IBMA celebrates McCoury's 75th

Wide Open Bluegrass is part of the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass event, which takes place Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 in Raleigh.

The set, scheduled to take place at Raleigh's Red Hat Amphitheater, will be presented in three segments:
7-7:30 p.m. Travelin' McCourys with Keller Williams
7:30-8 p.m. Del McCoury Band
8-8:30 p.m. Del McCoury Band with Lee Ann Womack

"Since Del McCoury turned 75 this year, it is the perfect time for Wide Open Bluegrass to celebrate one of our most beloved performers," said William Lewis, Executive Director of PineCone (the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music) and Wide Open Bluegrass producer. "Del and the Del McCoury Band have a unique ability to appeal to music lovers of all stripes, including fans of traditional bluegrass, jamgrass and country. Whether playing before a diverse crowd at Bonnaroo or at his own DelFest, Del McCoury remains one of the best global ambassadors we have for bluegrass music."

Artists previously announced for Wide Open Bluegrass, which takes place Oct. 3-4, include Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder, Hot Rize (with Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers), Yonder Mountain String Band, Gibson Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Balsam Range, Lonesome River Band, Chatham County Line, Noam Pikelny & Stuart Duncan, Della Mae, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Grascals, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Special Consensus, Town Mountain, The Deadly Gentlemen, James King Band, Larry Stephenson Band, Mustered Courage, The Roys, The Davidson Brothers, Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Hicks, Sierra Hull, The Kruger Brothers with Kontras Quartet's world premiere of new concerto "Lucid Dreamer" and the Wide Open Jam, featuring the superstar lineup of Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton and Stuart Duncan.

Womack is also hosting IBMA's 25th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Oct. 2. Womack releases "The Way I'm Livin'" on Sugar Hill next month.

Williams recorded his 18th album, "Pick," with the Travelin' McCourys.

IBMA's World of Bluegrass event consists of four parts: the IBMA Business Conference, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2; the 25th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Oct. 2; Wide Open Bluegrass, Oct. 3-4 and the Bluegrass Ramble, a series of showcases, taking place Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 in Raleigh.

Performers for the free Street Festival portion of Wide Open Bluegrass will be announced soon.