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World of Bluegrass 2014

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WOBIBMA’s annual bluegrass music homecoming, scheduled for 30th September to 4th October in Raleigh, North Carolina, will build upon last year’s tremendous success with new activities, seminars and business opportunities for attendees.

IBMA invites you to be part of the buzz this year.

Registration Dates:
IBMA members can take advantage of early registration from 31st March at 10am CST on IBMA.org. The public can register on 14th April at 10am CST on IBMA.org, but if you join IBMA now and register on the 13th.

Registration will take place via IBMA’s website, and rates will be posted there. Note that hotel reservations are contingent upon the purchase of a ticket and/or registration to at least one World of Bluegrass event. Additional details and pricing information will be available on the website. Many of the events and hotels sold out last year, so don’t wait.

Qualifying professional members can also partake in the prestigious IBMA Awards voting process. Join now at IBMA.org.

The 411 on WOB:

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass (WOB) event consists of four parts:

  • The IBMA Business Conference, September 30 – October 2
  • The 25th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, October 2
  • The IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Music Festival (a fundraiser for the Bluegrass Trust Fund), October 3-4
  • The Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of artist showcases, taking place September 30 – October 2 on seven stages in downtown Raleigh and at the Raleigh Convention Center.

IBMA celebrated as Raleigh became the new host city last year, and it proved to be an amazing rejuvenation of the World of Bluegrass events and the bluegrass community, with total attendance for the week’s festivities estimated at 146,000, exceeding expectations for the event’s first year in our new conference home. Since then, IBMA staff has read and listened to all the comments, feedback, and surveys from last year’s attendees and  look forward to building upon the success of 2013 by making improvements to existing events and by adding new, exciting components to the full week.

This year’s WOB  will still include the amazing aspects IBMA’s WOB have been known for such as:

  • A phenomenal festival line-up
  • Opportunities to see unique, once-in-a-lifetime musical collaborations
  • Networking and business opportunities
  • Inspiring speeches and stunning moments that inspire the entire bluegrass community
  • More live music than you can imagine: In 2013 we hosted over 300 performances by more than 160 different artists during the World of Bluegrass, and we plan to have even more this year.

Here are just some of the exciting things IBMA has planned for 2014:

  • New & Improved IBMA Business Conference:
  • The debut of the “Bluegrass Marketplace,” a three-hour, concentrated “mini” exhibit hall giving small businesses, service providers, songwriters and local associations that don’t fit the traditional four-day exhibit hall model an affordable and appropriate alternative to promote their activities to the business community.
  • A return of the popular “DJ Taping Sessions” connecting radio DJs with artist and industry leaders for onsite interviews.
  • An expanded four days for the “Bluegrass Expo,” with some new innovations that will make the Exhibit Hall bustle, Wednesday – Saturday.
  • A special two-day Talent Buyers Focus planned for October 1-2, especially for event producers and agents, with a new pitching session, reception, an expanded Gig Fair and discounts for first-time talent buyer attendees. More talent buyers at the Business Conference, of course, means more booking opportunities for agents and bands. So it’s a win: win situation for all concerned.
  • Panel-based seminars, poster seminars, and small group intensive sessions designed to help attendees focus on specific issues and connect with experts in their fields.
  • Increased food and beverage available on site
  • A streamlined Business Conference registration, Bluegrass Ramble, and Wide Open Bluegrass festival ticketing process through etix.com.
  • An improved Gig Fair format. This popular WOB event sometimes referred to as “speed dating for artists & talent buyers,” directly connects bands attending the Business Conference with top music event producers from all over the world.
  • The return of the IBMA Health Fair.
  • Information and details regarding performances, seminar details, speakers, presenters, exhibitors and general attendees will be shared and posted at ibma.org as early as possible to help you get the most out of the conference.
  • A new and improved Business Conference program book
  • Enhanced networking opportunities
  • The return of the popular Song Demo Listening Sessions, the Songwriter Showcase, new receptions, and a special track for Emerging Artists interested in moving up to the next level of touring and recording.
  • The Bluegrass Ramble…and more!
  • A dedicated transportation system – with extended hours – running nonstop between hotels and Bluegrass Ramble venues, provided by the city of Raleigh, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
  • An additional official showcase stage in the Raleigh Convention Center, which will provide the opportunity for attendees to see all official showcase bands under one roof during the course of three days.
  • A new streamlined schedule for the Bluegrass Ramble: Tuesday, Sept. 30 (7 p.m.-2 a.m.), Wednesday, Oct. 1 (7 p.m.-2 a.m.), and Thursday, Oct. 2 (10 p.m.-2 a.m.)
  • The return of privately hosted “After Hours Showcases” (Tuesday – Thursday) and the new Friday – Saturday “Wide Open After Hours” format will provide additional performance opportunities for both artists and bluegrass fans. All registered Business Conference attendees interested in performing will have the opportunity to have their contact info shared with the appropriate booking contacts.

Full Week Improvements:

Lodging:

  • Hotel rooms in the two official main hotels are available to registered IBMA Business Conference attendees and those who buy tickets to the IBMA Awards or Wide Open Bluegrass.
  • Complimentary transportation from the official WOB campground to the main hotels sponsored by the Raleigh Convention Center
  • Prices have not increased one cent at all at official IBMA hotels or at the State Fair Campground.
  • ZimRide’s WOB Ride Share Program: a great online tool to connect you to others traveling to IBMA events, provides the opportunity to save transportation costs. You might even make some new friends, traveling to the World of Bluegrass together.

Sustainability is coming to WOB:

Bluegrass is going green, under the leadership of IBMA’s Youth Council in collaboration with the city of Raleigh.

The Bluegrass Film Expo:

A celebration of what’s new and exciting in the film world, focused on bluegrass and roots music.

Celebrity Jams:

Once in a lifetime opportunities to play with your favorite bluegrass personalities.

The World of Bluegrass pricing schedule for 2014 is as follows:

Tier 1 Pricing level (approx. 15% savings off full cost):

  • Members only: Monday March 31, 2014 – Sunday, April 13, 2014
  • General public: Monday, April 14, 2014 – Sunday, May 4, 2014

Tier 2 Pricing level (approx. 10% savings off full cost):

  • Monday, May 5, 2014 – Sunday, June 1, 2104

Final “Walk Up” Pricing level (approx. 15% savings off full cost):

  • Monday, June 2, 2014 – October 4, 2014

Keep an eye on ibma.org, Twitter, IBMA’s Facebook page and Bluegrass Nation for more news on specific events, festival and showcase line-ups, and all things World of Bluegrass.

Call for Artists Wirrina Bluegrass Festival

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Wirrina BluegrassThis is the first call for performers interested in appearing at this year’s festival at Wirrina Bluegrass & Acoustic Roots Festival, September 5th-9th 2014.  We invite practitioners of bluegrass, old time, stringband, traditional country (and other acoustic roots musicians) to send us an email (info@wirrinabluegrass.com) and let us know what you can offer.  We are also interested in anything else acoustic-music-related that will help share the live music at the festival. Surprise us with your ideas and skills, and bring them to South Australia.

We are based at Wirrina Resort – an hour south of Adelaide –  which has newly upgraded resort accommodation at special festival prices, plus an excellent restaurant, cafe and bar. Right next door is the Wirrina Cove Holiday Park  and it is offering FREE unpowered camping to festival goers and competitive rates on their powered sites.

More details and updates will be available as plans come together over the next 6 months at the festival website.

Banjo Australis – Ian Simpson and John Kane

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BanjoAustralisBanjo Australis Under the Milky Way – by Ian Simpson and John Kane 2013.

In 2010 Ian Simpson and his pickin’ pal John Kane released a superb album entitled “The Banjo; Misunderstood Maligned Magic.” It consisted of 20 of the all-time great 5-string banjo instrumentals. (If you are a banjo player and don’t have this album yet, do yourself a favour and get it.) In September this year Simpson and Kane released a second album, taking that uniquely American instrument and applying it to a uniquely Australian repertoire. And the result is, simply fabulous.

John Kane and Ian Simpson

As the album’s liner notes state, the banjo has featured prominently in Australian music over the decades, including being heard in the music of Slim Dusty, The Seekers and of course the iconic Skippy theme. However Ian and John have broadened their choice of Aussie material far beyond folk music to include such songs as Under the Milky Way (The Church), She’s My Baby (Johnny O’Keefe), I’ve been Everwhere (composed by Geoff Mack made famous by Lucky Starr) and the Easybeats classic Friday On My Mind.

The result is an album of diverse tunes and styles, all of which sound like they were composed with the banjo in mind! Ian Simpson is arguably Australia’s finest banjo player specialising in 3 finger style, and John Kane, is an excellent guitarist, mandolinist and a very fine clawhammer player. The 2 banjo styles blend beautifully on the album, with Ian also contributing guitar and double bass, and John adding guitar, mandolin and ukulele.

The music ranges from gentle, poignant melodies right through to rip-roaring ‘blow your hat in the creek’ double time picking. It includes jazz, country and Celtic influences as well. The album is a complete package that captures both the best of the banjo and of Australiana. Sometimes people say of the banjo that they can’t hear the melody. The delightful thing about this album is how Simpson and Kane pull out the melody so well in each song making the music instantly recognisable and accessible.  The arrangements are beautifully constructed, tasteful, often understated and played with flawless virtuosity. And the recording quality, mixing and mastering of this album is superb.

There are so many highlights on the album it is hard to name just a couple. It opens with a beautiful rendition of Waltzing Matilda that will stir your soul, then there’s the Slim Dusty and The Seekers Medley that will have you smiling and singing along. There is a standout TV theme medley, which includes Skippy , The theme from Rush, and  Home Among The Gum Trees. There are also 2 evocative original tunes composed by Ian and John for this album, Snowy River Ride and Kangaroo Valley Ramble that capture the Australian feel. Other tunes include The Dying Stockman, Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree, The Road To Gundagai and the traditional Country Gardens.

One of the main reasons why we chose the Australian music for this album is to help bring the banjo to a broader audience. I believe Banjo Australis will do just that as its appeal is so broad – Ian Simpson.

 This album is guaranteed to keep you smiling, tapping your toe and humming tunes all the day long. It will make a great Christmas gift to your friends and family who perhaps are not yet convinced the banjo is the greatest instrument ever made!

For more great music consider:

Bryan De Gruchy – South Australian Luthier

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DeGruchyBookAdelaide author and bluegrass guitarist John Bridgland has published a new and unique book on South Australia’s premier flat-top guitar luthier, Bryan De Gruchy.

Bryan started making guitars in 1976. In the 35 years since then he has made about 600 and the high calibre of musicians playing his instruments highlights how respected he is among Australian and overseas musicians.

One musician interviewed for the book, an Australian studio musician now living in Nashville, US, plays only De Gruchy guitars and the response to them in pro studios among famous musicians says everything about how successfully Bryan has achieved his goal to make great instruments.
Bridgland has been a bluegrass guitarist and mandolinist for 40 years, but also is an editor – a useful combination when seeking to write a book about a once-in-a-generation luthier of Bryan’s standing.

It’s my opinion, and one shared by others I interviewed for the book, that Bryan’s skills have resulted in a collection of flat-top guitars in Australia that will be highly collectable in future years. Through his devotion to the craft he has captured brilliant tone and projection, and consistently produced guitars of great character – John Bridgland.

The fact that virtually every serious pro musician in bluegrass and acoustic country music in Australia uses one (or more) of his guitars says much about the quality of his work. Bridgland is a De Gruchy guitar owner, but also plays other major US brands. However, for recording, in his view there is simply no substitute for a De Gruchy instrument. Others agree.

In the book I explore Bryan’s life, his craft skills and his approach to choosing the right woods for the tone he seeks. I also examine his passion for resonator guitars, resulting in a small but notable output of instruments that are, without question, the best hand-crafted resonators made in Australia today” Bridgland comments.

The book also seeks to place Bryan’s 35-year contribution into an important context, given Adelaide’s well-known trio of instrument makers: Alan Funk (banjos); John Liddy (mandolins) and Bryan De Gruchy (flat-top and resonator guitars). Bryan has been crafting the longest and his legacy will last well into the 21st century, with future younger musicians likely to be keen to know more about the man. In years to come, the book probably will be the only source of information on this legendary luthier and his output.

“Bryan doesn’t say much about his craft, but his guitars speak volumes,” Bridgland said.

More information: email the author, John Bridgland.

Title:

“Bryan De Gruchy, South Australian luthier”

Costs:

  • CD (read on your laptop): $18 plus $3 postage/packing.
  • Photocopy A4 spiral bound, with colour pics $37 plus $8 postage/packing (other states: please ask)
  • Photocopy, A4 spiral bound, gloss colour page plates, original photos, hand assembled, signed (author): $60 plus $10 postage/packing in SA (other states: please ask).
  • International post rates: please ask.

To contact the author, John Bridgland email jbeditor@senet.com.au.

About the Author:

John Bridgland has been a journalist since graduating in Adelaide with a BA in 1979. He started his own business as a professional editor in Adelaide 18 years ago. John other passions include writing playing bluegrass and blues music.

John first learned guitar at age 14, back in 1968 and became a bluegrass guitarist in bands with his brother Geoff Bridgland for some years. He then moved to electric country music (Telecaster and Fender Twin Reverb) for about 15 years, then back to bluegrass when he took up the mandolin. John has been a mandolinist  and top tenor singer in Bluegrass Junction (Trev Warner’s band in Adelaide) since 1997 when the band formed. John has a deep interest in the mandolin of Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, Ricky Scaggs, David Grisman and Mike Compton. John tells us that he attended a three-day workshop with Mike Compton in Canberra in 2008 which really opened his eyes. In 2010 he bought a Zoom H4n digital recorder, and since then has recorded about 15 CDs featuring mandolin and guitar tune tracks (originals).

As and professional editor, John has been editing others’ work for many years, and has written three books. The one that reflects his  interest in music is Bryan De Gruchy, South Australian luthier. This has just been published (July 2013).

Book authors say ‘Write about what you know’ and as a 43-year-playing guitarist, a De Gruchy owner, and long time friend of Bryan’s, it all has been useful background for a book. But all books are explorations of the subject of the book, and in collating much information about Bryan I learned a great deal more about the man and his craft. Bryan is an astonishingly good luthier, but shy about his abilities. His guitars are already collectable. In decades to come they will become even more highly sought after, because there are (relatively) so few of them compared to the output of the big companies – John Bridgland.

I asked John whether anyone else was involved in the development of his now book:

While John wrote  did all the work myself, but interviewed about 14 other musicians to collect their perspectives on Bryan’s skills (they are all players of De Gruchy guitars). They included musicians from Adelaide, but also others from Victoria and NSW, and an Australian living and working in Nashville, USA. I also invited close friend and Adelaide bluegrass guitarist Nick Cawthorne to contribute some words because he is not only a long-time player of DG guitars, but also someone steeped in the knowledge of guitar retailing in Adelaide, and Australia. Through their words, Bryan’s reputation is scrutinised and discussed. He clearly demands enormous respect around Australia.

How long has Bryan De Gruchy, South Australian luthier taken to compile and write?

The idea to write the book simmered in my mind for a few years, and once Bryan agreed to cooperate, then took about 12 months’ work, comprising about four major interviews, photo shoots, and several journeys to Harrietville  (the bluegrass weekends) during which Bryan and I discussed many aspects of his life and work. I held other multiple interviews with other players in Adelaide or at Harrietville. Some interviewees also used email, which was useful. Bryan then read two manuscripts, and others proof-read the final draft before the book design commenced.

Have you written any other books in the past?

Yes. I have written two other books. One was on a residents’ association in Adelaide (a history), and the other was on a painter (an artist’s biography).

Inspired by Jim Rush and Nigel Lever

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InspiredInspired is a recording project from 2 of Australia’s best known Bluegrass musicians Jim Rush & Nigel Lever.

Jim and Nigel were inspired during a recent trip to the USA. On that trip in 2011 their mutual friend Tom White from North Carolina booked a studio, recruited a bass player and said “ok boys start recording”, and record they did.

The results of that session delivered the  first 6 tracks for the CD. Jeff Huffman who played bass for the project is also a stellar guitar player. You can heare his stunning contribution in the breaks to Lost Indian & Soldiers Joy.

With this inspiration the duo returned home to continue to add another 10 tracks to  on the project and enlisted a group of talented friends back in Sydney & Melbourne.

Artists appearing on Inspired include:

  • Tom White (US)
  • Jeff Huffman (US)
  • Hunter & Suzy Owens (Sydney)
  • Martin Louis (Sydney)
  • Jenny Shimmin (Sydney)
  • Gary Brown (Sydney)
  • Quentin Fraser (Dapto)
  • Duggie Wallace (Melbourne)
  • Pete Fidler (Melbourne)
  • Kat Mear (Melbourne)

The reviews have been surprisingly good to date:

I bought 2 I like it so much – Nigel’s Mum
Put my sows to sleep in 5 minutes flat – Pig Farmers Gazette
16 Tracks – Exceedingly good value for money – Jim Rush

This album is now available from our online shop.

Castlereagh by The Dear Orphans

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Dear OrphansDear Orphans release official music video for “Castlereagh”.

Sydney-based band Dear Orphans have released their first official music video for their song “Castlereagh” off their EP “Midnight at Annandale” featuring footage from Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival 2011.

Castlereagh is a suburb on the outskirts of Sydney Australia. It is one of five towns officially proclaimed by governor Lachlan Macquarie on December 6, 1810. He named it after the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Viscount Castlereagh. He in turn was named after Castlereagh in Ireland.

This song was written by clawhammer banjo player Richard Galluzzi who frequently rides his bicycle through the bushland at Castlereagh. The track features Richard on clawhammer banjo, Carlyn Chen on fiddle, Nick Payne on acoustic guitar, Paul Sun on double bass and Lyn Taylor on hollers and hand claps.

You can listen to more music from Dear Orphans and their EP “Midnight at Annandale” on their website.

The video was directed by Lyn Taylor, edited by Nick Payne with colour grading by Kelly-Anne Gentle of Catacomb Creative.

About Dear Orphans

Dear Orphans are a Sydney-based original alt-­bluegrass/old time music band that combine traditional bluegrass/old time music instrumentation and songwriting with folk and country elements to create a unique and intimate Australian form. Theirs songs cover traditional Australian theme such as stories about bushrangers as well as modern themes such as escaping the city on a roadtrip.

Featuring the songwriting of Lyn Taylor and Nick Payne, Dear Orphans’ music embraces the simplicity of life while connecting with the human condition. Also in the band are clawhammer banjo player Richard Galluzzi, Carlyn Chen on fiddle and Paul Sun on double bass.

…ultimately, though, what made this show special was the band’s connection to their songs and to the audience – Jolene: The Country Music Blog.
Dear Orphans have a distinctive bluegrass influence, writing songs about ‘cowboys and road trips’, as noted in the Illawarra Mercury. In between there are beautiful ballads about love, and stories of the everyday moments in life that become memories ingrained in your heart – Mem Davis of Mem Davis & The Kindred Spirits.

Regular festival performers including: Tamworth Country Music Festival, Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Karuah River of Music, Harrietville Bluegrass Convention, et al.

New Album for Mustered Courage

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MusteredCourageMustered Courage have released some preview copies of their new CD and are currently producing another batch for release later this year. Having just completed several weeks touring, playing Woodford, Tamworth and Illawarra festivals the boys from Melbourne are heading home for well deserved rest.

The band will release their first single in the coming weeks called Cruel Alibis which is one from their new album called Powerlines. They have also just finished filming a video clip for Cruel Alibis that will be out in the next few weeks.

As if the band has not already achieved so much in a short space of time they are currently developing their submission to appear as part of this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass showcase. This will be a great achievement for Mustered Courage.

Mustered Courage are also doing a residency each Thursday in Feb at Northcote’s The Wesley Anne.

Here’s a list of some of MC’s upcoming shows:

  • Feb 21 – Wesley Anne Residency, VIC
  • Feb 28, Wesley Anne Residency, VIC
  • Mar 1 – Luwow, VIC
  • Mar 3, Post Office Hotel, VIC
  • Mar 5, Burinja Arts, VIC
  • Mar 8-10, Port Fairy Folk Fest, VIC
  • Mar 15, Retreat Hotel, VIC
  • Mar 22 – Healesville Festival, VIC
  • Mar 29-31 – National Folk Fest, ACT
  • Apr 13 – Candelo Festival, NSW
  • Apr 18 – Oxford Arts Factory, NSW
  • Apr 19 – Junkyard – Maitland NSW TBC
  • Apr 20 – Albert Hotel, Tamworth NSW TBC
  • Apr 21 – Longyard, Tamworth NSW TBC
  • Apr 26-28 – Apollo Bay Festival, VIC
  • May 10, ALBUM LAUNCH, NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, VIC TBC
  • June 7-9 – Palm Creek Festival, QLD TBC
  • Jun 10-20 – QLD RUN TBC
  • Jun 21-23, Broadbeach Country Music Festival, QLD
  • Jun 25-30, TASMANIA TOUR (*P)
  • Aug 9-11, Redlands Bluegrass Festival, QLD

2012 Australian Bluegrass Conference

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In December this year the Tranquil Park Resort hosted Australia’s first ever bluegrass music conference. 28 people from around Australia descended on the mountain town of Maleny to take part in the three days of intensive instruction in mandolin, guitar, fiddle, bass and 5-String Banjo.

The USA band X Train featuring Peter McLaughlin on guitar and vocals, Ross Nickerson on banjo and vocals, Mark Miracle on mandolin and vocals and Bob Denoncourt on bass and vocals were the principal instructors for the weekend along with locals George Jackson, Mark Nahyusen, Gary Vann and Peter Nahyusen

The weekend retreat was organised by Bellbird Banjo’s Peter Nahyusen. Peter  also organises the Australia Banjo Conference which and is now entering its sixth year and took place  the weekend prior to the Bluegrass Conference. Brisbane based band The Company also made an appearance on the weekend to support the event and perform in the Saturday evening concert.

Peter Nahyusen said “The highlight for him and indeed all the faculty was to see people respond to being placed in a band on day 1 to prepare items for the Saturday night concert. The 4 bands all performed magnificently and it was a thrill to see people grow in confidence and skill and develop their own unique sound and expression. The band concept was truly a highlight”.

I asked a few of the attendees to give me their thoughts on the weekend.

I enjoyed the fantastic social aspects, sharing music with friends who have become part of a big bluegrass family as well as meeting new folk. The transformation of the event into an all encompassing multi-instrument conference produced the opportunity for delegates to learn from and play with world class pros. It was a huge thrill for me to receive instruction from Peter MacLaughlin and then be able to play one of my original songs with him on stage – Rod Spence.

The first Bluegrass Conference was a fabulous weekend.  Not only were we surrounded by fantastic Bluegrass music from X-Train (with a special show by The Company) for a long weekend, but had access to excellent musicians who instructed us in our various instruments and showed us how to work together as part of a ‘bluegrass band’.

The conference instructors all have different teaching styles and I picked up lots of different tips and techniques from each one.  As a student I felt privileged to be taught by such high quality musicians.  This was a great opportunity to learn to play with other instruments and I realized that the terror of performing was a shared emotion. The Bluegrass Conference helped to increase my confidence playing with others and to be ‘less afraid’ to try new things.  It was also a great opportunity to hear beautiful tunes that I didn’t previously know and that I now wish to learn in time for jamming at next years Conference – Leanne Reid.

The Maleny Bluegrass Conference provided a wonderful platform for bluegrass musicians of all levels to meet, share their ideas and pick together. The tutors all had extensive bluegrass backgrounds and provided a fabulous window into the world of the professional bluegrass band. Being able to discuss all aspects of bluegrass music with such approachable and highly skilled musicians was a fabulous experience.

I thought that the structure was a good balance of instrument specific workshops with a focus on the complete band. For me the opportunity to work on band and performance skills with the members of X Train was a fabulous and rare experience. I think all the tutors provided everyone with an extremely beneficial experience, but for me, being able to sit down with Ross and have him help me with my playing has been invaluable – Dave Peters.

Next year will see the same event repeated with the Banjo Conference taking place in December 2013 while the Australian Bluegrass Conference will take place in July 2013.

Peter and his team are to be commended for their insight, daring and courage. Until the first banjo conference the only way to experience tuition of such intensity and depth was to travel overseas.

Grants To Honour Doug and Doc

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The world of bluegrass music lost two very important musicians in 2012, Mr. Doug Dillard and Mr. Arthel “Doc” Watson. The Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants in their honor this year and has set June 30, 2013 as the deadline to
apply for these resources. Along with his brother Rodney, Mitch Jayne and Dean Webb, Salem, Missouri native Doug Dillard was a founding member of The Dillards, an iconic bluegrass group who introduced the music to millions of listeners as “The Darlings” on The Andy Griffith Show. His driving banjo style influenced countless fledgling pickers, including Alan Munde, John McEuen and Steve Doug DillardMartin. He later became a pioneer of the country rock genre as well through his collaboration with ex-Byrds frontman Gene Clark before leading his own band.

Doc Watson Merlfest 2007

More than any other person, Arthel “Doc” Watson is responsible for the creation of the style of lead guitar playing known as flatpicking, an part of contemporary bluegrass, although Doc never regarded himself as a bluegrass musician and made incalculable contributions to many forms of traditional American music. Watson first burst on the folk music revival scene in the 1960s, and his impact on modern flatpickers such as Clarence White, Tony Rice, Dan Crary, Bryan Sutton and so many more is indelible. Blind since infancy, Doc refused to let his lack of sight become a hindrance. When President Bill Clinton presented Watson with the National Medal of Arts in 1997, he said, “There may not be a serious, committed baby boomer alive who didn’t at some point in his or her youth try to spend a few minutes at least trying to learn to pick a guitar like Doc Watson.”

A fund of $10,000 has been earmarked to support public projects in memory of Doug Dillard and Arthel “Doc” Watson. Of special interest are bluegrass music-related projects and programs that involve education or youth. This is a competitive application process and candidates must meet the Foundation’s Grant Application Guidelines. Grants awarded will be announced during IBMA World of Bluegrass week, 24th – 28th September, 2013, with funds available after 1st January, 2104.

Donations to the Foundation for these and related efforts are welcomed in any denomination, and these grants will be funded regardless of donations received. The Foundation for Bluegrass Music is a nonprofit (501c3) organization created to serve as an “umbrella” under which funds may be placed and disbursed to support educational, literary and artistic activities related to bluegrass music, of public benefit. Examples of programs that can grow under this umbrella include Bluegrass in the Schools (grants, workshops, programs); academic conferences; literary works and related efforts; public artistic presentation of an educational nature; historic preservation; and other works of a charitable nature.

For more info, please go to bluegrassfoundation.org/grants or write to The Foundation for Bluegrass Music; 2 Music Circle South, Ste. 100; Nashville, Tennessee, 37203.

Geoff Morris Best Wishes

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Geoff MorrisVictorian broadcaster Geoff Morris, based in Bendigo and host of Wall-to-Wall Bluegrass on www.worldwidebluegrass.com, has re-located to Melbourne for a short time as he undertakes treatment for cancer.

Geoff has been a regular contributor to our news posts here at ABB. He has kept us up-to-date with his broadcast milestones; he has been featured in Bluegrass Music Profiles magazine and more recently wrote a very moving article on his meeting and the passing of guitar hero Doc Watson.

While Geoff’s broadcasts have ceased temporarily, he hopes to be back on the air with his 500th show by Easter.

If you’d like to send him a note of encouragement, he can be contacted by; email by clicking here.