On Saturday 14th March, during the Munich Bluegrass Festival, the presentation of the 2015 EBMA Bluegrass Pioneers and Personalities Awards took place. (See the Munich Bluegrass Festival website for more pictures of the event)
The Festival was held in Das Schloss, just north of Munich's city centre. From the outside, Das Schloss looks like a circus tent but inside is a very well-equipped auditorium with a central lobby and a separate conservatory-like room which served as a coffee bar, restaurant and - most importantly - a place to jam.
The EBMA Bluegrass Pioneers and Personalities Awards were presented during the Saturday night sets by bands from Germany and the Czech Republic - including a set by GeorgiaRina & The Loose Screws who are a young band who have been supported by Bluegrass-Nachwuchs-Förderung (or BNF) which supports promising, young musicians with tuition and other costs.
The recipients of the 2015 European Bluegrass Pioneer Awards were:
- JEAN-MARIE REDON (France)
- RICHARD WEIZE (Germany)
- DALIBOR CIDLINSKY (Czech Republic)
2015 European Bluegrass Personality of the Year was awarded to RAINER ZELLNER (Germany).
Jean-Marie Redon started playing Bluegrass in the mid-1960's and has not stopped since! So far, his Bluegrass career has included playing in several bands, writing and producing instructional books and DVDs, regular performances on both sides of the Atlantic and winning a SPBGMA Award in 1998.
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Angelika Torrie & Susie Bowe Hosts of the Awards Ceremony Photograph by Robert Bowe |
Jean-Marie was unable to attend the presentation so his award was accepted on his behalf by Jean-Michel Peyrou.
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Jean-Michel Peyrou accepting the award for Jean -Marie Redon Photograph by Robert Bowe |
Since 1975, Richard Weize - the founder of Bear Family Records - has enabled fans and collectors to obtain copies of rare and, otherwise unavailable, vintage recordings through his company Bear Family Records.
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Richard Weize (in a characteristic 'bear' shirt) Photograph by Robert Bowe |
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Dalibor Cidlinsky's impromptu Shady Grove Photograph by Robert Bowe |
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Rainer Zellner of Bluegrass Jamboree.de Photograph by Robert Bowe |
From the volume of the applause, the recipients of the EBMA awards were very popular choices. Lastly, the organisers of the Munich Bluegrass Festival are also to be applauded for an efficiently run festival in a very smart venue. All facilities were exceptional as were the in-house sound & stage crew.