Things are looking on the up and up for the BBMA and, by implication,
for British Bluegrass and Bluegrassers in general. Membership is now over
600 members - a good increase, partly due to the good value Family Membership
scheme. A suggestion made by someone well known to the writers wife has resulted
in the BBMA considering the possibility of giving existing members a free
years subscription if they enroll two new members ...
A lot of problems in the past have arisen because policies were not written
down. Well, now written policies have been agreed for the management and
editorial policies of both the BBN and the BBMA Website - these will lead
to smoother running in the future.
New Policies
The BBMA has introduced several policies that should be of great benefit
to the general British Bluegrass fanatic in general and British Bands in
particular. For example, the BBMA Website has now expanded to contain listings
of all British Bluegrass clubs and sessions (with full contact details -
Write to and website included) and all UK festivals (plus some Irish) with
brief details and Internet data, where applicable. But best of all there
is a listing of all British Bluegrass Bands - there are many I had never
heard of! This has already shown itself to be invaluable to clubs such as
Ron Stevens’ Heart of England Bluegrass Venue - for example, Geoff
Bowers’ band was contacted as a direct result and given a booking!
Underwriting Concerts, etc.
The BBMA is arranging that, under suitable circumstances and at the discretion
of The Committee, it will provide funds to underwrite concerts, etc. They
hope that this will encourage more promoters to set up Bluegrass events,
safe in the knowledge that there is a limit to what it will cost them if
it all goes wrong!
Loans to Bands and Advertising
Campaign
But there is more - as previously reported in this mag, the BBMA has recently
helped two bands in the production of their CD s by lending them £1,000
each - one of these has already been repaid. But now they have decided that
in future only £800 need be repaid, effectively giving the ‘act’
a £200 grant. The Secretary, Mike Preston, is searching for suitable
candidates for these loan/grants and the Committee is also considering the
possibility of producing a second compilation CD. So if you fancy your chances
with either of these get in touch with Mike on 01425-618286.
The Committee has decided to spend up to £1,000 promoting 1999 Bluegrass
events. This will be by way of adverts in the Folk Music and Country Music
magazines, etc.
The BBMA Annual General Meeting
This will be held at the Heart of England Bluegrass Venue, Kenilworth
(Home of Ron Stevens’ club) on Saturday, 13th March. This year it will
take a new format - the meeting, open to all members, will be in the afternoon.
In the evening there will be a concert, with (probably) The Down County Boys,
The Acme Band and A Band Like Alice,
which will be free to members.
The Concert will be open to non-members for a small fee, but if they join
the BBMA on the night the price will be deducted from the subscription -
can’t be bad! The area is one of great historic interest - and places
like Warwick and Stratford upon Avon is very close by, so why not go down
and stay over?
Have you thought of joining the
BBMA?
Don’t think, do it! You surely must agree that any association prepared
to stick its’ neck out in the ways outlined above must be worth
supporting!
The British Bluegrass Music Association is essential for the development
of Bluegrass nationally. Membership is only £15 individual, £20
family (with pensioner / unemployed discounts) and this includes 4 copies
per annum of British Bluegrass News! BBN is now much improved with more and
better content and is published on time.
You’re a lapsed member? Now is the time to rejoin! Full details form
their web site (see links page)
Updated 23rd Jan 2004
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