All Things AmericanaFest: Conference, NYC Event, Namesake Ale

AmericanaFest Ale Returns

The Americana Awards and Music Conference will once again have its own special microbrew to accompany the week of performances and events. Earlier this week industry members gathered to taste test as the Americana Music Association and the Yazoo Brewing Company unveiled this year’s AmericanaFest Ale. This is the second year that the trade association has had its own ale created by the local brewery. “We resonate with what Americana stands for: authenticity, artisanship, doing things with integrity and that the details matter,” said Neil McCormick, Sales and Marketing Manager of Yazoo Brewing Company. “We’re proud of this year’s brew, which is now available in anticipation of this years Americana Awards and Music Conference in Nashville September 15th to 20th .”

Pictured (L-R): Neil McCormick, Sales and Marketing Manager, Yazoo Brewing Company; Raul Malo, Lead Singer of The Mavericks and Former Americana Board Member; Linus Hall, Owner and Brewmaster, Yazoo Brewing Company; Jed Hilly, Executive Director, Americana Music Association

Festival Overview

Americana Music Festival week officially kicks off on Sept. 15, with registration pick-up starting at 5 PM CT at The Basement followed by an Early Bird Kick-Off Bash featuring The Bluegrass Situation at 8 PM CT. Wednesday evening (9/16) the best of the genre will be touted at the 14th Annual Americana Honors and Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Don Henley, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Ricky Skaggs and Los Lobos all receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to American music. The entire week will feature dozens of panels, events, shows, and nightly concerts in venues all across the city. Among the dozens of artists performing during the week-long event are Bela Fleck, Band Of Heathens, The Fairfield Four, Jonathan Tyler, Lee Ann Womack, The Mavericks, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen, and Jewel. Complete info here. 

Americana’s NYC Nights

AmericanaFest NYC, which is part of Lincoln Center’s Out Of Doors series, celebrated its second year this past weekend with three nights of performances from Americana artists. The event kicked off on Friday (8/7) with performances from gospel groups The Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters, and was followed Saturday with shows by The Quebe Sisters, Sam Outlaw and Kasey Chambers, as well as Aimee Mann, Ted Leo and Justin Townes Earle that evening. The weekend was capped off with a concert by Watkins Family Hour and Fiona Apple performing Bob Dylan‘s Highway 61 Revisited in its entirety and Iris DeMent and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band all performing on Sunday (8/9). The three-day celebration of roots music drew thousands to the cultural epicenter, spreading the Americana Music Association’s message in the media capital of the world. 

Pictured (L-R): Watkins Family Hour and Fiona Apple (L-R: Sara Watkins, Fiona Apple, David Garza, Sean Watkins) perform on Aug. 9. Photo credit: Kevin Yatarola