There was plenty of music to go around last week at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass event downtown. From Billy Strings reopening the Tivoli Theatre to pop-up shows around town, there was no shortage.
The feeling that attendees were witnessing something special was palpable. Though the event draws the biggest names in the genre, musicians acted and interacted like regular people. Billy Strings explored the convention center floor. His bass player stopped at Goodman’s for a cup of coffee. Michael Cleveland, who won Fiddle Player of the Year, brought countless guests up during his Bluegrass Live set on Saturday night, and Luke Black and Drury Anderson of Mountain Grass Unit played a pop-up show at Cherry Street Tavern.
So many of the genre’s most talented pickers have stories of approaching their idols at the event in their younger years and asking for a jam. Sierra Hull, who hosted this year’s Bluegrass Music Awards, told the audience from the podium that she played with Sam Bush, her cohost for the evening, at her first IBMAs.
“This entire World of Bluegrass week is special to all of us,” Hull said. “I was just 9 years old when I came for the first time, and it was so fun getting to meet and jam with so many of my bluegrass heroes, including you, Sam.”