The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for Bluegrass Music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA.
The 2015 award show was held on October 1, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Actor and banjo player Steve Martin was presented with a distinguished achievement award by the IBMA. There show included induction of both Bill Keith and Larry Sparks into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Entertainer of the Year - The Earls of Leicester
Vocal Group of the Year - Balsam Range
Instrumental Group of the Year - The Earls of Leicester
Song of the Year - Balsam Range (Moon Over Memphis)
Album of the Year - The Earls of Leicester (The Earls of Leicester)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - The Earls of Leicester (Who Will Sing for Me)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes (The Three Bells)
Recorded Event of the Year - Becky Buller (Southern Flavor)
Emerging Artist of the Year - Becky Buller
Male Vocalist of the Year - Shawn Camp
Female Vocalist of the Year - Rhonda Vincent
Instrumental Performers of the Year -
The 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards were held at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, North Carolina Performances at the show included Neil Rosenberge and Seldom Scene, both of whom were also inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame at the show. The show was hosted by Lee Ann Womack and Jerry Douglas, winner of more than two dozen previous ABMA awards. The show streamed live from the IBMA website as well as broadcast live on Bluegrass Junction. It also aired in Spring 2015 on American Public Television's Music City Roots television series.
Entertainer of the Year - Balsam Range
Vocal Group of the Year - Balsam Range
Instrumental Group of the Year - Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Song of the Year - Claire Lynch (Dear Sister)
Album of the Year - Noam Pikelny (Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - Dailey & Vincent (Won't It Be Wonderful There)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - The Special Consensus (Thank God I'm a Country Boy)
Recorded Event of the Year - The Special Consensus with Claire Lynch and Rob Ickes (Wild Mountain Skies)
Emerging Artist of the Year - Flatt Lonesome
Male Vocalist of the Year - Buddy Melton
Female Vocalist of the Year - Amanda Smith
Instrumental Performers of the Year - Noam Pikelny (Banjo), Barry Bales (Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle), Phil Leadbetter (Dobro), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Adam Steffey (Mandolin)
The awards were held in Raleigh, North Carolina, the first time the show was hosted by the city. The show moved from Nashville, Tennessee to separate itself from country music. The Gibson Brothers had the most nominations individually and as a group, winning Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year (Eric Gibson). During the show, Paul Warren and Tony Rice were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Entertainer of the Year - The Gibson Brothers
Vocal Group of the Year - The Gibson Brothers
Instrumental Group of the Year - The Boxcars
Song of the Year - The Gibson Brothers (They Called It Music)
Album of the Year - Balsam Range (Papertown)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - Marty Rayborn (Beulah Land)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - Tom Adams, Ron Block, J.D. Crowe, Charlie Cushman, Kenny Ingram, Jim Mills, Joe Mullins, Larry Perkins, Craig Smith, Ron Stewart, David Talbot & Tony Trischka (Foggy Mountain Rock)
Recorded Event of the Year - Terry Baucom (What'll I Do)
Emerging Artist of the Year - Della Mae
Male Vocalist of the Year - Junior Sisk
Female Vocalist of the Year - Claire Lynch
Instrumental Performers of the Year - Mike Munford (Banjo), Barry Bales (Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle), Dobro (Rob Ickes), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Adam Steffey (Mandolin)
Entertainer of the year - Del McCoury Band
Fiddle player of the year - Randy Howard
Mandolin player of the year - Ronnie McCoury
Vocal group of the year - IIIrd Tyme Out
