The Gibson Brothers Win Top Prize At Bluegrass Music Awards

The Gibson Brothers (pictured) and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice were the big winners at last night’s 23rd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The Gibson Brothers, fronted by brothers Eric and Leigh Gibson, took home the evening’s top prize—entertainer of the year—as well as a second trophy in the category of gospel recorded performance of the year for “Singing As We Rise.”

Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice was another top honoree, winning album of the year for “The Heart of a Song” and single of the year for “A Far Cry From Lester & Earl.”

Russell Moore (of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out) and Dale Ann Bradley were named male and female vocalists of the year, respectively. Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers were the recipients of the prestigious emerging artist award. Doyle Lawson and the late Ralph Rinzler were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

The show concluded with an all-star finale, led by last year’s entertainer of the year recipient Steve Martin, who was joined by some of bluegrass music’s top banjo players and other musicians in a tribute to late banjo legend Earl Scruggs, who died earlier this year.

 

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Here are some of this year’s top winners.

 

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees: Doyle Lawson, Ralph Rinzler

Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients: Byron Berline, Joe & Lil Cornett, Orin Friesen, Pee Wee Lambert, Kitsy Kuykendall

Entertainer of the Year: The Gibson Brothers

Vocal Group of the Year: Blue Highway

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Boxcars

Emerging Artists of the Year: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers

Male Vocalist of the Year: Russell Moore

Female Vocalist of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley

Song of the Year: “A Far Cry From Lester & Earl” Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Album of the Year: “Heart Of A Song,” Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Gospel Recorded Event of the Year: “Singing As We Rise” by the Gibson Brothers with Ricky Skaggs

Instrumental Performance of the Year: “Angeline The Baker” by Lonesome River Band

Recorded Event of the Year: “Life Goes On”

Banjo Player of the Year: Sammy Shelor

Bass Player of the Year: Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Player of the Year: Stuart Duncan

Dobro Player of the Year: Rob Ickes

Guitar Player of the Year: Doc Watson

Mandolinist of the Year: Adam Steffey

Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Jon Weisberger

 

Earlier this week, the IBMA also presented its new Momentum Awards, designed to recognize promising new talent. This year’s musician recipients are:

Band of the Year: Monroeville

Vocalist of the Year: Emily Bankester (performs with The Bankesters)

Instrumentalists of the Year: bassist Samson Grisman (son of legendary mandolinist David “Dawg” Grisman, performs with The Deadly Gentlemen), fiddler Alex Hargreaves (performs with Sarah Jarosz), and fiddler Christian Ward (performs with Sierra Hull)

Mentor of the Year: Five-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year and producer Mike Bub