The first four days of the annual IBMA conference in Nashville is all about the business side of bluegrass, but  the weekend is all for the fans. The IBMA announced the lineup for its 2008 Bluegrass Fan Fest, running October 3-5 at the Nashville Convention Center—and it offers a fabulous assembly of talent for the serious fan.

With more than 60 acts appearing on two stages, plus a packed schedule of workshops, fiddle championship and exhibit floor, there are more great performers than can be listed here. Included are top traditional acts Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme OUt, Danny Paisley & Southern Grass, Mary Raybon & Full Circle, The Dan Tyminski Band, Tony Rice & Mountain Heart, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Ronnie Bowman, Jesse McReynolds, Alecia Nugent, Special Consensus, Badley Walker, Larry Stepenson Band and more.

For my money, the focus is on younger breakthough acts such as Cadillac Sky, Grasstowne, Sierra Hull & HIghway 111, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Freight Hoppers, The Circuit Riders, The Greencards and others. Some big names from the country music mainstream will also be on view, including Vince Gill, Kathy Mattea and Michael Martin Murphy.

For all the great performers, the one downside to the event is the venue itself, a standard-issue, big-city convention center. The acoustics are fine, but the main stage is set in a cavernous exhibit hall with little charm and less sponteneity.
Not that bluegrass has to be presented in the open air, though I like it best that way. But I wish the IBMA could find a way to present its big fan event of the year in a setting that is more conducive to musical enjoyment.

I don't want to be a killjoy, though. If you want to get the flavor of the contemporary bluegrass scene in one big gulp, there's no better event all year. Advance three-day tickets are on sale now for $85. To put a cherry on top of your bluegrass weekend, come a day early for the 19th IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show, presented October 2 at the Ryman Auditorium with host Del McCoury.