By Larry Carlin

Back in October 2002 I attended the IBMA World of Bluegrass convention in Louisville, KY, for the fourth year in a row. Every time I go people ask me what it was like, and for years I have been threatening to write something about it. I figured that I'd better do it now while the memories are still fresh and before a few other festivals get in the way.

There was a song, written about 30 years ago by Bill Kirchen and Billy C. Farlow of the Commander Cody Band, called Too Much Fun. These three words aptly describe what happens while at IBMA. There is so much going on that there simply are not enough hours in the day to take everything in. Workshops, showcases, a trade show, mentor sessions, jamming, networking, concerts - all of this and more takes place indoors for seven days each year at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville, on the banks of the Ohio River, just across the river from Indiana. If you've never been there, here is a brief outline to give you an idea as to what it was like for at least one attendee.

Sunday, October 13:

Right: Keystone Crossing
(Larry & Claudia) article

10 a.m., Mill Valley, CA. The bags are packed, and the Martin guitars are in their Calton cases and Colorado case covers. My partner Claudia and I are ready to make our annual journey to the World of Bluegrass. The event does not officially begin until Monday the 14th, but we like going the day before so we are rested and ready to go when the doors open. We arrived at the Galt House Hotel by 11:30 p.m., but since we're on California time it's only 8:30, so we go walking around in search of some action. But things are real quiet on Sunday night the calm before the bluegrass storm, so to speak. We went up to the 9th floor to check out the CBA suites, and there we see Carl Pagter, Larry Kuhn, J.D. Rhynes, and Ben Eldridge (of the Seldom Scene) chatting in the hallway. Talk turned to the event on Carl's t-shirt, the Strictly Bluegrass Festival, the weekend before in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Mike Hall (Read Mike's 'No Dogs' article!)

From there we walk around some, as a handful of pickers are playing in the lobby. We head over to the bar, and whom do we find but Bay Area bluegrass entrepreneurs Mike Hall with Richie Phillips and Mike Replogle, his partners in Kleartone Records. It seems that everyone we see, or at least recognize, is from California. Off to bed by 2 a.m., hoping to get one solid night of sleep before the madness begins.

Monday, October 14:

Slept eight hours; probably a record for me at IBMA. Claudia and I ate 'breakfast' at 12:30 p.m. in the hotel restaurant for the first/last time (not the greatest place to eat). From there we went to sign-in for the festival at the registration booth, picking up our nametags, trade show book, and complimentary CD. At 1:15 p.m. I went to a workshop called 'Bluegrass Marketing and Beyond', hosted by Peter D'Addario (of D'Addario Strings) and Janet Deering (of Deering Banjos). I stayed for half of it before sneaking out to catch the end of another workshop that Claudia went to titled 'Getting the Most Out of Your Practice Time', hosted by Missy Raines, Jim Hurst, Lynn Morris, and Murphy Henry.

The Lynn Morris Band

It was very enjoyable and informative. At 3 p.m. the trade show opened up for the first time so we took a spin through there for the first of many visits. Shortly after that we hooked up with Yvonne Walbroehl (from Mountain View - Read article) who, along with Claudia, is also our band mate in The Warblers. We all made a dash in a truck across the Ohio River into Indiana to go to a 'Winn-Dixie' for some staples such as breakfast foods and quality beer (Sierra Nevada); enough to last the entire week.

Photo right: Tim O'Brien

We were back by 6:15 p.m. for the keynote address. IBMA president Tim O'Brien introduced the guest speaker, Alison Brown, PHOTO who, among other things, told folks not to sit back and think that bluegrass was here to stay just because of the phenomenal success of O Brother, Where Art Thou? Afterwards, at the reception, we visited with Cuzin' Al and Kim Elking from the South Bay; Randy Pitts (who for many years booked for the Freight and Salvage but now works for Keith Case & Associates in Nashville) and Ken Irwin (of Rounder Records). Then it was off to the main showroom for the Artist Showcases, where we saw five hot bands that were selected by the IBMA Showcase Band Selection Committee. There was a strong West Coast presence there, as Frontline (Seattle), Sam Hill (Portland),  

Left: Alison Brown (gig report)

The Bluegrass Intentions (Bay Area), and HeartStrings (Nashville), with former Bay Arean Chris Lewis on mandolin. Also playing was Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike. After that it was up to the 9th floor to the CBA suites from 11 p.m.-2 a.m., where bands including John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Frontline, and Gopher Broke played half-hour sets. There were showcases going on throughout the hotel, but everyone knows that the CBA suites are the best place to be - two rooms of showcases and one 'jam room'. Good bands, gracious hosts and always a fun time up there. Then it was off to bed "early" by 3 a.m.

Tuesday, October 15:

Rose at 11:30 a.m., another "long" night of sleep. Had thoughts of rising for a 9:30 a.m. Emcee Tips For Bands & the Festival Stage seminar, but could not get out of bed so early. After cooked-in-room breakfast it was off to Kinkos to make some fliers for our Wednesday night Warblers showcase in the CBA Suite.

The Warblers at Strictly Bluegrass 2002

Then the band rehearsed in the room of our guest banjo player, Ira Gitlin (a friend of Yvonne's from the DC area). At 2 p.m. the trade show hall opened, and there I met some wonderful folks. Cathy-Anne McClintock (representing John Reischman & The Jaybirds, who had a booth of their own) is also the sister of bassist Trish Gagnon. And Mary Brabec, from Seattle, had her own booth. She handles Open Road, Frontline, The Kathy Kallick Band and Kane's River. Also seen there, booth-wise, were the members of Bay Area bands The Bluegrass Intentions (article) and True Blue. At 4 p.m. we went to a 'Masters Vocal Workshop For Singers and Speakers' hosted by Renee Grant Williams (Nashville) who gave some singing tips and had videos for sale. While Claudia was in line to purchase some she noticed in front of her Lynn Morris, who has been 'Female Vocalist of the Year' three times! It is humbling to see that even great singers continue to work on their craft. From there The Warblers snuck out to dinner at the nearby 'Spaghetti Factory' only to find members of David Peterson & 1946 and Gopher Broke sitting nearby.

Bluegrass Intentions (article)

After dinner there were more showcases in the showroom with John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Open Road, The Grasshoppers (with new singer Brittany Bailey), the (then newly reconstituted) Lonesome River Band and the new all-star band White House. From there it was off to 'the suites' for some more showcases. Jeannie Kendall sounded great in the CBA suite, backed by the Larry Cordle Band. Jeannie is formerly of the father/daughter duo The Kendalls (Heaven's Just a Sin Away), and she has a new bluegrass album coming out soon on Rounder Records. From there it was down a few floors to the DC Union suite to see Barry & Holly Tashian sing a set, followed by Sally Love & Gary Ferguson. Then another spell in the CBA suites, where more bands such as The Bluegrass Intentions (photo, above), Reeltime Travelers and Sam Hill played, to name a few. Met up with Kevin Russell and Layne Bowen of North Bay's Modern Hicks in the 'jam room', before heading off to the sack by 2:30 a.m.

Wednesday, October 16:

Up early at 8:30 a.m. to get in line for the 10 a.m. 'Showcase Brunch' in the main showroom. The Warblers and The Hicks shared a table as we listened to showcase sets by Josh Williams (20 year-old multi-talented picker from Special Consensus), The Bluegrass Brothers, Kenny & Amanda Smith and Pine Mountain Railroad. Next off to the trade show hall, visiting with countless people, before sneaking off to our room to check write to on the laptop before going to dinner around 6 p.m. at nearby Deke's along with an all Bay Area contingent. After dinner there were showcases in the main room with Avery Trace, 2nd Edition, Reeltime Travelers, The Mark Newton Band and Ronnie Bowman. But we missed most of this as the first signs of fatigue began to take hold. So off for a short nap before hanging some with The Earl Brothers and borrowing Pat Campbell's bass to play a showcase set at 12:30 a.m. as The Warblers, right after The Reedy Buzzards (the "Bird Hour"). Playing the showcase was fun; some other bands who played up there were Rhonda Vincent, The Grasshoppers and Pine Mountain Railroad.

Next we hung in the jam room next door for a long time while members of True Blue jammed with some from Open Road. Lots of other pickers from around the country were there as well, including Merielle Flood on bass (formerly of Dark Hollow, CA, but living the past few years in Tennessee). Finally to bed... at 5:30 a.m., beating sun-up!

Thursday, October 17:

With Lynn Morriss

Out of bed, slowly, at 10:30 a.m. and down to the showroom by 12 to attend the Special Awards Luncheon. Awards were given for best Liner Notes, Graphic Design, Print Media, Broadcaster Personality and Bluegrass Event of the Year, as well as Distinguished Achievement Awards.

After lunch I had two fabulous mentor sessions. The first, Developing Your Own Vocal Style, with Steve Gulley (nice guy and great singer, of Mountain Heart) was full of good advice. The second was Increasing Your Band's Entertainment Level Onstage, with Jeff Weaver (really amusingly funny guy of Rarely Herd). After this it was back to the trade show for one final spin before it shut down for the day. No matter how many times I went through the trade show there was always something or someone new to discover.

Then it was time to dress up for the Awards Show before dinner at Deke's with Claudia, Yvonne, and Merielle, then a short walk to the Kentucky Center for the Arts for the IBMA Awards show, hosted by Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless. Ron Thomason of the Dry Branch Fire Squad stole the show at the beginning in his role as audience instructor. Awards were given out for Best this and Best for that, with live performances throughout by some of the nominees.

Claudia, Lilly Bros & Larry

The highlight of the show was The Lilly Brothers who, along with the late Don Stover, were one of two Hall of Honor Inductees. After the 3-hour show there was a Winners Celebration reception in the main showroom for some of the attendees; there we chatted some with Hazel Dickens, Peter Rowan, and Everett Lilly. At 1 a.m. it was time to head up to the CBA suites for more showcases, where James Monroe, The Bluegrass Brothers and others played. While hanging in the 'jam room' who should arrive but Bay Area favorites The Waybacks, who just rolled in from the West Coast. It wasn't but minutes until Chojo Jacques had his fiddle out and was jammin' with members of The Earl Brothers and others. Pickin' and grinnin' ensued until 4 a.m!

Friday, October 18:

Crawled reluctantly out of bed by 11:30 a.m. to attend a Bluegrass Leadership meeting at 12 in the D'Addario suite, followed by "breakfast" in our room at 1 p.m. Then to the Fan Fest, which began this day. Fan Fest has performances all day in the showroom until 11:30 p.m., as well as shows on the separate Roots and Branches stage and a Masters Workshop Stage in the exhibit hall. There is so much going on at once that it is hard to decide what to do. Also, the number of attendees increases immeasurably for this portion of the fest. After watching The Waybacks play on the Roots stage we met up with old friend James Field of the band from the 60's The Charles River Valley Boys. Also in the showroom were Lonesome River Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Mountain Heart, Del McCoury, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Ricky Skaggs, to name but a few. The Warblers snuck away for Mexican food at bluegrass-packed Los Aztecos, followed by a short nap in order to last into the early morning. Then to see The Wells Family play a showcase before making our way to the usual destination, the CBA suites. We saw the all-female band HeartStrings (a hot set!) as well as The Earl Brothers, 1946, and others, before The Waybacks began the final suite showcase of the night. They played from 2:30 a.m. until 3:45 a.m. to an enthusiastic crowd. More pickin' took place in the CBA jam room, and the next thing we knew it was 5 a.m. as we wearily headed back to our room.

General corridor view!

Saturday, October 19:

Exhaustion finally sets in, as we sleep until 1 p.m. Rains fall outside for the first time all week, but it does not matter, as one can conceivably never leave the hotel all week if one chooses not to. After breakfast off to Fan Fest, which by this point is the most crowded the festival has been all week. There is jamming going on in the lobbies and hallways, and the cigarette smoke has turned the lowest floor into a veritable 'bluegas chamber'. In the showroom were David Peterson & 1946, The Lynn Morris Band, Ronnie Bowman, Tim O'Brien, Wildfire and The Yonder Mountain String Band and more.

Dinner again at Dekes' then we picked some with James Field in our room later on. One last trip was made up to the 9th floor to the CBA suites, which are jam packed with weekend revelers. At 1:30 a.m. we forced ourselves to slip away and head back to our room before it gets to the point where we have to decide whether or not just to stay up all night.

Yvonne Walbroehl with Keystone Crossing

Sunday, October 20:

The last crawl out of bed at 5.30 after but four hours of sleep. The final packing is done. As we reluctantly dragged our bags down the hall to catch a cab to the airport, sounds of banjos and fiddles could still be heard in the distance, as some have yet to quit pickin' and the final day of Fan Fest is about to begin. Bleary-eyed, we arrived in San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. Airport bus to Marin County then immediately to a party at a friend's house in San Rafael, where before too long more bluegrass jamming broke out…

Needless to say, the IBMA 'World of Bluegrass' is aptly named. There are so many things going on and a person can only do so much. I missed out on lots of things just because, try as I may, I can't be at two or more places at once (though more than once I left one event to catch the end of another). While it can be tiring with all this running around, it was a grand time. I feel worn out again just from writing this account. Yet at the same time I can't wait to go back next year.

It goes without saying that in my (perhaps narrow, regional) view the CBA suites are "downtown" at IBMA. A special thanks goes out to all the friendly folks there - Carl Pagter, Corbin Pagter, Larry Kuhn, Alan Light, Mark Hogan, Frank Solivan, Montie Elston, Rick Cornish, Nancy Jankowski, Michael Lewis, J. D. Rhynes, and Rob and Cecelia Shotwell, all of whom made this Californian feel welcome and right at home in Louisville.

If you love bluegrass and have never been to the IBMA World of Bluegrass, you really ought to go sometime. There is a whole that you'll get done there, but one thing is for certain - you will never have too much fun!

Larry Carlin, Sausalito

1 May 2003