CMT Blog: Archive

Joe Diffie said he was as nervous as a cat during his official IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) showcase on Wednesday night (Sept. 30) in Nashville. However, there's no real reason to be concerned because Diffie recorded several bluegrass albums prior to becoming a country star in the 1990s. He didn't play any familiar favorites during his brief set (only five or six songs), instead focusing on new material from an album that's due on Rounder Records early next year. Although he's well-known for novelty songs, Diffie's strength lies in traditional country music -- and bluegrass isn't that much of a stretch. Backed by young bluegrass band Newfound Road, Diffie held his own with interesting songs and fast tempos. He told the audience that bluegrass is about all he listens to anymore, and they seemed to welcome him back in the fold with open arms.

Even though his was the last official showcase, the music stretched until 2 a.m. and had been going on all day, too. So let me tell you about a few other notable showcases.

Earlier that night I caught a few tunes from sweet-voiced singer-songwriter Donna Hughes, who has a pleasant delivery and a knack for writing songs about common experiences. David Peterson & His Old Time Country Revue incorporated steel guitar, piano and drums into the mix. Naturally the audience appeared divided on the arrangement, yet even in Nashville, I rarely hear honky-tonk music that goes back generations (not just the 1970s), so I considered it a real treat. After midnight, I enjoyed a few tunes from Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, a young man with an old voice. He kicked off the set with the amusing "Leaving Baker County," which was a big success at bluegrass radio this year. The lyrics are so cinematic, I could swear I've seen a video.

That afternoon, I checked out a few bands during a brunch sponsored by Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall, who have become prolific bluegrass songwriters. (In fact, they co-wrote "Leaving Baker County.") I was suitably impressed with Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, who favor a traditional bluegrass approach that the audience embraced, with catchy melodies to boot. I also enjoyed G2, a Swedish bluegrass band. The "G" stands for "Generation," since all five young men grew up with fathers or uncles who were bluegrass musicians. Despite their origins, their music sounds straight out of North Carolina. Tonight, they'll be the first European band to ever perform during the IBMA Awards -- a fitting reminder what that "I" stands for, too.