Sunday 28 January 2018

UK Americana Awards & AmericanaFest UK Preview

Celebrating Roots Music









The third UK Americana Awards show takes place on 1st February 2018 at the fabulous Hackney Empire in East London. The awards celebrate the achievements of British and International members of the Americana music community, and we are honoured that the show will once again be hosted by the legendary broadcaster Bob Harris OBE.












Combined Conference, Awards and Music Festival Ticket Full delegate pass £165 Book HERE
Music Festival Wristband (25 live music acts performing original music at some of Hackney’s finest live venues) Tickets £25 – Book HERE
The UK Americana Awards Show (Hackney Empire, Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ):
£25 –  Dress Circle Boxes £160 (4 Tickets) – £120 (3 Tickets)  BOOK HERE


What is Americana Music?

Americana is an amalgam of American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States, specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influences. Americana, as defined by the Americana Music Association (AMA), is "contemporary music that incorporates elements of various mostly acoustic American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk and bluegrass resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band."
Americana as a radio format developed during the 1990s as a reaction to the highly polished sound that defined the mainstream music of that decade (similar pressures also led to the formation of the classic country format at around the same time
Jed Hilly has worked tirelessly as an ambassador of the genre in order to fight that label. Serving as the executive director of the Americana Music Association since 2007, Hilly has fought to raise roots music's profile within the mainstream, getting Rolling Stone magazine to print the Americana Music Airplay chart and leading the charge to have the Recording Academy add an Americana category to its list of Grammy Awards in 2010…..Read More Does Americana Have a Diversity Problem? AMA Chief Jed Hilly Comes to Genre's Defence (Billboard)

The 2018 AMA-UK Conference moves this year to Hackney House, London (Curtain Road, Hackney, London. EC2A 3LT) on 31st Jan-1 st Feb 2018. Prices: £165.00 non-members Two full days of lively panel discussions, inspiring songwriting workshop, industry presentations and a mixed bag full to bursting of some of the finest Americana music from around the world! Book Here

The Americana Music Association UK (with 700 members) is delighted to announce that the recipients of the Trailblazer Award at the UK Americana Awards 2018 will be Mumford & Sons.

“We’re very honoured to be included in this year’s UK Americana Awards. From ‘Folk-Rock’ to ‘Bluegrass’ to ‘Country’ to ‘Folk and Roll’ we’ve never fully felt comfortable with labels that people have put on our music. 
o us, it’s just the sound that we make, drawing on all sorts of influences from America and elsewhere. Americana encapsulates this patchwork of influence most broadly and to be recognised alongside some of our heroes is truly humbling.” Ben Lovett, Mumford & Sons.

The Trailblazer Award celebrates a UK artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. Read More at theamauk.org

The UK Americana Awards show 2018 at Hackney Empire on Thursday February 1st will be hosted by legendary broadcaster Bob Harris OBE and will feature performances from nominees and award winners, including Robert Plant, The Wandering Hearts and newly announced, Imelda May. Ethan Johns will once again be musical director. The winners of the seven AMA-UK membership-voted categories will receive their awards from specially invited guest presenters and the best-selling UK Americana album of 2017 will be recognised with a special award. The nominations shortlist follows below.

The UK Americana Awards are part of AmericanaFest UK, the two-day event taking place in London on January 31st and February 1st, which will include daytime conferences on both days at Hackney House, an evening of showcases on Wednesday 31st January in multiple venues around Hackney and the prestigious UK Americana Awards on Thursday 1st February at Hackney Empire to conclude the event in style.

International showcase artists for 2018 include: The Texas Gentlemen, Prinz Grizzley, Kasheena Sampson, Rev.Sekou, Joana Seratt, The Remedy Club, Beth Bombara, Jacob Dineson, Jaime Wyatt and The Americans. They join up and coming UK artists: Curse of Lono, Steve Grozier, Colin MacLeod, Donald Byron Wheatley, James Edwyn and the Borrowed Band, Lauren Housley, Little Folk, Lunch Special, Orphan Colours, Robbie Cavanagh, Shooter Jennings, The Buffalo Skinners, The Fargo Railroad Co, The Often Herd, Benjamin William Pike and Elles Bailey.
UPDATE: Now 26 bands showcasing - Tyler Childers Joins the bill
Over 25 bands and artists performing original Americana music at multiple venues across Hackney, London – live music doesn’t get any better than this!



The 2018 AMA-UK AmericanaFestUK Showcases take place on Wednesday 31st January 2018. The showcase event is increasingly popular way for artists to perform in front of an audience combined of both industry figures and an always enthusiastic public! Venues Includes:
OSLO Bar & restaurant (1A Amhurst Rd, London E8 1LL) WEBSITE
Paper Dress Vintage Bar & Boutique (352a Mare Street, London E8 1HR) WEBSITE
MOTH Club (Old Trades Hall, Valette Street, E9 6NU) WEBSITE
The Empire Bar (291 Mare Street, London, United Kingdom, E8 1EJ) WEBSITE
Times: Gigs start at 18.00pm, end times are 11pm or 11.30pm (will vary depending on venue)
2018 AMA-UK AmericanaFestUK Showcases
Click to ENLARGE Graphic for Stage Timings

 Two days of conference sessions are set to feature Billy Bragg delivering the keynote speech, a masterclass in songwriting from Mary Gauthier, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Sam Baker and Chris Difford and platforms hosting panellists from across the music industry including artists Frank Turner, Danni Nicholls, Joana Seratt and Danny George Wilson.
Get tickets (£25 / Dress Circle Boxes  £160 (4 Tickets)/  £120 (3 Tickets) here

RADIO PREVIEWS
Ralph McLean on BBC Radio Ulster looks ahead to the Americana UK Awards with organiser Stevie Freeman first broadcast on Jan 12, 2018. Listen to the full 2-hour show on the BBC iPlayer or edited interview here:


Wolverhampton Country with Jim Duncan 101.8 WCR FM (Wolverhampton Community Radio "The station with a lot more for Wolverhampton"). The British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards panel member, 101.8 WCR FM presenter, Curator of the British Country Music Hall of Fame and British Hall of Fame 2017 Inductee took a devilish cheeky and rather cynical look at the forthcoming event:

Americana is like country with a different name….. Lifetime Achievement Award, know this bloke, selected by the board members, their highest honour ….their contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music, so Americana they’ve been playing all their life…a bloke from down Kinver(?) called Robert Plant…excuse me, Stairway To Heaven, great Americana song?, Mr Bonham won’t be very pleased with that. Mr. Page won’t be very pleased to think he’s been playing on Americana all that time that’s what they say it is, so who I’m to argue I’m only a jock on WCR FM!
Listen here:




AMERICANA UK AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES

Eligibility: Albums, songs and artists who made an impact during the period from 1st October 2016 – 30th September 2017
Nominations opened on 4th October 2017 and closed on 16th October 2017.

 Only members of the AMA-UK in good standing  could take part in the nomination and voting process for our annual awards.
** QUESTION asked: If you not an Artist (£25 membership) or an Industry Proffesional (£50 membership) can you still join as a member of AMA-UK as a ordinary fan of the genre, if so what's the cost?. If you do join do you have an opportunity to take part in the nomination and voting process for the annual awards - https://theamauk.org/join   Americana Music Association UK responded: Hello - this is something we are developing this spring - join the mailing list on the website for up to date info on when this goes live

 Each member could send up to three nominations per award category.
Artist members were allowed to nominate themselves if they so wished
You could nominate artists who are not themselves members of the AMA-UK.
Any genre definition will always be a grey area, with moving goalposts: if you thought an artist, album or song is Americana, then just go ahead and nominate them.
Nominations and special awards for #amauk18 were announced on Americana Music Association UK live Facebook feed
at their Press Launch (sponsors Southern Comfort) on Nov 7, 2017 at Gibson Guitar UK (with The Secret Sisters and Chris Country and Radio 2 Country presenter Baylen Leonard) See Facebook Video

UK Album of the Year
Brilliant Light by Danny & The Champions of The World (produced by Chris Clarke)
I’ll Make The Most Of My Sins by Robert Vincent (produced by Robert Vincent, Michael Gay and Etienne Girard)
Proud Disturber Of The Peace by William The Conqueror (produced by Ruarri Joseph and Harry Harding)
Sweet Kind Of Blue by Emily Barker (produced by Matt Ross-Spang)

International Album of the Year
A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING by The War On Drugs (produced by Adam Granduciel)
HONEST LIFE by Courtney Marie Andrews (produced by Courtney Marie Andrews)
SO YOU WANNABE BE AN OUTLAW by Steve Earle & The Dukes (produced by Richard Bennett)
THE NASHVILLE SOUND by Jason Isbell (produced by Dave Cobb)

UK Song of the Year
Devon Brigade by Police Dog Hogan (written by James Studholme)
Endless Road by Worry Dolls (written by Zoe Nicol, Rosie Jones and Jeff Cohen)
Home by Yola Carter (written by Yola Carter)
Moonshine by Foy Vance (written by Foy Vance)

International Song of the Year
Pa’lante by Hurray For The Riff Raff (written by Alynda Segarra and Pedro Pietri)
Ready To Die by Aaron Lee Tasjan (written by Aaron Lee Tasjan)
Thirteen Silver Dollars by Colter Wall (written by Colter Wall)
Tenderheart by Sam Outlaw (written by Sam Outlaw)

UK Artist of the Year
Danni Nicholls, Danny & The Champions of The World, Emily Barker, Laura Marling

International Artist of the Year
Angaleena Presley, Courtney Marie Andrews, Imelda May, Rhiannon Giddens

UK Instrumentalist of the Year
Georgina Leach, Kit Hawes, Harry Harding, Thomas Collison

Lifetime Achievement Award

























Selected by the board members, their highest honour is awarded to a UK artist, duo or group in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music.
Recipient 2018: Robert Plant

Additional Bob Harris exclusively revealed on Bob Harris Country (Thurs Jan 25) that Plant’s CARRY FIRE is the No1 Album and will be acknowledged at the awards show as the Best Selling Americana Album.

CARRY FIRE made a debut at No.1 on the Official UK Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Chart week 26 October 2017) and No.3 on the UK Official Album Chart. Robert Plant steered Led Zeppelin to eight straight No.1 albums (seven studio, one live) between 1970 and 1979. 

 He hadn’t topped the chart since, either solo or in collaborations, though he reached number two both with first solo album Pictures At Eleven in 1982 and with Raising Sand, his 2007 collaboration with Alison Krauss.

All of his solo albums have made the Top 20, and his 11th such release, Carry Fire was the fourth in a row to go top five when it opened with 22,626 sales. It marked the second to feature his uncredited backing band, Sensational Space Shifters, and is made up entirely of new Plant compositions apart from an intense remake of the 1969 Beach Boys hit Bluebirds Over The Mountain, which he performs as a duet with Chrissie Hynde. (Source Music Week).
Carry Fire has led the Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 list for seven non-consecutive weeks since its release
Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 25 January 2018)
19 January 2018 - 25 January 2018
1 2 Carry Fire Robert Plant [Tagged Rock]
Country Music People’s editor Duncan Warwick reacts::

 Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award

Selected by Bob Harris OBE, this special award celebrates the breakthrough artist, duo or group that has particularly impressed the legendary music broadcaster throughout the year.
Recipient 2018: The Wandering Hearts

See Blogs
(Jan 2018): The Wandering Hearts announce debut Album ‘Wild Silence’

(Nov 2017): The Wandering Hearts share debut EP ‘Burning Bridges’ (Review)

(Sept 2017): The Wandering Hearts: Interviews, Artist Spotlight & Background + UK Tour & Headline show dates

The Grass Roots Award
A newly-established award selected by the board members, this special award celebrates the sometimes un-sung heroes of the UK Americana scene. It is presented to people working in the industry (in a capacity other than as artists) who have made outstanding efforts to support Americana music from the grass roots up.
Recipient 2018 – Come Down & Meet The Folks (Website | Facebook Group | Back in the mid-90s, when the mainstream was ‘alternative,’ CDAMTF began to showcase the timeless beauty of folk, Americana and country music).

The Trailblazer Award
Celebrating a UK artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre.
Recipient 2018 – Mumford & Sons

The Best-Selling Americana Album of 2017 will be announced at the Awards show:
The AMA-UK works with the Official Charts Company to create the UK Americana Chart. This Award is given to the best-selling Americana Album of the year, by a UK Artist.
Tickets: http://theamauk.org/tickets

The Americana Music Association New Monitored Americana Radio Airplay Albums Chart and Singles Chart Launched

(16 Jan 2018) The Americana Music Association℠ in conjunction with CDX Nashville, a leading digital music distribution and tracking company, has launched a monitored Americana Radio Airplay Albums Chart and a Singles Chart today. The data for both charts are based on monitored Americana radio airplay.
Fans will now be able to view both the most played Americana albums and songs for the week on their newly revamped radio site, americanaradio.org. Top 40 Americana Singles Chart Jan 16, 2018 | Top 40 Americana Album Chart Jan 16, 2018
CHART NEWS: Chris Stapleton's From A Room: Vol. 2 takes the top spot on our new Americana Radio Airplay Albums Chart - see full chart (Jan 16, 2018) here.

Chris Stapleton's From A Room: Vol. 2 takes #1 spot (Chart week Jan 16, 2018) on Albums Chart, LP cut "Midnight Train to Memphis" lands at #1 on Singles Chart



Mission Statement: The Americana Music Association works closely with those in our industry, whether artists, labels, radio stations, retailers, print media, festivals, agents, publishers, etc. to help organize and build the infrastructure necessary for our genre to achieve success both creatively and financially. To that end we conduct an ongoing publicity campaign to help brand and raise awareness of Americana, host the annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, publish the weekly Americana Airplay Chart, produce the annual Americana Music Honors & Awards show, participate in other industry events and conferences, produce member newsletters and marketing materials, conduct research about our industry and consumers, work to increase Americana's profile at retail, and serve as an advocate on behalf of Americana's interests.
We also focus on creating attention for the public profile of Americana. These efforts to enhance the general awareness of Americana take the form of projects that increase general visibility and help brand the genre - all with the ultimate goal of connecting artists to an appreciative audience. americanamusic.org

Americana Music Association UK (The AMA-UK) is a professional trade association representing and advocating for the voice of American Roots music in the UK.
CONNECT with The AMA-UK:
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