bluegrassinternational

IB

A Moment with...Ned Luberecki

wide openbluegrassmakes initial lineup Announcement

Russell Moore & IIIrd tyme out

You’re Invited to aBluegrass WeddIng!

The IBMA Has Moved!

Important Awards & Voting Deadlines

June 2016

Take Time to Celebrate 25 Years But There is no slowing down

sTaFF

Board

InFo

International BluegrassVol. 31 | No. 5 | June 2016

Statement of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers, directors, staff or members of IBMA. Portions of International Bluegrass may be

reprinted provided that explicit citation of the source is made: “Reprinted with permission from International Bluegrass, the publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association, www.ibma.org.”

Editor: Shannon Turnershannon@ibma.org

Designer: Erin Faith Erdoserinfaitherdos@gmail.com

IntErnatIonal BluEgrass(ISSN #1095-0605)

IBMa: IBMA is the trade association that connects and educates bluegrass professionals, empowers the bluegrass

community, and encourages worldwide appreciation of bluegrass music of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

ContaCt usThe monthly emailed publication of the

International Bluegrass Music Association

4206 Gallatin Road, 37216 USA615-256-3222 | 888-GET-IBMA

Fax: 615-256-0450 Email: info@ibma.org Website: www.ibma.org

Tim Surrett - Board Chairperson

shannon turnerDirector of

Communications and Professional

Development

leah JamesDirector of Member

Services

Paul schimingerExecutive Director

Eddie HuffmanConvention Services

and IT Systems Director

Alan Bartram-Artists/Composers/PublishersBecky Buller-At Large

Jamie Deering-Merchandisers/LuthiersRegina Derzon-Secretary, Associations

Mike Drudge-Agents, Managers & PublicistsJohn Goad-Print Media/Education

Denise Jarvinen-At LargeMarian Leighton Levy-Recording/Distribution/Marketing

William Lewis-At Large

Steve Martin-At LargeStephen Mougin-At Large

Joe Mullins-Treasurer, Artists/Composers/PublishersBen Surratt- Vice Chair

Wayne Taylor-Artists-Composers/PublishersAlan Tompkins-At Large

Angelika Torrie- InternationalBree Tucker-Myers- Event Production

Bob Webster-Broadcast Media

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tA B L e o f c o N t e N t sJune 2016

international bluegrass

Table of Contents photos provided by Todd Gunsher, James McKelvey and Willa Stein

18 You’re Invited to a Bluegrass Wedding!Pammy Davis & t. lassiter of north Carolina cordially invite you to share their big Day with them, and after the nuptials, to stay all week-end for a bluegrass festival like no other! russell Moore & iiird tyme out will serenade the newlyweds, and the food, picking and music is open for all to celebrate.

12 Russell Moore & II Ird tyme out celebrate silver by bill Conger

Cover story Cover Photo courtesy of LuAnn Adams

6 We’ve moved!after three years in nashville’s berry Hill area, the ibMa packs up and heads for new digs.

8 out & About at: Merlefestthe ibMa upped its presence at MerleFest 2016, with a little help from our friends.

9 World of Bluegrass songwriters’ showcase Names Hosts

10 IBMA Health fair Returns to WoB

12 Announcing the Music of Wide open BluegrassWhen the crowds pour into the red Hat theater in raleigh come sep-tember, they can expect two days of fantastic music.

as iiird tyme out kicks off its 25th anniversary tour, russell Moore looks back, and ahead.

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NeXt issue...Bluegrass Unlimited Celebrates 50 Years

33 Moment of the monththat time gold Heart found the cupcake atM in nashville.

28 A Moment with...Ned Luberecki by Kelly smith

ned luberecki juggles several jobs in his bluegrass career, and has the stories to prove it. in our new feature, a Moment with..., ibMa summer intern Kelly smith catches up with the busy banjo player.

30 Leadership Bluegrass – southeast Regional Retreat by ron raxter

leadership bluegrass alumni in the southeastern region of the country met up at the Earl Scruggs Center to discuss, deliberate, find solutions and, of course, jam.

32 Album Reviewsarmed with technical knowledge and a creative ear, our intern reviews the new release from the boxcars.

Special Awards Deadline for submissions extended to June 15

Film Festival – Closes June 15

Second Awards Ballot – Voting period June 15-30

Distinguished Achievement Submissions – open now through July 1

Momentum Awards Submissions – open now through July 1

Board of Directors Seat Nominees – open now through July 1

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Important Deadlines! good stuff you need to know.

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We’ve Moved !!May 26 was a big day at IBMA headquarters. After three years in the Berry Hill neighborhood

of Nashville, the staff packed up operations and headed north – to the North Inglewood area of town, just north of East Nashville. Normal operations were delayed for a few days

while we made the necessary Internet and telephone transitions – we appreciate everyone’s patience! We are looking forward to growing the Association in its new home. Here is the

contact information for the new IBMA office:

Address: 4206 Gallatin Rd. Nashville, TN 37216

Phone number and email addresses remain the same:

(615) 256-3222

Paul Schiminger, Executive Director – paul@ibma.org Eddie Huffman, Convention Services Director – eddie@ibma.org

Leah James, Membership Services Director – leah@ibma.org Shannon Turner, Communications & Professional Development Director – Shannon@ibma.org

The IBMA has resided at 608 W. Iris Drive in Nashville since 2013.

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The old kitchen is boxed up!

The moving truck showed up to help move the office. There was a lot to move!

4 1/2 hours later, the moving truck backed up to the new office on Gallatin Road to unload

We took a few photos to chronicle the Big Moving Day, and stay tuned – next month we will give you a tour of the

new digs! For those of you in the Nashville area, stop by

and see us anytime!

Your IBMA was excited to take part in the annual MerleFest activities this year. The Association had a presence on the Wat-son Stage, when Executive Director Paul Schiminger invited everyone out to World of Bluegrass in Sep-tember and welcomed The Sam Bush Band to the stage for their set; and we had a tent in MerleFest Village, where the IBMA had the opportunity to meet festi-val goers and invite them to

be a part of our member-ship. We were delighted to host musical guests Alison Brown, Bryan Sutton, Ste-phen Mougin and Jim Lau-derdale, who entertained the fans and showed ev-eryone just what bluegrass music is all about!

We thank the fine folks at MerleFest for the oppor-tunity to work with them, and look forward to doing so again!

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Out & About at...MerleFestWilkesboro, North Carolina April 28 – May 1, 2016

Alison Brown stopped by the IBMA booth at MerleFest.

The IBMA Songwriter Committee is happy to announce the hosts for the World of Bluegrass Songwriter Showcase. Laurie Lewis of Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands and Keith Little, of The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, The LittleBand and The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, will present the event, which will feature the performances and original songs of the as-yet-to-be-an-nounced winners of the Songwriter Showcase competition.

“Our Songwriter Showcase has been introducing incredible new talent to the World of Bluegrass since 1999,” says Becky Buller, chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee. “We, your IBMA Song-writer Committee, are so pleased to share this next batch of writ-ers with you. Artists, producers, record labels, fellow songwriters, fans…the workshop stage in the Raleigh Convention Center is where you need to be at 1pm on Thursday, September 29th. Pick up some new material for your next record; meet your new favorite co-writer!”

The winners of the Songwriters’ Competition will be announced in these pages next month and in your Inbox very soon, so keep a watch out for them!

World of Bluegrass

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s o n g w r i t e rshowcase hosts announced

Sight & Sound Vision Care – Free Vision Exams and Eyewear

MusiCares – Free Dental Clinic and Ear Impressions for custom ear plugs

Vision Clinic:

Sight & Sound has partnered with the America’s Best Glasses and Contacts to provide free vision screenings and eyewear to all registered conference attendees.

“Sight & Sound, as a provider of eye care to those in the music industry, is thrilled to be working alongside the International Bluegrass Music Association,” says Mark Lindsey from Sight & Sound.

“We understand that not everyone has access to regular eye care. We look forward to providing care to all attendees and hearing some terrific bluegrass music. Please come by our clinic this year for

free exams and eyewear (glasses, readers, sunglasses). Special thanks to America’s Best Glasses and Contacts for their donations of time, equipment and resources.”

VISION CARE FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRYSight & Sound

It can be tough to be in the music industry and have access to quality healthcare. Whether you are an artist, business owner, event producer or whatever your role in the industry, it can be a challenge to keep yourself healthy and find affordable providers for your healthcare needs.

Your health is important to the IBMA, and that is why we are delighted to once again partner with several providers, including Sight & Sound Vision Care and MusiCares, The Recording Academy’s healthcare outreach, to bring you the World of Bluegrass Health Fair in Raleigh. These are some of the benefits that will be available to qualifying World of Bluegrass attendees:

IBMA Health Fair Returns to World of Bluegrass

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healTh FaIr

Dental clinic Information:MusiCares, in conjunction with the Smiles program, will be providing dental screenings, teeth clean-

ing, and complete x-rays to uninsured music professionals in need.

Hearing clinic and ear Impressions for custom ear plugs:MusiCares, in partnership with Audibel, will also be offering ear impressions for free custom ear plugs. MusiCares also works to address the health and wellness needs of music professionals. In support of these efforts, MusiCares will be joined by an audiologist who will be onsite during select hours to provide valuable information on the importance of hearing conservation. It is offering ear impressions for FREE* custom musicians’ earplugs, which are will likewise be provided compliments of MusiCares.

Danielle Bowker, Manager of MusiCares, notes, “MusiCares is honored to again participate in the Interna-tional Bluegrass Music Association’s Business Conference…IBMA does an extraordinary job of prioritizing health and wellness and helping MusiCares take care of the overall health of the Bluegrass community.”

There will be additional health-related events presented at World of Bluegrass, with the details still to come. Stay tuned IB: International Bluegrass and your Inbox for all the details!

** Important Note: Dental and hearing clinics are limited to music industry professionals who can document eligibility and those who sign up in advance.

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Friday, September 30(listed in alphabetical order by first name)

Dailey & Vincent

Jerry Douglas Presents The Earls of Leicester

Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

Soggy Bottom Boys – featuring Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, Ron Block of Alison Krauss & Union Station; and Pat Enright, Mike Compton and Stuart

Duncan of The Nashville Bluegrass Band.

Becky Buller Band

The Del McCoury Band

Greensky Bluegrass

John Cowan with Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Kruger Brothers

Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Steep Canyon Rangers

Saturday, October 1

The 2016 PNC Presents Wide Open Bluegrass festival at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina, promises to be a feast of bluegrass music fit for kings. The IBMA made its initial artist announcement on May 24, and the lineup promises

a variety from the most traditional sounds to a more progressive edge. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the September 30 – October 1 party, you’re going to want to after you see this lineup!

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IBMA’s World of Bluegrass event consists of myriad bluegrass activities to engage and entertain every bluegrass fan and professional: the IBMA Business Conference, September 27 – 29; the 27th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday, September 29; PNC Presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 30 – October 1 (which includes both free stages and ticketed festival perfor-mances) and the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 27 – 29 in downtown Raleigh and the Raleigh Conven-tion Center. There are also Songwriter Showcases, sponsored artist showcases, the Bluegrass Expo, the Film Festival, youth events and more.

Single day general admission for performances at the Red Hat Amphitheater during Wide Open Blue-grass starts as low as $60 for the general public and $50 for IBMA members. Additional details and pricing information - including member discounts – for Red Hat Amphitheater performances, Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, IBMA Business Conference reg-istration, IBMA Award Show tickets and hotel reser-vations are available at IBMA’s website, ibma.org. Tickets for all events are on sale now and may be purchased at www.ibma.org or 1-800-514-3849.

WoB lIneup announCed

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Becky Buller Band will take the stage at Wide Open Bluegrass on Saturday, October 1.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is taking their 50th anniversary tour across the country.

Greensky Bluegrass will add their progressively creative sound to Wide Open Bluegrass.

Laurie Lewis has influenced scores of women bluegrassers. Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands are coming to Wide Open Bluegrass!

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Tyme for 25!

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out Celebrate a Silver Anniversary

by Bill Conger

One of bluegrass music’s most talented voices, Russell Moore, stood on the stage at The Nash-ville Palace with a broad smile that lit up his face. Surveying the crowd of music lovers, the first tune of the night was kicked off as he and his band, IIIrd Tyme Out, officially started their “Tyme for 25” tour on May 6. For a quarter of a century, the band’s dynamic vocalists and instru-mentalists have been firing up audiences in an industry where few groups endure that length of time and with this degree of success.

IIIrd Tyme Out 2016 - Justen Haynes, Russell Moore, Keith McKinnon, Wayne Benson and Jerry Cole.

Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out weren’t struggling to book dates as they launched their 25th Anniversary tour. They’re thriving with a packed calendar of performances, and are a dominating presence in bluegrass music with the last half dozen singles charting at number one.

“I believe every ensemble we’ve had since 1991 has had something that people enjoyed, albeit derived from different strengths from the individuals in each, and what we have right now has really hit a mark with our fan base. They’re excited about it!” Moore says.

IIIrd TYme ouT

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IIIrd Tyme Out formed in 1991 when Moore, bassist Ray Deaton and fiddler Mike Hargrove left Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver prior to the summer festi-val season. Alan Bibey, mandolinist, and banjoist Terry Baucom joined to create the quintet’s sound. (The group’s name derived from the third association with a fulltime bluegrass band for the three founding members). When the band began, Moore didn’t know what to expect for the band’s future.

“What we hoped was that with our recognition in bluegrass music, com-bined with some knowledge of the business side of things we had gained in other bands and hard work, we could make it a full-time occupation and have some longevity,” Moore says. “We knew the talent was there, and knew if we could just have a chance to present it to the bluegrass fan base, that we might realize a living as a new band. Individually, we could have all worked in other groups instead of being a member of IIIrd Tyme Out,

but we wanted to see if something we created would have a place in this music. That was 25 years ago, and it’s gone by really fast in a lot of ways, but those same elements are as im-portant now as they were in 1991.”

As it forged its own musical identity, the band’s well house of music drew from the waters of bluegrass and country favorites like Bill and Charlie Monroe, the Delmore Brothers, the Carter Family, Hank Williams and Jim-mie Rodgers, just to name a few. The band has expanded its versatility over the years to include cover songs from other genres, like The Platters’ R & B hit, “Only You.” Their approach met with strong acceptance from their peers. The IBMA awarded the band with the coveted Vocal Group of the Year trophy for a seven-year winning streak beginning in 1994. That same year, Moore won the Male Vocalist award, an honor he would receive again in 1997, 2010-2012.

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are cel-ebrating 25 years of success with the album, It’s About Tyme.

3TO has seen a few personnel changes in its quarter of a century of existence. Past members include Steve Dilling, Edgar Loudermilk, Greg Luck, Alan Perdue, Lou Reid and Barry Abernathy. Overall, though, the band has remained a constant thriving pulse in bluegrass music. Moore cred-its the band’s long tenure to a variety of factors.

“Luck…fate….stubbornness! LOL!” the band’s leader said. “Seriously, I think those things have played a part in keeping the band together, but mostly it’s because of making some right decisions at the right time and being honest with each other, ap-preciating each other’s input and the strengths we bring individually to the group. Also, having a lot of musical ideas that are shared and understood by all of us, and I believe we have those things here.”

“I don’t think there’s any one thing that you can put a finger on and give it credit for giving the band 25 years in music, but I can say that being person-able and available to our friends and fans and letting them know how much we appreciate them and their support has served us very well,” he adds.

Video: “Old Home Place,” video courtesy Cracker Barrel Old Country Store channel, YouTube.com

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Cover sTorY

With more than 200 days on the road last year, Moore also gives credit to the families that stand behind the musicians.

“It takes special people to put up with all the traveling we do and being away from our homes. Our wives and children have always been there for us and we can’t thank them enough for that.”

The current band line-up is Wayne Benson, who is in his 22nd year as mandolin player for the group; Justen Haynes, who has fiddled with them for 12 years and Keith McKinnon, banjoist, who has started his third year. Jerry Cole, bassist, is the latest member, who joined the ensemble in September of 2015. Donnie Carver has been the sound technician for 21 years.

“Every one of these guys is here because they’ve earned a spot on this team!” says Moore. “They work hard, and they’re very talented and don’t take a back seat to anyone, as far as I’m concerned. They know and understand how to work as a unit, and it takes all six of us to produce what people hear. Keith and Jerry sing most of the harmony parts with me, but Wayne and Justen also have vocal parts on certain songs so all five of us can, and do, sing as well as play. The same adjectives can be used for any and all of the five ... ’awesome,’ ‘innovative,’ ‘dedicated,’ ‘second-to-none’ and ‘cream-of-the-crop’ are some good ones to start with!”

While the musicianship is pivotal, so are the band’s off-stage personalities.

“Getting along with each other is a big key to any band’s longevity, and we honestly enjoy each other’s com-pany,” Moore says. “We share each other’s joys and sorrows, and we also understand if someone needs some alone time and don’t take it person-ally. I think people can tell if you really like each other or if you’re just putting on a stage face for the perfor-mance, and I get told often that we seem to genuinely like each other.”

Fans are also enamored with the group’s latest CD, It’s About Tyme, which dominated the National Blue-grass Survey Top 15 Albums chart at number one from December through April.

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out have played the Grand Ole Opry numerous times.

IIIrd TYme ouT

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“I think it’s just a matter of great per-formances of great songs that were presented in a well-designed jacket, and that the industry (fans, promot-ers, radio programmers, peers, etc.) has embraced. We had a few years to com-pile the songs contained on It’s About Tyme, and worked hard at presenting the songs in a sequence that takes you on a really nice ride from start to end. Sonically, It’s About Tyme doesn’t get any better for my ears. We’ve worked with really awesome engineers for the past 25 years and Brandon Bell (South-ern Ground Studios-Nashville) is at the top of the list.”

The CD spun off two number one songs—the lead-off single, “Brown County Red,” and the Moore-penned, “I’m Leaving You and Fort Worth Too.”

“I really can’t remember if the melo-dy or some of the lyrics came first,” Moore said. “I’ve had this song in my head for probably five years or more but just didn’t apply myself to finish it. I knew I wanted to write something that had a nod to the state I was born and raised in (Texas), and I had the idea of the sweeping vocal lines in the choruses from way back when. As best I can remember, I had the chorus written before the verses. I also knew that I wanted it fast in tempo with an exciting vocal structure to match the music and an explosive ending.”

Unlike the band’s past projects, Moore made the bold move to form a new label, Break a String, for this self-produced disc.

“The decision to start my own label was basically economics,” Moore explains. “With people having the ability to download a CD or single and/or stream music (not to mention the ‘bootlegging’ of CDs), physical CD

Original IIIrd Tyme Out: Left to Right: Russell Moore, Alan Bibey, Terry Baucom, Ray Deaton, Mike Hartgrove

sales have been declining for several years, and those physical sales have always been a big part of any blue-grass group’s lifeline. When you put a third party in the mix, the residu-als, or trickle down, from downloads or streaming is not as good as what comes from a CD sale from our mer-chandise table at our live shows or a mail order from our website. The art-ists and record labels are both trying to figure out how to make the best of this situation and, unfortunately, can’t always find middle ground to stand on and work together. Major, indepen-dent labels known in our music defi-nitely have a place and are needed, but I just felt like it was the right thing to do at this time.”

IIIrd Tyme Out is enjoying riding the latest wave of success, and Moore has checked off several items on his bucket list. So, what lies ahead for this innovative group?

“I’m looking forward to document-ing the current line-up of the group on a future recording because I’m really excited about the prospects of what that will turn out to be. I see us continuing to explore new songs, new musical ideas and trying to reach new audiences by going to different areas as well as continuing to enjoy the venues and places that have been so supportive of us since 1991. In the short term, until late April of 2017, we’ll be celebrating 25 years as a band in bluegrass music and enjoying the company of everyone who has helped us achieve that milestone!”

Bill Conger has been writing about music for over 25 years. He is cur-rently writing a biography on Bobby Osborne.

Bluegrass Wedding Festival Pammy Davis and T. Lassiter are getting married and they are having

a Bluegrass Festival to celebrate and you are invited!

June 10 & 11, 2016 310 Tram Rd, West End, NC 27376 (Pinehurst area)

T: 910.215.7396 Pammy: 336.202.1536 www.facebook.com/bluegrasswedding

Come enjoy the beautiful Sandhills of North Carolina on 21 acres with plenty of rough camping.

All you can eat and drink in the evening for two days. Jam with the bands and see the hottest local,

regional and national acts.

Tickets Donations Only!

Children under 16 are free. Suggested donation of $30 for full daily ticket or $15 for

half day ticket after 6 pm available at gate or from T or Pammy (cash or checks)

Your donation will be considered as a wedding present. Thank you!

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No 4 Wheelers, No Swimming All entrants will sign liability form

All golf carts must have lights and insurance.

All dogs must be leashed and not in concert area; please clean up behind your dog.

We reserve the right to deny admittance or ask anyone to leave for any reason.

Bluegrass Brothers

Sideline

Twisted Grass Entourage

Never Too Late

Dirt Creek

IIIrd Tyme Out

Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion

Southern Magnolia

Tim Wilson & Friends

Shadowhawk

Amenities Bring lawn chairs

24 Hour Hospitality Tent w/coffee, drinks & sweets Plenty of parking

Huge Tent with huge fan – Rain or Shine Fishing Pond, Redneck Rides, Pontoon Boat Rides

Jamming Sheds Massage available

Golf Packages, RV Rentals, Hotel packages, Condos on golf courses all available

Shuttle or Uber Rides to/from festival ————————————————————————————————————-

E-mail: PammyDavis@gmail.com

Thursday Pot Luck Open Mic

Friday Music noon until..... Huge Fish Fry with

Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and fixin’s Bar opens at 4 pm

Please bring dessert!

Saturday Music 11 am until

Youth Band Showcase Wedding with IIIrd Tyme Out

COME DRESSED AS YOU PLEASE Pig Pickin with all the fixins, bar open

Friday

Saturday

Sponsors, raffle items and

volunteers needed!

SPONSORS

Becky Sanders

Claudia Coleman

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Bluegrass Wedding Festival June 10 & 11, 2016

Schedule may change without notice.

Sponsors Aberdeen Produce & Provisions Morgan’s Auto Repair, Aberdeen NC WLHC-FM, Becky Sanders, Myrtle Beach SC Music Barn, Greensboro NC 103.1 FM Billy's Music World, Aberdeen NC Pine Star Farms, Carthage NC Burney True Value Hardware, Aberdeen NC Richmond Rentals & Sales Southern Pines NC Claudia Coleman, Southern Pines NC Rooster's Wife, Aberdeen NC

Vendors AA Tie Dye Shirts (Ann Adams) Norm's Farm, Pittsboro NC Stone's Throw Pottery

Raffle and Silent Auctions 1 week at Kill Devils Hill Cottage with ocean view between September 15, 2016 & May 15, 2017 1 week at Lake Lure Vacation Home on lake between September 15, 2016 & May 15, 2017 3 Day Whitetail Deer Hunt w/dogs in Virginia, with food, lodging & guide service (must purchase 3 day VA hunting license & Big Game

Tags) Ibanez guitar donated by Billy's Music World, Aberdeen NC (autographed by Merlefest 2016 artists & others) Rooster's Wife, Aberdeen NC, entertainment package for the Poplar Knight Spot Dr. Tom Vicars (dentist), Southern Pines, cleaning, X-ray & exam AA Tie Dye Shirts donated by Ann Adams Phoenix Grill, donated by Burney Hardware, Aberdeen NC Custom 8x10 Oil on canvas portrait of your dog or cat painted by Claudia Coleman 2 single day tickets to Dailey Vincent Landfest donated by Karen Miller at Denton FarmPark Tickets to Lil John’s Mountain Music Festival donated by Natalie Maness 2 Saturday tickets to Bluegrass First Class donated by Milton Harkey Savannah Mandolin and student Guitar donated by the Music Barn, Greensboro NC by Dave Osborne, Shawn Roberts 2 Pickin Gliders donated by Becky Sanders 2 tickets to PINECONE event, donated by Monty Smith $10 gift certificate to Prissy Polly’s, Kernersville NC donated by Greg Whaley Hand carved wooden bird donated by Don McCluskey 50/50 Raffle every day

Saturday

11 am - Youth Band Showcase 12 pm - Southern Magnolia 1 pm - Shadowhawk 2 pm - Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion 3 pm - Bar opens 3 pm - IIIrd Tyme Out 4 pm - Wedding 4:30 pm - Reception with Pig Pickin with all the fixin’s 5 pm - Tim Wilson & Friends 6 pm - Twisted Grass Entourage & Friends Reunion 7 pm - Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion 8 pm - IIIrd Tyme Out 9:30 pm - Jamming on stage with bands

Friday

1 pm - Twisted Grass Entourage 2 pm - Never Too Late 3 pm - Sideline 4 pm - Bar opens 4 pm - Bluegrass Brothers 5 pm - Huge Fish Fry with Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and

fixin’s, please bring dessert 5 pm - Wedding Rehearsal 6 pm - Dirt Creek Band 7 pm - Sideline 8 pm - Bluegrass Brothers 9:30 pm - Jamming on stage with bands

Thursday

5 pm - Pot Luck 6 pm - Open Mic

Hotels Other Hotels (room block under Davis/Lassiter Wedding) Comfort Inn - Pinehurst $95 (10 min) reserve by 6/10 Holiday Inn Express $109 (14 min) 9801 US Hwy. 15-501, Pinehurst, NC 28374 910/215-5500 155 Partner Cir, Southern Pines, NC 28387 910/693-2280 Econolodge&Suites $65 + $5/extra person (15 min) reserve by 5/23 Homewood Suites by Hilton $199/2 people or $319/4 people (7 min) 408 W. Morganton Rd., Southern Pines, NC, 28387 910/692-2063 250 Central Park Ave, Pinehurst, NC 28374 910/255-0300 Microtel Inn & Suites $62/1 queen bed, $70/2 queen beds (19 min) Springhill Suites $101 (12 min) 205 Windstar Place, Southern Pines, NC 28387 910/693-3737 10024 US Highway 15/501, Pinehurst, NC 28374 910/695-0234 No Smoking, no dogs, no room block so make reservation soon! RV Rentals RV Rental of Sanford $470/2 day rental/6 people (34 min) Days Inn Conference Center $70 (17 min) 1913 Keller-Andrews Rd, Sanford, NC 27330 919/774-8033 805 SW Service Rd, Southern Pines, NC 28387 910/692-8585 rent includes taxes, full coverage ins w/$1,000 deductible, cleaning

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We invite you to submit nomi-nations for the following IBMA Special Awards, to be present-ed at World of Bluegrass Sep-tember 27-29, 2016, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

We are looking for submissions in the following categories:

- Bluegrass Print/Media Person of the Year

- Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year

- Bluegrass Event of the Year

- Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year

- Graphic Design and Liner Notes

*In order to ensure a secure, thorough, and simplified nomination process for the IBMA’s Special Awards, we have created an easy-to-use online submission form.

*Candidates are invited to nominate themselves.

*Those wishing to nominate a candidate other than them-selves, please email Shannon Turner (shannon@ibma.org) with the name and contact information of the nominee. Shannon will contact the sug-gested nominee and encourage them to submit their own infor-mation in order to make sure that all important and accurate criteria are entered.

*Each award has a specialized committee of professionals from that area of the industry who choose the top five nomi-nees for that category. Those

five nominees will then be vot-ed on by the Panel of Electors, an elite group of professionals with 10+ years’ experience in the bluegrass music industry. The Panel of Electors will get to review the criteria submitted.

*To submit a self-nomination, please click: https://ibma.org/awards/special-awards-submis-sion.

*To review criteria for each award, please click: https://ibma.org/awards/awards-crite-ria.

*To suggest a candidate, please provide a name, cate-gory and contact information to Shannon Turner at Shannon@ibma.org.

If you have any questions, con-tact Shannon at the email listed above, or call (615)256-3222.

call for / special AwardN o m i n a t i o n s

ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR ALL SPECIAL AWARDS NOMINATIONS

& MATERIALS IS JUNE 15

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The IBMA is excited to present its Third Annual Bluegrass Film Festival! The festival will be held during World of Bluegrass Week September 27 – October 1 in Raleigh, North Carolina

World of Bluegrass is the perfect place to showcase quality films produced about the music!

at3rd annual bluegrass film festivalcall for submissions

IBMA’s

Click here

World of Bluegrass

Submission Deadline extended toJune 15, 2016

to Learn More and Submit a Film

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The second round of vot-ing for the IBMA Awards will begin June 15 and run through June 30. Professional and organi-zational members of the IBMA will receive their ballots with instructions for casting their votes.

The second round of voting will determine the final five nominees in

each category. The nomi-nees will be announced in August, at which time the final ballot will be dis-tributed for voting.

We cannot overstress the importance of voting in each round of ballot-ing. Without the active voices of every IBMA member, the awards process cannot properly

reflect the current tastes and successes of blue-grass music. WE NEED YOU, so please vote.

The winners of the 2016 IBMA Awards will be announced at the IBMA Awards Show as part of World of Bluegrass week in Raleigh, North Caro-lina, on Thursday, Sep-tember 29.

Look for…Your second Round IBMA Awards Ballot

Image from GoVote.org

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The IBMA will accept submis-sions and recommendations for one of the Association’s highest honors, the Distin-guished Achievement Award, from June 1 – July 1, 2016.

The IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award exists to honor those in bluegrass music who have:

• proven to be forerunners in their particular field of en-deavor, and/or

• fostered bluegrass music’s image with developments that will broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility.

Music - Artists, Composers, Side/Session Musicians

Media - Journalists, Broadcasters (Radio or Television), Photographers, Historians/Folklorists, Publishers

Business - Promoters, Music Publishers, Agents, Recording Manufacturers and Distributors, Recording Engineers, Luthiers

General - International Organizers, Association Leaders, Friends of the Music, Philanthropists, Arts Administrators, Teachers/Edu-cators and other Innovators

Candidates for the Distin-guished Achievement Award are judged on the degree to which they have contributed to or influenced bluegrass music in general, or to a specific part of the industry. Their contribu-tions should be unique, given the relative period of time in which they were made, and should embody the spirit of one who «pioneers» or opens new possibilities for the music.

If you or someone you know fits the criteria for the Distin-guished Achievement Award, you may submit their name and supporting materials to Shan-non Turner in the IBMA office at Shannon@ibma.org.

call for submissionsIBMA /Distinguished Achievement Award

SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED June 1 - July 1, 2016

Each year, the Distinguished Achievement Awards commit-tee will recognize one individual from each of the following four categories (one exception may be made in the General category, wherein there may be two honorees):

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It’s Time to Make Your Recom-mendations for the 2016 IBMA Momentum Awards!!! The IBMA is now accepting recom-mendations for the 2016 Mo-mentum Awards through July 1. The Momentum Awards focus on artists and business people who are in the early years of their careers in bluegrass mu-sic. The awards are split into two categories—performance awards and industry awards. Performance awards go to one band, one vocalist and three instrumentalists. Three indus-try-related Momentum Awards recognize a Mentor, an Industry Achiever and a Festival/Venue/Event.

Selection ProcessMomentum Award winners will be selected by a multiple committee-driven process. The initial committee will com-pile lists of eligible candidates based on recommendations from the IBMA membership and an outreach process within the bluegrass community, and a second committee will decide on the recipients.

*Please note: Regional and local associations are encour-aged to identify serious emerg-ing artists for consideration, but any IBMA member may suggest an artist or industry leader by completing the on-line Momentum Awards Sub-mission form.

With the exception of the Men-tor Award, anyone previously nominated for an IBMA Award may not be considered for a Momentum Award.

Awards and CriteriaPerformance Awards

Five performance-based awards are given each year, recognizing one band, one vocalist, and three instrumen-talists. These awards should be seen not only as recognizing the artistic talents of the musi-cians, but also taking into ac-count the business side of their musicianship.

For purposes of the Momentum Awards, a Momentum Band is one in the early stage of its career (with a majority of the members having spent less than 5 years playing gigs that are paid, OR with a majority of the members less than 30 years old). The band should be one that has caught the eye of music industry profes-sionals, but has not yet es-tablished a solid reputation among the fans. Bands must have released an EP or full length project within the eligibil-ity period, and/or within the six months prior to the start of the eligibility period. Bands will be judged on the overall look and sound of their recorded proj-ects, as well as their marketing, media, promo materials, music, performance and stage pres-ence. This award is as much a business award as an artistic award.

For purposes of the Momentum Awards, a Momentum Artist is someone who is in the early stage of their career (less than 5 years playing gigs that are

r e c o m m e n d at i o n sfor the IBMA /Momentum Award

momenTum aWards

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B l u e g r a s s | J u n e 2 0 1 6 25

paid, OR less than 30 years old), someone who has caught the eye of music industry pro-fessionals, but has not yet established a solid reputation as an artist among the fans. Momentum Artists should have been active on the bluegrass/acoustic music scene during the eligibility period.

*Established artists that have formed new bands and new bands formed with more than one member of a previous win-ning Momentum Band award are not eligible for Momentum Band of the Year. Bands that have released three or more full length projects are not eligible for the Momentum Band of the Year Award.

Momentum Festival/Event/Venue

This award recognizes new festivals, events, and/or ven-ues for their outstanding ac-complishments and services to bluegrass music in the field of event production. The festival/event must not have been exis-tence more than 5 years. Ven-ues must show acoustic acts on a regular basis, and must not have been existence as an established acoustic music venue more than 3 years. The event must have taken place during the current IBMA Award eligibility period. The recipients

will be judged by the committee for their:

• professionalism and quality of presentation

• work furthering bluegrass in their area of service

• demonstrated ability to foster bluegrass music’s image

Momentum Industry Involve-ment Award

This award honors those in bluegrass music who have:

• proven to be forerunners in their particular field of en-deavor, and/or

• fostered bluegrass music’s image with developments that will broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility.

Candidates for the Momentum Industry Involvement Award will be judged on the degree to which they have contributed to or influenced bluegrass music in general, or to a specific part of the industry. Their contribu-tions should be unique given the relative period of time in which they were made (less than 10 years, with particular attention to the gains they have made within the given eligibility period) and should embody the spirit of one who “pioneers” or opens new possibilities for the

music. Eligible career paths include:

• Media - Journalists, Broad-casters (Radio or Television), Historians/Folklorists, Blog-gers/Publishers

• Artisan - Photographers, Graphic Artists, Luthiers, Web Design, Recording Engineers, Live Sound Engi-neers, Producers

• Business - Promoters, Pub-licists, Music Publishers, Agents, Recording Manufac-turers and Distributors

• General - International Orga-nizers, Association Leaders, Arts Administrators, Teach-ers/Educators, and other Innovators.

Mentor Award

One award will be presented each year honoring a bluegrass professional who has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of newcomers to the bluegrass industry - musical and professional.

If you or someone you know fits the criteria for a Momen-tum Award, please fill out the Momentum Awards Submis-sion form. Forms must be completed by July 1, 2016.

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This is to notify all IBMA members who are eligible to vote that the following member-elected positions are open for the IBMA Board election process:

1. Associations

2. Artists, Composers & Music Publishers;

3. Merchandisers and Luthiers

4. At-Large (member-elected)

The timeline is as follows:

July 1 – deadline for submission of nomination application to Nominating Committee.

Completed applications must be submitted directly to the Nominating Committee by 5:00 P.M. Central on Wednesday, July 1.

Each nominee must be current on their IBMA membership as of the date of the application. The IBMA staff will verify the eligibility of each nominee.

Each nominee must be endorsed by at least two (2) voting members of IBMA (one of whom can be the nominee himself/herself).

On or about July 15, the Nominating Committee will review all applications and will vote for the top 2 or 3 candidates for each available position. The Nominating Committee (per the bylaws) consists of 3 IBMA board members and 2 non-board members of the organization. Ballots will be sent to members electronically by late July.

August 15 is the deadline for members to vote. On or about August 16, the results of the election will be known and all candidates will be notified. The membership will then be notified.

Voting shall be by electronic ballot and will be received by the IBMA office staff.

Newly-elected IBMA board members will be invited to attend the IBMA board meeting Monday and Tuesday, September 26 and 27, 2016 at the beginning of the business

conference in Raleigh. Incoming board members will take their seats at the end of board meeting.

Please use the Nominee Application to submit your application for consideration to run for the IBMA board. Please remember to include the name and contact information of your endorser(s). Remember to submit your application by Wednesday, July 1 to:

Ben SurrattIBMA Nominating Committee ChairPO Box 160414Nashville, TN 37216

or

ben@bensurratt.com

Thank you.

A Note from your IBMABoard of Directors Vice-ChairBen Surratt

sIngIng Bluegrass

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*Editor’s Note: A Moment with... will be an occasional feature where we will chat for a few min-utes with a member of the music industry on any range of topics. A Moment with…Ned Luberecki is our first entry.

Most people in the bluegrass world have heard of Ned Luber-ecki, if not you have been living under a rock. Ned, a more-than 25-year veteran to music, has played with Paul Adkins & The Borderline Band, Radio Flyer, The Rarely Herd, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Stephen Mougin for their duo Nedski & Mojo and most recently The Becky Buller Band. You may also know him as an on-air personality for SiriusXM Satel-lite Radio’s Channel 61 Bluegrass Junction. Besides all of this, he also finds time to give private ban-jo lessons in Nashville and teach at music camps around the world. After all these years of playing mu-sic, I figured he must have learned some great pieces of advice over the years, so I decided to have a little chat with Mr. Luberecki.

IB: So, you are a very busy man, with working with Becky, SiriusXM and then giving lessons, but you have continually been a busy man over your career. What are some

of the pieces of advice you have learned over the years from your bluegrass peers and legends that you feel were beneficial to your career?

Ned: Early on, when I first thought of doing bluegrass as I career, I noticed that a lot of my heroes such as Tony Trischka were not only performing but they were also teaching and writing instruc-tional books for other musicians. I figured that in this business, it was probably best to diversify and

find other ways to make money as well as playing. In this business, even those that seem to have luck still have to work hard. No one falls into an economic windfall. Even those who seem to have it made, working with a big band, had to work hard. This hard work consists of most times playing a lot and getting paid little. It is best to remember that you have to pay your dues, but always keep your end goal in mind. If you can find another job that is related to your

A Moment with…NED LUBERECKI by Kel ly Smith

a momenT WITh....

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B l u e g r a s s | J u n e 2 0 1 6 29

career goal then that is even bet-ter, but no job is above any other. I see no shame in delivering pizza.

IB: With your teaching, what are some of the main themes or ad-vice that you like to pass along to your students or upcoming musi-cians?

Ned: I would say a big thing is to not lose sight of keeping an open mind musically. You need to be flexible, and also be respectful of what the band or the front per-son is trying to do. My tastes run every which way. I love to listen to Flatt & Scruggs, but I also enjoy New Grass Revival. I made the mistake when playing with a band as a young artist to play licks that didn’t fit musically. I knew these really hot licks that I wanted to play, but they did not fit with what the rest of the band was doing. So it is always best to keep an open mind to playing different styles musically. Another thing would be to always be nice. When my wife and I were first together, we would go see different shows around town. Sometimes they would be local acts, other times they would be a big act. My wife would ask me about various musicians, ask-ing if they would ever be ready to go on the road. I replied that any musician at some point in their life will be ready to go on the road. The main question is - can you live in a van with that person for a week or however long you are on the road? So always be nice.

Q: Along your career, what are

some travelling mishaps that you have experienced down the road that you may not have laughed at then, but always give you a chuck-le now?

A: There are two that come to mind. Before playing with Chris Jones and The Rarely Herd, I first played professionally with Paul Adkins & The Borderline Band. We used to drive this old bus that broke down all the time. Well, once we were at Niagara Falls in Canada, coming back to New York when the bus broke down. The spring was broken on the throttle and when you pushed it down, the throttle would not come back up. Here we were, in beautiful Canada, crawling around trying to fix this bus because we had nowhere to go to get it fixed. I ended up having an idea on how to fix this problem. We fixed the bus with the elastic from a pair of underpants, and it worked enough to get us across the border! We ended up switching the elastic with a bungee cord, and that got us home to Maryland. You know, when we replaced the spring that bus never drove as well as it did with that bungee cord.

The second is from the second show I ever played with Stephen Mougin. We had called different venues for our first tour, and this business had said they would love to have us. A few days before the tour, we were checking up with everybody and we could not get in touch with anyone at this particu-lar venue. After our first show on

the tour, we called the number for the next venue and there was no answer. We decided to just leave a message telling them we were still going to play and to be ex-pecting us. A while later, the man called us back and told us that he had had a family emergency and forgot to tell everyone else at the venue that we were com-ing, but that we could still play. That night we played a show to nobody, in a place that was techni-cally closed. The show must go on. Even though no one was there, we still got in a good practice. Now when I play, if I look out and see I small crowd, I always remember that I have played to fewer people than that before. Until I play for a negative number of people, I have always played for less.

You can catch Ned on the road playing with The Becky Buller Band, or by tuning in to SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s Channel 61 Blue-grass Junction. Ned’s show is on the air Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Eastern, and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you need any banjo lessons, Ned is your go-to guy as well.

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The Earl Scruggs Center and its Executive Di-rector, Emily Epley (LBG Class of 2015), hosted a Southeastern Leadership Bluegrass retreat on May 2-3, 2016. In attendance were Darin Al-dridge (2013), Mitch Collman (2015), Patti Hop-kins (2014), Becky Johnson (2008), Art Menius (2000), Thomas Kopp (2003), Ron Raxter (2015) and Hank Smith (2015). The format was based on the national Leadership Bluegrass retreat which will be held in the spring of 2017.

The agenda was developed by the attendees Monday night just before dinner, and we had some fine picking in the Scruggs Center with local musicians invited by Darin. Ron moderated the four-hour discussion on Tuesday morning. Among the many issues we addressed were:

▪ Ideas to brand bluegrass, to grow the appeal to millennials and emphasize the improvisational nature of this roots music without abandoning the traditional (but ag-ing) audience

▪ Ways to partner with arts organizations and performance venues to increase the audi-ence for bluegrass

▪ Opportunities to expand educational pro-grams in bluegrass for students, teachers, youth groups and adults

▪ Funding ideas for the Foundation for Blue-grass Music so that it can expand its grant programs

▪ Using bluegrass as an economic develop-ment tool

Southeastern

LeADeRsHIP BLUeGRAss RetReAt

The retreat provided opportunity for discussion of a wide range of topics.

se-lB reTreaT

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Since all the par-ticipants were North Carolina residents, most of our discus-sion dealt with the is-sues we face in North Carolina and the action items we could consider to improve the environment for bluegrass in North Carolina. We all loved the Scruggs Center and the opportunity to discuss ideas for the good of bluegrass!

Grow Your Bluegrass Business

See our many options at IBMA.org

IBMA Advertise with

The inaugural Southeastern Leadership Bluegrass retreat was hosted by The Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, North Carolina.

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If you have yet to listen to Familiar with the Ground, by The Boxcars, you are doing yourself a disservice. It is one of those albums that has the potential for every song to get stuck in your head, or at least it did mine. Immediately from the beginning of “Lungs,” I was taken aback by the strong downbeat and strong vocal with the haunting line, “Won’t you lend your lungs to me? Mine are collapsing.” This opening line set the mood for the rest of the album.

The second song on the al-bum, “Raised on Pain,” was a juxtaposition of sorts. It has a bouncy melody that makes one want to dance, but the lyrics tell a sad, vengeful story. This just adds to the uniqueness and intriguing quality for listeners. “Raised on Pain” was not the only song to have this dancing melody paired with depressing lyrics. “I’m Dreaming of You” has a similar driving tempo and upbeat melody, but the lyrics of a love gone wrong.

The title track is an all-around lovely piece written by the band’s own Keith Garrett. The smooth melody, paired with the contemplative lyrics, captured and held my attention until the end. It made me rethink a few of my life choices and ask my-self if I, too, have lately become

“Familiar with the Ground.”

“Hogan’s Goat” is the only instrumental on the album, and it has an unforgettable melody that rolls easily into every chord and solo change. The steady groove is one that listeners will be tapping their feet to without even noticing.

My favorite two tracks from Familiar with the Ground were “Branchville Line” and “Let the Water Wash Over Me.” “Branchville Line” tells the story of a man who has been wrongly blamed for killing the girl he loved. The delivery of the lyrics made me feel that this very thing had happened to singer Ron Stewart himself, who also wrote the song. “Let the Water Wash Over Me,” another writ-ten by Garrett, is a three-quar-ter tune that tells of an elderly gentleman’s painful memory of a drowning he witnessed as a 13 year-old boy. The haunt-ing lyrics and fiddle melody throughout really resonates with your soul. You feel the pain of that young boy.

The Boxcars did a great job with this album. Although it may sound angrier or more haunt-ing than their previous work, it still had that traditional picking behind every track. The two are blended together very taste-fully. Personally, I would have

loved to have heard more than the eleven songs on the album, but since eleven songs were all I got, I will just go listen to the album another one or two…hundred times.

Kelly Smith hails from Mascot, Ten-nessee, and currently attends Bethel University as a music business student. She is a lover of bluegrass music and plays in Bethel University’s Stonewall Bluegrass Band. She is a summer intern at the IBMA office. This is her first album review.

Familiar with the Ground, The BoxcarsMountain Home Music Company by K elly Smith

May 17, 2016 Gold Heart Makes a Sweet Stop

@The Sprinkles Cupcake ATM, Nashville

A cupcake ATM? Gold Heart made a sweet stop when they recently visited Nashville. Pictured l to r: Shelby Gold, Jocey Gold, Tori Gold. Photo by Shannon Turner.

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Moment of the month

A cupcake ATM – can it be real? When Shelby, Jocelyn and Tori Gold were visiting Nashville a few weeks ago, they never expected to come across one of Nashville’s greatest finds – the cupcake ATM at Sprinkles, a cupcake joint in Nashville’s trendy 12 South neighborhood. The ATM acts just like a real money ATM – choose your cupcake(s) from several flavors, swipe your credit card and the ATM dispenses your cupcakes through the pink door. The women of Gold Heart were understandably excited by the ATM, and made sure they each got a treat!

IB

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