Official Showcases are considered the prime platform for introducing talent and new music to the bluegrass community during the genre’s annual industry gathering and family reunion. Selected for official showcases during the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble at six venues throughout downtown Raleigh are Carley Arrowood, Breakin’ Strings, Cedar Hill, Chicken Wire Empire, Kristy Cox, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Damn Tall Buildings, Echo Valley, Rick Faris, The Foreign Landers, Frog Holler, Full Cord, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, Jig Jam, The Kody Norris Show, Jake Leg, Lonesome Ace Stringband, Lover’s Leap, Mile Twelve, Missy Raines & Allegheny, My Brother’s Keeper, Nefesh Mountain, Nick Chandler & Delivered, Nick Dumas & Branchline, Caroline Owens, Clint Roberts, The Slocan Ramblers, Songs From The Road Band, Williamson Branch, and Zoe & Cloyd.

They were chosen through a juried selection process that took into consideration the applicant’s entertainment value, level of professionalism, potential appeal, quality of work, and potential to benefit from the opportunity. Selected Official Showcase acts will have at least two performance opportunities — typically once during the IBMA Business Conference and a longer set at an IBMA Bluegrass Ramble venue. They also will receive full conference registration, complimentary exhibit hall booth space during the business conference, up to three individual IBMA memberships, and various pre-event promotional opportunities.

Ten talented songwriters/songwriting teams will perform their songs during the IBMA Songwriter Showcase at the Raleigh Convention Center on Thursday afternoon, September 29. This showcase is part of the songwriter track during the annual IBMA Business Conference, September 27-29. Songwriters selected for this coveted opportunity include Aaron Bibelhause (“Long Hill to Climb”], Valerie Smith & Ashley Lewis (“A Dollar Looked Mighty Good”), Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small (“Finish What You Started”), Carley Arrowood (“Moondancer”), Timothy Scott Williams & Sarah Williams (“Big Table”), Michelle Rivers (“Gone”), Theo MacMillan (“Getting Over”), Lizzy Ross of Violet Bell (I Can’t Say Nothing”), J.M. Clifford (“Slow Rolling Train”), and Buddy Guido & Paul Kelly (“John Dear”).

These songwriters were chosen through a juried selection process based on the applicants’ quality of work and appeal to bluegrass audiences. Songwriters could submit one song per entry and were limited to two entries. Besides showcasing, these songwriters and others participating in the conference’s songwriter track will be provided with resources to help cultivate their craft, develop solid business practices, network, engage in one-on-one mentoring sessions, and pitch material to bluegrass artists and producers.

A Bit About IBMA Word of Bluegrass and the Organization Behind It

The 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 addition to Bluegrass Ramble official showcases and the IBMA Songwriter Showcase, IBMA’s World of Bluegrass generally features a wide array of professional development seminars, meetings and forums; sponsored artist showcases and late-night hospitality functions, plenty of networking and relationship-building opportunities; the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show; and the IBMA Bluegrass Live! festival.

Registration is now open to attend the 2022 World of Bluegrass conference, while tickets are available for the IBMA Awards Show on September 29 and ticketed Bluegrass Live! festival performances over the weekend at the Red Hat Ampitheater. A two-day free street festival, September 30-October 1, marks the culmination of IBMA World of Bluegrass and 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. The StreetFest also includes an arts market, exhibit hall, master workshops, youth performances, food and beverage vendors, and more. The NC Whole Hog Barbecue Championship also takes place downtown that weekend.

IBMA (ibma.org) seeks to facilitate the growth and development of the bluegrass community – for professionals and enthusiasts who share a passion for the music. More information about IBMA’s World of Bluegrass will be posted on AcousticMusicScene.com in coming months and may also be found on WorldofBluegrass.org.

Scheduled to perform (in order of performance) at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country on May 25. are Ben Bochner (Eugene, OR), Daniel Makins (San Angelo, TX), Adrianne Lenker (Andover, MN), Marina (League City, TX), Mark Philpot (Fort Worth, TX), Allie Farris (Nashville, TN), Andrew Delaney (Dallas, TX), Anna & The Underbelly (Portland, OR), Arlon Bennett (Tappan, NY), B. Sterling (Austin, TX), Bethel Steele (Boston, MA), Tommy Byrd (Austin, TX), Davey O. (Buffalo, NY), Hope Schneir (Camarillo, CA), Doug Kent (Houston, TX) and Ed Romanoff (Brooklyn, NY).

New Folk Finalists slated to perform on May 26 include Ellis (Minneapolis, MN), Honor Finnegan (New York, NY), John Natiw (Canton, MI), Julie Jean White (Dallas, TX), Eric Bettencourt (Portland, ME), Karen Dahlstrom (Brooklyn, NY), Lizzy Ross (Chapel Hill, NC), Mary McAdams (Des Moines, IA), Paul Sachs (New York, NY), Terry Holder (Olympia, WA), Steve Chizmadia (Peekskill, NY), The Sparrowmakers (Austin, TX), Twangtown Paramours ( Nashville, TN), Wes Collins (Chapel Hill, NC), Zach Kibodeaux (Kyle, TX) and Bill Valenti (Bend, OR).

After performing, six songwriters will be selected as 2013 New Folk Winners by judges Nels Andrews, Aengus Finnan and BettySoo. The six will perform in the New Folk Award Winners Concert on Sunday, June 2, and will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to participate in the New Folk Concerts Fall Tour culminating with the opening slot on the 2013 Rice Fest stage. Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and their fans.

Now in its 42nd year, year, the Kerrville Folk Festival is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops.

The Kerrville Folk Festival runs for 18 straight days – Thursday, May 23– Sunday, June 9. For a complete festival schedule and additional information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.

Scheduled to perform (in order of performance) at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country on May 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. are Terry Penny (Newfoundland, Canada), Paula Held (Austin, TX), Alison Lumley (Austin, TX), Jon Troast (Nashville, TN), Andra Suchy (Minneapolis, MN), Burke Ingraffia (Point Clear, AL), Edie Carey (Chicago, IL), Whit Hill – The Postcards (Nashville, TN), Miranda Dawn (Austin, TX), Poor Mans Poison (Hanford, CA), Nicolette Good (San Antonio, TX), The Hems (Austin, TX), Daniel Makins (San Angelo, TX), Talia Segal (New York, NY), Robin Macy & Kentucky White (Belle Plaine, KS), and Lindsay May (Vancouver, BC, Canada).

New Folk Finalists slated to perform on May 27 include Lizzy Ross (Pittsboro, NC), JA Carter III (San Antonio, TX), Michael Jerome Browne (Montreal, QC, Canada), Mikaela Kahn (Denton, TX), The Sea The Sea (Madison, CT), Alicia McGovern (Salt Lake City, UT), The Selkies (Ipswich, MA), Paul Sachs (New York, NY), Scott Phegley (Nolensville, TN), Dan Weber (Vancouver, WA), Annie & Rod Capps (Chelsea, MI), J Wagner (Austin, TX), Anna Dagmar (New York, NY), Korby Lenker (Nashville, TN), The YaYas (Mohegan Lake, NY), and Michaela Anne (Brooklyn, NY).

After performing, six songwriters will be selected as 2012 New Folk Winners by judges Cary Cooper, Seth Glier and Nathan Hamilton. The six will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to perform during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday, June 3.

Now in its 41st year and geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and their fans, the Kerrville Folk Festival is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops.

The Kerrville Folk Festival runs for 18 straight days – Thursday, May 24– Sunday, June 10. For a complete festival schedule and additional information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.