The Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards, established in 1979, are presented annually by the Northern Bluegrass Committee at its Huntsville, Ontario festival.33rd Annual Central Canada Bluegrass Awards, Bluegrass Today, 22 November 2011 This event also hosts the annual meeting of the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada (BMAC).Directors . Bluegrass Music Association of Canada, retrieved 29 January 2013
Nominations for the awards are made by leaders in the central Canadian bluegrass music scene, and four nominees are chosen in each category.31st Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards", Strings, Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society, Oshawa, Ontario, October 2009 issue Ballots with the names of the nominees are distributed to members of the Northern Bluegrass Committee, BMAC and local bluegrass music clubs and associations in central Canada."Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards", Strings, Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society, Oshawa, Ontario, September 2009 issue
In November, when the ballots have been counted, Ontario bluegrass bands gather for a three-day event, Friday to Sunday, at the Deerhurst Inn in Huntsville, Ontario., Cottage Country Now, 20 December 2007 Participating bands are given the opportunity to showcase their talent during the weekend,, Cottage Country Now, 30 June 2006HoneyGrass performs at bluegrass awards, Huntsville Forrester, 2 December 2009 and the awards are presented on Saturday evening in the hotel ballroom to a large audience.33rd Annual Central Canada Bluegrass Awards, Canada South Bluegrass2012 Central Canadian Bluegrass Award Winners Announced , Cybergrass, 30 December 2012 Bluegrass organizations throughout Ontario sponsor individual awards.
History The first awards were given out in 1979 at Ontario Place in Toronto by Pat and Jack Buttenham, who produced Canadian Bluegrass Review magazine." Promoting Bluegrass Music in Ontario and Central Canada", Northern Bluegrass Committee, retrieved 26 January 2013 The 1980 and 1981 awards were presented at the Minkler Auditorium at Seneca College, and the 1982 awards ceremony was held at the Arlington Hotel in the town of Bright.
For the next ten years the awards festival was held at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay, Ontario.Media Release: Academy Theatre for the Performing Arts When the event outgrew the theatre, it was moved to Huntsville to the more spacious Deerhurst Inn.
After Canadian Bluegrass Review ceased publication, the Northern Bluegrass Committee took over the administration of the awards in the central region."Bluegrass", The Canadian Encyclopedia
Categories The awards are given in the following categories:"Ron Moore's Back 40 Radio Show" , CKCU 93.1 FM, retrieved 27 January 2013Owen Sounders picked for bluegrass awards , Owen Sound Sun Times, 21 November 2011
Festival The awards ceremony forms part of an indoor weekend winter festival at which bluegrass musicians from central Canada gather to perform for their fans, network, jam, attend workshops and listen to guest bands from the United States and other parts of Canada.
See also List of bluegrass music festivals List of country music festivals
References
External links Northern Bluegrass Committee web site Bluegrass Music Association of Canada