In May 1998 the first European World Of Bluegrass Festival was organised by the Netherlands Bluegrass Music Association, the NBMA Foundation. The EWOB is an activity based on the goals and activities as mentioned in the official bye-laws of the NBMA foundation, among others stating that the NBMA will organise a yearly international bluegrass festival in close co-operation with its sister-associations being the national Bluegrass Music associations in Europe.

The idea was to bring together as many European Bluegrass bands, musicians and fans as possible, to form a strong European network of fans, bands and musicians and to further European Bluegrass Music, bringing the it to the attention of a wide audience.
Following this initiative, many of the great European Bluegrass bands have visited and toured The Netherlands and other countries involved, and many have stayed in close contact ever since.

In February 2001, building on this wide network of European Bluegrass bands, musicians and national Bluegrass Music Associations and the fans, the European World Of Bluegrass Association was born. Its founders are the representatives of the Bluegrass musicians from 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The goal of the EWOB Association - a non-profit organisation - is to unite and promote European Bluegrass music in close co-operation with the national Bluegrass Music Associations in Europe - facilitating their important tasks -, the European Bluegrass bands and musicians, the fans and the other international Bluegrass Music Associations like the IBMA and the SPBGMA.

Membership is FREE

and all actions should be based on a sponsored budget, but every contribution is welcomed. The EWOB Association budget can only be spent towards the benefit of the European bluegrass upon a common decision by the EWOB Associations co-ordinators, after consulting all national representatives to the EWOB Association. Every Bluegrass band, Bluegrass musician, fan of the music or anybody else interested in Bluegrass Music in Europe can become a member by completing the membership form. These forms are available from your national representative or by downloading this form from the EWOB Associations website at www.ewob.org, completing it and sending it to the national representative of your choice, as listed on the site or in our information leaflet.