The nominees for the 53rd Grammy Awards were announced last night, with a number of bluegrass artists prominent on the list, even outside the bluegrass category.
Dierks Bentley received a Best Country Album nomination for his Up On The Ridge CD, which is peppered with bluegrass stars, and a nod in the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals category for his brilliant rendition of Pride (In The Name Of Love), recorded with Punch Brothers and Del McCoury.
Banjo, fiddle and mandolin-tinged If I Die Young from The Band Perry is up for Best Country Song. Mountain Heart’s Jim Van Cleve has done some touring with this Alabama bunch and tells us that they put on a terrific show.
Two bluegrass acts were nominated in the Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: Dailey & Vincent for Elizabeth (from their Statler Brothers collection), and The Steeldrivers for Where Rainbows Never Die.
The Best Country Instrumental Performance category is dominated by grassers.
Tattoo Of A Smudge – Cherryholmes
Magic #9 – The Infamous Stringdusters
New Chance Blues – Punch Brothers
Willow Creek – Darrell Scott
Hummingbyrd – Marty Stuart
And the nominees for the coveted Best Bluegrass Album award are…
Circles Around Me – Sam Bush [Sugar Hill Records]
Mountain Soul II – Patty Loveless [Saguaro Road]
Family Circle – The Del McCoury Band [McCoury Music]
Legacy – Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band [Compass Records]
Reckless – The SteelDrivers [Rounder]
It’s always interesting to see how the wider music world responds to bluegrass during awards season. Bluegrass Today offers hearty congratulations to all the nominees, along with high hopes and broken legs for everyone on the list.
I am especially gratified to see Pride on the list. This clever acoustic arrangement of the U2 mega-hit is a masterpiece, and yet another reminder Chris Thile’s genius. Well done!
The complete roster of nominees is available online.
