IBMA congratulates its 2026 Leadership Bluegrass class
The 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass class – photo courtesy of IBMA The International Bluegrass Music Association has shared a photo, and their congratulations, to the 2026 class of their Leadership Bluegrass workshop. This year marks a quarter century of offering this educational and networking seminar, held each spring in Nashville for a specially-chosen group of […]
IBMA seeking Events Director
The International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville is in search of an Events Director for the organization, which functions as a non-profit trade group for the professional bluegrass industry. This position will be responsible for the planning and execution of several of IBMA’s largest programs, specifically their large, annual World of Bluegrass convention and its […]
IBMA introduces Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2026
The International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville has announced the participants selected to attend their 2026 edition of Leadership Bluegrass. Each year, 25 professionals in the industry are chosen in a competitive process to be part of panels, seminars, and discussions aimed at helping them succeed as future leaders in bluegrass music. Participants come from […]
Béla Fleck banjo auction to benefit Kids on Bluegrass
The International Bluegrass Music Association is holding an auction to benefit the IBMA Kids on Bluegrass program, which offers young bluegrass musicians, aged 4-17, the opportunity to create and perform music together during the annual World of Bluegrass convention. There they are grouped by ability rather than age, and have the chance to meet and […]
Applications open for IBMA International Band Performance Grant
What…? Isn’t it a bit soon to be talking about World of Bluegrass 2026? Wasn’t it just held last month in Chattanooga? Well, yes, and yes. But the International Bluegrass Music Association has just opened applications for their IBMA International Band Performance Grant for 2026, and they close November 21. This generous grant of $5,000 […]
Joe Bittel passes
Joe Bittle of Owensboro, KY, a long-time and highly-valued member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, died on September 28 at 74 years of age. Anyone who has been an exhibitor at World of Bluegrass, going back to its days in Owensboro, through to Louisville, Nashville, and Raleigh, knew Joe, who served as Exhibit Hall […]
2025 WOB Notebook: Old friends, new memories
Greg Blake and David Morris at World of Bluegrass 2025 – photo © Joey Sue King One of my favorite parts of the annual visit to IBMA’s World of Bluegrass is running across old friends that you only see once a year. Even better is when you run across folks you haven’t seen in years. […]
COVID follows folks home from World of Bluegrass
Steve Martin, who co-hosted IBMA’s Awards Show on Thursday night, tested positive for COVID the next day, and many others who attended the event in Chattanooga are ill. The popular comedian, who is 80, canceled two shows in Virginia over the weekend with sidekick Marty Short. “Sadly, I have come down with COVID,” he announced. […]
Mostly good grades for IBMA’s Chattanooga debut
World of Bluegrass ’25 signage in Chattanooga – photo © Dawn Kenney The initial grades are in, and the early reports are that IBMA’s first World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga, TN, was largely successful. While attendance figures are not yet available, it seemed this year’s event was somewhat smaller than during previous years in Raleigh […]
Bluegrass Ramble video treats
Tennessee Bluegrass Band at World of Bluegrass 2025 – photo © Sandy Hatley A beloved and essential part of bluegrass’ biggest week is the Bluegrass Ramble and late night showcases. Located in the Chattanooga Convention Center, the Marriott Hotel, and several other nearby venues, bands perform and attendees congregate into the wee hours of the […]
