IBMA seems to usually nominate progressive/melodic banjoists for the banjo player award it seems. All I can say is Russ Carson better be on that list soon! Hopefully after his new project.
I would guess that Bela Fleck wins this year because of his MBH album/tour. I’d guess the album wins awards too, it’s been very popular and well received.
2022 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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I like several of the songs from Bela’s album a lot, but to me most of them sound pretty similar to each other. I wish Bela would break out into traditional style sometimes like he used to haha.
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Russ should definitely be on the list sometime, even his backup choices are super cool. He also plays more melodic type stuff than I thought, he just mixes it in so well it can be hard to notice.
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Also HOW did they not nominate LRB’s Heyday for album of the year??? Maybe it came out too late or something. Anyway the IBMA is beyond me 
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I guess IBMA is just progressive 
LRB is progressive! 
Not progressive compared to what’s actually progressive haha.
They’re looking more for acoustic jazz…
I totally see what you meant when you said that very progressive stuff shouldn’t be called bluegrass. Take Bela Fleck’s Vertigo. I love the song, but it’s really not bluegrass. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with bluegrass bands playing that kind of song, they’re cool and fun, but a band that primarily plays that kind of music isn’t really bluegrass. It’s more acoustic jazz.
Because it came out 3 months after the first ballot
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Sometime we should all post our own dream IBMA 2022 award winners across all the categories! (Current nominees aside)
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What would you vote?
⁃ Entertainer of the Year
⁃ Vocal Group of the Year
⁃ Instrumental Group of the Year
⁃ New Artist of the Year
⁃ Song of the Year
⁃ Album of the Year
⁃ Gospel Recording of the Year
⁃ Instrumental Recording of the Year
⁃ Collaborative Recording of the Year
⁃ Male Vocalist of the Year
⁃ Female Vocalist of the Year
⁃ Banjo Player of the Year
⁃ Bass Player of the Year
⁃ Fiddle Player of the Year
⁃ Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year
⁃ Guitar Player of the Year
⁃ Mandolin Player of the Year
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Oh boy… I’m too unfamiliar with a lot of that to make a list
Hmm, for this past year:
Entertainer of the Year- Bluegrass Memed (obviously)
Vocal Group of the Year– Authentic Unlimited
Instrumental Group of the Year– Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
New Artist of the Year– Authentic Unlimited
Song of the Year– “That’s Life” by Lonesome River Band
Album of the Year– “Heyday” by Lonesome River Band
Gospel Recording of the Year– “Little at a Time” by Lonesome River Band
Instrumental Recording of the Year– “Bugle Call Rag” by Russ Carson
Collaborative Recording of the Year– “One More Time Before You Go” by Dan Tyminski
Male Vocalist of the Year– Adam Miller
Female Vocalist of the Year– Amanda Smith
Banjo Player of the Year– Sammy Shelor
Bass Player of the Year– Mark Schatz
Fiddle Player of the Year– Maddie Denton
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year– Jerry Douglas
Guitar Player of the Year– Kenny Smith
Mandolin Player of the Year– Alan Bibey
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Why did I just think you’d be the first one to answer? 
Your list shows so much about what you like - it’s entertaining!
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Ohh so what’s your list?
Entertainer of the Year- Jake Workman
Vocal Group of the Year– Jake Workman
Instrumental Group of the Year– Jake Workman
New Artist of the Year– Jake Workman
Song of the Year– Jake Workman
Album of the Year– Jake Workman
Gospel Recording of the Year– Jake Workman
Instrumental Recording of the Year– Jake Workman
Collaborative Recording of the Year– Jake Workman
Male Vocalist of the Year– Jake Workman
Female Vocalist of the Year– Jake Workman
Banjo Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Bass Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Fiddle Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Guitar Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Mandolin Player of the Year– Jake Workman
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No, actually. I’ll get around to it later.
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- Entertainer of the Year— Sideline
- Vocal Group of the Year— Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
- Instrumental Group of the Year— Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
- New Artist of the Year— Authentic Unlimited (or Headin’ Home)
- Song of the Year— Jesse’s Barn, Sideline
- Album of the Year— This Life We’re Livin, Darin & Brooke Aldridge
- Gospel Recording of the Year— When the Son Rose Up That Morning, Sideline
- Instrumental Recording of the Year— Bugle Call Rag, Russ Carson
- Collaborative Recording of the Year— Zip-a-dee-doo-dah with Tony Wray and Dennis Parker, Pinecastle Records (it’s so funny! listen to the guitar.)
- Male Vocalist of the Year— Ben James
- Female Vocalist of the Year— Sonya Isaacs
- Banjo Player of the Year— Russ Carson
- Bass Player of the Year— Jeff Picker
- Fiddle Player of the Year— Billy Contreras
- Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year— Josh Swift, or Luke Lindblom
- Guitar Player of the Year— Jake Workman
- Mandolin Player of the Year— David Benedict
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Entertainer of the Year- Sideline
Vocal Group of the Year– IIIRD Tyme Out Instrumental Group of the Year– Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
New Artist of the Year– Michael Mark
Song of the Year– Bugle Call Rag, Russ Carson Album of the Year– Down where the grass is blue, Headin Home
Instrumental Recording of the Year– Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Bluegrass 2022
Collaborative Recording of the Year– Bluegrass 2022
Male Vocalist of the Year– Russell Moore
Female Vocalist of the Year– Not sure-maybe one of @BanjoBen sisters
Banjo Player of the Year– Noam Pikelny
Bass Player of the Year– Curtis Vestal
Fiddle Player of the Year– Billy Contreras
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year– Josh Swift Guitar Player of the Year– Jake Workman
Mandolin Player of the Year– Wayne Benson
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Ayo!!!
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