Bluegrass Music Awards – AcousticMusicScene.com

IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Presented

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:35:24 +0000

Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year, while his recording of “Red Daisy” was named Song of the Year in the 33rd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on September 29, 2022. Béla Fleck received the most awards of the evening as he was honored for Album of the Year (My Bluegrass Heart), Instrumental Group of the Year (Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart), Instrumental Recording of the Year, and Banjo Player of the Year.

The awards show – hosted by artists Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminki – was a highlight of the IBMA’s week-long World of Bluegrass. The show took place at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh North Carolina and also was broadcast on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction and streamed via Facebook Live (as was the July 26 awards nominees announcement that was previously reported on by AcousticMusicScene.com.).

A Lansing. Michigan-born and Nashville, Tennessee-based genre-bending flatpicker and singer, Billy Strings received the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album (Home) last year and was named 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.

On September 29, 2022, Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year for the second year running.

Billy Strings, who turns 30 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. His latest album, Renewal, features 16 songs (mostly originals) that while primarily acoustic, transcend bluegrass via incorporating elements of jam band, psychedelic music, classic rock, and even heavy metal.

[Here’s a link to view the official video for Billy Strings’ recording of “Red Daisy”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmqr0GqnQoE.]

Billy Strings beat out Del McCoury Band, Po’ Ramblin Boys, Sister Sadie, and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award. Like him, McCoury, a Bluegrass Hall of Fame member, and Sister Sadie are previous recipients of the award. McCoury was named Male Vocalist of the Year, while Tuttle was honored as Female Vocalist of the Year.

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

A complete list of award winners appears below, along with brief information about three Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees.

Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings
Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Instrumental Group of the Year: Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart
New Artist of the Year: Rick Faris
Song of the Year: “Red Daisy”
Artist: Billy Strings, Songwriters: Jarrod Walker/Christian Ward
Label: Rounder Records, Producers: Jonathan Wilson/Billy Strings
Album of the Year: My Bluegrass Heart, Artist: Béla Fleck
Label: Renew Records, Producer: Béla Fleck
Gospel Recording of the Year: “In the Sweet By and By”
Artist: Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley
Songwriters: S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster, Label: Billy Blue Records
Producer: Jerry Salley
Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Vertigo”
Artist: Béla Fleck featuring Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Bryan Sutton
Songwriter: Béla Fleck, Label: Renew Records, Producer: Béla Fleck
Collaborative Recording of the Year: “In the Sweet By and By”
Artist: Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley
Songwriters: S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster, Label: Billy Blue Records, Producer: Jerry Salley
Male Vocalist of the Year: Del McCoury
Female Vocalist of the Year: Molly Tuttle
Banjo Player of the Year: Béla FleckBass Player of the Year: Jason Moore
Fiddle Player of the Year: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses
Guitar Player of the Year: Cody Kilby
Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull

Norman Blake, the late Paul “Moon” Mullins, and Peter Rowan were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame during the awards show. Blake is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist and a Grammy and Country Music Association Album of the Year award–winner whose prolific music career spans more than six decades. Paul “Moon” Mullins was a broadcast pioneer and recording artist whose work brought bluegrass music to tens of thousands in Ohio and beyond. Peter Rowan is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and renaissance musician who has been performing for nearly 60 years.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show is the centerpiece of World of Bluegrass Week that extends through October 1 in North Carolina’s capital city. IBMA World of Bluegrass also featured a September 27-29 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 official showcases in downtown Raleigh and the Raleigh Convention Center), and the two-day IBMA Bluegrass Live! festival, September 30-October 1, that draws throngs of music lovers to downtown Raleigh to enjoy more than 100 acts on different stages set up along Fayetteville Street –- from the state capitol to the Duke Performing Arts Center.

Considered the genre’s annual industry gathering and family reunion. IBMA’s annual World of Bluegrass week has taken place in Raleigh since 2013 – apart from 2020 when the trade and professional association for the global bluegrass community shifted to online presentation of its professional development seminars, artist showcases and awards in light of concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

SPBGMA Presents its 2020 Bluegrass Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 20:52:04 +0000

Carolina Blue was the top winner in the 46th annual Bluegrass Music Awards presented by The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, February 2, 2020. Winners in 19 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s 37th national convention.

Carolina Blue

A North Carolina-based band, Carolina Blue was honored as Entertainers of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall) and Vocal Group of the Year, while its 2019 release I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me was named as Album of the Year.

Founded by Bobby Powell (guitar and vocals) and Tim Jones (mandolin and vocals) in 2007, Carolina Blue also features James McDowell (banjo and vocals), Reese Combs (upright bass and vocals), and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle). Powell has jokingly referred to the band as “a 12-year overnight success,” noting that just a few years ago Carolina Blue was playing local BBQ restaurants in and around its hometown of Brevard, NC, while it played some 120 shows across he U.S. in 2019 — at festivals and venues that he and his bandmates had previously only dreamed about.

Featuring lots of fiddlin’ and mandolin work, as well as three-part harmonies, Carolina Blue presents primarily original music in the style and format of Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass and the group’s biggest influence. Last year, Carolina Blue was nominated for three International Bluegrass Music Awards by the IBMA: Album, New Artist and Instrumental Recording of the Year. Porchak, its fiddle player, was a recipient of the IBMA’s Momentum Instrumentalist Award in 2018.

Here’s a link to view the official video for “Rusty Rails,” one of the songs on Carolina Blue’s award-winning album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2w48WJfdC4.

A complete listing of 2020 SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Award-Winners follows:

Bluegrass Album of the Year – I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me – Carolina Blue on Pinecastle
Song of the Year – “Next Train South” – Po’Ramblin’ Boys on Rounder Records
Entertainer(s) of the Year – Carolina Blue
Bluegrass Band of the Year – Carolina Blue
Instrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Vocal Group of the Year – Carolina Blue
Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year – The Farm Hands
Female Vocalist of the Year – Dale Ann Bradley
Male Vocalist of the Year – Russell Moore
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year – Larry Cordle
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year – Sirius XM 62
Bluegrass DJ of the Year – Kyle Cantrell – Sirius XM
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year – D.A. Callaway

Tim Graves, The Farm Hands’ Grammy Award-winning resophonic guitarist and a member of SPBGMA’s Hall of Greats, hosted the SPBGMA’s awards show and also was presented with a Masters Gold Award in recognition of his 13 previous wins as Dobro Performer of the Year.

SPBGMA Presents Bluegrass Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:32:34 +0000

The Farm Hands were the top winners in the 44th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards presented by The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, February 4, 2018. Winners in 19 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s 35th national convention.

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

SPBGMA Presents Bluegrass Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:38:40 +0000

The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) presented its 41st Annual Bluegrass Music Awards on February 8, 2015 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Winners in 23 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s 32nd national convention.

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage at the 41st Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Rhonda Vincent, the reigning and multi-time SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year, again won that coveted honor and also was named Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary). Vincent and her band, The Rage, also were named Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall), while band members Hunter Berry and Josh Williams were named Fiddle and Guitar Player of the Year, respectively – Williams for the 10th time. Vincent was inducted into SPBGMA’s Hall of Greats last year. Her 2014 release, Only Me, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and sported the top two singles on the National Bluegrass Survey chart in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.

“It’s an incredible moment in time for us,” said Vincent. “The past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. We are so thankful for the support of our music; the promoters and venues [that] host our shows, and our friends who join us at the shows. We couldn’t do it without you. We appreciate each and every award.”

Pull Your Savior In by Larry Stephenson Band (Whysper Dream Music) was named Bluegrass Album of the Year, while “That’s Kentucky” by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road (Pinecastle Records) took Song of the Year honors and Jordan was named Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional). Pinecastle label-mates The Farm Hands were named Entertaining Group of the Year, while the quartet’s Tim Graves was named Dobro Performer of the Year for the 10th time. Graves also was inducted into SPBGMA’s Preservation Hall of Greats.

A complete list of SPBGMA award winners follows:

1. Bluegrass Promoter of the Year: Bertie Sullivan

2. Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year: Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN

3. Bluegrass DJ of the Year: Kyle Cantrell – Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN

4. Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Tom T. Hall & Dixie Hall

5. Bluegrass Album of the Year: Pull Your Savior In – by Larry Stephenson Band on Whysper Dream Music

6. Bass Performer of the Year: Butch Cooksey

7. Dobro Performer of the Year: Tim Graves

8. Guitar Performer of the Year: Tim Stafford

9. Mandolin Performer of the Year: Danny Roberts

10. Banjo Performer of the Year: Ben Greene

11. Fiddle Performer of the Year: Hunter Berry

12. Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary): Rhonda Vincent

13. Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): Lorraine Jordan

14. Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary): Russell Moore

15. Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): Marty Raybon

16. Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary): The Gibson Brothers

17. Gospel Group of the Year (Traditional): The Farm Hands

18. Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall): Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

19. Vocal Group of the Year: The Gibson Brothers

20. Instrumental Group of the Year: The Grascals

21. Entertaining Group of the Year: The Farm Hands

22. Entertainer of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

23. Song of the Year: “That’s Kentucky” – by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road for Pinecastle Records

Winners Named in 40th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 00:48:02 +0000

The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) presented its 40th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards on February 2, 2014 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Winners in 23 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s national convention.

Rhonda Vincent, the reigning and multi-time SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year, again won that coveted honor, and also was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Greats. Vincent and her band, The Rage, also were named Instrumental Group of the Year, while band members Josh Williams and Mickey Harris were named Guitar Player of the Year and Bass Player of the Year, respectively.

Rhonda Vincent

“This was one of the greatest evenings of my career, from the induction into the Hall of Greats [to] Entertainer of the Year, and I’m so proud of all the men of The Rage for being honored for their incredible talents,” said Vincent. “We travel 250 days out of the year, living our dream, playing the music we love, and this night was a great reward for all our hard work. We are very thankful for all the honors.”

The Gibson Brothers’ “They Called It Music,” written by Eric Gibson and Joe Newberry, took Song of the Year honors just as it did in the 2013 International Bluegrass Music Awards last September. The Gibson Brothers, who hail from upstate New York, also are the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s reigning Entertainers and Vocal Group of the Year.

Dailey & Vincent (featuring Rhonda’s brother Darrin) were honored as Vocal Group of the Year and Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary), while Jamie Dailey was again named Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary). – adding to the bevy of awards the duo has received
since releasing its debut album in 2008 after apprenticing for years under Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs, respectively.

Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice was feted as Bluegrass Band of the Year, while Nothin’ Fancy was named Entertaining Group of the Year.

A complete list of SPBGMA award winners follows:

Entertainer of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Entertaining Group of the Year: Nothin’ Fancy

Album of the Year: In a Country Town – Farm Hands Quartet (Farm Country Music)

Song of the Year: “They Called It Music” – The Gibson Brothers (Compass Records)

Bluegrass Band of the Year: (Overall) Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Female Vocalist (Contemporary) of the Year: Sonya Isaacs

Female Vocalist (Traditional) of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley

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: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

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

Gospel Group (Traditional) of the Year: Paul Williams & the Victory Trio

Songwriter of the Year: Tom T. and Dixie Hall

Top Instrumental Performers: Mickey Harris (bass fiddle), Tim Graves (dobro), Josh Williams (guitar), Danny Roberts (mandolin), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Michael Cleveland (fiddle)

Promoter of the Year: Bertie Sullivan

Radio Station of the Year: Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN.

DJ of the Year: Kyle Cantrell – Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN