SOPHIE GAULT Sophie Gault kept busy at AmericanaFest this year. I managed to catch her three times—solo, with the SiriusXM house band, and with her own crew—each performance more electrifying than the previous. There’s something about an artist finally making music on her own terms, and the new songs she previewed suggest her 2026 album […]
AmericanaFest 2025 – Shawn’s Favorites
I saw one estimate that in addition to the 150-ish musical acts with official showcases at this year’s AmericanaFest, there were another 150 you could only see at an unofficial event. If rumors of the dramatic slashing of music at SXSW are true, that may make AmericanaFest the largest event of the year, at least […]
AmericanaFest 2025, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
kirby baby Two sets from Brooklyn’s kirby baby meant double the proof that his razor-edged indie rock songs are built for live performance. Whether solo or with his full band—I saw both—the material from his new album crackled with the same intensity. JADE BIRD Bird’s magnetic presence commanded Third Man Records’ legendary Blue Room as […]
2025 Americana Music Awards
In what now clocks in at a full 7 days of festivities, if you count the first unofficial showcase until the last, AmericanaFest landed in Nashville the week of September 8th this year. And although the organization itself has started scheduling showcases opposite the annual awards event, there’s no doubt the extravaganza at the ever-fabulous […]
Americana 2024, Say What?!
One of my favorite things about attending music conferences and festivals are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from this year’s Americana Festival. Do people clap at your job when you mess up? Iron & Wine It was a big hit for me in Texas and […]
AmericanaFest 2024 – Shawn’s Favorites
Like a smaller, more focused SXSW, AmericanaFest is part industry conference, part music festival, and part social event. Although it’s a much smaller event, you still have to accept you’re not going to be able to see everyone you want. The official count was about 250 artists, but there were dozens of events that weren’t […]
Americana 2024, Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
LYDIA LOVELESS Loveless played two shows to celebrate a new album, Something Else, a reimagined version of her 2014 release Somewhere Else. The new release is nearly entirely Loveless solo on piano and was the focus of a stunning Thursday appearance at Todd Snider’s Purple Building. The next afternoon Loveless and John Calvin Abney brought […]
Americana 2024, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
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 […]
Todd’s Americanafest 2024
Below is a diary style breakdown of my Americanafest with a playlist (in order of appearance) of the acts I was fortunate enough to catch this year that made an impression on me. This was my third year attending, and 2024 was just as good as the other years. Plus, I’ve learned a few things […]
2024 Americana Music Awards
What originated as a long weekend, AmericanaFest now has official events beginning on Tuesday. However, the apex of the music festival remains the Americana Music Awards on Wednesday evening in the wonderful Ryman Auditorium. After last year’s long event padded with speeches and awards to complementary organizations, this year marked an appreciated return to focus […]