When the International Bluegrass Music Association Business Conference began Tuesday morning, the Chattanooga Convention Center still felt sleepy — a banjo lick here, a fiddle tune there, but generally quiet. By 2:30 p.m., the hall was a joyful cacophony of pickers noodling away waiting for sessions to begin.
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Tim Stafford, decorated bluegrasser and founding member of Blue Highway, delivered the keynote address to a crowd still full of potential energy — the tension at the start of the convention hadn’t quite broken. Tuesday’s programming was full of networking receptions and meetings; attendees were anticipating either the Bluegrass Ramble kickoff that evening, or, if they were lucky enough to score tickets, the Billy Strings show at the Tivoli.
Stafford is a Grammy award-winning guitarist and songwriter, and he was named the IBMA Songwriter of the Year in 2014, 2017 and 2023. His group Blue Highway is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards.
“Howdy folks,” Stafford started.