80 of 160 artists announced, include: Amy Ray, Angaleena Presley, Carlene Carter, Ethan Johns, Gregory Alan Isakov, Hayes Carll, Jamestown Revival, Joe Henry, Joe Purdy, Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive, Lee Ann Womack, Marty Stuart, Parker Millsap, Quebe Sisters Band, Rhett Miller, Rodney Crowell, Ruthie Foster, Sarah Jarosz, Shakey Graves, Todd Snider & Friends, Trigger Hippy and Willie Watson. The Americana Music Association expands its festival and conference in its 15th year by announcing its most ambitious and eclectic line-up to date. Anchored by its 13th annual Honours & Awards show on Wednesday, September 17 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the Association also adds three-time Americana Group of the Year winners, The Avett Brothers, to a headlining slot at Riverfront Park on Saturday, September 20. Admission to the Riverfront show will be included in Americana Festival & Conference registrations for the September 17-21 event. Individual tickets for The Avett Brothers Riverfront show will go on sale to the general public for $52.50 on Friday, June 27. The Avett Brothers Fan Club members will have a special pre-sale opportunity starting on Tuesday, June 24. All new fan club members must sign up at www.theavettbrothers.com before Monday, June 23 in order to be eligible. Throughout the festival and conference – highlighted by Travel + Leisure as a fine-tuned music destination in its June print issue – a total of 160 artists will perform in 11 venues including 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement, City Winery, High Watt, Cannery, Mercy Lounge, The Rutledge, Station Inn, Music City Roots, Downtown Presbyterian Church and Musicians Corner. The growth of Americana as a genre – curated and cultivated by the Americana Music Association – is evidenced by recent partnerships with cultural epicentre Lincoln Center for ‘Americana NYC’ on August 6-10 and a new GRAMMY category created for the American Roots Field announced in early June: “Best American Roots Performance.” This category is the genre’s third and the only new category created by the Academy this year.
