest award capped a year in which the group had a busy touring schedule (including playing New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and headlining at festivals such as Bonnaroo, MerleFest and the Newport Folk Festival), a string of national television appearances (“The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The View,” “Ellen” and “The Colbert Report”), and the release of a new album, Rare Bird Alert on Rounder. It also was the second International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Award win for Steep Canyon Rangers, who were named Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006.

Although Martin, best known as a comedic actor, included claw hammer style banjo-picking in his early stand-up comedy routines, he has become more serious about recording and performing bluegrass music during the past two years, with the release of two albums of original music

Said Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer and guitarist Woody Platt: “Working with Steve, we might be the most entertained of all. Most of all, we thank Steve for giving us this most amazing ride”. He said the North Carolina-based band was delighted when Martin handpicked them to tour and record with him. “Serendipity has made a better match than any bluegrass computer dating service,” he joked. “Recording Rare Bird Alert and touring with Steve has been such a blast, from writing to playing to singing, our partnership with Steve has allowed us to bring music to new audiences,” added Platt. “Being able to share the music we love…that is the biggest reward.”

Comprised of Platt, Mike Guggiino (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Nicky Sanders (fiddle) and Graham Sharp (banjo), Steep Canyon Rangers met and began playing music during their college days in Chapel Hill, NC a decade ago. And they have been infusing traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes and arrangements ever since. During the awards show, the group played “Me and Paul Revere,” a song Martin wrote from the perspective of the Revere’s horse and performed during the nationally televised Capitol 4th Concert in Washington, DC on Independence Day.

Other top award winners included The Gibson Brothers, a New York State-based band, named Vocal Group of the Year and recipients of Album of the Year for Help My Brother on Compass Records, and The Boxcars, a new combination of veteran musicians, who were named both Emerging Artists of the Year and Instrumental Group of The Year. The Boxcars’ Ron Stewart shared Banjo Player of the Year honors with The Grascals’ Kristen Scott Benson, who received the award for the fourth consecutive year.

Song of the Year honors went to Balsam Range for “Trains I Missed,” written by Walt Wilkins, Giles Goddard and Nicole Witt. Group member Tim Surrett commented, “There are a lot of folks out there – myself included – who are thankful for some of those trains missed and how things turned out.”

Veteran musicians Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe and Paul Williams received trophies for Recorded Event of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance for “Prayer Bells from Heaven” and announced plans to record a second Old Friends album. Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out and Dale Anne Bradley were, respectively, recognized as Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year, the fourth time for each. Blue Highway’s Rob Ickes was awarded his 13th Dobro Player of the Year, the most IBMA Awards any individual instrumentalist has received.

Michael Cleveland was named Fiddle Player of the Year for the ninth time, while his band (Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper) scored the Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year award for “Goin’ Up Dry Branch,” a song written by Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin. Marshall Wilborn was named Bass Player of the Year for the third time; Brian Sutton received the Guitar Player of the Year award for the sixth time; and Adam Steffey dedicated his eighth Mandolin Player of the Year award to the twin sons who he expects t be born this month.

Hosted by noted mandolin player and band leader Sam Bush, the awards show also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe, who is recognized as the father of bluegrass, and was the centerpiece of the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week that also featured a business conference and fan fest. In addition to awards in more than 20 categories that are voted on by the professional membership of the IBMA, which serves as a trade association for the bluegrass music industry, Del McCoury and George Shuffler were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Ronnie and Rob McCoury inducted their father, while guitarist James Alan Shelton did the honors for Shuffler, a bass and cross-picked guitar stylist known as “the third Stanley Brother.” The evening concluded with a guitar rendition of “Life is Like a Mountain Railway” by Shuffler and Shelton and a medley of Del McCoury songs, which he sang in his trademark tenor.

Other award recipients included:

Distinguished Achievement Awards:

Greg Cahill, Bill Knowlton, Lilly Pavlak, Geoff Stelling and Roland White

Broadcaster of the Year:

Katy Daley, WAMU Bluegrass Country

Print Media Person of the Year:

Juli Thanki, Engine145.com

Bluegrass Event of the Year:

Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ Festival (Branson, MO)

Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project:

Ricardo Alessio & Erica Harris (designer & artist), Abigail Washburn (artist), Rounder (label)

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project:

Colin Escott (writer), A Mother’s Prayer, Ralph Stanley (artist), Rebel (label)

Although relatively new on the scene as a duo, having released their debut album in 2008, Dailey & Vincent apprenticed for years under Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, respectively. They are the reigning three-time winners of IBMA Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year honors and have won a bevy of other awards. “We love to sing, and we love to entertain. Thanks to all of you for letting us do what we love to do,” said Dailey in accepting one of the awards on Feb. 6.

Rhonda Vincent, Darrin’s sister, the reigning and multi-time SPBGMA Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary), again secured those coveted honors. She and her band, The Rage, had received nominations in seven categories.

The Grascals, last year’s SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year, took home awards in three of the ten categories in which they were nominated – Instrumental Group of the Year, Mandolin Player of the Year (Danny Roberts), and Banjo Performer of the Year (Kristin Scott Benson). Last year’s SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year currently has the top album on Billboard’s bluegrass charts : The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin.

Veteran songwriters Tom T. and Dixie Hall won the Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year award for the tenth time.

A complete list of SPBGMA award winners follows::

Entertainer of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Entertaining Group of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Album of the Year: Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers

Song of the Year: “Train Without a Track,” Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Bluegrass Band of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Female Vocalist (Contemporary) of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Female Vocalist (Traditional) of the Year: Alecia Nugent

Male Vocalist (Contemporary) of the Year: Jamie Dailey

Male Vocalist (Traditional) of the Year: James King

Vocal Group of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Grascals

Gospel Group (Contemporary) of the Year: Dailey & Vincent

Gospel Group (Traditional) of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Songwriter of the Year: Tom T. and Dixie Hall

Top Instrumental Performers: Darrin Vincent (bass fiddle), Tim Graves (dobro), Josh Williams (guitar), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Michael Cleveland (fiddle)

Promoter of the Year: Adams & Anderson LLC

Radio Station of the Year: WDVX-FM, Knoxville, Tennessee

DJ of the Year: Joe Mullins, WBZI-AM, Xenia, Ohio

“It’s been a pivotal year for us,” says Johnson, a co-founder of the band, which is set to release a new CD, The Grascals & Friends – Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin on Cracker Barrel Jan. 10. “We played over 150 shows, made two trips overseas, headlined some great fairs and festivals stateside, and enjoyed several dates on Hank Williams Jr.’s Rowdy Friends Tour.”

Reigning SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year Dailey & Vincent received nominations for Entertaining Group of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Gospel Group of the Year-Contemporary, Entertainer of the Year (Jamie Dailey), Male Vocalist of the Year-Contemporary (Dailey, who also won it in 2009 and 2010), and Bass Fiddle Player of the Year (Darrin Vincent, who received the honor for 2010). They also received an Album of the Year nomination for Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers (Cracker Barrel), its bluegrass tribute to the legendary country quartet, which topped Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart for a number of weeks this year, and a Song of the Year nod for “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine.” Although relatively new on the scene as a duo, having released their debut album in 2008, Dailey & Vincent apprenticed for years under Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, respectively. They are the reigning three -time winners of IBMA Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year honors and have won a bevy of other awards.

Current and multi-time SPBGMA Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage, received nominations in seven categories. The All-American Bluegrass Girl is again nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year -Contemporary. Along with The Rage, she is nominated for Vocal Group and Bluegrass Band of the Year, while members of The Rage Mickey Harris, Hunter Berry and Aaron McDaris received nominations for Bass Fiddle, Fiddle and Banjo Performer of the Year, respectively. Harris is a two-time SPBGMA Bass Player of the Year; Berry is a seven-time Fiddle Player of the Year; and McDaris, formerly with The Grascals and The Larry Stephenson Band, is the current Banjo Performer of the Year.

The SPBGMA, established in 1979 as a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve the traditional spirit and art form of bluegrass music, announced nominees in 23 categories last week.

Nominees in select categories appear below, while a complete listing can be found at www.spbgma.com.

Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Louisa Branscomb, Eric Gibson, Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall, Jamie Johnson, Russell Johnson, Tim Stafford

Bluegrass Album of the Year: The Boys in Hats & Ties by Big Country Bluegrass (Rebel), Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers (Cracker Barrel), Darrin & Brooke Aldridge (Mountain Home), The Famous Lefty Flynn’s by The Grascals (Rounder), Heartaches & Dreams by Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (Rebel), Light on My Feet, Ready to fly by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Horizon)

Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary: Dale Ann Bradley, Cia Cherryholmes, Sonya Isaacs, Alison Krauss, Christy Reid, Rhonda Vincent

Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): Lorraine Jordan, Claire Lynch, Frances Mooney, Alecia Nugent, Valerie Smith, Jeanette Williams

Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary): Mike Andes, Jamie Dailey, Steve Gulley, Russell Moore, Larry Stephenson, Bradley Walker

Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): James King, Jeff Michael, Terry Eldredge, Doyle Lawson, Junior Sisk, Larry Sparks

Vocal Group of the Year: Big Country Bluegrass, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year: Big Country Bluegrass, The Bluegrass Brothers, The Grascals, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall): Big Country Bluegrass, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Song of the Year: “The Boys in Hats & Ties” by Big Country Bluegrass (Rebel), “Bleeding for a Little Piece of Mind” by Blue Highway (Rounder), “Do You Know You are My Sunshine” by Dailey & Vincent (Cracker Barrel), “I Thought I’d Seen It All” by Darin & Brooke Aldridge (Mountain Home), “Last Train to Clarksville” by The Grascals, “Train Without a Track” by Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice (Rebel)

Entertaining Group of the Year: Big Country Bluegrass, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Nothin’ Fancy, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Entertainer of the Year: Jamie Dailey, Lorraine Jordan, Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore, Junior Sisk, Rhonda Vincent

Cort Riggs, Col. Riggs’ son, expressed pleasure at the recent turn of events for the label. Noting that Lassiter had often joined his father at bluegrass festivals and International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) conventions, Riggs said: “He is a fan of our music and plans to continue to expand the catalog with new releases and exciting compilations of the vast Pinecastle catalog.” Riggs views the decision by several Pinecastle staffers to join Lassiter in growing the label as “a solid vote of confidence” and says he is “thrilled to see the label in capable hands and look[s] forward to the great music to come.”

Initially launched by Col. Riggs in 1989 as a favor to a friend seeking an outlet for a newly recorded CD, Pinecastle has released nearly 250 recordings to date. These range from releases by young artists like Kristin Scott Benson and Josh Williams to reissues of recordings by such bluegrass legends as the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, and Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen. The new Pinecastle Records will be located in Columbus, North Carolina and also will have an online presence soon at www.pinecastlemusic.com.