Vote for your favorite Bluegrass Guitar slinger and see if you and the readers of BluegrassJournal.com can pick the winners for the 2009 International Bluegrass Music Awards. The IBMA Awards Show takes place during the World Of Bluegrass Week on Thursday, October 1 at 7:30 pm (Central Time) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

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Jim Hurst
Jim Hurst continues to record and tour with the Claire Lynch Band and also works solo dates, teaches guitar workshops and clinics, and gives private guitar lessons. Throughout Hurst’s career he has recorded or performed with: Bill Monroe, John Cowan, Tim O’Brien, Doc Watson, David Grisman, Tony Trischka, Mark Schatz, Don Henley, Sam Bush, Alison Brown, Vassar Clements and Claire Lynch to name a few. JimHurst.com

Tony Rice
“Tony Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from straight-ahead bluegrass to jazz-influenced new acoustic music, to songwriter-oriented folk. He is perhaps the greatest innovator in acoustic flatpicked guitar since Clarence White. Tony Rice remains one of bluegrass’ top instrumentalists and singers, bringing originality and vitality to everything he plays.” TonyRice.com

Kenny Smith
“Kenny Smith is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. Kenny’s in great demand at guitar workshops and master classes, teaching at the renowned Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend series and at guitar workshops at major events such as IBMA (WOB).” Kenny-AmandaSmith.com

Bryan Sutton
“Bryan Sutton seemed to come out of nowhere as part of Ricky Skaggs’ return to bluegrass in 1997. Bluegrass Unlimited’s review of Bluegrass Rules! took special note of his “spellbinding solos…[which] establish him as a musician who bears close scrutiny.” Sutton recently released the critically acclaimed “Almost Live” on the Sugar Hill imprint. BryanSutton.com

Josh Williams
“IBMA 2008 Guitar Player of the Year [Josh Williams] is happier than ever working with his own band, and playing his own style of bluegrass music. After graduation he spent five years on the road with “Special Consensus”, followed by four years of three hundred days per year touring with “The Rage”. Josh claims Doc Watson and Tony Rice as his biggest influences on guitar.” JoshWilliamsMusic.com