I understand your desire to see different acts, and for me the BEST part of TBF is learning about new acts. But I also like seeing our “regulars”.
I look at TBF as a CONVENIENT way to see the regulars. Truth be told, when Sam Bush announced an Albuquerque date, I was on the computer buying tickets immediately. So I spent $45 to see him. Were Jerry Douglas to come to Abq, I’d buy another $45 ticket, LS another ticket, Drew another and so forth and so on.
With TBF I get to see ALL these guys play their new stuff, all in one weekend, all for a fairly inexpensive ticket. Plus I don’t have to drive home thru the damn alcohol checkpoints afterwards.
I think we SHOULD encourage TBF to keep pushing the envelope. Sure there are 'misses" (we won’t even bring up any names - they know who they are), but more often there are big “hits”. Bobby McFerrin at a bluegrass show? Barenaked Ladies and the New Orleans Social Club? David Byrne? Come on, the bookers deserve a little more than a pat on the back for pushing the limits.
And I’m guilty of wanting to see some of my favorite NON-regular bands come back.
After seeing them at TBF, the subdudes are a big fave of mine and I go out of my way to see them on a regular basis. What Keller Williams opened up my mind to years ago at TBF makes me want to have him there every year. Steep Canyon Rangers, Robert RAndolph, Stephen Kellogg, yeah, bring 'em back.
As for pushing the limits of bluegrass, I’d LOVE to see Evans, and there’s so many more NEW bands who are taking bluegrass in wonderful directions. Just keep letting people hear about what you find. As music lovers, we’ll take a chance, and so might TBF.
So yes, I agree that we need more NEW stuff, but look at what a wonderful girt we get every year by being able to see all these guys at once. And keep letting the forum folks know when you find someone that we should hear. Because when you do, the TBF people are listening, too.