by Darwin Davidson
We all know that “Bluegrass Rules!” But did you know that in May the European World of Bluegrass Festival rules? It most assuredly does, and I was there to witness the event last month.
I’m not sure when I first heard of the European World Of Bluegrass Festival, but in 2004 I met Liz Meyer at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass when we were paired up as co-emcees at Fan Fest.
Liz and I had a great time together and she said the next time we got together it had to be at the European World of Bluegrass Festival, which is held every May in Voorthuizen, The Netherlands. She and her husband, Pieter Groenveld, have been involved with the festival since its inception in 1998. I loved the idea…I just didn’t think it would take me six years to make it happen.
But it finally did happen. I not only had the great pleasure of attending the 13th Annual European World of Bluegrass Festival, on May 13-15, 2010, but I was honored to be an emcee there, too.
EWOB, as it’s usually referred to, is more than just a festival like we are used to here in the U.S. At the event this year, 36 bluegrass bands from various European countries, one from Ireland and one from Canada came together to entertain the audience of 5000, and also to compete for the title of “European Bluegrass Band 2010.” The first place winner this year was G-Runs ‘N Roses from the Czech Republic. The second-place winner was Earlybird Stringband from Norway, and the third place winner was Rawhide from Belgium. The winners of this award are chosen by votes cast by the bluegrass musicians playing at the EWOB Festival, their bluegrass peers. A portion of the proceeds from the festival go to help pay traveling expenses for the first place band to attend IBMA’s World of Bluegrass events in Nashville, Tennessee, in September, 2011. They will also be invited to perform at the International Bluegrass Music Museum's River of Music Party in June, 2011.
The “Audience Popularity Award” is determined by votes from fans in the audience at the festival. First place honors for 2010 went to Sunny Side from the Czech Republic. Second and third place went to Bluegrass Cwrkot from the Czech Republic and G-Runs ‘N Roses from the Czech Republic, respectively.
In addition to these 38 bands there were four bands from the U.S.: The Sharon Cort Band, The Kathy Kallick Band, Grandpa Banana and Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa. They all were very popular with the European audience, and Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa wrapped up the festival on Saturday night.
Those are the cold hard facts of the festival. Just as important are the warm, fuzzy experiences of EWOB. Everybody at the festival is so welcoming, it’s definitely worth the long airplane ride just to get to The Netherlands. I was able to spend a few days before and after the festival in Amsterdam, and the same was true there.
In addition to all the stage performances there were at least 10 workshops taught by a wide variety of European and U.S. musicians. And of course, what’s always going on at a bluegrass festival? Jamming! From the time the doors opened in the morning until they closed at night, there were jams going on continuously—everything from two pickers standing in a corner to 22 pickers surrounding a bunch of tables in the main lounge area, with onlookers enjoying things like Heineken on tap and French Fries dipped in mayonnaise. And of course you know that jamming went on into the night in the adjoining campground.
To get a really in-depth look at the EWOB Festival, visit their website at www.ewob.eu. You can also find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/European-World-of-Bluegrass-Festival-Official-EWOB-Page/116995041663359?ref=ts.
Lilly Pavlak, an IBMA member from the Czech Republic who now lives in Switzerland, also has a lot of great candid photographs of this year’s festival on her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lilly.pavlak. Click over to her “Photos” page from her home page.
So…don’t put off a trip to the EWOB for six years like I did. Make your reservations right now for 2011: June 2-4. All the folks there will make you very welcome. They sure did for me.