IBMA World of Bluegrass comes to Raleigh, September 28 – October 2

 

Last year, we participated in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s virtual World of Bluegrass event, but this year, we couldn’t be more excited to attend in person. Bluegrass musicians, professionals, and fans will descend upon downtown Raleigh, NC, from September 28 – October 2 to participate in the most musical week filled with a business conference, awards show, jam sessions, street festival, and much more.

 

The Earl Scruggs Center has been involved with IBMA for almost a decade, dating back before the Center opened in 2014. We’ve had two Executive Directors graduate from IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass program– former ED Emily Epley in 2015 and current ED Mary Beth Martin in 2019. World of Bluegrass week is a time when we make meaningful connections with other professionals and fans from all over the world; it really is a special time for everyone in the industry.

 

 

The 2021 IBMA World of Bluegrass is especially exciting for us because there are some very special nominees from our community up for IBMA awards this year. Darin & Brooke Aldridge are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Brooke Aldridge is up for an eye-popping fifth Female Vocalist of the Year award. Their new album “This Life We’re Living” dropped earlier this month and after listening to it, there’s no doubt why they received these impressive nominations. We’re also proud that our Executive Director, Mary Beth Martin, has been nominated for the Momentum Industry Involvement award.

 

We love that two songs written by Earl Scruggs and covered by current artists are nominated for Instrumental Recording of the Year.

 

“Foggy Mountain Chimes”
Artists: Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
Songwriter: Earl Scruggs
Producer: Scott Vestal
Label: Pinecastle Records

 

“Ground Speed”
Artists: Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
Songwriter: Earl Scruggs
Producer: Jon Weisberger
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

 

 

We wish all of these nominees the best of luck!

 

Since 2013, the Earl Scruggs Center has hosted a booth in the World of Bluegrass exhibition hall, and this year, it will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday, October 1 -2. Earl Scruggs Center staff will be there with Earl Scruggs Music Festival team members, meeting folks and spreading the word about our Center and the inaugural Festival, scheduled for September 2 – 4, 2022. If you’re in Raleigh for IBMA, be sure to stop by and say hello!

 

To learn more about IBMA’s World of Bluegrass: https://worldofbluegrass.org/

 

Read about Nominees for IBMA’s 32^nd Annual Bluegrass Music Awards: https://ibma.org/press-releases/2021-award-nominees/

 

Read about IBMA’s Momentum Awards Nominees: https://ibma.org/press-releases/nominees-for-ibmas-2021-industry-awards-and-momentum-awards-announced/