The International Bluegrass Music Association held its annual Fan Fest this past weekend at the Nashville Convention Center Exhibit Hall Center. Friday performers included Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and The Del McCoury Band (who closed out the evening, with guest appearances by Skaggs and Del’s oldest grandson, Jacob McCoury). Workshop stages included banjo sessions with Bela Fleck, Pete Wernick, Noam Pikelny, Greg Cahill, Jim Mills, Sammy Shelor and Cia Cherryholmes. Jerry Douglas offered a dobro workshop while a bass session included John Cowan, Bryn Bright, Missy Raines, Mike Anglin and Mike Bub.
On Saturday, Yonder Mountain String Band appeared in town at the War Memorial Auditorium. Sam Bush performed the entire second set on fiddle while other guest artists included members of Hit & Run Bluegrass, Jeff Coffin, Todd Snider, Wernick, Pilkeny and right. Tonight, Yonder will present its Boo-Grass show at the Canopy Club in Urbana, IL.