To the musicians playing at the EWOB Festival 2009:

Besides playing a great show, what is the most important thing you can do at EWOB?

VOTE!

It is up to YOU to choose the #1 European Bluegrass Band 2009!

The European Bluegrass Band Awards are the only major music awards decided BY THE MUSICIANS - not by a regional audience or a jury of "experts." It is one of the things that makes the EWOB Festival really special - this is an event entirely for the musicians. YOU are the experts on European bluegrass. No one else should decide the winners in a competition like this. Musicians should own the future of their music and decide its direction. EWOB gives the musicians this power. Put it to good use!

This does mean you must remember to stop jamming now and then and come in and listen to some of the other bands! And this is only fair. You want the other bands to hear your music too. Please remind the rest of your band members and musician friends performing at the EWOB Festival. 

(Non-European musicians take note: You are also asked to vote in the European Bluegrass Band Awards. We appreciate your expertise in the music and your attention to our fine European bands, and hope that you will all take part in the voting!)

And you must remember to fill out your ballots and VOTE! Please don't forget, and don't throw away this privilege. It was not easy to get the vote for the musicians and has sometimes been a struggle to keep it - but every year more and more musicians recognize how important it is, and more of you are voting. You are not voting "against" anyone - you are voting for European bluegrass to have a strong champion again this year, and it is a vote of pride!  

The band you choose as #1 European Bluegrass Band will represent European bluegrass to the rest of the world for one year, and will go to Nashville to play at IBMA's World of Bluegrass the following year. Make sure it is a band that makes you proud! This is your music! 

VOTE!

You can find complete details on the EWOB Festival website (www.ewob.eu):
Band/Musician FAQs
European Bluegrass Band Award FAQs

(Also, don't forget to attend the special workshop on Saturday afternoon (16:00), on "How to Make Your Vocals Sound More Bluegrass," with Mac & Hazel McGee from White Mountain Bluegrass, and Fayssoux Starling McLean! It has taken years to get just the right singers for this workshop, and these folks can really help you get your vocals bluegrassed-up!)
Wishing you all a safe journey to Voorthuizen and lots of fun and success at EWOB 2009!