Bluegrass awards fete musicians

The Grascals won entertainer of the year and Tim O’Brien captured male vocalist and song of the year honors during the International Bluegrass Music Assn. awards.

Rhonda Vincent took home female vocalist of the year honors, while Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver won top vocal group and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder were voted No. 1 instrumental group for the eighth straight year.

The Grascals (the name is a takeoff on the old “Little Rascals” comedy troupe) formed in 2003 as a group of veteran bluegrass sidemen who happened to be between jobs. Besides the prestigious entertainer of the year award, the group also shared in album of the year honors for its contribution to “Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer.”

The awards were handed out in Nashville on Thursday night.