... Quote ...


"The EWOB CDs are terrific. My last 2 shows have been dedicated to these CDs, and the response has been outstanding. I’ve had numerous people stop me on the street complimenting the shows and questioning me about the music. They were all amazed at the quality and diversity of bluegrass music in Europe."
- Jesse Ballew, Jambalaya, WJFF-FM Radio Catskill, Jeffersonville, New York

EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS BAND AWARDS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This info focuses on the various band awards from the competition that is held every year at the European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands. Can you think of more questions? We are very happy to answer anything you wish to know by email, and to add that information to this page for all musicians to read.

Who is eligible to compete for the European Bluegrass Band Awards?
Every European bluegrass band selected to perform at the European World of Bluegrass Festival is eligible for this professional awards competition, except the #1 European Bluegrass Band of the previous year. Non-European members of competing European bands must be official residents of a European country.

How are the winning bands chosen in the European Bluegrass Band Award competition?
The winners of the European Bluegrass Band Awards are chosen only by the musicians performing at the EWOB Festival. (A separate set of Audience Popularity Awards reflects the taste of the regional audience.) This is unusual and idealistic. Rather than impose a jury of “experts” to judge the professional band awards, we want the European Bluegrass Band Awards to be, like the music, a vital expression of the musicians themselves.

What are the benefits of having only the musicians vote for the European Bluegrass Band Awards?

  • Bands do not feel the need to change their music to suit the tastes of any judges or outside influences - instead, they can proudly showcase their own music, whether traditional or progressive. We want you to play your music, your way.
  • The audience does not vote for this award. Many of our audience members come from Holland and nearby countries, so this could easily create an unfair advantage for groups from these regions with many friends and fans in the audience. We do everything possible to ensure that European bluegrass bands from near and far have a fair, equal chance to win this competition.

What are the benefits of winning the European Bluegrass Band Awards?
EWOB's award winners take home a title they can use to build their professional careers. Being a European Bluegrass Band Award winner is an impressive asset to any band’s credentials when booking tours or trying to get press and radio attention. A smart band will include their European Bluegrass Band Award title in their bio and promotional materials for their whole career, not only for the year when it is current. If you have been a #1 European Bluegrass Band, you can make use of this title forever (but please use the year at the end of your title, to avoid confusion).

The results of the European Bluegrass Band Award competition are sent to hundreds of music publications and radio programmers, event producers, and bluegrass fans worldwide. The award winners are featured on our website and in Bluegrass Europe magazine.

The #1 European Bluegrass Band is featured as one of the headline artists at the following EWOB Festival. They are not eligible for the awards competition for that year.

What are the benefits of winning EWOB’s Audience Popularity Awards?
The EWOB Audience Popularity Awards are also important. These awards can help the winners get bookings at many European bluegrass events. Festival and concert producers know that the bands with the most audience appeal will be a big hit at their events.

What are the responsibilities of the EWOB Band Award winners?
EWOB’s award-winning bands are expected to promote the European World of Bluegrass at their concerts, on their websites, and radio or press interviews.

We ask that you use your titles correctly - for example:

#1 European Bluegrass Band 2008
(not “Best European Bluegrass Band,” "Best Band of Europe," etc.)

#1 EWOB 2008 Audience Popularity Award winners

It is important to use your title as frequently as possible for your own band promotions, and it's easy to promote EWOB at the same time.

The #1 European Bluegrass Band is expected to perform at the EWOB Festival the year after they win the award. They will be promoted as one of the headline acts on the festival, but will not be eligible for competition again until the following year.

Return to top

Return to FAQ page

Return to Musician & Band FAQ