Bluegrass stars that recently received IBMA Awards are set to shine October 19-20 when the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival starts swinging. The 2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by Chiesi USA, was held at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts on September 27 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Travelin’ McCourys took home the award for Instrumental Group of the Year. This is the first IBMA Award for the group, though band members have won individual awards. Jason Carter took home the 2018 IBMA for Fiddle Player of the Year. The Travelin’ McCourys are among the entertainers booked for the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.

The Festival’s line-up is humming with a string of nominees and award-winning bands. Rhonda Vincent earned two 2018 nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year with Becky Buller for Calamity Jane. Vincent has won the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year eight times and won a Grammy in 2017 for Best Bluegrass Album. “The New Queen of Bluegrass,” as called by The Wall Street Journal, is scheduled to play the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival on Friday, October 19.

Also nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year were Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. Ricky Skaggs has won 13 IBMA Awards and 14 Grammys. Skaggs was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame this year, an honor that recognizes his lifetime of musical influence and skill.

Ronnie McCoury, who plays in both The Travelin’ McCourys and The Del McCoury Band, was nominated for Mandolin Player of the Year. His father, the legendary Del McCoury, earned a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, and their band, The Del McCoury Band was nominated for Entertainer of the Year.

The Gibson Brothers were nominated for the 2018 IBMA Entertainer of the Year and performed at the 29^th International Bluegrass Music Awards.  They previously took top honors for IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and scored significant time in the #1 spot on the Bluegrass Unlimited Album Chart for their albums “Help My Brother” and “They Call It Music.”

Texas & Tennessee, The Purple Hulls, Bobby Giles & Texas Gales, The Dean Osborne Band and The Seldom Scene are also slated to play at the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.

The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival will be at Farmers Branch Historical Park and opens at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 19, and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 20. Advance weekend passes are available online and must be purchased by 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 19. Day passes are available both online and at the gate. Kids under 4 are admitted free. Early entry passes allow entrance to the festival 30 minutes before open and can be purchased on the ticket website.

More information about the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival is available www.bloominblugrass.com and you can discover more about this event in Farmers Branch: “Hall of Famers Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, and Bobby Osborne to Appear at Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.”