Nashville, Tenn. — Bluegrass music’s premier indoor festival is just around the corner! Industry reps and bluegrass fans alike will want to reserve their tickets as soon as possible for IBMA’s Bluegrass Fan Fest, scheduled for October 3-5, 2008, at the Nashville Convention Center. The star-studded event that wraps up World of Bluegrass Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 5) will present the talents of more than 60 acts on four stages, including the Main Stage, the Roots & Branches Stage, the Masters Workshop Stage and the Grand Master Fiddler Championship.

In addition to the fabulous music and exciting opportunities to interact with artists face-to-face after they perform, attendees will enjoy visiting a bluegrass music-themed Exhibit Hall with more than 100 booths, and jam sessions for musicians of all ages and levels of expertise will be going on everywhere!

Multi-award winning Vince Gill has hosted the International Bluegrass Music Awards before, but October 4 will mark his first appearance at Fan Fest. With a name synonymous with excellence in singing, songwriting and playing, Gill has won over legions of fans since his early career days on the bluegrass circuit. His platinum-selling, multi-format boxed set, These Days, earned him his 19th Grammy® Award for Best Country Album this year. In August he will embark on a concert tour billed as “A Special Acoustic Evening with Vince Gill.”

Grammy-winning Kathy Mattea, singer of such classics as “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses” and “Where’ve You Been,” will appear at Fan Fest for the second time, this year. Her critically acclaimed release, Coal, produced by Marty Stuart and released earlier this year on her own Captain Potato Records, marks Mattea’s return to her West Virginia roots. Mattea, whose parents grew up in coal camps and whose grandfathers were both miners, has a pure and authentic voice that soars through the collection of songs which explores the pride and pain of the coal miner in America.

Michael Martin Murphey, known for hits like “Wildfire,” “Carolina in the Pines,” and “What’s Forever For,” is one of the foremost proponents of western music and is a member of the Western Music Hall of Fame. He received the Cowboy Keeper Award from the National Day of the Cowboy in May of this year. He has received six gold records, including one for Cowboy Songs, which became the first western album declared gold by the RIAA since Marty Robbins’ Gunfighter. He has also earned numerous awards from BMI, the Academy of Country Music, The Academy of Western Artists and Performers and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, among others.

Proceeds from Fan Fest ticket sales benefit the Bluegrass Trust Fund, established to help bluegrass professionals during times of emergency need, as well as IBMA’s marketing and educational events during the year. All artists appearing at the event donate their time and talents for the cause.

“As far as I’m concerned, bluegrass music owns the deepest talent pool in any genre of music today,” comments Fan Fest producer, Carl Jackson. “To have so many wonderful artists step up to the plate and donate their time and effort for the IBMA Trust Fund speaks volumes about the music and the entire bluegrass community.”

In addition to Gill, Mattea and Murphey, performing artists confirmed at press time include The Grascals, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Bradley Walker, Dale Ann Bradley, The Dan Tyminski Band, Tony Trischka, Cherryholmes, Jesse McReynolds Family & Friends, J.D. Crowe, Blue Highway, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Special Consensus, Dailey & Vincent, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, The Larry Stephenson Band…and more!

National sponsors for Bluegrass Fan Fest 2008 are Martha White Foods, Martin Guitars and Knee Deep in Bluegrass.

Tickets for all World of Bluegrass events are available at http://www.ibma.org/ or by calling 888-GET-IBMA (615) 256-3222. For discount rates on accommodations, call the event housing bureau at 1-877-259-4716.

BLUEGRASS FAN FEST 2008

October 3, 4, 5 - Nashville Convention Center – Nashville, Tenn. Sponsored in part by Martha White Foods, Martin Guitars & Knee Deep in Bluegrass.

FEATURED ARTISTS:

• The Grascals
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
• Vince Gill
• Bradley Walker
• Dale Ann Bradley
• The Dan Tyminski Band
• Kathy Mattea
• Tony Trischka
• Cherryholmes
• Jesse McReynolds Family & Friends
• J.D. Crowe
• Blue Highway
• Michael Martin Murphey
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• David Parmley & Continental Divide
• Paul Williams & Victory Trio
• Special Consensus
• Dailey & Vincent
• Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
• The Larry Stephenson Band
• Audie Blaylock & Redline
• Robin & Linda Williams and Their Fine Group
• The Chapmans
• Ralph Stanley II
• Alecia Nugent
• Grasstowne
• Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain
• The Greencards
• Keith Sewell
• NewFound Road
• Blue Moon Rising
• Circuit Riders
• Balsam Range
• The Freight Hoppers
• The April Verch Band
• Ramona Jones Family & Friends
• G2 Bluegrass
• Mike Seeger
• The Maybelles
• The Red Desert Ramblers
• The Tina and Buddy Wright Group
• The Songcatchers
• Dennis Cash & Friends

Kids On Bluegrass 2008 - Featuring: Aimee Anderson, Daisy Anderson, Ethan Anderson, Paige Anderson, Lindsey Batts, Danielle Bishop, Courtney Burroughs, Houston Caldwell, Casey Campbell, Kendra Coomes, Emily Dean, Stephanie Dilling, Ben Doerfel, Eddie Doerfel, Joey Doerfel, Kurt Doerfel, Tommy Doerfel, Ethan Haithcox, Jacob Joins, Nick Keen, Aissa Lee, Daniel Perry, Sydni Perry, Seth Taylor, Brandon Toney, Molly Tuttle, Tyler Walker, Tyler White, Austin Wilder and Grace Wilson

For specific set and date times, check http://www.ibma.org/ later this month.