Fragment win Award

International touring bluegrass band, Fragment, from the Czech and Slovak Republics won First Place in the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA) band competition this past weekend. The competition was held at the European World of Bluegrass Festival (EWOB) in Voorthuizen, Netherlands.  Fragment will now represent EBMA at the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass, Nashville, Tennessee in 2005. The band consists of five members including Jana Dolakova, lead vocals, bass; Henrich Novak, resophonic guitar, vocals; Milan Marek, mandolin, vocals; Tomas Jurena, guitar; and Richard Cifersky, banjo.

Fragment begins their 2004 tour June 14, 2004 in Champaign, Illinois.  They will perform extensively throughout the United States including performances at: The River of Music Festival, Owensboro, KY; Independence Day Concert, Athens, GA; The Paramount Center of the Arts, Knoxville, TN; International Bluegrass Festival, Guthrie, OK; Summergrass Festival, San Diego, CA; Bozeman Folklore Society Concert, Bozeman, MT; and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fan Fest in Louisville, Kentucky.  Fragment’s past performances include The Grand Ole Opry, Bean Blossom and Thomas Point Beach to name a few.

This award-winning band has received countless honors including First Place at the SPBGMA European Bluegrass Band Championship in Vienna, Austria.  Jana Dolakova’s captivating pure vocals are often compared to those of Allison Krauss and have garnered her many Vocalist of the Year awards by the Slovak Bluegrass Music Association as well as the Bluegrass Association of the Czech Republic. Dobro player, Henrich Novak has picked up Dobro Player of the Year numerous times and Richard Cifersky received several Banjo Player of the Year awards by these same organizations.

Wayne Bledsoe, Editor of Bluegrass Now Magazine stated, “Bluegrass is definitely global and Fragment demonstrates that the international flavor is a plus for the music.  Great lead vocalist, instrumentals rank with the best and the harmonies are first rate. Good job.”

For more information on Fragment and the organizations mentioned, please visit:

www.FragmentBand.com