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10 YEARS OF EWOB: "The music is all first class, features some multinational collaborations, and certainly proves that bluegrass isn’t just an American domain, and that the Czech and Slovak Republics can certainly give Kentucky a run for their money."
- Stewart Fenwick, Country Music & Dance in Scotland Magazine; Celtic Radio, Scotland

Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award

Liz Meyer (1952-2011) was widely regarded as an accomplished musician and singer-songwriter, and always a great support to other musicians in her field. Liz Meyer

In the earlier part of her career, Liz was best known for her innovative songwriting and for performing and recording with a succession of legendary musicians, including Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.

But beyond her own musical pursuits, Liz's career is also typified by her generosity towards other musicians. Always willing and able to offer practical advice and creative outlets to aspiring musicians, she helped numerous European bluegrass artists to set and achieve new goals within their art-form.

 

Liz's own songwriting and musical arrangements stem from a broad range of influences. Likewise her name is often cited by European bands as an inspiration for implementing aspects of their musical heritage into their songs in a way that is at once tasteful and innovative.

This award was devised both to honor Liz's memory and to encourage promising musicians to bring their music to a broader audience. The European World of Bluegrass Board is proud to present this year's Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award to the Belgian band Rawhide.

Rawhide

In its 35-year history, Rawhide has developed its own unmistakable and immediately recognizable sound, and has become an undeniable presence and driving force in the European bluegrass scene.

The members of Rawhide have combined their vocal and instrumental proficiency, their love of traditional bluegrass and their expertise in numerous other musical genres with imagination, creativity and humor, to create a unique sound and stage show that has extended the borders of bluegrass music in Europe.

The most active band throughout the history of EWOB -- having performed in Voorthuizen every year since 1998 -- Rawhide is there for selected as the winner of this year's Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award in recognition of their long-running success in bringing bluegrass music to a broader audience.