(From information contained in International Bluegrass, a publication of the International Bluegrass Music Association, 326 St. Elizabeth St., Owensboro, KY 42301-0729; 502-684-9025.)
The IBMA World of Bluegrass 1989 Trade Show & Bluegrass Fan Fest has announced some of the acts for its Trade Show showcase and Fan Fest to be held in Owensboro, Ky., and the list is very impressive!
Performers scheduled for Fan Fest, September 22-24, include Appalachian Express, the Bass Mountain Boys, the Bluegrass Cardinals, the Bluegrass Patriots, Bly Gap, the Boys From Indiana, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, the Goins Brothers, David Grisman, John Hartford, Jim & Jesse, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Lewis Family, the Lost & Found, the Masters (Eddie Adcock, Kenny Baker, Jesse McReynolds & Josh Graves), the Del McCoury Band, Paul "Moon" Mullins & the Traditional Grass, the New Coon Creek Girls, the Sally Mountain Show, the Charlie Sizemore Band, the South Plains College Bluegrass Band, Weary Hearts, Chubby Wise, and the U.S. Navy Band-Country Current Bluegrass Unit featuring Senior Chief Musician Bill Emerson. Tickets for all three days of the Fan Fest are available from IBMA until September 12 for $20.
The showcases during the September 19-22 Trade Show are shaping up. In excess of 100 applications were received by IBMA for the 30 slots. Although the selection committee has yet to complete the first round of selections, the following had been offered showcase appearances through the first week of May: Wild & Blue, Skyline Bluegrass Express, Walt Michael & Co., John Rossbach & Chestnut Grove, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, the Doug Dillard Band, Laurie Lewis & Grant Street String Band, Leroy Eyler & the Carroll County Ramblers, ASH&W, Jim Eanes, New Coon Creek Girls, the Trischka-Grier Band, the Larry Stephenson Band, Rabbit in the Log, the Stevens Family, the Gary Ferguson Band, the Good Ol' Persons, Robin & Linda Williams, Danger in the Air, the Seldom Scene, the Country Gentlemen, Livewire, Groundspeed, Gary Strong & Hard Times, Redwing, and the Classic Country Gentlemen (Adcock, Duffey, Gray & Waller).
IBMA indicates that several slots remain unfilled and that an expected handfull of groups will probably have to cancel, opening up space for others.