Just a reminder that applications for Leadership Bluegrass 2010 are due this week. Completed applications must be received by Friday, November 13, and forms can be found on the IBMA web site.

This 3 day program (March 9-11) brings together people from a wide swath of the bluegrass world for a unique, guided, networking and educational experience.

As they describe it officially…

The purpose of the Leadership Bluegrass program is to pull together a cross section of people with exhibited or potential leadership qualities into a network of learning and communication. The results will foster a broad-based understanding of the total needs of the bluegrass community, which will help participants better prepare to determine the goals of the particular organization, company or group in which they choose to serve.

Leadership Bluegrass seeks to explore bluegrass music and its place in the larger world of entertainment through:

• A systematic study of the business of bluegrass, its institutions and organizations, their needs, problems and resources
• Exposure to a wide variety of current music leaders and notable persons
• Encouraging independent thinking, fresh perspectives and approaches. It is not intended to “indoctrinate” or pass on the current leaders’ views and ideas.
• Acquaintance with relevant issues facing bluegrass, their history and future possibilities
• Involvement of all related facets of the music industry which impact bluegrass
• High quality interactive sessions for the participants.

The fee for Leadership Bluegrass is $300 for IBMA members and $370 for non-members. Candidates are selected competitively, so acceptance is not guaranteed.

Find all the pertinent details online.

IBMA old-timers will remember The Executive Inn in Owensboro, KY where the first 10 years of World Of Bluegrass were held. It is often recalled as smaller, yes, but more intimate, with the experience of the music ringing up through the open atrium at all hours, day and night.

The event outgrew Owensboro quickly, and in 1997 moved to Louisville and The Galt House where it remained through 2004. Of course, Nashville’s Convention Center is IBMA’s new home, along with The Renaissance Hotel. With growth comes change, and a few at IBMA each year can be heard reminiscing about “the old days” in Owensboro.

Yesterday (11/8), The Executive Inn Rivermont in Owensboro was razed as a part of the city’s $80 million redevelopment and revitalization campaign. The Evansville Courier Press has an article about the fate of “The Big E”  available online, along with this video report on the demolition.

There are a number of other videos of the hotel coming down on YouTube as well.

Goodbye old friend. You will be remembered well.

Speaking of Steve Martin (see previous post), here’s another in our series of 2009 Red Carpet videos. These were filmed immediately prior to the IBMA Award Show.

This particular video features Doug McKelway interviewing John McEueun, who was instrumental in the production of Steve Martin’s newest CD, The Crow.

Here’s another in our series of 2009 Red Carpet videos. These were filmed immediately prior to the IBMA Award Show.

This one features Katy Daley interviewing The Gibson Brothers, Eric and Leigh.