Category: Resources

IBMA To Add Two New Awards In 2024

The International Bluegrass Music Association will add two new awards in 2024. These awards will be presented during the IBMA World Of Bluegrass Convention in Raleigh, NC in September.

A Photographer of the Year award has been established as a new Industry Award and will be presented at the annual IBMA Industry Awards Luncheon, beginning in 2024.

A Music Video of the Year award has been established as a new IBMA Bluegrass Music Award and will be presented at the annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show, beginning in 2024.

Each award will follow the same nomination and selection process as currently outlined in the IBMA Awards Handbook for other Industry and Music Awards categories, respectively. The initial eligibility period for these new awards is April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.

February 29 Is Last Day To Enter Louvin Brothers Boots Raffle To Support IBMA Foundation

The IBMA Foundation is holding a raffle for unique boots with a spicy bluegrass theme. Are you a fan of the Louvin Brothers? Have you always wanted handmade custom cowboy boots with a one-of-a-kind design?

The Deadline For Entries Is FEBRUARY 29, 2024 for a chance to win custom cowboy boots by Lisa Sorrell (Lisa Sorrell – bespoke boot maker (customboots.net)). These will be custom made for your feet (you must be mens size 7 (ladies 8.5) to Size 13).  Valued at $14,000, these special boots will feature the Louvin Brothers’ iconic Satan is Real gospel album cover on the boot top fronts, and a leather portrait of Ira & Charlie Louvin on the backs. To enter & for more information:

Lisa Sorrell Cowboy Boots Raffle for IBMA Foundation | RallyUp

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to build a brighter future for bluegrass music. It relies on its funding from generous donors  and income from occasional raffles  when donors have given a substantial in-kind gift (such as these boots or a quality instrument). The Foundation helps donors create a bluegrass legacy by supporting programs and projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation.

Foundation Board Members:  Fred Bartenstein, Kissy Black, Sam Blumenthal, Dr. Richard Brown, Becky Buller, Laurie Greenberg, Michael Hall, Arthur Hancock IV, Ruth McLain, Ken White, Dr. Peter Salovey, Alan Tompkins, Trisha Tubbs, Wendy Tyner, Dr. Michael Webb, and Lillian Werbin.

NCBS Is A Non-Profit Organization

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a California Not-For-Profit Corporation with Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) status that is also known as the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society. The NCBS/SCBS Tax ID No. is 94-2907716. Your donations support local bluegrass music. Thanks for your support!

Mail-In Donations: NCBS/SCBS, PO Box 390846, Mountain View, CA 94039-0846.

NCBS Online Donations

IBMA Announces The 2024 Leadership Bluegrass Class — Including Helen Lude & Karen Celia Heil

The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced the 2024 Leadership Bluegrass Class, which includes Helen Lude, a frequent attendee and performer on NCBS stages since she was very young. She grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Tulane University in 2023. She now lives and works in Nashville. Karen Celia Heil of San Francisco is also in the class. She is involved with bluegrass and old time music organizing in the Bay Area.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA. The 2024 class will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, March 4-6. NCBS Members are encouraged to apply this fall for the 2025 class.

The members of the class of 2024 are:

Chelsea Burns
Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Austin, TX

Amanda Cook
Mountain Fever Records
Fancy Gap, VA

Carolyn Eyerly
DC Bluegrass Union
Vienna, VA

Sara Gougeon
Pineworks Creative / Queerfest
Nashville, TN

Karen Celia Heil
California Bluegrass Association / Berkeley Old Time Music Convention
San Francisco, CA

Mike Kaiz
Madison House
Chicago, IL

Kevin Keating
Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival
Nazareth, PA

Anna Kline
International Bluegrass Music Association
Mount Sterling, KY

Jeff Koontz
Planning Stages, Inc.
Brevard, NC

Linda Leavitt
Oregon Bluegrass Association
Sisters, OR

Tashi Litch
Eastsound, WA

Helen Lude
California Bluegrass Association
San Francisco, CA

Rob McCormac
Indiana University / Liam Purcel & Cane Mill Road / Trailhead Touring & Production
Bloomington, IN

Amanda McDowell
WXCY
Quarryville, PA

Mike Mitchell
Floyd Music School / The Mike Mitchell Band
Floyd, VA

Seth Mulder
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run
Sevierville, TN

Kody Norris
The Kody Norris Show / Mountain City Fiddlers’ Convention
Mountain City, TN

Liam Purcell
Trailhead Records
Deep Gap, NC

Ariel Rosemberg
Littleton, CO

Timothy Trudeau
Syntax Creative
Franklin, TN

Amanda Webb
NoraBelle Studio
Sevierville, TN

Lillian Werbin
Elderly Instruments
Lansing, MI

Dan Whitener
Gangstagrass / Man About a Horse
Matawan, NJ

Alissa Wolf
Stillhouse Junkies
Durango, CO

Cassie Wright
Fox Crossing Stringband
Chicago, IL

Walker Creek Music Camp Transitions To New Ownership & Leadership — Registration Opens February 2

Walker Creek Music Camp, which takes place in the rolling hills of Marin County each spring and fall, is transitioning to a new ownership and leadership team. The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Walker Creek Music Camp Scholarship Fund will continue to support some of the camp’s students.

The camp reopened last year after a three-year Covid induced slumber. We’re delighted to have this camp back on its feet and want to share the news that it is now under new leadership. Ingrid Noyes, creator and longtime director of this camp, and before it, the CBA Music Camp, has decided that it’s time for a new chapter in her life.

With the completion of last year’s spring camp, Ingrid counted 30 music camps she has directed, starting with the first CBA music camp in 2001. She is now looking forward to having more time to play music, do more teaching, and make space in her life for other things to happen. She will stay involved with WCMC as needed and attend the Spring ’24 camp to help ensure all campers are “happy campers”, as she’s always done.

Ingrid is turning the camp reins over to Michael Bryant who has been on staff as a very popular jam leader, teacher’s assistant, and webmaster. He recently stepped in to replace assistant director Kristell Moller, who tragically passed away in 2021.
Michael Bryant is a modern-day Renaissance man with deep roots in the West Marin County community having been the chef/proprietor of well-known restaurant, Barnaby’s by the Bay in Inverness, CA between 1985 – 2005. He has been a multimedia developer, technical writer for IDG’s “For Dummies” book series and currently operates New Skye Hosting, a web development & hosting company.

Since 2008, he has pursued his musical passions as a band leader, teacher and venue booker in and around Sonoma County where he has lived since 1964.
On his commitment to the music camp’s future he said, “I met Ingrid Noyes in 2013 at Walker Creek Music Camp while serving as Food Director for Walker Creek Ranch. My love for the program/community that Ingrid created was immediate and after 10 years, I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to continue providing the excellent music education experience that is Walker Creek Music Camp.”

Going forward, Michael will be assisted by new Program Director, John Treacy and Assistant Director, Lily Reid. John Treacy is another longtime valuable staff member who formerly served in various leadership roles for the California Coast Music Camp, including director, president, on-site coordinator, teacher hiring, live sound, and volunteer coordinator. He is retired from a career leading global software teams has spent his post-retirement years playing and teaching bluegrass music.

Lily Reid got involved in music camps at the age of 7 years old taking fiddle classes at CBA Music Camp. She became a teacher’s assistant at Walker Creek Music Camp soon after Ingrid created the camp in 2013 and brings a wealth of experience to our administrative staff.

Their goal is for the camp to retain its same great, fun, awesome and inclusive spirit for traditional music lovers of all ages.

Spring ‘24 camp will feature the usual mix of Bluegrass and Old-Time music along with a very popular Irish music track. The camp is excited to have two “house bands” – The Slocan Ramblers, joining us for the first time, and the much-loved Kathy Kallick Band. They’ll also have five fantastic teachers focusing on Irish music and several other favorite new and returning teachers. Full information about the staff and classes is available on the website (see below).

Registration for spring camp opens on Friday, February 2nd. As always, some classes and lodging options are expected to fill fast. For more information, or to register, visit www.walkercreekmusiccamp.org, or call Michael at 707-579-1429.