IBMA News

The IBMA Official Showcase applications open on 3rd February and remain open until 29th February.

Performers selected for the Showcase will have the opportunity to perform on multiple stages during the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble and IBMA Business Conference. With countless stages and thousands of attendees, this is the premier platform to share your music with talent buyers, industry leaders, and fellow world-class musicians during IBMA World of Bluegrass 2020.

Who Should Apply?

IBMA celebrates a diverse lineup of artists/bands from all over the world playing across the stylistic spectrum. Emerging acts, established acts with new music or personnel, and bluegrass legends come together to create a well-rounded music experience. The bottom line is, no matter where you are from, what style of bluegrass you play, or where you are in your career, if you are ready to get your music out to bluegrass lovers, the official IBMA showcase opportunity is for you.

How To Apply

All applications will be completed online (click here). Up to 30 artists/bands will be selected to participate in the Official Showcases.

• Materials you will need to provide include:
• Contact information
• At least one (1) studio recorded track (mp3 format)
• High resolution Artist/Band photo
• Stage Plot
• Payment information
• A bio including location, band personnel, and note of any recent press or music releases.

All applicants are required to submit a $25 fee to help defray selection process costs. If invited to participate as an official showcase artist/band, there is an additional fee of $500 to offset costs of services and showcase production.

The Official Showcase Package

If selected, artists/bands will receive two (2) showcase opportunities plus the following:

• Full conference registration package for performers (value $1000+)
• Priority access to Gig Fair appointments
• Complimentary Exhibit Hall booth space (value $700+)
• Up to three (3) Individual Memberships (value $225+)
• Featured promotion on IBMA social media channels ahead of the events
• Featured profile in conference program, schedules, and mobile app
• Featured pre-event promotion to DJs and talent buyers via our IBMA Bluegrass Ramble playlists on Noisetrade and Spotify

Two of the most celebrated and award-winning artists in bluegrass, Del McCoury and Jim Lauderdale, will host IBMA’s 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, scheduled for 26th September, at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Centre for the Performing Arts. McCoury and Lauderdale will host bluegrass music’s biggest night, where the music community acknowledges the year’s outstanding achievements, honors new Hall of Fame inductees, and waves the worldwide flag for bluegrass music.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards is part of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass brought to you by Chiesi USA, which takes place from 24th to 28th September in Raleigh, North Carolina.

This year we celebrate both the 30th anniversary of the International Bluegrass Music Awards and the 80th birthday of Hall of Famer Del McCoury. What could be better than Del co-hosting the Awards Show with the legendary Jim Lauderdale? It is sure to be a fun and memorable evening with unforgettable performances by awards nominees. This is the biggest night in bluegrass music, as we honor excellence over the past year and over entire careers – Paul Schiminger, executive director of the IBMA. 

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honky tonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link, headlining sold-out concerts to music festivals of all genres, including one carrying his namesake. In 2010 McCoury received a National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2011 he was elected into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. A two-time Grammy winner, McCoury has won numerous IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, as well, including Entertainer of the Year a record-setting nine times.

Music icon Jim Lauderdale won the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 2002 for Lost in the Lonesome Pines, his collaboration with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, and won a second Grammy for his album The Bluegrass Diaries in 2008. A lauded singer-songwriter, he has been a symbol for creative integrity and prolificacy for thirty-two albums over decades of recording. He’s an A-list Nashville songwriter whose songs have ruled the music charts while recording an eclectic catalogue of albums. His prolific streak of releases continues in 2019, as he finishes his tenth bluegrass album.

Claire Armbruster and Mary Burdette return as executive producers of the show.

The 2019 IBMA Awards Show will celebrate bluegrass music’s finest moments and showcase the ground-breaking music that’s being made today. Expect some exciting collaborations of hot new artists with their idols – Mary Burdette.

This year’s show marks the 30th anniversary of the IBMA Awards, so we will celebrate the history of bluegrass music throughout the show, showcasing all styles of bluegrass, created by the talented artists who are nominated for awards – Claire Armbruster.

Information about the 30th IBMA Awards Show, including ticket availability, can be found at on the World of Bluegrass website.

More info about IBMA’s World of Bluegrass:

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, whose Principal Sponsor is Chiesi USA, is a five-day annual bluegrass music homecoming and convention. World of Bluegrass encompasses four events:

• the IBMA Business Conference, September 24-26;
• the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 24-26 in downtown Raleigh and at the Raleigh Convention Center;
• the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, September 26; and
• PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 27-28, a two-day festival.

Wide Open Bluegrass features the best of the best in bluegrass today, benefiting the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund—a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists bluegrass professionals during financial emergencies—and introducing the music to thousands of new fans every year.

Organisers of this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass, brought to you by Chiesi USA and taking place September 24-28 in Raleigh, North Carolina, have announced a change to the annual event’s weekend festival, PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass. Beginning this year, in addition to the 7 stages of music that are available for free in downtown Raleigh during Wide Open Bluegrass, the performances at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater will also be open to the public for free.

A limited number of seats, in prime sections, will be available for those who want to ensure entrance and reserve preferred seating for every performance. Ticket prices for these seats will be offered at two reduced price points, $60 and $50 per ticket (per evening) for IBMA members or $70 and $60 for non-members. Additional sections and lawn seating will all be open for general admission, and available free on a first-come-first-served basis. Free general admission is limited by the size of the venue; once capacity has been reached, venue staff cannot permit non-ticketed attendees to enter until space is available.

Audiences at the Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater will be treated to six hours of performances by premier bluegrass acts, beginning at 5pm each evening.

With the help of our Raleigh partners and key sponsors, IBMA is transitioning our festival to a free, mission-forward event – taking bluegrass to the masses by reducing all barriers to participation. All are welcome to come hear the best in bluegrass music today – Paul Schiminger, Executive Director IBMA.

Wide Open Bluegrass will continue to be a fundraising vehicle for the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to bluegrass artists and other industry professionals in times of emergency need. (To date, the Trust Fund has given more than $800,000 in direct aid.)

Additional details about World of Bluegrass 2019 will be announced in the coming weeks.

Information about Red Hat Amphitheater limited reserved seating, Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, IBMA Business Conference registration, IBMA Award Show tickets and hotel reservations are available at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass website, WorldofBluegrass.org.

More info about IBMA’s World of Bluegrass and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, whose Principal Sponsor is Chiesi USA, is a five-day annual bluegrass music homecoming and convention. World of Bluegrass encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, September 24-26; the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 24-26 in downtown Raleigh and at the Raleigh Convention Centre; the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, September 26; and PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 27-28, a two-day festival. Wide Open Bluegrass features the best of the best in bluegrass today, benefiting the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund—a 501(c)(3) charitable organisation that assists bluegrass professionals during financial emergencies—and introducing the music to thousands of new fans every year.

As in years past, events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Centre, the Duke Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that last year’s World of Bluegrass events generated $12.7 million in direct visitor spending for that region, with total attendance for the week’s activities estimated to be a record-breaking 223,000 people. Over 220 acts performed throughout the entire week of World of Bluegrass.

About Chiesi USA

Chiesi USA, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to research, development, and commercialisation of innovative products in the areas of cardiovascular, neonatology, respiratory, rare disease and special care therapeutics. Our primary focus is on people: the people we serve in the healthcare community; the people whose lives are touched by our products and services; and the people who work at Chiesi USA, as they strive to build their company, their family and their community. Chiesi USA, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.

About PNC Bank

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

About IBMA

IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the nonprofit professional organisation for the global bluegrass music community. The organization’s successful run in Raleigh is the product of their partnership with The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Raleigh Convention Centre, PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, the City of Raleigh and a local organising committee.