News/Thoughts

New Music From Alan Bibey & Grasstowne

Alan Bibey has been entertaining audiences professionally with his mandolin chops since the early 1980’s. He picked up the instrument at the of age of five, and since then, has become one of the most creative and technically gifted mandolinists in bluegrass and acoustic music today. Alan was an original member of three of bluegrass music’s more contemporary pioneering acts; The New Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out, and BlueRidge. His most recent configuration has been with the band Grasstowne, which he started with Steve Gulley and Phil Leadbetter. He’s been fronting the band for about the past eight years.

In 2007, 09, and 10, Alan earned the SPBGMA “Mandolin Performer Of The Year” award. He won the IBMA “Instrumental Album of the Year” in 2001, “Album of the Year” in 2006, “Recorded Event” in 2012 and SPBGMA “Album of the Year” in 2008. In 2004, a BlueRidge project for which he wrote the title track was nominated for a Grammy. And in early 2004, the Gibson Company put into production the Alan Bibey Signature line of mandolins, reaffirming his status as one of the most influential mandolin players in bluegrass and acoustic music history.

Alan says he’s seen a lot of changes in music since he began in the 80s. “There’s a ton more bands now than there used to be. Back then, you automatically knew everybody that came on the radio because you already knew all the bands. There just wasn’t that many professional touring bands back then,” he said. “It’s basically a good thing, but it’s just changed the whole scope of the way things are done.”

Grasstowne’s recent CD, Grasstowne 4, yielded three #1’s and all 12 songs from the project charted on Bluegrass Today’s Airplay Chart. Alan also owns his own recording studio, Maggie’s Crib, in Surfside Beach, South Carolina where he lives. “It’s nice to be able to just walk out my back door to work after having to travel so much for so many years,” Alan commented. The band’s new gospel CD, Gonna Rise and Shine has just been released.

To find out more, visit
www.grasstowne.com