This weekend's ice storm affected the attendance quite a bit, organizer Stephanie Jones, of Kirksville, said Saturday, "I would say it was drastic.
"We had one performing band cancel."
However, the weather didn't cancel the whole program - this year's 43rd annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards & 34th Midwest Convention at Jefferson City's Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Jones' stepfather, Chuck Stearman, founded the "Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America" in 1974, and the group has held its annual awards program in Jefferson City for about the last decade.
"The lovers of bluegrass - this fan base - are so dedicated," Jones said. "The jam sessions, the people, the camaraderie - it's a unique thing with the bluegrass crowd."
Bluegrass began in the Appalachian region, based on music and instruments brought to the U.S. by British, Irish and Scottish immigrants.
Bruce Punches, of Fredericktown, was the master of ceremonies for this weekend's program.
"Bluegrass has come of age," he said. "You know, when the car was first invented, it was revolutionary.
"But we're not driving Model Ts and Model As anymore.
"They've come a long way - and so has bluegrass.
"It's got flavors of other genres; it's just great music."
One of the rules for SPBGMA is "all of the instruments are acoustic. We don't allow any type of electrified instruments of any kind," Jones said. "Really, it's a pure art form.
"It's amazing. It's the way my stepdad set up SPBGMA."
Punches added: "You can't beat that good old 'woody' sound of acoustic instruments."
Even after the one group's cancellation, nine others still were scheduled to perform throughout the convention's two days - including Mid-Missouri's Bluegrass Martins.
Punches said his job as emcee was to "keep things on time and keep the bands flowing right through; each group has a 30-minute set, today.
"We set the tone and keep the show moving, entertaining, upbeat and active."
Jones said her stepfather - who died last summer - formed SPBGMA to "keep the tradition of the music alive."
Punches said, while the weather might have kept some of the regular fans away from this weekend's program, "I noticed a few people coming in (Friday) night - some new folks I hadn't seen.
"They were in the hotel, not for the festival, but heard the music and liked it, bought a ticket, came in and had a really great time."