Postcard from Raleigh: Bluegrass Awards!

 

Greetings one last time from Raleigh, North Carolina!  The IBMA World of Bluegrass week is wrapping up , and  tomorrow I’ll be driving home.

The pinnacle of the week is the annual IBMA Music Awards show, held this year at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts.    Just 24 hours after bluegrass fans vacated the premises, the Raleigh Symphony performed on the same stage.

I was lucky to get a sneak preview of the stage design and dress rehearsal.  In this photo, the all-star band is running through their performance for exact timing of the show, and awards presenters are practicing using the (very cool clear, almost-invisible) teleprompter.  Microphone heights are measured, so they’ll be reset perfectly for tonight’s show.

Lisa Husted -who also works for the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival – helps to coordinate the lights and cameras with the music.  She charts every solo and every song, so the performers get a close-up on camera at the right time.  The details of a show this size are endless!

Here’s the stage design for tonight.  The Event Company designed it, and the moon even moved across the sky of twinkling stars.

At 7:30, all the glittered, high-heeled, suited,  tuxedoed, and potentially-award-winning  attendees were in their seats.  The booming voice of Syriux XM’s Ned Luberecki came through the speakers, and we were off!

Our hosts for the awards show, Lee Ann Womack and Jerry Douglas:

 

Meet the 2014 IBMA Guitarist of the Year, Bryan Sutton:

 

… Frank Solivan, Mandolin Player of the Year.  He’s also a great cook, and his band is called Dirty Kitchen.  Don’t be misled  by the name- they’re all GREAT musicians.

 

Your 2014 Female Vocalist of the Year, Amanda Smith.  Her husband, Kenny Smith, is a might fine guitarist, and was also performing in the awards show.

 

Dobro Player of the Year, Phil Leadbetter!  I’ve always liked his playing, and his new album is spectacular – and he’s one of the nicest musicians you’ll ever meet.

 

Earlier in the week, banjoist Bill Keith was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.  Keith has influenced bluegrass music for decades with his writing, composing, transcribing, and teaching.  Here he is in his natural habitat – surrounded by banjo pickers.  That’s Tony Trischka on the left.

Tune in to String Fever this Thursday for more award winners.

The convention ends with a 2-day music festival and street fest, with hundreds of vendors and 9 music stages set around the city center.  North Carolinians really put their best foot forward, showcasing the best of what the state has to offer: meats, wines, honey, barbecue (of course!), and even sweet potatoes:

 

… and pigs.

 

The free festival brought thousands of people in to the center of Raleigh. Here, folks enjoy listening to fiddler Michael Cleveland and his band, Flamekeeper.  Their new album is spectacular – and you’ll hear more of it on String Fever.

 

A couple blocks away, at the Red Hat Outdoor Amphitheater, Chatham County Line is drawing a big crowd.  Hearing them a couple of times this week has really drawn my attention to their songwriting talents.  That’s what events like this are for, I guess.

 

Of course, we all know Ellenburg Depot’s favorite sons, The Gibson Brothers.  They are well-loved wherever they travel, and Raleigh loved them to pieces.  It was heartwarming to see what great ambassadors they have become.  They talk – and sing –  a lot about growing up in Northern NY; about dairy farming, and their parents and relatives.  They tell some wonderful stories through the songs they’ve written about their home.

 

… and you’ll be hearing from Leigh Gibson this week on String Fever. Leigh is Eric Gibson’s younger brother, and he claims he’s got a bald spot because Mom liked Leigh better, and always brushed his hair at night.  Yup, it’s corny, but – like Carolina sweet potatoes – we’re all so proud of those boys from northern NY.  They are two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year.

 

Well, so long for now.  I’ve got to pack and get home.  I’ll see you soon on the radio — and please remember to give to ncpr.org this week!  YOU are the one who keeps the  music playing – and any amount makes a difference.  Measure by measure, note by note, and a dollar at a time is how we all get there, whether you’re picking a banjo, playing the mandolin, or running a radio station.  We want to keep making beautiful music with you.

Thank you so much – from all of us!