By Bev Williams

THE AWARDS CEREMONY was held at Birmingham International Conference Centre - not the easiest place to find. But more signs would have helped - I’m glad it wasn’t raining.

First, what you all want to know: The Bluegrass Section (nominees: Acme Band, A Band Like Alice, Down County Boys, White Lightning) was won for the third year in a row by The Down County Boys. The winner of the Best International Bluegrass Act was Alison Krauss and Union Station.

The highlight of the whole evening was a single song by Kathy Chiavola. Kathy had asked Tom Travis to choose the song and Tom chose “100 Miles”, a number written by Southport resident Ms.Chis While, because Kathy makes such a fantastic job of it - and she didn’t let Tom down on this occasion! Impeccable singing and guitar playing. I gather she flew in from the US just to sing this one song and was returning the next day.

Jim Irvine, banjo picker with The Down County Boys, said “We’re delighted to win, but we’d have been equally happy for whoever had won. “I feel that it isn’t so much how good your Bluegrass is, but rather how well known you are in the Country circuit. “We do a lot of work in big Country venues and Country Festivals - something most bands won’t look at - and tend to promote Bluegrass Music in our own way”.

The Down County Boys receive their award - November 16th 1997
Foto: © 1997 Down County Boys. Used with permission.

This was the first time the show was open to the public, with tickets at £15 a head. When the show opened a collective groan went up all around - can you believe the opening number was Put Another Log on the Fire, a song done to death by everybody 15 years ago? Anyway, it was so badly performed that it had to be redone at the end of the show. And no better. Either Rory was embarrassed by the song or he can’t sing. One of his opening remarks was that he wished it had been better. Me too, Rory.

So Rory McGrath was in place as presenter, reminding me of a rabbit caught in car headlights. He introduced hi co-presenter for the night, an up-and-coming singer from the USA, Sarah Evans, who treated us to one of her current songs, sung to backing tapes.

We were introduced to a “star of the future” 16 year old Allan Caldwell, a Yorkshireman who happens to have grown up a few doors from a friend of mine in Leeds. He is obviously being very carefully groomed for stardom and indeed is already signed to the prestigious Acuff-Rose organisation.

So, overall impressions. The conference centre is warm and comfortable. The stage settings were OK. The sound system was totally inadequate for the performers, being muffled for any other than a solo performer. A potentially brilliant performance by Albert Lee turned into an unintelligible noise.

The backdrop graphics were excellent and the format works. The idea was that a photo of each band would be projected onto the backdrop while a sample track provided by the band was played. The bluegrass world was let down because White Lightning, who were unable to attend, failed to send either a photo or sample of their music. This resulted in no Bluegrass music being played and no photos of the bands being projected on the backdrop during the Bluegrass part of the show.

It was nice to see England’s Greatest Country Singer, Bryan Golbey and his wife Sandy, still turning out for these events. See you all next year?

Bev Williams, Rochdale

• Best British Group or Duo: Cheap Seats.
• Best International Group or Duo: BR 549.
• Ambassador for Country Music: Daniel O’Donnell.
• Rising Star: Cheap Seats.
• Best British Female Singer: Sarah Jory
• Best International: Tricia Yearwood
• Best British Male: Charlie Landsborough
• Best International Male: George Strait
• Best Artiste on an Independent Label: Dale Weston
• International Rising Star: Leanne Ryan.
• Best International Ambassadorial Band: The Wilsdens.

Updated 23rd Jan 1999