IBMA Comes to Chattanooga
IBMA 2025: Home in Chattanooga, TN
If you love bluegrass music, you've probably heard of IBMA World of Bluegrass, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual five-day event that features a business conference, tradeshow, awards show, artist showcases, and a two- day music festival. Created to foster the growth and development of bluegrass music, this event is often referred to as “the biggest week of bluegrass music,” attracting thousands of industry professionals, artists, and fans from far and wide: from Japan, France, Chile, and New Zealand to Kentucky, Minnesota, Colorado, and California. IBMA celebrated its 40th anniversary this year from September 15-20, 2025, at its new home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
IBMA’s first year in Chattanooga was a smashing success, with a vibrant walkable city, bustling business conference, the poignant keynote by Billy Strings, and an all- star festival lineup. Named the “Friendliest City in the USA,” Chattanooga certainly welcomed bluegrass with open arms, embracing the inevitable chaos that happens when banjos and beer overrun your city center. There were myriad dining and hotel options, and the music venues were hopping. Compared to previous years, more artists from Nashville made the journey to come pick, the hotel and convention center were easier to navigate, and the single conference center hallway ensured you ran into all your friends.
The IBMA Business Conference kicked off on Tuesday, following a warm and welcoming press conference, two days of board meetings, and the annual Leadership Bluegrass alumni reception on Monday evening. The business conference is perfect to deepen your professional relationship with bluegrass music, whether you’re an artist, industry professional, or simply wanting to get more involved with your local bluegrass community. In just three days, you can attend panel sessions with industry experts, speed date at the annual gig fair for artists and talent buyers, and network with key players in the industry. You may discover your new favorite instrument at the sprawling exhibit hall of vendors, including luthiers, nonprofits, festivals, and artists—or shake hands with your heroes. The Momentum and industry award ceremonies are everyone’s favorite lunch gathering, where IBMA recognizes upcoming and outstanding work in non-performer industry categories. You can even start your morning practicing tai chi with Jim Lauderdale!
Perhaps you’ve seen clips of Billy Strings’ keynote address and interview with Tom Powers. Billy grew up on Bill Monroe, Larry Sparks, and Jimmy Martin, listening to and learning melodies from his dad. Bluegrass music soon became his social currency, his coping mechanism, his entire heart and soul. Yet, Billy recounts nights when he was boxed out of jams and returned to his tent in tears, emphasizing the need to unite the invisible divide between “camos and tie- dyes.” “Bluegrass music is beautiful because of its diversity of sounds and influences,” Billy said. The trunk of Bill Monroe’s bluegrass tree has deep roots with new flowers blooming every day. Billy is glad about the flowers! He continues to spread the seeds of bluegrass around the globe, playing traditional songs like “Bringing Mary Home” and “John Deere Tractor” to arenas filled with tens of thousands of people. If you didn’t love Billy before, you surely love him now. Check out his keynote on YouTube if you haven’t already!
The legendary Paul Williams provided another special moment, singing duets with Doyle Lawson and telling stories about his time with Jimmy Martin and the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. Hosted by Johnny and Jeanette Williams and Mike Mitchell for a featured songwriters session, Paul and Doyle were joined by IBMA’s two-time male vocalist of the year, Greg Blake. At 90 years old, Paul’s voice cuts with the same tone, power, and pitch that Martin loved so much!
Then there was a CBA Kids on Bluegrass alumni show featuring Frank Solivan, Angelica Grim, Josh Gooding, John Gooding, Joselyn Sky, and Henry Strid. What a treat! Huge thanks to Christopher Howard Williams for presenting the alumni show on the International Stage, and to Josh Gooding and Darby Brandli for organizing. The Mountain Song Productions and Brevard Music Center’s Wednesday evening social at Chattanooga Whiskey featured whiskey tasting, food trucks, and music by Béla Fleck, Bryan Sutton, and Casey Driessen.
When the business day ends, the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble begins, featuring 27 official showcase artists at local bars and event spaces around town. The Ramble venues are clustered at the heart of downtown Chattanooga, a three- minute drive or 12-minute walk from the Marriott hotel and convention center. IBMA offered six-seater buggies to transport folks to and from the venues, and the city of Chattanooga ran public buses as well. The five venues were all a couple blocks from each other, so you could venue-hop all evening and enjoy a wide variety of 45-minute showcases from emerging and established talent. Two more showcase spaces were held at the Marriott Convention center ballrooms for folks who wanted to stay closer to home base. All showcase artists performed once at a downtown venue and once at the convention center. Some of my favorites included Mountain Grass Unit at Barrelhouse Ballroom, the Senti- mental Gentlemen at Hi Fi Clyde’s, and Amy Alvey & the Hometeam Advantage at Gate Eleven Distillery.
The IBMA Town Hall took place Thursday morning, giving members an opportunity to share feedback for the IBMA staff and board. Some suggestions included better signage, the addition of food trucks outside the convention hall, and more available transportation to venues. Later that afternoon, Billy Strings awarded Hayden Reidling a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar as the first place winner of Pickin for the Prize flatpicking guitar contest.
That evening, the 36th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards show was held at the remarkable Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, with everyone’s favorite pre-awards red carpet cocktail reception to kick it off. Alison Brown and Steve Martin hosted a spectacular evening of awards with great performances from the likes of East Nash Grass, Appalachian Road Show, and others. Familiar faces to the stage like Trey Hensley, Greg Blake, and Vickie Vaughn took home awards, as did new recipients like Maddie Denton. Legends like Hot Rize, Arnold Shultz, and the Bluegrass Cardinals were honored with induction into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The show closed with a super-jam with Del McCoury, Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, Kristen Scott Benson, Missy Raines, and more.
After the awards show, everyone flocked to the bar at the Marriott, the central meeting point for old and new buddies throughout the week. The lobby boasted high ceilings and a short elevator ride to a bustling second floor of showcase rooms and all-night jams. Folks picked til the sun came up, just like the good ol’ days. The hotel scene was compared to years past in Owensboro, attracting new energy and excited pickers from all around the globe.
The free street fair and two-day festival, IBMA Bluegrass Live!, kicked off Friday afternoon. Craft vendors, food trucks, and clothing pop-ups set up shop along Main Street, just outside the ticketed festival grounds of Miller Plaza. The street fair had two stages of free music, one of which presented local youth bands all day long. The festival grounds had three main stages of premier talent including the Wood Brothers, East Nash Grass, Peter Rowan, the Po Ramblin’ Boys, and AJ Lee & Blue Summit. The Miller Park stage offered a shaded canopy for a pleasant listening experience during the warmer hours of the day. When the weather cooled off in the eve- ning, folks set up picnic blankets on the lawn, serenaded by the sounds of Sierra Hull. Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings closed out the festival Saturday night. It was impossible to escape good music all weekend long!
IBMA Kids on Bluegrass celebrated its 22nd year, thanks to program director and fiddle rockstar Kimber Ludiker and former director and Sister Sadie bandleader Deanie Richardson. Junior Appalachian Musicians partnered with Kids on Bluegrass to offer a KOB camp track for the second year, in addition to the KOB honors track. Ninety young bluegrass musicians ages 4- 17 were selected for four days of rehearsals and performances. The KOB concept was started by Frank Solivan Sr. at the California Bluegrass Association’s Father’s Day Festival in 1990, and was a highlight of my childhood: an informative experience that teaches band dynamics and stage presence, connects lifelong friends, and breeds the next generation of talent. IBMA KOB boasts alumni like Sierra Hull, Sarah Jaroz, Cory Walker, and Molly Tuttle.
Now, let’s talk food! Downtown Chattanooga’s dining was abundant and accessible. Pickle Barrel’s rooftop patio was my personal favorite, just a short walk from the Marriott, pouring cold beer at happy hour and cooking late night Ruebens until 1 a.m. Community Pie served up New York pizza slices right outside the festival entrance by Miller Plaza, the perfect lunch spot to catch music on the Youth Stage. Or you could hear 2025 IBMA fiddle player of the year Maddie Denton rip fiddle licks while slurping up creamy ramen on Attack of the Tatsu’s outdoor dining deck. Craig Havighurst recommended Southern Star, a hidden meat-and-three gem, and I’ve heard Main Street Meats has the best ribeye and burger in town. The Public House, Hello Monty, and the Frothy Monkey were a few other favorites for a more upscale dining experience. You really couldn’t go wrong!
Mountain Grass Unit hosted a sold out after- party of the century on Saturday night, with special guest sit-ins from Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, AJ Lee, Wyatt Ellis, Kimber Ludiker, Jalee Roberts, and Deanie Richardson. The show was held at The Signal, a 2,000 capacity event space with generous balcony views and an inviting dance floor—one heck of a party and an even more well-deserved celebratory “we did it” moment for the event leaders. It was the perfect way to close out the busiest week for bluegrass music!
Change can be daunting and moving the conven- tion to Chattanooga was not without its challen- ges. Huge props to Ken White and the IBMA staff, board, sponsors, volunteers, and site selection committee, as well as Jill Synder, Claire Ambuster, Zach Taylor, Julie Aujala, Paul Schminger, Kimber Ludiker, the city of Chattanooga, and hundreds of others who made this event an enormous success. It was as perfect as any first-year event could be, and that's pretty darn good!
I am a proud lifetime member of the IBMA and I plan on attending World of Bluegrass for the rest of my life. Please consider becoming a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association if you are not already! Members vote in the annual performance awards, have access to spe- cial programming such as IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass, a three-day professional develop- ment intensive, and participate in the success and bright future of bluegrass music.
Helen Ludé is a member of the IBMA board of directors, serves as a tour manager and booking agent, and is a CBA Kids on Bluegrass alum.
Learn more about the IBMA
Published in California Bluegrass Association’s Bluegrass Breakdown October 2025
Photos by Nate Shuppert (1), Dan Schram (2), Alex Culbreth (3)
