IBMA 2009 - Fan Fest - Friday Pt. II

There was so much going on at IBMA, and we took so many pictures there I thought I'd post a second look at the first day of Fan Fest.  This three day event follows directly behind the business conference portion of the annual International Bluegrass Music Association's week long event held these days in Nashville.  Between the time the business conference adjourns to the Ryman Auditorium for the annual awards show there and the opening of the doors to  Fan Fest takes place at 10:30, the Convention Center changes from hosting a serious event focused on helping all the people involved in bluegrass as an industry to function better into an indoor bluegrass festival which this year hosted 4223 unique attendees who accounted for 10,795 attendees during the three days.  They saw more than 60 acts on three stages and enjoyed exhibits by 69 exhibitors.  There were also eight rooms of after hours showcases on Friday, beginning at 11:15 after Fan Fest had closed for the evening.  The day generated enough good photos, that I wanted to offer another set.  Incidentally, this is the 400th post in the history of this blog.

Friday opened with a performance of Kids on Bluegrass, composed of young people directed by Kim Fox who each year perform at Fan Fest.  Here's a link to the full set of pictures I took there for those who missed it earlier in October when I first posted it:

http://picasaweb.google.com/KeeneValleyGuy/IBMA2009FanFestKidsOnBluegrass?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvO0Z3N8uHULQ#

These pictures are presented in chronological order and have no thematic content attached to them.  I may stop for commentary from time to time and will try to label them clearly.

DeeDee Thacker and Bradley Walker

Andrea Roberts and Daughter JaeLee Watching

Danny Roberts and the Grascals

The Grascals with Carl Jackson

Michael Cleveland - 2009 Fiddle Player of the Year

  Mike Auldridge of Darren Beachley and Legends of the Potomac

Mark Delaney of Darren Beachley and Legends of the Potomac

Chris Harris of Ronnie Bowman and the Committee

Garnet Imes Bowman of Ronnie Bowman and the Committee

Rob McCoury with Ronnie Bowman and the Committee

Ronnie Bowman

Chris Harris

Bo McCarty - Emcee and Bluegrass DeeJay

Steve Thomas with J.D. Crowe and the New South

Darrel Adkins of MACC and Dale Pyatt - Songwriter

Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out

Wayne Benson of IIIrd Tyme Out

John McEuen

Ron Stewart from the Adam Steffey Band

Carl White with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

Jason Barie with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

The Sadies, in their new dresses, wait to greet Doyle

The Sadies with Carl Jackson

Sandy Lee Cherryholmes

B.J., Cia, and Skip Cherryholmes

Cia

Jason Carter of the Del McCoury Band

Rob McCoury and Alan Bartram of the Del McCoury Band

Del McCoury

Kitsy Kuykendahl and Mary Tyler Daub watch Del McCoury

Tami Rodgers and Chris Stapleton of The Steeldrivers

Richard Bailey of The Steeldrivers

Aaron Ramsey and Barry Abernathy of Mountain Heart

Meanwhile, in the Green Room back stage, Pete Kuykendahl, publisher of Bluegrass Unlimited showed up with a secret grin and a mystery suitcase he was trying to dispose of.  There was a lot of fun as people tried to figure out how to use it to raise money for the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY

Ashley Brown, Pete Kuykendahl, Mark Newton, and Carl Jackson 

with the Mystery Suitcase

Little Roy Lewis at After Hours Showcase

Gary Waldrep

Mindy Rakestraw of the Gary Waldrep Band

Donna Townsell of the Gary Waldrep Band

The Daughters of Bluegrass

John Wade, Jerry Butler, Tim Goins of Jerry Butler & The Blu-J's

Jerry Butler and Melissa Lawrence with Sami Butler

What Can I Say?  It was a Loooong Day