The IBMA World of Bluegrass 2005 Conference
by Phil Leadbetter

Last week was IBMA week. For the past several years, the IBMA's World of Bluegrass Conference was held at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky- but this year I found myself in Nashville at the gathering's new home, The Renaissance Hotel and Nashville Convention Center. The new location sparked lots of confusion, lots of questions, and lots of debate.

The annual IBMA Awards this year were held at the historic Ryman Auditorium. My greatest memory this year is not the move, the convention, or getting to perform at Fanfest; without a doubt, my best memory will be receiving two of the IBMA's highest honors - "Dobro Player of the Year" and "Instrumental Recording of the Year". The "Dobro Player of the Year" award has only been presented to two other musicians, Jerry Douglas and Rob Ickes! To say that this was my greatest moment ever in music was putting it mildly. I was just totally awestruck to be awarded with two such coveted prizes by the voting members of the IBMA!

Me and Rhonda Vincent with her "Female Vocalist Of The Year" award.

To offer a bit of history- The IBMA's beginnings were in Owensboro, KY where the International Bluegrass Music Museum is located. Back then, the convention was held at The Executive Inn. It wasn't very long until the convention outgrew that facility, and the decision was made to move to The Galt House in Louisville. After several years in Louisville, once again, the IBMA found themselves in need of more space. They also felt the need to be closer to Nashville, the traditional center of the country music industry. It was decided that the convention would be moved to Nashville in 2005. So here we are!

When I first arrived at The Renaissance Hotel, the first thing I noticed was that there were quite a few more places to park than what used to be available in Louisville. Most of the parking was very close to the hotel. It also seemed pretty easy to register for the event and get assistance from the registration staff. I didn't stay at The Renaissance, but rather chose to stay a mile or so down the road. I had no experience checking in at The Renaissance, so I'm not sure if the guests had any check-in issues. One thing I can say is that the Renaissance is one nice hotel and it's pretty easy to find your way around.

On Wednesday night, I attended The Pinecastle Records Showcase where my band, Wildfire, performed alongside the likes of John Cowan, Blue Ridge, The Circuit Riders and several other great bands. One thing I noticed about this year's convention being held in Nashville was the amount of Music Row executives and big-time writers who were in attendance. Two of Nashville's very best writer/producers, Buddy Cannon and Larry Shell, came out to see our showcase. I think the fact that the convention was being held in Nashville made it easier for lots of the local music industry folks to stop by and check out what we had to offer. In past years, those who were simply curious found it a little out of the way to travel to Louisville just to see the convention. Having this convention right in their own backyard made it much easier.

On Thursday, I found myself heading towards the Ryman Auditorium after attending what I will call a fantastic trade show. The trade show this year featured more venders than I can ever recall seeing at past IBMA conventions, with all of the venders in one room- unlike Louisville where they were split in two different rooms. The exhibit featured lots of great new gear and lots of people trying out the new "tools" [including the new "Phil Leadbetter" Gibson signature Dobro® - the Editor].

The Ryman is located right across the street from the Renaissance Hotel- very easy to get to. If you have not been to the Ryman Auditorium since it was restored several years back, you are really missing out of one of the most meticulous and beautiful restoration jobs ever. The remodeling was done in a way to preserve the original feeling of the building as well as the aesthetics of a former era.

It was significant that the IBMA Awards were going to be held at the Ryman for the first time in history! Flatt and Scruggs played here. So did Bill Monroe when this was the home of The Grand Ole Opry. It was only fitting that bluegrass was back! The awards show was just spectacular. The talent was top-notch, and the sold-out crowd was very responsive. Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss were the hosts for the evening.

I performed early in the show with Marty Raybon, former lead singer with the country band, Shenandoah. Marty appears on my new CD Slide Effects singing a song called "California Cottonfields" which has been #1 on the bluegrass chart for two straight months, so they wanted us to perform it at the Ryman.

Me and co-producer Scott Vestal

After we had performed, I was sitting in the audience. I was very surprised when they called my name for "Instrumental Album of the Year" and even more shocked when I heard "Dobro® Player of the Year". Sonya Isaacs, who is an awesome singer in both country and gospel styles, along with Audie Blalock, former member of the Rhonda Vincent band- presented the awards. I got to speak after getting both awards, but had NO clue that I would be given these incredible honors, so I was totally shocked! The names of the awardees are kept very secret. An accounting firm does the voting tabulation, and they don't reveal the results until the moment the awards are announced.

The awards consist of a very nice acrylic statue on a wood base similar to the ones that the Country Music Association gives out. Of course I treasure the statuettes not for what they are made of, but for what they represent, the acknowledgement of my peers for years of work in the bluegrass style.

(L-R) My Son Matt, me, Dobro® legend Jerry Douglas

When I won for "Dobro®", Jerry Douglas, who was on the same ballot, was one of the very first people to stand up and applaud, and also the first guy backstage to congratulate me. What an honor!

I heard lots of really positive comments from audience members as they exited the Ryman following the show. Many folks said how great it was to be part of history- the very first IBMA Bluegrass Awards show from the Ryman. I would have to agree. It was a very special night!!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday ushered in Fanfest at the Nashville Convention Center, which is also connected to The Renaissance Hotel. Fanfest consists of three days worth of concerts by your very favorite country and bluegrass artists. The best in bluegrass perform at Fanfest. The sound was really good for the shows and the crowds were large. One of the largest crowds was on hand Friday to see the Alison Krauss and Union Station performance. As usual, Alison and the band were awesome. One of the best bands of all time in any musical style in my opinion!

After hours during the convention, there was always plenty to do. There were so many showcases that it was hard to attend them all. So many great bands playing simultaneously, but in different locations! One thing that was lacking in Nashville was that there were fewer "jam sessions" than in Louisville. Most of this was due to the fact that the hotel restricted "jams" to only a few designated locations. After a few days, everyone seemed to figure out where they could jam, and where they couldn't, and it wasn't long until it was business as usual!

On Sunday, I performed with Wildfire during Fanfest. By Sunday afternoon, many of those in attendance had headed home. The IBMA World of Bluegrass Conference was winding down. I saw a lot of tired people leaving the Renaissance, heading toward the parking garage. The anagram "IBMA" stands for "International Bluegrass Music Association"; On Sunday, however, many were saying that it stood for "I've Been Mostly Awake".

I was one of those who had experienced too much to take in at once, too many conference meetings, and too much music! It will take me a few days to wind down from it all. Then I'll start assembling all the contact info and phone numbers of new connections I had made. It was one great week, and no doubt the most productive World of Bluegrass Convention I have ever attended. I can't wait until next year. Maybe I'll have recovered by then!

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To learn more about Phil Leadbetter please see:

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http://www.UnclePhilOnline.com

PHILIBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT
Representing Pinecastle Recording Artist Wildfire http://www.wildfireband.com

PICK UP PHIL'S "SLIDE EFFECTS" CD ON PINECASTLE RECORDS

WILDFIRE'S LATEST "RATTLE OF THE CHAINS" CD RELEASED SEPTEMBER 20th

Check out the new "Phil Leadbetter" Gibson signature Dobro:
http://www.gibson.com/products/oai/dobro/leadbetter.html