CMT News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Already, O Brother, Where Art Thou? has been the talk of the International Bluegrass Music Association's convention at the Galt House Hotel here. Thursday night (Oct. 4), the phenomenon could have a major impact on the organization's 12th annual awards, but it will have competition.

Dan Tyminski, who sings "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" in two different settings on the film soundtrack, is nominated 10 times for awards. He can win as many as seven.

In addition to his O Brother activity, Tyminski, a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station, this year released a solo album, Carry Me Across the Mountain, which competes with O Brother for album of the year. Two songs from his album vie with "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" to become the IBMA's song of the year.

The Dan Tyminski Band, featured on his solo album, are up for emerging artist of the year, Tyminski is nominated for guitarist and male vocalist of the year, and another project featuring Tyminski, Knee Deep in Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions, is up for instrumental album of the year and recorded event of the year.

Tyminski is scheduled to give one of 11 performances during Thursday night's two-hour awards show at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Steve Wariner will join Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder on Bill Monroe's "Heavy Traffic Ahead" near the beginning of the evening. Grammy winner and banjo specialist Alison Brown will appear with an acoustic supergroup including Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, David Grier and Todd Phillips.

The Lonesome River Band, up for entertainer of the year, vocal group of the year, instrumental group of the year, album of the year (for Talkin' to Myself), male vocalist of the year (Ronnie Bowman) banjo player of the year (Sammy Shelor) and guitarist of the year (Kenny Smith) will appear third on the bill.

Also slated to perform are Sonny Osborne, Mountain Heart, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Nickel Creek, reigning entertainers of the year the Del McCoury Band and Mark Newton, who will pay tribute to Hall of Honor inductees the Carter Family with a performance of "Back to the Fold."

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, nominated seven times, will perform "Is the Grass Any Bluer." A tribute to the late Bill Monroe, the song appears on Vincent's latest release, The Storm Still Rages. "Lonesome Wind Blues" from Vincent's previous album, Back Home Again, is up for song of the year. Vincent is the IBMA's reigning female vocalist of the year. Rage members Mike Cleveland, fiddle, and Tom Adams, banjo, are nominated as the best in their respective instrumental categories.

The 2001 International Bluegrass Music Awards will be recorded for syndicated re-broadcast to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks.

The Bluegrass Fan Fest, with performances by many of the nominees, continues through Sunday at the Galt House.