Postcard: opening day at IBMA in Raleigh

The city of Raleigh has made a huge effort to make bluegrass visitors feel welcome in “The City of Oaks”. These decals are strategically placed on the sidewalks in the downtown area, and there’s bluegrass music playing from public speakers in City Center.  This decal is promoting the free city-wide bluegrass festival this weekend.

The front of the Raleigh Convention Center is decorated with this 2-story welcome sign.

This is Sir Walter Raleigh – for whom the city is named. His statue normally is unadorned (except for last year, when he had a huge banjo strapped over his shoulder). This year, Sir Walter is decorated with an ‘installation’ of banjo parts – donated by the Deering Banjo Company – and designed by Bland Hoke.

When I walked by, Bland Hoke was hand ironing the canvas skirting for the base of the statue.

Here’s a close-up of the banjo parts, re-purposed for the sake of art.

These are banjo necks – all rejects – from the Deering Banjo Company.

IBMA board member Joe Lurgio filled us in on the logistics of the conference venues, music showcase locations, and all the free World of Bluegrass apps that can be downloaded on your phone (not my phone, unfortunately. I’m still carrying the print version).

Becky Buller says, “It’s Time To Give”.

James Reams. Tune in to an upcoming String Fever to hear our interview!

Multi-instrumentalist Ira Gitlin.

Yours truly.

Meet Bela Fleck, world-renowned banjo player and composer, and our keynote speaker for this convention. His message to all of us: be yourself, because everybody else is already taken. He infused his advice with some fun stories about some bluegrass icons. After a standing ovation, it was time to seek out some more live music, which isn’t difficult around here!