Alison Krauss & Union Station Earn 13 IBMA Nods
Alison Krauss & Union Station earned 13 nominations for the International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including the categories of entertainer, instrumental group, vocal group and album (Live).
Ricky Skaggs and Jim Lauderdale announced the nominations Thursday (Aug. 14) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Krauss and bandmate Dan Tyminski will host the awards ceremony Oct. 2 in Louisville, Ky., as part of the IBMA’s annual World of Bluegrass event.
Krauss and Tyminski were also nominated as female and male vocalist, while the remaining members of Union Station -- Barry Bales, Ron Block and Jerry Douglas -- were nominated as instrumental performers in their respective categories. Tyminski, known as the voice behind “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” also earned a nod in the guitarist category.
The Del McCoury Band, the reigning IBMA entertainers, received 12 nominations, including entertainer, instrumental group and vocal group. McCoury competes in the male vocalist category, while the four remaining members of the band -- Mike Bub, Jason Carter, Rob McCoury and Ronnie McCoury -- were nominated as instrumental performers. Another veteran act, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, made a strong showing in the categories of entertainer, vocal group, song (for their recording of John D. Loudermilk’s “Blue Train of the Heartache Line”) and gospel recorded performance (“The Hand Made Cross”).
Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, gathered seven nominations, including the categories of song (“Simple Life”), instrumental group and album (Live From the Charleston Music Hall).
In perhaps the tightest race, Blue Highway and Mountain Heart join Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and the Del McCoury Band in the instrumental group category. Surprisingly, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage were not nominated in that category. However, Vincent did earn a spot in the entertainer and female vocalist categories.
A few mainstream country artists also appear on the ballot. Patty Loveless earned a female vocalist nod, and the Dixie Chicks earned a song of the year nomination for their recording of Darrell Scott’s “Long Time Gone.” The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. III captured two nominations. The project included performances by Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and Dwight Yoakam, among others. The Chieftain’s album Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions also grabbed a nod for recorded event, with participants including Patty Griffin, Lyle Lovett and Martina McBride, as well as Gill, Krauss, McCoury, Skaggs and several others.
The Bluegrass Hall of Honor will induct banjo master J.D. Crowe during the ceremony. Earlier in the day, the IBMA will present singer Vernon Crawford “Jack” Cook, TV producer Terry Lickona, bluegrass club The Station Inn, teacher Bob Turbanic and Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith with its Distinguished Achievement awards.
It was also announced that in 2005, the World of Bluegrass Event will relocate to Nashville, Tenn. It has been held in Louisville for the last seven years and will also take place there in 2004.
