Shovels and Rope Lead Americana Nominations

Pictured at today’s announcement (L-R): T Bone Burnett, Jim Lauderdale, Lisa Marie Presley, Elizabeth Cook, Americana Executive Director Jed Hilly, Buddy Miller

Rising duo Shovels & Rope lead the nominees for the 2013 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards with four nominations. Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller follow closely with three nods each. Other nominees include Rodney Crowell, John Fullbright, Lauderdale, The Lumineers, JD McPherson, Milk Carton Kids, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Richard Thompson, and Dwight Yoakam.

The nominee announcement ceremony took place today (May 14) in Los Angeles at the Grammy Museum®. AXS TV broadcast the event, and will air an encore presentation tonight at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

Today’s celebration kicked off with an Americana tribute to George Jones featuring Miller and Lauderdale leading an all-star band comprised of Fats Kaplin, Brian Owings and Jay Weaver. The music continued with performances by Lisa Marie Presley with special guest T Bone Burnett, Elizabeth Cook and the Milk Carton Kids.

The Americana Honors & Awards, presented by Nissan, will return to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sept. 18, 2013, as part of the Americana Music Festival, running Sept. 18-22. The show, featuring Lauderdale as host and Miller leading the All-Star Band, will air live on AXS TV.

In more Americana news, the organization is developing a multistate tourism venture called the Americana Music Triangle. USA Today has the story.

Shovels and Rope

2013 Americana Honors and Awards Nominees

Album of the Year
Buddy & Jim, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale
Cheater’s Game, Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
From The Ground Up, John Fullbright
O’ Be Joyful, Shovels & Rope
Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris/Rodney Crowell

Song of the Year
“Birmingham,” Shovels & Rope
“Good Things Happen to Bad People,” Richard Thompson
“Ho Hey,” The Lumineers
“North Side Gal,” JD McPherson

Artist of the Year
Buddy Miller
Dwight Yoakam
Emmylou Harris
Richard Thompson

Emerging Artist of the Year
JD McPherson
John Fullbright
Milk Carton Kids
Shovels & Rope

Duo/Group of the Year
Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
Shovels & Rope

Instrumentalist of the Year
Doug Lancio
Larry Campbell
Greg Leisz
Jay Bellerose
Mike Bub