The 24th annual World of Bluegrass Week, this year in Raleigh, started on Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 28. Over 16,000 bluegrass fans and musicians from across the country poured into Raleigh, North Carolina, where the IBMA Business Conference was held, performances were staged, and awards were given out.

The World of Bluegrass Week is an annual and much celebrated festival for the bluegrass music community, hosted by the International Bluegrass Music Association, or the IBMA. The organization was founded in 1985, and since then has supported the bluegrass scene by bolstering artists and the genre itself.

The World of Bluegrass Week included a four-day IBMA Business Conference, where musicians could network and showcase their talent. On top of that, it also offered an exciting experience for lovers of the genre who wanted pure bluegrass entertainment.

The Bluegrass Ramble, a series of showcases spanning throughout the week, took place on several different stages around Raleigh. All venues were within walking distance from the convention center for easily accessibility to different artists. 30 official showcase groups made up The Bluegrass Ramble, such as Bill Evans, Cumberland Gap Connection, Henhouse, Gravy Boys, and The Honey Dewdrops, just to name a few.

The Steep Canyon Rangers, an American bluegrass band from North Carolina, hosted the International Bluegrass Music Awards ceremony on Thursday. Balsam Range, Blue Highway, Dailey & Vincent, the Gibson Brothers, the Del McCoury Band, and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage made up the performance schedule for the event.

Following the awards ceremony came The Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, which started on Friday, Sept. 27 until Saturday, Sept. 28. Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edi Brickell, Bela Fleck and the Del McCoury Band all performed in downtown Raleigh. These concerts took place at the Raleigh Convetion Center stage and the Red Hat Amphitheater stage.

The Wide Open Bluegrass Festival was ticketed, but the free street festival on Friday and Saturday also offered an option for fans interested in a different scene. Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, more than 50 bands congregated to perform on Fayetteville Street. The free festival also included a dance tent and art vendors, and even hosted performances from young musicians in the area.

This celebrated week in Raleigh was made more local when the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship was held those same two days, and competing barbeque cooks were judged on their creations. A blind taste testing was held Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m., where judges (including the Raleigh mayor herself Nancy McFarlane) awarded the best cooks at noon. Later, the barbeque pork was sold to whoever arrived first.

The World of Bluegrass Week will be held in Raleigh for the next two years.

— Elissa Miolene