The 23rd annual AmericanaFest, September 19 – 23 in Nashville, Tennessee, brings together music industry professionals and fans alike for five days of discovery, insight, and connections. It showcases hundreds of artists and bands throughout many notable venues and also features a first-rate industry conference, with the top tier of the music business discussing current industry topics and issues.
Musical festivities kick off with the Americana Honors & Awards, celebrating luminaries and welcoming the next generation of trailblazers, while offering one-of-a-kind performance pairings at Ryman Auditorium. 2023 AmericanaFest Festival Passes, $149, available online, allow admission into all evening showcases and select special events. Conference + Festival Passes are $549. For more information, or view the lineup online at: americanamusic.org
The Americana Music Association (501(c)6) and its educational arm, the Americana Music Foundation (501(c)3), are professional not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world and to preserve Americana music through education. They endeavor to strengthen understanding, awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, shine a light on inspiration and promote future creators’ capacity and engagement. They produce educational programs, musical performances and public events including AMERICANAFEST, Americana Honors & Awards program, NYU’s Americana Artist-In-Residence program and Smithsonian’s Roots to Pop series.
For over two decades, the AmericanaFest conference has provided a premier educational forum to discuss varying cultural and industry-related topics among top professionals and artists from the Americana community. This year, the conference returns to The Westin Nashville from Sept. 20 – 22 with over 70 insightful sessions, while the nighttime music festival features more than 200 electrifying showcases throughout notable venues in Music City.
Keynote speakers at its conference feature renowned musicians Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, Bettye LaVette & Steve Jordan, Lyle Lovett, Marty Stuart, Rufus Wainwright & Emmylou Harris, and Lucinda Williams. “Reunited in Music: Bettye LaVette & Steve Jordan,” at 1:00PM on Thursday, brings together Bettye LaVette and Steve Jordan to discuss their latest collaboration for her album “LaVette!” They will discuss their accomplished careers and creative processes, plus what led to recording an album of songs by Randall Bramblett. “I think he’s one of the best songwriters I’ve heard in the past 30 years,” LaVette says. “LaVette!” arrived in June on Jay-Vee Records, the label co-founded by Jordan and Meegan Voss.
The Shindellas will conclude their two-month national tour, with dates in Memphis, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Raleigh, Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, on September 23 at The Basement East for AmericanaFest.. New West Records celebrates its 25th anniversary at Musicians Corner with a free outdoor concert featuring Rodney Crowell Trio, Buddy Miller, North Mississippi Allstars, Emily Nenni, Esther Rose, The Secret Sisters, and The Wild Feathers, Friday from 3PM – 9PM at Centennial Park.
NMAAM Songwriters Rounds artists will perform in-the-round inside the Roots Theater at the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville at 12 Noon daily. The lineup includes AHI, Joy Clark, and Denitia on Wednesday; Mia Borders, Julie Williams, and Thunderstorm Artis on Thursday; and Simeon Hammond Dallas, Phillip-Michael Scales, and Yasmin Williams on Friday.
