And, just as the Beatles twisted, turned and honed rock & roll into new directions, Nickel Creek elevates the bluegrass art form into new ventures and new venues. Hailing from San Diego where grass is more likely to be brown than blue, the trio blends the talents of mandolin master Chris Thile with Sara Watkins on fiddle and her brother Sean on guitar. Their self-titled debut album on independent label Sugar Hill Records struck gold, spawning Grammy and Country Music Association award nominations while sending critics scrambling for definitions such as "youthgrass" and "polystylistic."

"It's just Nickel Creek music," advises producer Alison Krauss. Ranging in age from 21 to 25, the band members have been plying their craft together for almost a dozen years - kid veterans who have worked out the kinks and worked in imaginative forays into multiple genres. The band (originally formed with Chris's father, bassist Scott Thile) embarked on festival touring for a decade, with Chris releasing the solo albums Stealing Second, Leading Off and Not All Who Wander Are Lost. Their bluegrass can sprout into variations on a theme of Bach or Bob Dylan or the Beatles without completely abandoning the commandments brought down from a Kentucky mount by its founder Bill Monroe.

Fans and critics who loved the first album should fasten seatbelts for the take-off of the second CD - This Side. It's an even deeper incursion into Nickel Creek's free-fall form of music, improving on improvisation, and raising the bar on what one act can attain this early in the game. Thile, who was the 2001 IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, displays solid songwriting skills along with co-writer Sean Watkins, while all three share vocal duties, the male voices sanguinely balanced by the ethereal stylings of Sara, reflective of producer Krauss.

Coming off rave appearances at such clubs as New York's Bottom Line and an overseas tour including London, Paris, and Amsterdam, Nickel Creek, with a zesty traditional yet exploratory sound, is poised to paint the globe with their unique shade of blue.

Jerry Douglas	David Rawlings and Gillian Welch
Lonesome Bob	The Flatlanders	Kenny Vaughan
Webb Pierce	Ralph Stanley and Jim Lauderdale	Chris Thile

Sponsored in part by Rounder Records and the First Amendment Center, the event will take place at Nashville's Downtown Hilton Suites on September 13, in the midst of the Americana Music Association Conference (12-14). The evening's host will be Jason Ringenberg of pioneering roots-rockers Jason & the Scorchers.

Congratulations to BMI's nominees:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator)
The Flatlanders, Now Again
Dale Watson, The Jordanaires, Mandy Barnett, George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Joy Lynn White, Allison Moorer, Crystal Gayle, Del McCoury Band, Lionel Cartwright, Gail Davies, Willie Nelson, BR5-49, Deborah Pierce, Trent Summar, Billy Walker and Pam Tillis, Caught In The Webb: Tribute to Webb Pierce

SONG OF THE YEAR
Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, "She's Looking At Me"
Lonesome Bob, "Heather’s All Bummed Out"
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, "I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll"
The Flatlanders, "My Wildest Dreams"

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jim Lauderdale
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
The Flatlanders

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas
Chris Thile
David Rawlings
Kenny Vaughan

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss and her band Union Station were also among the night's top winners, picking up the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for New Favorite and Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Lucky One." The track also won Best Country Song for songwriter Robert Lee Castleman.

BMI's Robbin Ahrold with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants, winner of the Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media ("Boss of Me" from Malcolm in the Middle)

Other Country category winners included Best Country Instrumental Performance for the remake of the Earl Scruggs classic "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" from his latest CD, Earl Scruggs and Friends, adding to the seven out of eight Country Grammys earned by BMI stars. BMI songwriter/artists also made an impressive show in several other categories, including Jazz, Gospel, Latin and Blues.

Other BMI Grammy Award winners included two each for Mel Brooks, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, as well as a statuette each for Linkin Park for Best Hard Rock Performance, Enya for Best New Age Album, and Lil' Kim and Mya for Best Pop Collaboration on the remake of the Patti LaBelle classic "Lady Marmalade."

Complete List of BMI's Grammy Award Winners:

T Bone Burnett
Producer of the Year
Album of the Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
Best Traditional Folk Album (Down From the Mountain)

Alison Krauss & Union Station
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group ("Lucky One")
Best Bluegrass Album (New Favorite)

The Soggy Bottom Boys (Dan Tyminski, Harley Allen and Pat Enright)
Album of the Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
Best Country Collaboration ("I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow")

Mel Brooks
Best Musical Show Album (The Producers)
Best Long Form Music Video ("Recording The Producers - A Musical Romp With Mel Brooks")

Bel� Fleck
Best Instrumental Arrangement (Claude Debussy "Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum" from Children's Corner)
Best Classical Crossover Album (Perpetual Motion)

Edgar Meyer
Best Instrumental Arrangement (Claude Debussy "Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum" from Children's Corner)
Best Classical Crossover Album (Perpetual Motion)

Ralph Stanley
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
Best Male Country Vocal Performance ("O Death")

Norman Blake
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

The Cox Family
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

Fairfield Four
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

John Hartford
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

Gillian Welch
Album Of The Year (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

Lil’ Kim
Best Pop Collaboration ("Lady Marmalade")

Mya
Best Pop Collaboration ("Lady Marmalade")

Brian Eno (PRS), producer
Record Of The Year ("Walk On")

Eric Clapton (PRS)
Best Pop Instrumental Performance ("Reptile")

Janet Jackson
Best Dance Recording ("All For You")

Sade (PRS)
Best Pop Vocal Album (Lover's Rock)

Harry Connick, Jr.
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Songs I Heard)

Lucinda Williams
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance ("Get Right With God")

Linkin Park
Best Hard Rock Performance ("Crawling")

Scott Underwood (Train)
Best Rock Song ("Drops of Jupiter")

Dolly Parton
Best Female Country Vocal Performance ("Shine")

Earl Scruggs
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Glen Duncan
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Randy Scruggs
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Vince Gill
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Marty Stuart
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Gary Scruggs
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Albert Lee
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Jerry Douglas
Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Foggy Mountain Breakdown")

Robert Lee Castleman
Best Country Song ("Lonely One")

Enya (IMRO)
Best New Age Album (A Day Without Rain)

Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo ("Chan's Song")

Sonny Rollins
Best Jazz Instrumental Album (This Is What I Do)

Charlie Haden
Best Latin Jazz Album (Nocturne)

DC Talk
Best Rock Gospel Album (Solo)

CeCe Winans
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (CeCe Winans)

The Blind Boys of Alabama
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album (Spirit of the Century)

Yolanda Adams
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (The Experience)

Freddy Fender
Best Latin Pop Album (La Musica De Baldemar Huerta)

Robert Blades
Best Salsa Album (Encore)

Ram�n Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album (En Vivo...El Hombre Y Su Musica)

Jimmie Vaughan
Best Traditional Blues Album (Do You Get The Blues?)

Delbert McClinton
Best Contemporary Blues Album (Nothing Personal)

Verdell Primeaux
Best Native American Music Album (Bless the People - Harmonized Peyote Songs)

Johnny Mike
Best Native American Music Album (Bless the People - Harmonized Peyote Songs)

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album (Gone Polka)

John Flansburgh
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media ("Boss of Me" from Malcolm in the Middle)

John Linnell
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media ("Boss of Me" from Malcolm in the Middle)

Deep Dish
Best Remixed Recording ("Thank You" [Deep Dish Vocal Remix])

Larry Combs
Best Instrumental Soloist (Strauss Wind Concertos)

Christopher Rouse
Best Classical Contemporary Composition ("Rouse: Concert De Gaud� For Guitar And Orchestra")

Chris Thile
Best Classical Crossover Album (Perpetual Motion)

Bootsy Collins
Best Short Form Music Video ("Weapon of Choice")

Click here to see photos from BMI's IBMA Nominees Party

Dan Tyminski

Jim Hurst and Missy Raines

Nickel Creek

Vincent and her band members claimed their first Entertainer of the Year trophy, breaking the winning streak of the Del McCoury Band, who previously held the title for the last five years. Dan Tyminski, a member of Alison Krauss’s Union Station, and O Brother’s "man of constant sorrow," earned a total of four awards, most significantly Male Vocalist of the Year, his first win in the category.

Rhonda Vincent

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

IBMA honored the Hollywood soundtrack that popularized bluegrass and effectively proved its viability in the marketplace by naming it Album of the Year. O Brother, Where Art Thou? was produced by T Bone Burnett (for Mercury/Lost Highway Records) and features BMI talents Norman Blake, The Cox Family, Fairfield Four, John Hartford, Alison Krauss, The Soggy Bottom Boys (featuring Dan Tyminski, Harley Allen and Pat Enright), Ralph Stanley, The Stanley Brothers, and Gillian Welch.

Two cuts from the project scored key wins. Song of the Year went to the record’s touchstone performance, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," written by Dick Burnett and arranged by Carter Stanley, and performed by The Soggy Bottom Boys. Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year was awarded to "I’ll Fly Away" by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, produced by T Bone Burnett.

In addition to Dan Tyminski’s Male Vocalist of the Year win for his participation on the soundtrack, the project was also honored with a Distinguished Achievement Award for filmmakers the Coen Brothers and soundtrack producer T Bone Burnett. IBMA honors individuals and/or institutions annually whose contributions have fostered the music’s image with developments that broaden the music’s recognition and accessibility. Alice Gerrard and the late John Hartford also shared the honor.

Vincent picked up her second consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year award, and shared in a win for Follow Me Back to the Fold: A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass, 2001’s Recorded Event of the Year. Vincent’s BMI collaborators on the Rebel Records release were Dale Ann Bradley, Louisa Branscomb, Gena Britt, Sally Jones, Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris, Missy Raines, Kristin Scott, and Valerie Smith.

A second collaborative Rebel Records release also won the Instrumental Album of the Year award. Knee Deep in Bluegrass: The Acutab Sessions, produced by Tim Stafford, was honored, along with BMI participants Wayne Benson, Ronnie Bowman, Rob Ickes, Joe Mullins, Alan O’Bryant, Tim Stafford, Tony Trischka, Dan Tyminski and Scott Vestal.

Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show were awarded the Emerging Artist of the Year honor. Vocal Group of the Year went to Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, first-time winners in the category. The Alison Krauss-produced trio Nickel Creek took home their first Instrumental Group of the Year award. The group’s mandolin player, Chris Thile, was also recognized as this year’s top mandolin player in the Instrumental Performers category, thus ending former eight-year-in-a-row winner Ronnie McCoury’s reign.

Other Instrumental Performer winners were: Jim Mills (banjo), of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, his third consecutive win; Missy Raines (bass), her fourth consecutive win; Jerry Douglas (dobro), who returned to the winner’s circle after five years, to receive his seventh IBMA award; and Jim Hurst (guitar), also his first win.

The Carter Family (A.P., Sara, and Maybelle) was posthumously inducted into IBMA’s Bluegrass Hall of Honor during the ceremony, recognizing the family’s monumentally original -- and ongoing -- influence in all forms of country music.

Legendary DJ and country music historian Eddie Stubbs of Nashville, Tennessee’s WSM-AM and announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, was recognized as Broadcast Personality of the Year.

BMI's 2001 International Bluegrass Music Award Winners

Entertainer Of The Year
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group Of The Year
Nickel Creek

Vocal Group Of The Year
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Dan Tyminski

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Rhonda Vincent

Song Of The Year
“I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow”
Soggy Bottom Boys (featuring Dan Tyminski)
written by Dick Burnett, arranged by Carter Stanley

Album Of The Year
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)
Norman Blake, The Cox Family, Fairfield Four, John Hartford, Alison Krauss, The Soggy Bottom Boys, Ralph Stanley, The Stanley Brothers, Gillian Welch

Gospel RecordedPerformance Of The Year
“I’ll Fly Away” from O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)
Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch

Instrumental Album Of The Year
Knee Deep In Bluegrass: The AcuTab Sessions
Wayne Benson, Ronnie Bowman, Rob Ickes, Joe Mullins, Alan O’Bryant, Tim Stafford, Ron Stewart, Tony Trischka, Dan Tyminski, Scott Vestal

Recorded Event Of The Year
Follow Me Back to the Fold: A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass
Dale Ann Bradley, Louisa Branscomb, Gena Britt, Sally Jones, Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris, Missy Raines, Kristin Scott, Valerie Smith, Rhonda Vincent

Emerging Artist Of The Year
The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show

Instrumental Performers Of The Year

Banjo
Jim Mills

Dobro
Jerry Douglas

Bass
Missy Raines

Guitar
Jim Hurst

Mandolin
Chris Thile

IBMA Distinguished Achievement Awards
T Bone Burnett
Alice Gerrard
John Hartford

Broadcast Personality of the Year
Eddie Stubbs
WSM-AM/Grand Ole Opry

BMI songwriters swept all five slots for Song of the Year, with writing partner Larry Cordle and Larry Shell posting two songs in the category:

• "Born With a Hammer In My Hand" -- written by Tim Stafford
• "Murder On Music Row" -- written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell
• "Black Diamond Strings" -- written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell
• "Tall Pines" -- written by Damon Black
• "John & Mary" -- written by Wayne Benson, Russell Moore and Donnie Carver

BMI-associated Entertainer of the Year finalists are The Del McCoury Band, Lonesome River Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out, each recieving mulitiple nominations.

Reigning Entertainers of the Year The Del McCoury Band received 10 mentions, including nods for Vocal Group, Instrumental Group and Entertainer of the Year. Ronnie McCoury also picked up a couple of nominations for Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year, for his participation in Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza, a two-CD set of mandolin music he co-produced with David Grisman for the Acoustic Disc label. In addition to Grisman and McCoury, mandolinists (and BMI affiliates) Sam Bush, Bobby Osborne, Frank Wakefield, Jesse McReynolds are featured on the critically acclaimed set, joined by Del McCoury on guitar.

The Lonesome River Band, which has released a new album, Talkin' To Myself (Sugar Hill), has been nominated for six awards, including Vocal Group, Instrumental Group and Entertainer of the Year.

Six-time winner of the award for Vocal Group of the Year, IIIrd Tyme Out was nominated in five categories this year, including Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Group. As a result of extensive radio air play with the single, "John & Mary" from the Rounder Album by the same name, the group also received nominations for Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Blue Highway has been nominated in four categories this year, including Song of the Year for "Born With A Hammer In My Hand," from their self-titled album on the Ceili Music label, and Vocal Group of the Year.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, a long-time favorite to bluegrass audiences who have expanded into the gospel market the past couple of years, received nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group and Gospel Recorded Event of the Year for the album, Winding Through Life. Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, whose song "Murder On Music Row" currently tops the Bluegrass Unlimited radio air play chart, was nominated for three awards (the song is also in contention for Song of the Year honors from the Country Music Association). The members of Nickel Creek, whose video "Reasons Why" is airing on CMT, and buegrass banjo stylist J.D. Crowe and his band, The New South, were also nominated for three awards each. Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton, who currently have the #2 and #4 albums, respectively, on bluegrass radio according to Bluegrass Unlimited, both received nods for Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. Parton's The Grass Is Blue is the Country Music Hall of Fame member's first all-bluegrass album; Vincent's Back Home Again is exactly that--her return to bluegrass music after two country albums for Giant Records. Marshall Wilborn, who appears with the Lynn Morris Band, and legendary guitarist Doc Watson also picked up two nominations each.

The first Bluegrass Hall of Honor inductees in the new millennium include BMI-affiliated songwriter Doc Watson. In the 1960s Doc (Arthel) Watson's clean, melodic flat-pick lead guitar style inspired and profoundly influenced many younger players, helping establish the guitar as a lead instrument in bluegrass. Born March 3, 1923, Watson grew up near Deep Gap in the western North Carolina mountains, surrounded by family and friends playing old-time music. Though sightless, he learned guitar in styles ranging from fiddle tunes to blues and popular country music. After years of performing locally as a rockabilly electric guitarist, he began recording and touring as an acoustic folk artist in the early 1960s, quickly reaching headliner status. Doc's son, Merle, accompanied him on guitar until Merle's death in 1985. While not representing himself as a bluegrass performer, Watson earned respect in bluegrass for his guitar mastery, expressive vocals, invigorating harmonica and clawhammer banjo playing. Doc Watson's discography of several hundred recordings includes a stunning version of the instrumental, "Black Mountain Rag" and frequently requested ballads such as "Little Stream Of Whiskey," "The Train That Carried My Girl From Town," "Tennessee Stud" and "Little Sadie."

The recipients of the 2000 International Bluegrass Music Awards will be broadcast by radio around the world to more than 300 U. S. Markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the leadership and support of BellSouth. The awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), a professional trade association dedicated to promoting and expanding the success of bluegrass music. The Awards Show is the centerpiece of IBMA's week-long Trade Show and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for October 16-22. For additional information on World of Bluegrass Week registration and tickets. For more information, contact IBMA at 888-GET-IBMA or (270) 684-9025.

BMI's 2000 International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees

Bluegrass Hall of Honor Inductee
Doc Watson

Entertainer of the Year
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Lonesome River Band
The Del McCoury Band
IIIrd Tyme Out

Instrumental Group of the Year

J. D. Crowe & The New South
Lonesome River Band
The Del McCoury Band
Nickel Creek

Vocal Group of the Year

Blue Highway
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Lonesome River Band
The Del McCoury Band
IIIrd Tyme Out

Female Vocalist of the Year

Claire Lynch
Lynn Morris
Dolly Parton
Rhonda Vincent

Male Vocalist of the Year

Ronnie Bowman
Dudley Connell
Del McCoury
Russell Moore
Dan Tyminski

Song of the Year

"Born With a Hammer In My Hand"
Blue Highway
written by Shawn Lane and Tim Stafford

"Murder On Music Row"
Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time w
ritten by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell

"Black Diamond Strings"
Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell

"Tall Pines"
written by Damon Black

"John & Mary"
IIIrd Tyme Out
written by Wayne Benson, Russell Moore and Donnie Carver

Album of the Year

Blue Highway

Blue Highway, artist/producer

Murder On Music Row

Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, artists/producers

The Grass Is Blue

Dolly Parton
Steve Buckingham, producer

John & Mary

IIIrd Tyme Out, artist/producer

Back Home Again

Rhonda Vincent, artist/producer

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year

"Memories That Bless and Burn"
Dry Branch Fire Squad

"Pieces Of Our Past"
The Isaacs
Ben Isaacs, producer

"Winding Through Life"
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Doyle Lawson, producer

Instumental Album of the Year

Bluegrass 2000

Jeff Autry, Wayne Benson, Mark Schatz, Ron Stewart, Scott Vestal
Scott Vestal, producer

Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza

David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds
David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, producers

A Man Must Carry On

Aubrey Haynie, artist/producer

Root 5

Marshall Wilborn, artist/producer

Instrumental Performers of the Year

Banjo

J. D. Crowe
Earl Scruggs

Bass

Missy Raines
Marshall Wilborn

Guitar

Jim Hurst
Tony Rice
Doc Watson

Dobro

Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes

Fiddle

Stuart Duncan
Aubrey Haynie
Bobby Hicks
Ronnie Stewart

Mandolin

Wayne Benson
Sam Bush
Chris Thile

Recorded Event of the Year

"Meet Me By The Moonlight"
Dudley Connell, artist/producer

"Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza"
David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds
Ronnie McCoury and David Grisman, producers

"The 'Big Tiger' Roars Again, Part 1"
Benny Martin, Tom T. Hall, Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, Del McCoury, Crystal Gayle, John Hartford, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Johnny Russell, Jerry Douglas
Benny Martin, producer

"Rice, Rice Hillman & Pedersen"
Tony Rice, Larry Rice, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen

"Third Generation Blues"
Doc Watson
Doc Watson, T. Michael Coleman, producers

Emerging Artist of the Year

Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek
Jim Hurst & Missy Raines
Nickel Creek
Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike