IBMA

While we are on the topic of apps for bluegrass, let's talk about IBMA and the apps that they have available. IBMA, International Bluegrass Music Association, happens once a year and for the past tow years it has been held in Raleigh, NC (Website Below). When IBMA is hot and heavy, there are a multitude of bands playing at many places in downtown Raleigh and it can be hard to keep up with it. This is where IBMA stepped in to help out the people that want to make the most of the festival. There are two apps, one for the Bluegrass Ramble and one for the Wide Open Bluegrass. The Bluegrass Ramble consist of a number of bars, pubs and restaurants in downtown that host bands for live music, in the app it has a schedule for each night and the times for the venues that bands will be playing at; so you can plan your night around who you want to see. Wide Open Bluegrass consisted of stages in downtown that bands will play at all through the day, just like the Ramble app, this app has a schedule of each stage to help you plan out who you want to see during the day.  Without these you can still make your way through the festival, but the apps make it easy for you and keep you from running around like crazy to find your favorite band.

Here is a picture of what the app looks like:

https://ibma.org/

Balsam Range and their Balsam Nation

From the North Carolina Smoky Mountains comes a bluegrass band that is not only transcending bluegrass music but also the way they reach their audience. Balsam Range, the 2014 IBMA Entertainers and Vocal Group of the year, is a group that is trying to reach out to more people of all ages and in a wide s range of places. The fans and followers of Balsam Range are considered "Balsam Nation", a title that the band created for their fan base. Not only does the name make people feel more important and more involved, it also found it's way to a smartphone application. Along with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; Balsam Range has found a way to reach outside of social media and into a realm that few bands have ventured into. The app is called Balsam Range and is made for "Balsam Nation", in the app you can find videos, photos, and the discography of the band; along with a fan wall for the fans to communicate with the band. This is transcending the way that bluegrass band, and all bands, can communicate with the band and follow them with ease. Thank you Balsam Range!

http://balsamrange.com/

https://www.facebook.com/balsamrange