Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances from this year’s conference.
If there was an award for most high energy performance, then Fantastic Cat would certainly have earned it. The group features four singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who have quickly established a stellar reputation based on memorable, hook-heavy pop songs, plenty of comedic banter (often at one-another’s expense), and infectious performances. So good.
Nashville’s Gault, backed by a crack band, previewed songs from a planned 2024 album as well as songs from 2022’s Delusions of Grandeur. Love the old ones, loved the new ones.
Norway’s Darling West came a long way to play AmericanaFest in Nashville. And play they did – their Saturday night showcase was wonderous. Their brand of Americana is sublime, flowing with intoxicating melodies and pristine harmonies.
Gordon is a long-time Twangville fave so you better believe that I jumped at the chance to see him preview songs from his forthcoming album. Twice. First was a solo acoustic set at a backyard party (which featured homemade gumbo – yes, please.). Then a Rockin’ – capital R intended – set later that night. Gordon is an incredible musical storyteller and the new songs only build on that reputation.
Rose somehow managed to project both strength and fragility in her Thursday afternoon solo set. Sublime.
The soft-spoken Pinnell let’s his music do the talking. The Kentucky singer-songwriter is as authentic as they come and has an eagerly anticipated Shooter Jennings-produced album on the horizon.
I first saw Canada’s Boy Golden at this year’s SXSW and was impressed with both the songwriting – an impressive amalgam of pop, country, and rock – and high energy performance. A repeat performance at AmericanaFest was high on my priority list. It didn’t disappoint.
It says something when high demand Nashville studio musicians – in this case guitarist Will Kimbrough, bassist Lex Price, and fiddle player Fats Kaplin – sign up to play in your band. In the case of Jaimee Harris it speaks volumes to the quality of her songs and the respect for her artistry. Harris led the group through a set that leaned heavily on her incredible 2023 release Boomerang Town.
Los Angeles-based Kamp might as well live in Nashville or Texas. His dusty storytelling draws heavily from the rich songwriting history of those two anchors of Americana, a point well made during his Wednesday afternoon solo set.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.