IBMA feeds "strictly" part of HSB program

Hardly Strictly overlapped with the oh-so-strictly International Bluegrass Music Association business conference, awards program and fan fest last week, and a good many performers were on the Nashville-SF express. Dale Ann Bradley nabbed best female vocalist at the awards Thursday night, and then demonstrated why Saturday morning on HSB's Banjo Stage.

Del McCoury hosted the awards after party at the Gibson Showcase in Opry Mall, and was in SF to close out the Star Stage on Sunday. Others who were present at IBMA and HSB included Pete Wernick, Emmylou Harris and the Steep Canyon Rangers. [Photo: Del works the room. ©2007 Tami Roth]

Most important for the HSB crowd, none other than festival benefactor Warren Hellman was also in Nashville Thursday to receive a Distinguished Achievement Award recognizing the significance of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass as "one of the largest events in the world to showcase bluegrass and Americana music." The honor was presented to Hellman at a special awards luncheon by, who knew, Dale Ann Bradley.