Dale Ann Bradley didn't expect to win female vocalist of the year at the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards earlier this month.
Bradley took the title in 2007, but this year she had some tough competition. Bluegrass darling Rhonda Vincent was on the list of nominees, as was crossover powerhouse fiddler Alison Krauss.
"I was shocked," said the 43-year-old performer in a phone interview last week from her Nashville home. "I've always just considered myself lucky to be in the running. I was thrilled and humbled all at the same time."
Bradley brings her award-winning pipes to the Desert Diamond Casino on Saturday and Sunday as the headliner of the Desert Bluegrass Association's annual Bluegrass Festival.
It will be Bradley's first performance in Tucson in a career that has taken her from the backwoods of Kentucky to the hallowed halls of the Grand Ole Opry and beyond.
People are also reading…
Born and raised in Pineville, Ky. (population: not quite 2,100), Bradley is the daughter of a coal miner/Baptist minister.
"When I was growing up, things in that area had not changed at all from when my mother or grandmother were growing up," she said. "There were a lot of challenges. We're talking no running water and very minimal contact with the outside world."
In high school, the family radio brought her the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. She also had an 8-track player for the Dolly Parton and Charley Pride cartridges her great uncle would send from Detroit.
"My dad would try and fix them for me sometimes after they wore out," Bradley said. "He would take Scotch tape, if we had any at the time, and tape the insides back up."
Bradley's natural singing talent led to work with a local trio, then with regional favorites Back Porch Grass and the New Coon Creek Girls.
Without music, she might never have escaped Pineville, she said.
"One always hopes," Bradley said. "You have dreams. Just to be able to get out of one of those hollers was a real feat right there. I'm glad I made it to the point where I can make a living doing what I love."
Bradley has released several critically acclaimed solo albums on Compass Records, the prestigious roots label founded by banjo virtuoso Alison Brown.
Her latest album, "Catch Tomorrow," came out in 2006, but she'll start recording her next album after her Tucson trip.
Bradley will perform at different times on Saturday and Sunday. Here's a look at the other acts, all of whom will be performing at various times on both days:
Kirby Knob Boys — A regional Kentucky bluegrass band with an affinity for the desert, the Kirby Knob Boys come to town with their latest album, "The Mighty Saguaro."
Sawmill Road — Sawmill Road is a traditional ensemble from the California coast. The group is heading to Europe after playing Tucson in promotion of its new album, "One."
Chris Stuart and Backcountry — Another California group, Chris Stuart and Backcountry can travel a bit off the traditional path. One of the latest projects is a tribute album to guitarist Jack Johnson
Burnett Family Bluegrass — Led by father Brian Burnett, the Burnett Family band is an Arizona favorite with a style not unlike that of national touring artists Cherryholmes.
Jam Pak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band — The Jam Pak is a 25-member student group from the Phoenix area. Helmed by Anni and Vincent Beach, it has been churning out bluegrass players since 1994.
If you go
What: The ninth annual Bluegrass Festival with headliner Dale Ann Bradley. Presented by the Desert Bluegrass Association.
Where: The Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road.
When: Festival performances will take places from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: $20 on Saturday and Sunday, or $30 for both days.
Schedule: All artists play multiple times both days. For the full schedule, go to desertbluegrass.org.
Local bluegrass bands will battle on friday night
The Bluegrass Festival begins Friday night with a battle of the bands-style competition. Local bluegrass groups will duke it out for a chance at $1,000 in prizes and a Sunday performance timeslot. The competition will be judged by a panel made up of band members from the festival lineup. The battle begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
