AMERICANAFEST Announces Conference Lineup

The Americana Music Association just announced its initial lineup of panels and events for this year's AMERICANAFEST, and its shaping up to be a very special week of music and networking. Here is a glimpse of what's in store at conference HQ at The Westin Nashville on Sept. 11-13.

Get to Know the Artist Behind the Music

AMERICANAFEST is offering a chance to hear from the artists behind the music.

• 2019 Americana Artist of the Year Nominee Brandi Carlile will be giving a keynote interview during a sit-down with Tracy Gershon (Change the Conversation) as she looks back on her milestone year and ongoing mission to support women in music.
• Jade Bird, an Emerging Act of the Year nominees, will be sitting down with her label's founder and president Daniel Glass (Glassnote Records) for a conversation on what artist development looks like in 2019, moderated by NPR Music's Bob Boilen. From her own celebrated debut this past year to opening slots with acts like The Lumineers, Bird has a lot to share from her own experiences in her quickly rising career.
• Chris Shiflett will have a one-on-one discussion with this year's Lifetime Achievement for Performance Honoree Delbert McClinton during a live podcast taping of "Walking The Floor." 2019 Americana Album of the Year and Emerging Act of the Year Nominee Yola will also be joining Shiflett for her own session. Both guests will be sharing their creative inspirations, hardships, triumphs and everything in between.

Stay Up-to-Date on Today's Industry Topics, Tools & Issues

• Presented by the Artist Rights Alliance, Keb' Mo' will be joining an in-depth look at the state of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) alongside additional panelists including U.S. Copyright Office General Counsel Regan Smith and Concord Music's Publishing Brad Kennard. Haven't been keeping up with this important legislation? No worries, consultant Erin McAnally will provide a brief overview during the panel to get you up to speed.
• Freelance writer Marissa Moss (Rolling Stone, Billboard) has curated "Out of Balance," a panel to address the gender imbalance often found on music festival bills. She'll be joined by Mark Cunningham (Red Light Management), Ali Harnell (Live Nation), Traci Thomas (TT Management) and Erin Rae, who is also nominated for the Emerging Act of the Year category at this year's Americana Honors & Awards.
• Caitlin Canty will be recalling blazing the trails on the inaugural trek of the Americana Tour Blueprint last winter, sharing insight on her experience with our membership resource. Moderated by Craig Havighurst (WMOT Roots Radio), she'll be joined by our Manager of Membership Relations Anna Lee Crenshaw, her agent Mark Lourie (Skyline Artists Agency), Bruce Houghton (Hypebot) and Jesse Lundy (Point Entertainment).

"Learn About The Roots of Our Community" (pun intended)

• Discover the many musical threads of the Americana umbrella during "Americana Music: Voices, Visionaries and Pioneers of an Honest Sound." Author Lee Zimmerman will look at the history of Americana including how influential artists and our association have impacted its growth. He'll be joined by Lellie Pittman Capwell (LPC Media), Robert Evanoff (1888 Media), John Lilly (Blue Yonder), Scott Miller (Artist) and Garry West (Compass Records).
• Gospel music went through a transformative era following the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel scholar and DJ Kevin Nutt will guide a deep dive into the 1970s gospel music movement that was led by The Staple Singers, whose successes inspired several southern groups to experiment with funk and more. Formerly the lead singer of the Staples Jr. Singers, Annie Caldwell will be sharing her own experiences from this time with Nutt and Luaka Bop President Yale Evelev during “The Time for Peace is Now: Navigating African-American Gospel in the 1970s."