It’s September. In my part of the world, the weather begins to be tolerable again and I start whistling fiddle tunes and Christmas carols. For the worldwide bluegrass community, this month brings World of Bluegrass (link to worldofbluegrass.org) week, hosted Sept. 27 – Oct. 1 by the International Bluegrass Music Association in Raleigh, NC. It‘s the annual gathering of the bluegrass music industry and a bluegrass family reunion. Don’t miss this opportunity to make new contacts, share and hear new music, take advantage of professional development programs, and just enjoy being with more than 200,000 fellow bluegrassers.
As usual, the IBMA Foundation will be in Raleigh all week, staffing a booth in the Expo Hall and hosting the Bluegrass College Band Showcase on the Youth Stage Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, from 5:15-11 p.m. See the article in this issue for the full line-up of 14 talented college bands; I hope you’ll stop by to hear the music and support their efforts. The Youth Stage is a part of the free admission IBMA Bluegrass LIVE StreetFest, and it’s located directly across from the entrance of the Marriott Downtown hotel. When you visit us in the Expo Hall booth you can check out the vintage Martin guitar we’ll be raffling off in April and May 2023 as a part of the 3rd annual Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle..
IBMA Foundation board member Ruth McLain (you probably know her million-dollar smile from the McLain Family Band) will be speaking on our behalf at the Industry Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 28, in the Raleigh Convention Center. She’ll be announcing scholarship, grant and award recipients for the year!
If you are headed to college soon or know someone who is, please come to the Bluegrass College Info Session at the Raleigh Convention Center on Saturday, Oct. 1, 1-2:30 p.m. You’ll hear from the directors of leading college bluegrass programs across the country and hear their students play and sing.
One of the greatest things about World of Bluegrass each year is witnessing the incredible talent among our young musicians. I always come away from the week assured of and celebrating the fact that the future of bluegrass music is in good hands! That’s our focus at the IBMA Foundation, and I thank you for your support as we all work together to make the future of bluegrass brighter.
See you in Raleigh!
-Nancy Cardwell
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