INTERNATIONAL
bluegrass 57th
ANNUAL GRAMMY NOMINEES Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2015 invitees
Board
u pdate Foundation Grant Recipients
International Bluegrass
Vol. 30 | No. 1 | January 2015
Editor: Taylor Coughlin taylor@ibma.org
Designer: Erin Faith Erdos erinfaitherdos@gmail.com
STAFF
Nancy Cardwell Consultant
BOARD
Taylor Coughlin Communications and Professional Development Director
Eddie Huffman Convention Services and IT Systems Director
Jon Weisberger/Board Chairperson
Alan Bartram/Director, Artists/Composers/Publishers Becky Buller/At Large Danny Clark/At Large Jamie Deering/Director, Merchandisers/Luthiers Regina Derzon/Director Secretary, Associations John Goad, Print/Media/Education William Lewis/At Large
Stephen Mougin/At Large Joe Mullins, Artists/Composers/Publishers Leah Ross/Director, Event Producers Ben Surratt/Director, Recording/Dist./Marketing Tim Surrett/Vice Chair/Director, Artists/Composers/Publishers Angelika Torrie/Director, International
INFO CONTACT US
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS
The monthly emailed publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association
(ISSN #1095-0605) IBMA: IBMA is the trade association
608 W. Iris Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 USA 615-256-3222 | 888-GET-IBMA Fax: 615-256-0450 Email: info@ibma.org Website: www.ibma.org
that connects and educates bluegrass professionals, empowers the bluegrass community, and encourages worldwide appreciation of bluegrass music of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Statement of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers, directors, staff or members of IBMA. Portions of International Bluegrass may be reprinted provided that explicit citation of the source is made: “Reprinted with permission from International Bluegrass, the publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association, www.ibma.org.�
JANUARY Table of CONTENTS
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Pick up some healthy lifestyle tips from an ultra runner and professional touring musician
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EDITORIAL Fresh Starts: Bluegrassified
LBG class of 2015 invited
GRAMMY NOMINEES announced
Q&A with Board Member Becky Buller Foundation for Bluegras Music Announce 2015 Grant Recipients
BOARD UPDATE
INDUSTRY NEWS
NEW MEMBERS: December
EDITORIAL
Fresh Starts: Bluegrassified Tale as old as time: The beginning of a new year allows slates to be wiped clean, resolutions to begin anew. Time to start fresh, start over, or just START in general. In the IBMA offices, we’re pretty glad to start fresh. It’s no secret our organization has had some struggles in the past couple months. But we’re optimistic and productive, ready and willing. And our slate is wiped clean, too. So it’s time to ask you, our membership, what YOUR resolutions are for 2015 in regards to our beloved community of bluegrass music makers and shakers. Is 2015 the year you’ll volunteer at World of Bluegrass, or even make it out to World of Bluegrass? Will you renew your membership in 2015 and vow to get more involved? In 2015, will you make more connections, or make good on promises to connect? How about learning something new in regards to your bluegrass profession (whether full time or volunteer)? In 2015 will you finally complete your vinyl collection of Flatt & Scruggs albums? We love the energy and optimism that accompanies this time of year, and we’re anxious to continue and build upon the great work we’ve been doing, while beginning new projects and generating fresh ideas. We want you, the membership, to be involved. We wouldn’t exist without you. Best of luck on your resolutions, folks. May you prosper in your bluegrassified resolutions!
On behalf of the staff and board at IBMA, thank you for starting 2015 on a fresh note with us. Yours in bluegrass, Taylor Coughlin Communications & Professional Development Director
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The invited class for
Leadership Bluegrass 2015 Each year in Nashville, 25 folks from around the bluegrass/roots music industry are invited to participate in an intensive, three-day leadership and professional development class through IBMA. Through workshops, lectures, lunches, jams, and open discussions, participants are challenged, inspired, renewed and fortified. The level of networking, knowledge sharing, and relationship building is one that has been heralded since the program first began in 2000.
Leadership Bluegrass is proud to announce the invited participants for 2015: Amy Gallatin, Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters, Connecticut Bree Tucker-Meyers, DVT Marketing Enterprises Inc., California Debbie Hall, Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, Rhode Island Devon Leger, Hearth Music, Washington Emily Epley, Exec. Director of Earl Scruggs Center, North Carolina Gary Loeser, The Event Company, Kentucky Hank Smith, musician and teacher, North Carolina Heidi Herzog, Red Dress Productions, Tennessee Jacob Groopman, Front Country, California Jeff Westerinen, artist and producer, Maryland Jenni Lyn Gardner, Della Mae, Tennessee Joe Lurgio, musician, Tennessee Joe Mullins, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Ohio Judy McDonough, JEMMedia, Tennessee Laura Boosinger, Blue Ridge Music Trails of NC, North Carolina Laurie Greenberg, Tall Pines Media, New Jersey Maria E. Nadauld, Above the Bay Booking, California Mark Panfil, musician, New York Mitch Collman, Robust Records Inc., North Carolina Paul Schiminger, High Strung Bluegrass, Maryland Reuben Shetler, Boston Bluegrass Union, Massachusetts Ron Raxter, PineCone, North Carolina Thomm Jutz, artist, Tennessee Tori Gold, Gold Heart Band, Virginia Wendy Tyner, Wintergrass, Washington Leadership Bluegrass 2015 will take place March 4-6 at BMI headquarters on Music Row in Nashville. The Planning Committee (Emilee Warner – Chair, Trisha Tubbs, Alan Tompkins, Jean Spivey, Nolan Lawrence, Dan Keen, Beth Fortune, Taylor Coughlin – staff liason) are hard at work preparing. The program is competitive with less than half of applicants actually accepted. For those who were not selected to participate, you are encouraged to re-apply next year! For more information on Leadership Bluegrass, contact Taylor@ibma.org.
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Congratulations to the nominees of the The awards will be held in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, February 8 at 8pm/7c on CBS. A lot of awards, such as those in the bluegrass/roots categories, are awarded earlier in the day.
BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
The Earls Of Leicester The Earls Of Leicester Label: Rounder
Cold Spell Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen Label: Compass Records
Only Me Rhonda Vincent Label: Upper Management Music
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe Noam Pikelny Label: Compass Records
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Into My Own Bryan Sutton Label: Sugar Hill Records
International Bluegrass
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A Dotted Line Nickel Creek Label: Nonesuch
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE “Destination” Nickel Creek Nickel Creek Track from: A Dotted Line Label: Nonesuch
“And When I Die” Billy Childs Featuring Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas Billy Childs Featuring Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas Track from: Map To The Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Label: Masterworks
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG “The New York Trains” The Del McCoury Band Woody Guthrie & Del McCoury, songwriters (The Del McCoury Band) Track from: My Name Is New York: Deluxe Audio Book Label: Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
“Pretty Little One” Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers Featuring Edie Brickell Steve Martin, songwriter (Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers Featuring Edie Brickell) Track from: Live Label: Rounder; Publishers: LA Films Music
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Three Bells Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas & Rob Ickes Label: Rounder
Follow The Music Alice Gerrard Label: Tompkins Square
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL Bass & Mandolin Richard King & Dave Sinko, engineers; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer (Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer) Label: Nonesuch
Remedy Old Crow Medicine Show Label: ATO Records
BEST CHILDREN›S ALBUM
The Way I’m Livin’ Chuck Ainlay, engineer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer (Lee Ann Womack) Label: Sugar Hill Records
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Through The Woods The Okee Dokee Brothers Label: Okee Dokee Music
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Getting to Know your IBMA Board
Shake & howdy Name: Becky Buller
Occupation: Multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, leader of the Becky Buller Band. I’ve been on the board since Jan. 20, 2014, as an “at large” artists, composers, publishers’ rep.
Becky Buller
What brought me to The Bluegrass: My parents became interested in bluegrass music when I was very young. I don’t remember a time without it! They were in a Southern Minnesota based band called Prairie Grass during all my growing up years. I wanted to sing with the band, but they told me I would have to learn an instrument to be on stage with them because that’s how a bluegrass band usually functions. They didn’t have a fiddle, so I started begging them for lessons at age 9. A year later, they started me in Suzuki violin. I joined their band when I was 12 or 13. Ended up going to bluegrass school at ETSU in Johnson City, Tenn., joined Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike upon graduation, and spent 10 years with her touring worldwide and working as a publicist at Bell Buckle Records, took a break, had a baby, got back on the road with Darin & Brooke Aldridge for two years, and am now have my own group. What are your personal goals as a director on the board: I want to see the IBMA grow and flourish on all fronts. I want our business conference to be relevant, timely, and useful to folks from all walks of our industry, so much so that they can’t afford not to attend. I want our festival in Raleigh to get
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International Bluegrass
bigger and better every year. I want to help create other revenue streams for IBMA that occur all year long. I want to create more value in an IBMA membership. I want to create even more partnership between the IBMA and regional and state and international bluegrass associations.
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FEATURE What are you doing to help the board achieve the current goals: In March, I was asked to head up the songwriting committee and continue the wonderful work started by Louisa Branscomb and Mark Brinkman, two stalwart champions of us bluegrass songwriters. We have several cool projects in the planning stages; we’ll be telling you more about those as they come together. One I can tell you about now is the Songwriting Mentoring Program. It will be back online at the first of the year. The goal is for IBMA member songwriters to have access to constructive criticism on cultivating our craft by some of the best in the biz while connecting and creating community. Tony Rackley has agreed to again head this up. (Bless you, Tony!) Folks interested in being mentored can drop him a line at jtrackley@aol.com. I›m also keeping up with board activity and pitching in wherever I can. And I›m keeping up with the various IBMA listservs and social media sites to stay abreast of what our members are saying. Your voice is very important. This is our organization; it will take us all pitching in and working together to make it the best it can be. Please feel free to email me with your questions, comments, and concerns at becky@beckybuller.com.
What is something IBMA members might not know about me: I’ve been a member of IBMA for almost 20 years. My first World of Bluegrass was in 1995. I was 16 and a junior in high school. Donica Christianson and I rode down to Owensboro with Jed Malishcke (Donica’s banjo teacher and executive director of the Minnesota Bluegrass And OldTime Music Association) as chaperone. Not sure what our parents were thinking… Just kidding. Jed is the best! Anyway, that week changed my life. I had a chance to meet, talk, and jam with my heroes. Because they took that time with me, I chose to make a career out of playing this music. Now I’m on the IBMA board, a position I do not take lightly. I do my best to pay forward the kindness given me by those folks way back when. I have no idea what future bluegrass stars I might be encouraging at a show or in the halls at the conference. And I’ll do the best I can to help preserve our organization and keep it moving forward.
Stuart Duncan’s fiddling. I learned to sing baritone along with those magical Pat Enright/Alan O’Bryant duets. They always pick such interesting songs, too. One more. Every Time You Say Good-bye, Alison Krauss And Union Station. And that rounds out my top three favorite fiddlers! What is your advice for someone new to the industry: Have fiveyear and ten-year plans. Play the long game. Don’t get anxious if things don’t get going for you as fast as you’d like. We like to think everything is instant these days, but there are still some things that just take time, especially if you’re aiming for high quality and longevity. The folks who are successful in this business, for the most part, have been at it a long, long time. And be real, be true to who you are and play the music that moves you. People crave authenticity.
What is your advice for a seasoned pro: Keep up on, better yet, ahead of the new technology. Continue to connect with your fans in creative ways. Keep What is your favorite bluegrass making and supporting the music album and why: I’ll pick out three, because I can’t choose just you love. Refuse to be discouraged! And consider taking a turn one. As soon as I mention these on the IBMA board or at least on three, I’ll think of several more. Live At The Old School House, The one of the committees. Definitely do Leadership Bluegrass, which Johnson Mountain Boys. These I went through in 2003. This is guys were raw energy. Eddie our organization; it takes all of us Stubbs is my first favorite fiddler. to keep it running smoothly so His “Orange Blossom Special” we can effectively get our united on this record is still my favorite. Waiting For The Hard Times To Go, message out to the world that bluegrass is rockin’ awesome Nashville Bluegrass Band. This record started my love affair with music!
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PRESS RELEASE
FOUNDATION FOR BLUEGRASS MUSIC ANNOUNCE 2015 GRANT RECIPIENTS The Foundation for Bluegrass Music announced the four programs that will receive funding grants from the Foundation in 2015. Each program will receive a $2,000 grant: § Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM inc.), Independence, VA § Toe River Arts Council, Inc., Bringing Bluegrass Back Home, Burnsville, NC § West Virginia University-West Virginia University Bluegrass and Old-Time Instruction, Morgantown, WV § Wheeling Park High School Bluegrass Bands,Wheeling, WV “We were very happy to receive so many very worthwhile applications for our grants this year,” said Mark Panfil, Chairperson for the Foundation for Bluegrass Music. “It encourages us to hear of the many places, throughout the country, where people are working to spread Bluegrass music, but it also makes the decision process so difficult for the members of this board. We believe the programs that we chose focus most directly on Bluegrass music, and addressed specific needs as identified by the board in the Bluegrass music community.” “We would like to thank all of the organizations that applied this year and encourage those who we couldn’t manage to help with funding to re-apply next year,” Panfil added. Created in 2007, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music is a non-profit charitable organization (501c3) created to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds can be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities of public benefit. In addition to these yearly grants, the Foundation also funds such projects as Bluegrass in the Schools and various workshops and camps for all aspects of the industry. To find out more about the Foundation for Bluegrass Music, visit bluegrassfoundation.org. ###
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Update from the board of directors Hi, everyone—a happy new year to all, and here’s our first update of 2015. As you can imagine, with the holidays just concluded, it’s a brief one, but we’re gearing up for a Board teleconference later this week (the draft agenda was published in our 12-22-14 update), so there’ll be more to report in the near future, including the selection of two new Board-appointed members. In addition, if the Board approves the proposed Bylaws amendment, members of the Agents/Managers/Publicists; Artists/Composers/Publishers; and Broadcasting divisions will be electing new Board members to fill out remaining terms (fall 2015 in the first 2 cases, fall 2017 in the last) as soon as practicable. On the Executive Director front, we’ve retained former E.D. Nancy Cardwell as a consultant for a maximum of three months to ensure continuity of work while we move forward with the search for a new Executive
Director. We’re in the last stage of our original plan, and in the event that it doesn’t result in the selection of an E. D., we will immediately finalize the retention of a search firm, with all of the indications of interest, resumes, etc. collected from our earlier job posting turned over to them for follow-up. In the meantime, the Executive Committee will look at options for interim management beyond Nancy’s consultant role.
Financial reports on the World of Bluegrass and projections for the fiscal year-end are being finalized for presentation to the Board at its teleconference. Once that’s done, summaries will be made available to members.
One of the items on the Board’s agenda this week is a discussion of the business conference. Do we want to make changes to its design? Add new elements? Eliminate any current The Bylaws Committee has reones? Make it longer? Focus ceived proposals and comments on a particular group or groups from a number of members, and of potential attendees? Change is beginning to sort them out— how it’s marketed? We have a along with their own ideas—for good deal of feedback from the consideration. The goal is to attendee surveys, but more is bring recommendations and/ always welcome! If you want or sets of choices to the Board, Board members to know your starting at its spring meeting. As thoughts, please send them committee chair Regina Derzon directly (email addresses are at will be explaining separately, https://ibma.org/about/people), the committee will distribute a or to suggestions@ibma.org. summary of its draft proposals to members for comments in advance of the meeting.
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Industry NEWS
January 2015
On the charts Billboard: Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn at number one; Nickel Creek, A Dotted Line at number two; Alan Jackson, The Bluegrass Album at number three. Bluegrass Today Monthly Airplay: “Her Love Won’t Turn on a Dime” by Lonesome River Band (written by Bart Butler, Timothy Johnson, Shane Minor) at number one; “Now the Summer’s Gone,” by Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers (written by Barkley C. Davis) at number two; “Honky Tonked
to Death,” by Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice (written by Bill Castle). Bluegrass Unlimited songs: “Moon Over Memphis,” by Balsam Range (written by Mark Winchester) at number one; “Too Blue to Have the Blues,” by Detour (written by Jeff Rose and Terry Herd) at number two; “Bitterweeds,” by Larry Sparks (written by Barbara Wilkinson, Sonya Wood) at number three.
Bluegrass Unlimited albums: Five by Balsam Range (Mountain Home) at number one; Lonesome and Then Some…A Classic 50th Celebration of Larry Sparks by Larry Sparks (Rebel) at number two; ‘Tween Earth and Sky by Becky Buller (Dark Shadow) at number three. Singing News: “Stacking Up the Rocks,” by Balsam Range at number one; “Empty Me Lord,” by Primitive Quartet at number two; “I’ll Be Gone,” by Mountain Faith at number three.
Standing ‘o! Oberlin College’s Conservatory of Music has named Punch Brothers ‘’Affiliate Scholars,’’ in recognition of ‘’significant professional achievement.’’ The group, which features 2004 Oberlin graduate Chris Eldridge on guitar as well as mandolinist and vocalist Chris Thile, are in their second year of residency at the prestigious conservatory. Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford married Janet Ratliff on December 20! Congratulations to the happy couple!
In Remembrance Joe Carr of Texas passed away from a stroke on December 14. He was 63. Carr was a well known musician as a member of the Country Gazette, as well as an educator at South Plains College for many years. Carr won an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award alongside Alan Munde in 2008.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
For the record - need to know Official Showcase Band applications for World of Bluegrass 2015 (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) will open on January 15, 2015 on IBMA.org. The submission deadline for all applications must be completed online by Saturday, February 28, 2015 for consideration.
Also in Aussie news, The Mid North (from New South Wales) will release their second album Tales From a Mountain soon. Band leader Scott Collins also served as the engineer for the project. Laurie Lewis announced in her most recent newsletter that she and partner Tom Rozum will once again be on a rafting trip with Northwest Rafting Co. The trip takes place on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon and kicks off August 13. More information on the floating, picking, and all-around good time to be had can be found here.
Bluegrass First Class (Feb. 20-22, 2015; Asheville, NC) announced its tickets are on sale, and released some of the lineup which includes Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Dailey & Vincent, Seldom Scene, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and more! Check out the full lineup and all details on their website.
Grasstowne, lead by Alan Bibey, will have Jimmy Haley on guitar and Gena Britt on bass, with Justin Jenkins and Bibey remaining on guitar and mandolin, respectively. Their first gig will be at SPBGMA, Feb. 6-7.
Australian band Mustered Courage recently signed with Lost Highway to record their next album.
NEW MEMBERS: DECEMBER Kenneth Ingle James Kee Gale Casey Tina Davis Jenny Hirt Grady Henley Joseph Ippolito
Lori Kampa Whitney Tine Steve Wilson Wayne Mcdowell Richard Madison Gary Roques Jerry Mayeroff www.ibma.org
International Bluegrass
Nicholas Somogyi Diane Kraft Jennifer Mclain Michael Mclain George Pennington Philip Rook
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