The Renaissance Hotel at the Nashville Convention Center (Lehman photo)

Many Northern California Bluegrass Society members and numerous other bluegrass-wise Californians are headed to Nashville this week for the annual International Bluegrass Music Association’s World Of Bluegrass Convention.

The IBMA website has been upgraded this year to include Complete WOB Event Information.

Ted Lehman’s “Bluegrass, Books & Brainstorms” Blog offers an excellent guide to the event.

Former Californians Roland White and Geoff Stelling will receive Distinguished Achievement Awards.

LA’s Steve Martin and his band are nominated for Entertainer Of The Year and their “Rare Bird Alert” for Album Of The Year, Instrumental Recorded Performance Of The Year, and Best Liner Notes and Best Graphic Design For A Recorded Project. Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers will perform at the IBMA Awards Show.

Former NCBS member Rob Ickes and his band Blue Highway are nominated for Vocal Group Of The Year and Instrumental Group Of The Year, with Rob nominated for Dobro Player Of The Year.  The band will also perform at Fan Fest.

Chris Pandolfi, who got his start in alt-bluegrass music in San Francisco in the 1990s, will be one of four convention keynote speakers.

Modesto native Frank Solivan & his band Dirty Kitchen is an official showcase band.

NCBS member Roger Siminoff will teach a seminar on Lloyd Loar.

Sausalito’s Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band will perform at Fan Fest.

After hours showcase performers will include Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players, The Tuttles With A. J. Lee, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Rob Ickes, & Brittany Hass. Many more Californians will also perform at these showcases. The KOWP will also appear as a part of the Hard Rock Cafe Acousticana Showcases during convention week.

Mark Varner (CBA), Peter Thompson (RBA), and Don Tucker (Huck Finn) will participate in the Gig Fair.

Berkeley’s Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum will offer mentor sessions on Harmony Singing.

Larry Kuhn, Frank Solivan, Sr., Brenda Hough, Mark Varner, & Regina Bartlett will help run the California Bluegrass Association Hospitality Suite.

Frank Solivan will be honored as a 2011 graduate of Leadership Bluegrass. Michael Hall served on the committee that will present the Leadership Bluegrass Master Class and the committee that selects the Bluegrass Event Of The Year.

Kids On Bluegrass at IBMA will feature many Northern California performers including Marty Varner.

Posted Sep 25th, 2011 by Michael Hall in Events |