THE GIBSON BROTHERS NAMED ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
AT 2013 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS
The Gibson Brothers took home the Entertainer of the Year award at the soldout 24th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Thursday night, September 26 at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. It was an exciting night for New York State-based band The Gibson Brothers, who also took home awards for Vocal Group of the Year, Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year (Eric Gibson), and Song of the Year (“They Called It Music”). Della Mae was named Emerging Artist of the Year, and The Boxcars took Instrumental Group of the Year. Junior Sisk and Claire Lynch took home awards for Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year respectively, and Rob Ickes was awarded his 15th Dobro Player of the Year award, continuing his reign as the musician who has won the most trophies of any individual instrumentalist in the history of the IBMA Awards. Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees, the late Paul Warren and Tony Rice were honored in special presentations by Ron Stewart, and Peter Rowan and Sam Bush. Paul Warren’s induction was celebrated with a performance from The Earls of Leicester, and his plaque was accepted by his family. Tony Rice gave an unforgettable acceptance speech, and played with members of the original Manzanita album band – including Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Ricky Skaggs, and Todd Phillips with Wyatt Rice. Hosted by Steep Canyon Rangers, the 2013 IBMA Awards Show featured a number of virtuoso-level, high energy live performances from Balsam Range, the Bluegrass Youth All-Stars, Blue Highway, Dailey &Vincent, The Del McCoury Band, Gibson Brothers, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Steep Canyon Rangers, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass Week, Sept 24-28 in Raleigh, NC, which also includes the IBMA Business Conference and Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. The IBMA Awards Show was broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction, Channel 61). The show will be syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the sponsorship of John Pearse Strings, Deering Banjos, Compass Records and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. The sponsors for the live streamed broadcast were Bluegrass Today, Intellitouch Tuners and Music City Roots. Program directors and station managers may sign up to be affiliates by calling (615) 256-3222 or emailing joe@ibma.org. The show will also be posted on AirPlay Direct for broadcasters in the coming week.