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WMOT’s ongoing tradition of bringing thrilling, historic roots music to the daytimes of AmericanaFest will reach another level in 2022 with spotlight sets by Lyle Lovett, Brennen Leigh with Asleep At The Wheel, American Aquarium and many more. For three afternoons starting Wed., Sept. 14, Middle Tennessee’s only full-time Americana radio station will take over the stage at the Wash at East Side Bowl in historic Madison, just a few minutes from downtown.
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Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell and Yola have emerged as game-changing artists in roots music in recent years, and on Monday afternoon they were informed that they’d each earned three nominations for 2022’s Americana Awards, in the prestige categories of Song, Album and Artist of the Year.
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AmericanaFest returned to Nashville with a slimmer but spirited 2021 edition. Those able to come found community, diversity and great performances. I caught up with five showcasing artists to check in on their new projects and their take on today's roots scene. Included: blues veteran Sue Foley, LA protest folk artist Chris Pierce, Colorado songwriter Emily Scott Robinson, new Austinite roots rocker Suzanne Santo and folk duo Golden Shoals.
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The movement to fully incorporate (or more accurately re-incorporate) African American artistry and influence in the realms of country music and Americana accelerated palpably during the 2020 pandemic. While artists of color have become more integral to AmericanaFest since about 2015, conversations last year shifted to matters of equity in the business, including jobs at music companies and representation wherever decisions about the genres' trajectory are made. To catch up on the issues in the wake of the 2021 convention, I spoke with Washington DC freelance journalist Marcus K. Dowling.
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Brandi Carlile was named Artist of the Year for the second time in three years at the 21st Americana Honors and Awards in a ceremony marked by remembrance of artists who've passed on since the last gathering of the Americana Music Association in September 2019. Other winners: Sturgill Simpson, John Prine and Charley Crockett.
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AmericanaFest is the anchoring annual event for Nashville's roots music community and industry, and it's back after a forced year off. Here's our music writer's take on what to expect at the top of the bill and some recommendations for artists with bold new directions or newcomers emerging on the radar.
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Day Three of Thriving Roots kicked off with sublime star power as Rosanne Cash put together an hour of conversation about music and activism with Ry…
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Day two of Thriving Roots, Americana’s online 2020 conference will feature a discussion clarifying the rollout of the Music Modernization Act, a case…
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With the weather turning cooler and the national live music lockdown grinding on into the foreseeable future, the pain of missing a vivacious, in-person…
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The Americana Music Association today offered its first look at this Fall’s annual gathering, starting with a new name. AmericanaFest has been recast as…