AmericanaFest is part music festival, part industry conference, and part social meet-up. You can hear intimate interviews with some of the biggest names in the business, learn how to better run your business as an artist, or get tips on how to be a better performer. Not surprisingly, it all revolves around musical showcases, both the official ones at various clubs around Nashville, but also the unofficial ones hosted by labels and agencies at different venues in town. With 8-10 simultaneous lineups in the evenings, and multiple events earlier in the day, you just have to accept you’re going to miss some things you want to hear, and be open to something new. Here were my favorites from this year.
The legendary 5 Spot in East Nashville hosted the American Roots Fall Hoedown on Wednesday afternoon. The sweet spot of the event was an LA-appears-in-Nashville series of sets with Ted Russell Kamp, Amelia K Spicer, Heather Lomax, and Nocona. After Ted appeared solo, he took up his bass for Amelia and Heather. Aubrey Richmond joined on fiddle when Heather took the stage so now half of Shooter Jennings band was in the house. It was getting time to get ready for the awards show, but not before I put an exclamation point on the afternoon with cowpunk virtuosos, Nocona. Now with ears ringing and a nice day-drinking buzz I was ready for an evening at the Ryman.
With something like 8 competing afternoon events, Thursday was the day most likely to be amended with curse words. You just knew you were bound to miss something. Maybe I did, but then again maybe I didn’t. I started the afternoon at a cool, low-wattage lounge, heretofore unknown to me, the Eighth Room. Put on by 1888 Media and Charlotte Avenue Entertainment, the event started with the delightful Teni Rane and the charming Hannah Connolly before getting into the heavyweight part of the card. Caleb Caudle, Parker Millsap, and Jaime Harris all lived up to their reputations and seeing them in such an intimate venue just added to the experience.
I hit a trifecta Friday afternoon at the Analog Bar in the Hutton Hotel; Robert Ellis, The Lone Bellow, and Fantastic Cat. While I’d seen Ellis and The Lone Bellow before, it was in much larger venues. In the more acoustic setting of the Analog, they showed why they have the followings they do. Fantastic Cat was new to me, but they likewise lived up to the hype.
From there, my tweener was a backyard house-party show featuring homemade gumbo and musical guests Trenton Wheeler, Kevin Gordon, and Country Carl. Gordon has a new record coming out, and I would have been happy if he’d been the only artist. Wheeler turned out to have serious chops and is now someone I’ll be on the look-out for. Country Carl was the surprise of the evening, a throwback to the old school of songwriters in Nashville.
Friday evening started back at the Analog to see the never-fails-to-entertain Robbie Fulks, in fine, fine form. Then back over to the east side to see Kevin Gordon again, this time with a full band. The night finished at Basement East with their annual tribute to songs that came out 50 years ago. Featuring some of the best players in Nashville and a raft of special guests, the event proved that 1973 was a great year for music and left me already thinking about next year.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.