International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass Conference and FanFest 2008

IBMA WOB
International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass Conference and FanFest.

Once again we attended the International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass Conference (IBMA) in Nashville. Max and I were joined by our good friend, and cool guitarist, John (Sky) King. It was a week (Sept.29-Oct.4) of hearing, playing and learning about doing the business of bluegrass music. Fortunately those things all lend themselves to folk music too. Monday was a flurry of getting settled, figuring out the schedule and where we needed to be, meeting up with friends we often see only once a year at IBMA.

We played our first showcase on Monday night at 11pm, sponsored by Patuxent Music, a cool acoustic music record label in Rockville, MD <> . There were folks there to see us from all over the U.S. as well as Europe and Asia. The President of Berklee School of Music in Boston, Roger Brown (he was the keynote speaker at the welcome dinner) came for our whole showcase. (It is common for folks to stay for just a few songs and then move on to another showcase so to see a lot more acts.) That was a real compliment. Some of our favorite DJs stopped by, too, Larry Bomar from Memphis, TN and Loek Lamers from the Netherlands.

Max, Ruth, and Sky playing Patuxent Music Showcase

Thursday afternoon we filled Layla’s Bluegrass Inn on Broadway with folks, some from the conference and some locals and tourists. We had so much fun doing that show. Thanks to Dave Burley for inviting us to perform there. He showcases his favorite acts there each year during WOB. Later we were recognized while walking down the street shopping by some of the tourists that had been at the show. Next day we were stopped by another fellow who had seen us at the Bluegrass Inn who turned out to be from Belgium. He was highly complimentary and bought a CD on the spot. Too cool.

Ruth, Max, and Sky
Jammin’ at the Bluegrass Inn
Pictures courtesy of our friends Bill and Pam Warren
(http://www.candidpix.info)

All week we listened, learned, picked and schmoozed. We saw some of our favorites perform, Blue Highway, Claire Lynch, Missy Raines, Kathy Mattea, (yes folks she has moved to bluegrass!), Charlie Sizemore Band, and Red Wine (from Italy) just to name a few. One night Ruth was in a song circle sitting between Clair Lynch and Louisa Bransomb who each welcomed her and introduced her to the circle like she was an old friend. That was all during the first four days! We also saw some new bands that you might want to check out, Sawmill Road, The Farewell Drifters, The Boston Boys, Donna Ulisse and Balsam Range.

Max and Ruth with Martino Coppo, mandolin player for Red Wine. Martino's favorite song by Ruth is Time Was from the All For Love's Sake CD. He now also has a copy of One Day ain't Enough

On Friday the WOB becomes Fan Fest. It is no longer a business conference but the ultimate bluegrass festival, no mud, no dust, no bugs, no porta johns. Thousands of folks flood the Nashville Convention Center. It’s amazing. Of course by this time we were a little tired. You see the alternate meaning of IBMA is I Been Mostly Awake. We had been jamming in hallways and elevator lobbies several nights and then up early to attend seminars and meetings. But to just sit in a comfy chair and watch, Tony Rice with Mountain Heart, Blue Highway, Josh Williams, Cherryholmes, Tony Trischka, Dale Ann Bradley, The Dan Tyminsky Band, Special Concensus, April Verch ……. If you like this kind of music and you have the first weekend in October 2009 open we highly recommend you check this out. www.ibma.org

Unfortunately we had to leave Saturday morning. We would have liked to see G2 Bluegrass perform. They are a young band from Sweden. We have their CD and they are really great check them out.