Del McCoury and Jim Lauderdale Announced as Hosts For the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards
Nashville, TN (July 10, 2019) – Two of the most celebrated and award-winning artists in bluegrass, Del McCoury and Jim Lauderdale, will host IBMA’s 30 th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, scheduled for September 26 at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. McCoury and Lauderdale will host bluegrass music’s biggest night, where the music community acknowledges the year’s outstanding achievements, honors new Hall of Fame inductees, and waves the worldwide flag for bluegrass music.
The International Bluegrass Music Awards is part of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass brought to you by Chiesi USA, which takes place September 24 – 28 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“This year we celebrate both the 30th anniversary of the International Bluegrass Music Awards and the 80th birthday of Hall of Famer Del McCoury! What could be better than Del co-hosting the Awards Show with the legendary Jim Lauderdale?!” said Paul Schiminger, executive director of the IBMA. “It is sure to be a fun and memorable evening with unforgettable performances by awards nominees. This is the biggest night in bluegrass music, as we honor excellence over the past year and over entire careers.”
Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link, headlining sold-out concerts to music festivals of all genres, including one carrying his namesake. In 2010 McCoury received a National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2011 he was elected into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. A two-time Grammy winner, McCoury has won numerous IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, as well, including “Entertainer of the Year” a record-setting nine times.
Music icon Jim Lauderdale won the “Best Bluegrass Album” Grammy in 2002 for Lost in the Lonesome Pines, his collaboration with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, and won a second Grammy for his album The Bluegrass Diaries in 2008. A lauded singer-songwriter, he has been a symbol for creative integrity and prolificacy for thirty-two albums over decades of recording. He’s an A-list Nashville songwriter whose songs have ruled the music charts while recording an eclectic catalogue of albums. His prolific streak of releases continues in 2019, as he finishes his tenth bluegrass album.
Claire Armbruster and Mary Burdette return as executive producers of the show. “The 2019 IBMA Awards Show will celebrate bluegrass music’s finest moments and showcase the ground-breaking music that’s being made today.” said Burdette. “Expect some exciting collaborations of hot new artists with their idols.”
“This year’s show marks the 30th anniversary of the IBMA Awards, so we will celebrate the history of bluegrass music throughout the show, showcasing all styles of bluegrass, created by the talented artists who are nominated for awards,” said Armbruster.
Information about the 30 th IBMA Awards Show, including ticket availability, can be found at https://worldofbluegrass.org/awards-show/
More info about IBMA’s World of Bluegrass:
IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, whose Principal Sponsor is Chiesi USA, is a five-day annual bluegrass music homecoming and convention. World of Bluegrass encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, September 24-26; the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 24-26 in downtown Raleigh and at the Raleigh Convention Center; the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, September 26; and PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 27-28, a two-day festival. Wide Open Bluegrass features the best of the best in bluegrass today, benefiting the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund—a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists bluegrass professionals during financial emergencies—and introducing the music to thousands of new fans every year.
As in years past, events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that last year’s World of Bluegrass events generated $12.7 million in direct visitor spending for that region, with total attendance for the week’s activities estimated to be a record-breaking 223,000 people. Over 220 acts performed throughout the entire week of World of Bluegrass.
About IBMA
IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the nonprofit professional organization for the global bluegrass music community. The organization’s successful run in Raleigh is the product of their partnership with The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Raleigh Convention Center, PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, the City of Raleighand a local organizing committee.
About Chiesi USA
Chiesi USA, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to research, development, and commercialization of innovative products in the areas of cardiovascular, neonatology, respiratory, rare disease and special care therapeutics. Our primary focus is on people: the people we serve in the healthcare community; the people whose lives are touched by our products and services; and the people who work at Chiesi USA, as they strive to build their company, their family and their community. Chiesi USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
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Press Info Judy McDonough, JEMMedia
(615) 243-5994
General Info Abby Lee Hood, IBMA
(615) 256-3222
