… and so these three bluegrass pals decided to quit touring with other bands and went off to form their own group. That’s Grasstowne, with the three longtime friends — Phil Ledbetter, Steve Gulley and Alan Bibey — bringing in a couple of young players — Jason Davis on banjo and Jamey Booher on bass — to form the group in 2007. A year later, they are up for the International Bluegrass Music Associations’ Emerging Artist of the Year award.

The trio of friends already has an established presence in bluegrass — Bibey for his mandolin wizardry, Ledbetter for his prowess on dobro and Gulley, for his songwriting and vocal skills. Their friendship dates to the mid-1970s when they were performing in bluegrass bands in the Knoxville, Tenn., area.

The band’s formation caught lots of bluegrassers off guard, with Gulley leaving his founder’s post with Mountain Heart and Ledbetter joining the eventual disintegration of Wildfire. Nonetheless, the old friends and their new bandmates have taken a strong hold and made a strong showing with their debut CD, “The Road Headin’ Home,” which came out last year.

Ledbetter, meanwhile, is up for IBMA’s Dobro Player of the Year and Jason Davis is nominated in the Instrumental Record of the Year category for his Pinecastle release “Steppin’ Out“.

Website: http://www.grasstowne.com

Grasstowne Discography:

Other Media:
Grasstowne IBMA 2007

Read about other 2008 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year Nominees

• Cadillac Sky
• Dailey & Vincent
• Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass
• Grasstowne
• The Steeldrivers

Who’s going to win the 2008 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year? Vote for your Favorite below!