Museum Highlights Include a Performance and Conversation with Dwight Yoakam, an Interview with Margo Price by NPR’s Ann Powers, a Performance and Interview with Bob Weir and Much More
NASHVILLE, Tenn., – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum and the Americana Music Association will partner once again to offer one-of-a-kind programs during the 17th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, September 20-25.
“The mission of the Americana Music Association is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “Part of our own mission is to interpret this ever-changing art form. One of the ways we do that is through our educational programs. We are happy to partner once again with the AMA and AmericanaFest to further both our missions and offer what is sure to be an unforgettable week of music and conversation.”
“This is our tenth consecutive year working with Kyle Young and his team to produce these special events at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly. “It’s a perfect partnership, and we are excited to again co-present some of the best educational and entertaining events to fans of Americana and music lovers from all over the world.”
AmericanaFest activities at the museum begin Wednesday, September 21, in the Ford Theater with a special interview featuring Nashville indie artist Margo Price, moderated by NPR Music Critic Ann Powers and presented in partnership with NPR Music. Later that day, country music iconoclast Dwight Yoakam will participate in an interview hosted by Brian Mansfield and a performance accompanied by Jon Randall Stuart, Bryan Sutton, Barry Bales, Adam Steffey, Scott Vestal, and Stuart Duncan.
On Thursday, September 22, Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Del McCoury will participate in an interview and perform songs from his latest release, Del and Woody. Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead, will also be featured in a performance and interview moderated by artist Buddy Miller.
On Friday afternoon, NPR Music’s Bob Boilen will discuss his new book Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It. Boilen will be joined by singer-songwriter John Paul White to talk about the music that altered the course of his life and inspired his new solo project, Beulah. John Paul White will also perform.
Saturday will round-out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s AmericanaFest activities with a Jim Lauderdale songwriter session and Music Masters program featuring producer Jim Rooney.
AmericanaFest 2016 will feature more than 200 acts performing in 14 venues across Nashville and more than 50 educational workshops and panels, making it Nashville’s most comprehensive music education event. Festival and conference registrations may be purchased here ($325 for Americana Music Association members / $425 for non-members) until Wednesday, September 21. Rates will increase to $475 for walk-up admission.
Dates, times, and additional information are included in the detailed schedule below. All programs will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/
Additional programming information can be found at countrymusichalloffame.org/
Songs We Love Americana Edition: Margo Price and Friends
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Presented in partnership with NPR, available to stream at NPR Music
A breakout star of Nashville’s grassroots music community, Margo Price has made her mark on the mainstream country charts while earning a loyal following among Americana fans. Moderated by Ann Powers of NPR Music, with special guest artists Jeremy Ivey, Erin Rae, Lilly Hiatt, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Darrin Bradbury and Kenny Vaughan, this program will tell Price’s story through conversation with friends and collaborators who’ve also made East Nashville the hottest little music city on earth. Playing favorite songs in an artist-round format, Price and friends will trace the evolution of a scene that is producing some of Americana music’s most adventurous and important voices—and the journey of a woman whose experience in that scene laid the foundation for her thrilling breakthrough.
Wednesday, September 21
Interview and Performance: Dwight Yoakam
2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Grammy-winning vocalist Dwight Yoakam will review his career and talk about his new album, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars . . ., due September 23 on Sugar Hill Records, with journalist Brian Mansfield. Known as a renegade purveyor of California honky-tonk, Yoakam will stretch back to his Kentucky roots to perform favorites from his catalog with help from acoustic music luminaries Barry Bales (bass), Jon Randall Stuart (mandolin, harmony vocals), Stuart Duncan (fiddle, banjo), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, harmony vocals), and Scott Vestal (banjo).
Thursday, September 22
Concert: The Del McCoury Band Plays Del and Woody
12:30 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
In addition to classics like “Pastures of Plenty” and “This Land Is Your Land,” songwriter Woody Guthrie left behind lyrics for thousands of songs that were never set to music or recorded. Guthrie’s daughter, Nora, invited Del McCoury to write music for these lyrics, and the result is the Del McCoury Band’s latest release, Del and Woody. The band will perform music from the album, with companion videos for each song. Following the program, the band will sign copies of Del and Woody, available for purchase at the Museum Store.
Thursday, September 22
Performance and Interview: Bob Weir with Buddy Miller
3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
One of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir earned recognition as a songwriter and distinctive rhythm guitarist, collaborating with his bandmates to blend country, folk, rock, blues, and jazz influences with extended instrumental solos, essentially defining the “jam band” genre. The group toured constantly, sold over 35 million records, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In September, Weir releases Blue Mountain, his first album of entirely new material in thirty years. Weir will present his new work with playback and acoustic performance of select songs and a conversation moderated by Buddy Miller.
Friday, September 23
Book Talk: Your Song Changed My Life with Bob Boilen and John Paul White
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
As the host of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts, Bob Boilen has interviewed thousands of musicians. In Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It, Boilen adds his research and critical voice, to expand on interviews with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jenny Lewis, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Jackson Browne, and others. Boilen will read from and discuss his book with singer-songwriter John Paul White, who will also perform. Following the program, Boilen will sign copies of Your Song Changed My Life, available for purchase at the Museum Store.
Saturday, September 24
Songwriter Session: Jim Lauderdale
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Jim Lauderdale’s songwriting credits include the country hits “Gonna Get a Life” (Mark Chesnutt); “Hole in My Head” (Dixie Chicks); “Twang” and “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” (George Strait); and “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me” (Patty Loveless). Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello, Vince Gill, George Jones, Buddy Miller, Blake Shelton, Ralph Stanley, and Lee Ann Womack also have recorded his songs. Lauderdale has released over twenty studio albums since the mid-1980s, and has won two Grammys and the Americana Music Association’s Artist of the Year and Song of the Year honors. After the program, Lauderdale will sign copies of his albums purchased from the Museum Store.
Saturday, September 24
Music Masters: A Conversation with Producer Jim Rooney
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Producer Jim Rooney has been one of the architects of Americana music. A disciple of the great Cowboy Jack Clement, Rooney has produced remarkable works, including Nanci Griffith’s Last of the True Believers, John Prine’s Aimless Love, Townes Van Zandt’s At My Window, and Iris DeMent’s Infamous Angel. Rooney was a co-owner of Forerunner Music, the quality-first company that published songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Kathy Mattea, and others. The interview will be illustrated with vintage photos, film footage, and recordings, and Rooney will perform briefly. After the program, Rooney will sign his book and Hatch Show Print posters commemorating the day.
PROGRAM ADMISSION
Attendees must have a Program Pass to guarantee admission to this event.
Program passes are free with Museum admission or membership. Program passes are also free to AMA badge holders. Passes are distributed two hours prior to the event at the Museum’s box office, on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is general admission and limited.
Members-only benefit: Museum members may also reserve their Program Passes in advance by phone (615-416-2050) or via Reservations@