PNC Bank announced as presenting sponsor, additional performers listed for music festival Wide Open Bluegrass – which includes a free Street Festival and ticketed main stages, the “Bluegrass Ramble” Evening Showcases to take place on six Raleigh stages, and NC’s own Grammy Award-Winning Steep Canyon Rangers Announced as IBMA Awards Show Hosts.

Nashville, TN (May 15, 2013) - Further information about the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass 2013 event, which takes place September 24-28 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was revealed today at a noontime press conference at the Red Hat Amphitheater.

IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell, joined by Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane, Rebecca Quinn-Wolf of PNC Bank, Deborah Johnson, president, North Carolina Pork Council, and IBMA Board members Cindy Baucom ("Knee Deep in Bluegrass") and William Lewis (PineCone-The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music), gave additional details about all aspects of the yearly bluegrass industry event, held for the first time in Raleigh, including:

• an announcement of the star-studded line-up and PNC as the new presenting sponsor for IBMA's Wide Open Bluegrass festival,
• details about the free Street Festival portion of Wide Open Bluegrass
• the new multi-venue "Bluegrass Ramble" evening showcase series, and
• North Carolina's own Grammy Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers as hosts for the 24th International Bluegrass Music Awards.

IBMA - the International Bluegrass Music Association - is the professional trade organization for the global bluegrass music community. The organization's three-year stay in Raleigh is the result of a partnership with the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, PineCone - The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, City of Raleigh and a local organizing committee.

Events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town. PNC's Quinn-Wolf was at the press conference to talk about the company's involvement in the Wide Open Bluegrass festival. Earlier, Paula Fryland, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas, also expressed her support: "PNC understands that a vibrant arts community is a significant driver of our economic success, providing employment, creating educational opportunities for our children, boosting tourism and making the region attractive for businesses, residents and visitors. As presenting sponsor, we look forward to the positive opportunities World of Bluegrass will bring to our region."

IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2013 event consists of three main parts: the Business Conference, which runs Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 24-26, the 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 26, and the music festival - newly re-named Wide Open Bluegrass - which takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28.

The Wide Open Bluegrass music festival can be experienced in two ways: both as ticketed shows, which will take place at The Red Hat Amphitheater and Raleigh Convention Center stages, and through the free Street Festival Stages. PNC, new in the Raleigh neighborhood this year, will be the presenting sponsor for both the ticketed portion of Wide Open Bluegrass and the free Street Festival.

The ticketed portion of the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival will feature performances from a Who's Who list of bands from the wide world of bluegrass. In addition to previously announced performers Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell, Punch Brothers and a highly anticipated, special collaboration between bluegrass giants Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice and Mark Schatz, the following bands have been confirmed so far: The Gibson Brothers; The Seldom Scene; Dailey & Vincent featuring Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune; a collaboration between musicians Alan Bartram, Jason Carter, Bela Fleck, Ronnie McCoury, and Danny Paisley; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Balsam Range with The Boxcars; The Infamous Stringdusters; Dale Ann Bradley; The Claire Lynch Band; Blue Highway; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Della Mae; The Krüger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet performing Appalachian Concerto; Druha Trava; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; The SteelDrivers; Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst; Audie Blaylock & Redline; Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; Marty Raybon & Full Circle; Nu-Blu; Kickin' Grass Band; The Grass Cats; The Spinney Brothers; Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road; Greensky Bluegrass; and Detour.

The free Street Festival will include 50+ bands, three music stages, a dance tent, vendors, concessions, youth performances and activities - including programming set up by IBMA's Youth Council, an Exhibit Hall and a Masters Workshop Stage in the Raleigh Convention Center. The full list of performers for the free Street Festival will be announced in the coming weeks.

"At Wide Open Bluegrass festival this year we'll have the opportunity to hear a wide variety of bluegrass music, from traditional-edged performers to edgy bands that draw from old-time, progressive, classical music, jamgrass and international influences," said IBMA's Cardwell. "And I predict the set featuring Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and Mark Schatz together will be the most photographed hour of music in the bluegrass world this year."

Adding to the excitement of the free Street Festival is the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship-a weekend of bluegrass-flavored fun for the whole family. The Pork Council will make a contribution of up to $10,000 in barbecue sales income to IBMA.

The annual cooking championship is the culmination of the state qualifying series that includes 15 to 20 local barbecue competitions conducted as part of community events in Tar Heel cities and towns from April into September. At the Raleigh final event, as is the case in all the events throughout the season, the cooked barbecue is collected after judging, chopped and sold in plates to the general public. Spectators will be able to watch the entire aromatic cooking process in the parking area between the Raleigh Convention Center and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The Pork Council expects to sell plates of authentic North Carolina pork barbecue to around 4,000 bluegrass fans. It will be first-come, first-served in the outdoor, downtown setting.

The 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, is simply bluegrass music's biggest night of the year. Reigning Bluegrass Album of the Year Grammy Award winners and the 2011 IBMA Entertainers of the Year, North Carolina's own Steep Canyon Rangers, will co-host the show, which recognizes outstanding talent and achievements for the year, honors new Hall of Fame inductees, and waves the worldwide flag for bluegrass music.

The IBMA Business Conference portion of World of Bluegrass 2013, Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 24-26, will feature the best in bluegrass networking, showcasing and professional development, along with expanded showcase opportunities. New this year is "The Bluegrass Ramble" (named after a famous Bill Monroe instrumental), where convention attendees and local fans will be able to "ramble" around Raleigh for five nights, sampling great bluegrass music on seven stages. In addition to a stage at the Raleigh Convention Center sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Visitors & Convention Bureau, the following Raleigh venues will participate: The Lincoln Theatre, The Longview Center, The Pour House Music Hall, Tir Na Nog, Kings, and The Architect Bar and Social House.

"We're thrilled to announce PNC as the presenting sponsor of Wide Open Bluegrass," said Cardwell. "Additional sponsorships are still available for the IBMA Business Conference, the International Bluegrass Music Awards and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival."

For more details and to purchase tickets/register for World of Bluegrass 2013, IBMA Awards, Wide Open Bluegrass weekend festival and Bluegrass Ramble showcase passes, lodging and camping options, and more, visit www.ibma.org or call 1-888-GET-IBMA. Wide Open Bluegrass Festival tickets are available for $40-$70/day, based on seat location and IBMA membership. Tickets for children 14 and under are half price ($30 members, $35 non-members). IBMA members may purchase Wide Open Bluegrass festival tickets beginning May 15 at 1:15 p.m. Central Time, and ticket sales are open to the general public on May 29. To purchase festival tickets, go to ETix.com or call 8888-GET-IBMA.

Twitter: @IntlBluegrass, #IBMA, #WOB13

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Press Info: Judy McDonough, JEMMedia, mcdonoughmedia1@yahoo.com, (615) 243-5994
General Info: Taylor Coughlin, taylor@ibma.org, (615) 256-3222

Sponsorship Info: Bob Sar, bob.sar@ogletreedeakins.com, (919) 789-3160
Nancy Cardwell, nancy@ibma.org, (615)256-3222