The Boxcars, a band that released its debut album less than a year ago, emerged as the top contender when the nominees for the 22nd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 17) in Nashville.

Other top nominees include the Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Gibson Brothers, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, the Lonesome River Band and Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Additionally, the IBMA announced the induction of Del McCoury and bassist-guitarist George Shuffler into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The organization also announced five recipients of its Distinguished Achievement Award -- musician and educator Greg Cahill, radio broadcaster Bill Knowlton, European-based journalist Lilly Pavlak, musical instrument designer and manufacturer Geoff Stelling and musician Roland White.

The Boxcars are a relatively new band, but its members include seven-time IBMA mandolin player of the year Adam Steffey and multi-instrumentalist Ron Stewart, named fiddle player of the year in 2000. Stewart is nominated for banjo player and fiddle player of the year at this year's awards show. Steffey is again included in the mandolin division.

The band's nine nominations include entertainer of the year, emerging artist and instrumental group of the year. Their self-titled debut album is nominated for album of the year, and they also received mentions in the gospel recorded performance category for "In God's Hands" and instrumental recorded performance for "Jumpin' the Track."

The awards show takes place Sept. 29 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Here's a complete list of this year's nominees:

Entertainer of the Year The Boxcars Dailey & Vincent The Gibson Brothers The Grascals Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Vocal Group Blue Highway Dailey & Vincent The Gibson Brothers Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Instrumental Group Blue Highway The Boxcars Sam Bush Band Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper The Infamous Stringdusters

Emerging Artist Darin and Brooke Aldridge Balsam Range The Boxcars Sierra Hull & Highway 111 Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers

Male Vocalist Jamie Dailey Leigh Gibson Russell Moore Dan Tyminski Josh Williams

Female Vocalist Dale Ann Bradley Sonya Isaacs Alison Krauss Claire Lynch Rhonda Vincent

Song of the Year "Help My Brother" Artist: The Gibson Brothers Writer: Leigh Gibson

"I Am Strong" Artists: The Grascals featuring Dolly Parton Writers: Jamie Johnson, Susanne Mumpower-Johnson and Janee Fleenor

"I'll Take Love" Artist: Dale Ann Bradley with Alison Krauss and Steve Gulley Writers: Louisa Branscomb and Dale Ann Bradley

"Trains I Missed" Artist: Balsam Range Writers: Walt Wilkins, Gilles Godard and Nicole Witt

"Walkin' West to Memphis" Artist: The Gibson Brothers Writer: Chris Henry

Album of the Year The All-Star Jam: Live at Graves Mountain Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, the Crowe Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Mark Newton, Lou Reid & Carolina, Carl Jackson, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Carrie Hassler with Brand New Strings

Almost Home Larry Sparks

The Boxcars The Boxcars

Help My Brother The Gibson Brothers

Rare Bird Alert Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Trains I Missed Balsam Range

Gospel Recorded Performance "God's Front Porch" Lou Reid & Carolina Songwriter: Dennis Duff

"He Can Be Found" The Gibson Brothers Songwriters: Ella Barrett and Faye Cunningham

"In God's Hands" The Boxcars Songwriter: John Benjamin Rochester

"Prayer Bells of Heaven" J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams Songwriters: J.F. Lowe and H.W. Ward

"Sailing On" Russell Moore and Dale Ann Bradley Songwriter: Rick Lang

Instrumental Recorded Performance "Goin' Up Dry Branch" Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Songwriters: Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin

"Ground Speed" Rural Rhythm All-Stars: Sammy Shelor, Carl Jackson, Brandon Rickman, Wayne Benson, Mike Hartgrove and Mike Anglin Songwriter: Earl Scruggs

"Jumpin' the Track" The Boxcars Songwriter: Ron Stewart

"Pretty Little Girl" Lonesome River Band Public domain

"Rare Bird Alert" Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Songwriter: Steve Martin

Recorded Event "Graves Mountain Memories" Rural Rhythm All-Stars featuring Carl Jackson, Mark Newton, Audie Blaylock, Lou Reid, Russell Moore, Carrie Hassler, Sammy Shelor, Mike Hartgrove, Wayne Benson and Mike Anglin

"I Am Strong" The Grascals featuring Dolly Parton

"I'll Take Love" Dale Ann Bradley featuring Alison Krauss and Steve Gulley

"Lonesome River" Lou Reid & Carolina featuring Russell Moore

"Prayer Bells of Heaven" J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson and Paul Williams

Instrumental Performers

Banjo Terry Baucom Kristin Scott Benson Ron Block J.D. Crowe Sammy Shelor Ron Stewart

Bass Barry Bales Mike Bub Missy Raines Mark Schatz Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Hunter Berry Jason Carter Michael Cleveland Stuart Duncan Ron Stewart

Dobro Mike Auldridge Jerry Douglas Rob Ickes Randy Kohrs Phil Leadbetter

Guitar Cody Kilby Tony Rice Kenny Smith Bryan Sutton Josh Williams

Mandolin Wayne Benson Sam Bush Sierra Hull Ronnie McCoury Adam Steffey

Bluegrass Broadcaster Katy Daley (WAMU's Bluegrass Country, Washington, D.C.) Chris Jones (Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Nashville) Tim White (Song of the Mountains, Marion, Va.)

Bluegrass Event 31st annual Bluegrass and Chili Festival (Claremore, Okla.) Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival (Branson, Mo.) Wintergrass Youth Orchestra Gala (Bellevue, Wash.)

Bluegrass Print Media Personality Ralph Berrier Jr. (author of If Trouble Don't Kill Me)

Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright (authors of Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story)

Juli Thanki (freelance writer for The 9531 and the Washington Post, senior editor of District Noise

Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project Designer: Ricardo Alessio City of Refuge, Abigail Washburn

Designers: G. Carr and Salli Ratts Rare Bird Alert, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Designer: Albert J. Roman Daybreak, Sierra Hull

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project Writer: Colin Escott A Mother's Prayer, Ralph Stanley

Writer: Geoffrey Himes The Rounder Records Story, Various Artists

Writer: Steve Martin Rare Bird Alert, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees Del McCoury George Shuffler

IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients Greg Cahill Bill Knowlton Lilly Pavlak Geoff Stelling Roland White