Winners of the 28th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Announced

The winners of the International Bluegrass Music Awards, hosted by Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, were announced yesterday evening, September 28, 2017. The Earls of Leicester won the prestigious “Entertainer of the Year” for the third year in a row. Awards were also presented to many first time recipients, including Molly Tuttle, the first female to win “Guitar Player of the Year.”

The award ceremony took place at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Awards were voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

The recipients of the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Awards are listed below:

Entertainer Of The Year:
The Earls of Leicester

Vocal Group Of The Year:
Flatt Lonesome

Instrumental Group Of The Year:

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Song Of The Year:

“I Am A Drifter” – Volume Five (artist), Donna Ulisse/Marc Rossi (writers)

Album Of The Year:

Mountain Voodoo – Balsam Range (artist), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)

 

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year (tie):

“I Found a Church Today” – The Gibson Brothers (artist), Eric Gibson/Leigh Gibson (writers), In The Ground (album), Eric Gibson, Leigh Gibson, and Mike Barber (producers), Rounder Records (label)

“Sacred Memories” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Skaggs (artist), Dolly Parton (writer), Sacred Memories (album), Joe Mullins (producer), Rebel Records (label)

Instrumental Recorded Performance:

“Fiddler’s Dream” – Michael Cleveland (artist), Arthur Smith (writer), Fiddler’s Dream (album), Jeff White and Michael Cleveland (producers), Compass Records (label)

Emerging Artist Of The Year:

Volume Five

Recorded Event Of The Year:

“I’ve Gotta Get a Message To You” – Bobby Osborne with Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Trey Hensley, Todd Phillips, Kenny Malone, Claire Lynch, and Bryan McDowell (artists), Original (album), Alison Brown (producer), Compass Records (label)

Female Vocalist Of The Year:

Brooke Aldridge

Male Vocalist Of The Year:

Shawn Camp

Banjo Player Of The Year:

Noam Pikelny

Bass Player Of The Year:

Alan Bartram

Dobro Player Of The Year:

Josh Swift

 

Fiddle Player Of The Year:

Patrick McAvinue

Guitar Player Of The Year:

Molly Tuttle

 

Mandolin Player of the Year:

Sierra Hull

 

Previously announced inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – pioneering bluegrass artists Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, master fiddler Bobby Hicks, and Roland White, whose impressive career includes contributions to several seminal bands – were honored at the show.

At the Special Awards Luncheon held earlier in the day, the recipients of the following awards were also announced:

Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year:

Cindy Baucom

Bluegrass Event Of The Year:

Pickin’ in Parsons; Parsons, West Virginia

Best Liner Notes For A Recorded Project:

Bill Nowlin; J.D.Crowe and the New South (40th Anniversary Edition)

Best Graphic Design For A Recorded Project:

Casey Campbell; Mandolin Duets: Volume One

Bluegrass Print/Media Person Of The Year:

John Lawless

Bluegrass Songwriter Of The Year:

Tim Stafford

The previously announced 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award recipients – Norman Blake, Bluegrass Today, Louisa Branscomb, Fletcher Bright, and Silver Dollar City – were also honored at September 28th’s luncheon.