The Earls of Leicester at IBMA Awards in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 1, 2015. Photo: Dave Brainard
The Earls of Leicester claimed four International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards last night (Oct. 1) in Raleigh, N.C. The all-star ensemble is comprised of Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Tim O’Brien on mandolin, Shawn Camp on guitar, Johnny Warren on fiddle, Charlie Cushman on banjo, and Barry Bales on bass.
Their self-titled album pays tribute to pioneering bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs. The project also won a Grammy for best bluegrass album earlier this year.
The Earls of Leicester also won IBMA trophies for Album of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year. In addition, Douglas picked up Dobro Player of the Year and Camp won Male Vocalist of the Year win.
Additionally, North Carolina’s own Balsam Range took home Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the Year for “Moon Over Memphis,” and the group’s Tim Surrett earned Bass Player of the Year. Bill Keith and Larry Sparks were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Rhonda Vincent won Female Vocalist of the Year and Becky Buller won Emerging Artist of the Year, as well as Recorded Event of the Year for “Southern Flavor,” a collaboration with Peter Rowan, Michael Feagan, Buddy Spicher, Ernie Sykes, Roland White, and Blake Williams.
Hosted by The Gibson Brothers, the show featured performances by The Earls of Leicester, Flatt Lonesome, Hot Rize, The Del McCoury Band, The Gibson Brothers, and a surprise performance by Sparks and Alison Krauss.
Alison Krauss and Larry Sparks at the 2015 IBMA Awards. Photo: Dave Brainard
Winners of the 26th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards are:
Entertainer of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year: Shawn Camp
Vocal Group of the Year: Balsam Range
Instrumental Group of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Song of the Year: “Moon Over Memphis,” Balsam Range
Album of the Year: The Earls of Leicester, The Earls of Leicester, Jerry Douglas, producer
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: “Who Will Sing for Me,” The Earls of Leicester
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year: “The Three Bells,” Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes
Emerging Artist of the Year: Becky Buller
Recorded Event of the Year: “Southern Flavor,” Becky Buller, with Peter Rowan, Michael Feagan, Buddy Spicher, Ernie Sykes, Roland White, and Blake Williams
Banjo Player of the Year: Rob McCoury
Bass Player of the Year: Tim Surrett
Dobro Player of the Year: Jerry Douglas
Fiddle Player of the Year: Michael Cleveland
Guitar Player of the Year: Bryan Sutton
Mandolin Player of the Year: Jesse Brock
Inductees into the Bluegrass HOF: Bill Keith and Larry Sparks
Distinguished Achievement Award: Alison Brown, Murphy Henry, International Bluegrass Music Museum, “Bashful Brother” Oswald Kirby, Steve Martin
