Bluegrass has long had a home in Chattanooga. From the 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival drawing thousands each fall to the legendary Dismembered Tennesseans carrying the sound forward for generations, the city has deep ties to the genre’s past and present.
This month, though, Chattanooga will take center stage on the international bluegrass map when the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass comes to town for the first time.
Sept. 16-20, fiddles, banjos and mandolins will fill downtown venues, the Chattanooga Convention Center and Miller Plaza as more than 50,000 attendees gather for five days of music and networking.
For IBMA Executive Director Ken White, it’s not about introducing bluegrass to Chattanooga – it’s about amplifying it.
“Fiddles and banjos are going to take over everything,” White laughs. “That’s my idea of world domination.”
This year’s World of Bluegrass will bring together artists, fans, industry professionals and newcomers alike. Anchored at the Chattanooga Convention Center, the multiday event includes a business conference, the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble showcases, the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards and the two-day IBMA Bluegrass Live! festival at Miller Plaza.
For Chattanooga, however, World of Bluegrass is more than a festival – it’s an opportunity to introduce the world to the city’s walkable downtown, thriving music culture and Southern hospitality.
A new home for bluegrass
After 12 years in Raleigh, North Carolina, IBMA leaders set out to find a fresh home for World of Bluegrass. More than 40 cities were in contention, but White says the choice of Chattanooga ultimately came down to a few key factors.
“First, we needed to have the right facilities. The convention center is great. There are good hotels around it, and it’s important for our attendees to have affordable options. And we needed an awards show venue. The Tivoli Theatre would’ve been our first choice, but it’s undergoing renovation, so we’re hosting this year’s ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, which is a great space.”
After considering logistics, White says the next factor was even more important – the people.
“We visited many cities, and I’ve seen a lot of places, but the people from the Chattanooga Tourism Company were so welcoming and helpful. That really made the difference.”
For Barry White, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Tourism Company (CTC), landing IBMA’s signature event was the result of planning, persistent recruiting and a bit of hometown magic.
“When we learned they were shopping around, we reached out,” he says.
Once IBMA leaders visited Chattanooga, Barry says the city’s advantages became clear.
“Chattanooga makes a strong impression when people visit the city and experience it for themselves. They see how walkable it is, and everything we have here makes it an easy sell.”
IBMA announced in April 2024 that Chattanooga would host World of Bluegrass in 2025, 2026 and 2027 – with hopes of extending the partnership even further.
“We committed to three years,” Ken says. “I’m sure we’re going to want to stay for more, but that was the limit of what we wanted to contract.”
Inside the IBMA Business Conference
At the heart of World of Bluegrass is the IBMA Business Conference, scheduled for Sept. 16-18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The conference brings together bluegrass professionals from around the globe – from record labels and managers to instrument makers and publicists – creating a hub of networking and collaboration.
“IBMA is essentially a trade association for bluegrass professionals,” Ken explains. “Whether you’re a record label, an artist, a manager, a publicist or an instrument maker, this is the place for everyone to come together.”
One of this year’s most anticipated highlights is the keynote session featuring Grammy-winning guitarist Billy Strings in conversation with radio host and podcaster Tom Power. The live interview, presented by The Bluegrass Situation and Turnberry Records, will take place Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m.
Strings arrives in Chattanooga fresh off the success of his latest studio album, “Highway Prayers,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart – the first time in more than 22 years that a bluegrass album has topped the list.
GQ has hailed the Grammy-winning guitarist as “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades,” earning recognition for his ability to honor bluegrass traditions while pushing the genre into uncharted territory. His keynote appearance promises to give attendees a glimpse into how he’s redefining the music for a new generation of fans, says Ken.
“Billy is doing amazing things for the music. He’s taking it to arenas and reaching audiences we never imagined, but he’s still true to the roots.”
The conference also features two awards luncheons, a packed schedule of industry panels and an expansive exhibit hall showcasing everything from handcrafted mandolins to bluegrass publications.
“If you make guitars or mandolins or banjos, you want to be there for people to play your instruments and see the work you do,” Ken says. “But it’s more than instruments. Anybody with a touchstone in bluegrass has a reason to set up there.”
For Ken, the conference represents more than business – it’s a chance to bring the entire bluegrass community together.
“This is a homecoming for everybody in bluegrass. People spend the year plying their trade, but this is the one week when everyone comes together to catch up, share what they’ve done and talk about what’s next. And if you put two bluegrass musicians in the same room, you get an instant jam session – and that happens all across our event.”
A night to celebrate
The 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by Get It Played, will take place Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of recognition in bluegrass music, the ceremony honors the year’s top artists, songwriters, producers and industry contributors.
For Ken, the awards hold a personal significance that stretches back decades.
“Our organization turns 40 this year,” he says. “It started in Owensboro, Kentucky, and I grew up in Louisville, so in my first career as a musician, these were must-see events. I was at either the first or second awards show, back when many of the first-generation performers were still alive and attending. Getting to rub shoulders with them was incredible, and seeing them honored on that stage was unforgettable. Tony Rice, J.D. Crow, Doyle Lawson all performed. I’ll never forget it.”
That sense of tradition and reverence will carry into this year’s ceremony, even as the event embraces fresh star power with co-hosts Steve Martin and Alison Brown.
“The IBMA Awards show is always one of my very favorite nights of the year,” Brown says in a news release. “I’m honored to co-host this year with my banjo pal Steve Martin.”
Adding his trademark humor, Martin says, “I’m thrilled to be hosting with Alison Brown and connecting with all my bluegrass friends – as opposed to my kind of dumb comedy friends.”
For Chattanooga, the ceremony is more than a night of accolades. It’s also a chance to showcase the city on an international stage. The awards will be streamed worldwide, giving bluegrass fans across the globe a front-row seat to the celebration.
“Hosting the awards is an incredible opportunity for Chattanooga,” Barry says. “It puts the city on an international stage and shows the world that we can deliver a world-class experience for both artists and fans.”
Cultural and economic impact
For Chattanooga, World of Bluegrass is more than an event – it’s an economic driver and cultural showcase. The CTC estimates 18,000 overnight visitors and 45,000 day visitors, generating more than $30 million in regional spending and $1.1 million in state tax revenue.
“One of the greatest marketing benefits we’ll gain is word-of-mouth,” Barry says. “We’re bringing in tens of thousands of people to experience Chattanooga, and that’s tens of thousands of ambassadors heading home to share our story.”
Barry says the event also aligns with Tennessee’s rich musical heritage.
“The state of Tennessee is heavily involved; they’re really the premier sponsor. We value our musical heritage in this state, and we’re thrilled to have the Department of Tourist Development as the presenting sponsor.”
Local businesses gearing up
Downtown businesses are preparing for the influx of visitors the World of Bluegrass is expected to bring. Community Pie, located just outside the main festival perimeter, has been coordinating with IBMA organizers, city planners and the Chattanooga City Council to ensure a smooth experience for guests.
“Even though we’re outside of the perimeter of the festival, we’re expecting to be really, really busy,” Caleb Vinson, general manager, says. “We’re not changing our operations, but we are making sure we’re staffed up and everybody is ready to go.”
Vinson says the planning process has been collaborative and inclusive, with festival organizers and city officials keeping businesses informed every step of the way.
“Everybody has been super helpful and included us in all the planning,” Vinson adds. “They’ve heard our concerns and answered any questions we’ve had. It’s been a great process.”
And for festivalgoers looking to explore Chattanooga’s food scene between sets, Vinson says Community Pie is ready to welcome out-of-town visitors with “hot slices and cold beer.”
Looking ahead
With a three-year contract in place and enthusiasm building, Chattanooga and IBMA leaders are optimistic about the future.
“Even for someone who’s attended IBMA World of Bluegrass for years, experiencing it in a new community and in a new light will be exciting,” Ken says. “And for local residents, having the chance to see everything we’re bringing to town will be just as thrilling.”
Barry agrees, noting that the event will help cement Chattanooga’s reputation as a premier host city.
“This is going on our community’s CV,” he says. “We host Ironman, we’ve brought in major conferences, and this is yet another example of Chattanooga’s ability to handle a world-class event.”
As the first notes of banjo and fiddle echo along Market Street, the city will welcome artists, fans and industry leaders to celebrate a genre that continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. For Ken, that’s what makes World of Bluegrass special.
“Everybody loves bluegrass,” he says. “They just don’t all know it. Bill Monroe used to say, ‘Why would you want to sound like me?’ There are so many sounds within the genre, and even styles I’d call bluegrass-adjacent, that I truly believe there’s something in it for everybody.”
With five days of music, celebration and connection, Chattanooga is ready to prove him right.