By Katherine Cole

I never thought I’d be glad to say “hello from my desk,”but that’s how I’m feeling today. Between the recent Americana Music Association conference two weeks ago and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass event last week, I’m just happy to be home.

Not that I didn’t have a great time at both events but it was really non-stop.  At the IBMA conference,I was on the go 24 hours a day. And I’m not really exaggerating.  I found myself scheduled into business meetings in the morning, speaking at seminars in the afternoon, then ducking into the trade show to see the latest & greatest new musical equipment and to find out about bluegrass events around the world. In the evening, my colleagues and I ran all over town to hear bands and late nights were spent at the conference hotel, checking out all the after hours showcases!

The International Bluegrass Music Awards show will be broadcast on my radio show Roots and Branches over the next few weeks and also available here on our website, so you’ll be able to hear all the excitement for yourself!  In the meantime, here are some photos from last week!

Pick one, any one! Lots of banjos for sale in the trade show (photo compliments IBMA)

All the major bluegrass instrument makers were on hand, trying to convince me that I needed a new guitar or banjo. Or at least a pick.

I never thought I needed a pink guitar pick…until I saw that one! (photo compliments IBMA)

The awards show was held at the historic Ryman Auditorium and, as you might guess, it was  filled with great performances. One of the coolest had to be the grand finale led by banjo picker/actor/writer Steve Martin.  It was a tribute to the late banjo legend Earl Scruggs, who died earlier this year. As you can see, there were hundreds of strings up on stage for that one.

IBMA Awards show grand Finale (photo by Alane Anno)

There was so much good music at the World of Bluegrass that I can’t really pick a highlight. But I’ll confess that after a few nights of high tenor singing and lots of banjos, I loved hearing New Country Rehab, complete with drums!

New Country Rehab rocked the Nashville Convention Center during their IBMA showcase. From left: James Robertson, Roman Tome, John Showman, Ben Whiteley. (Photo: Katherine Cole)

So, here I am—back at work and exhausted! But it was worth it.

KC!