JASON ISBELL, AMANDA SHIRES, DEER TICK, TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS, SHELBY LYNNE & ALLISON MOORER, THE MAVERICKS, MARY GAUTHIER, PAUL CAUTHEN, OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, THE STEEL WOODS AND TRAVIS MEADOWS ALL SET TO PERFORM, PRESENT OR SPEAK AROUND EVENT
Nashville, TN — The 2017 Americana Music Festival and Conference will be held in Nashville on September 12–17, with eleven All Eyes Media artists performing, nominated, speaking or presenting. Grammy and previous Americana Award winner Jason Isbell is nominated for Artist of the Year, while first-time nominee Amanda Shires is up for Emerging Artist of the Year. Both will perform during the Awards, as well as Grammy and Americana Award-winning group Old Crow Medicine Show. Multi-award winners Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer and The Mavericks will be presenting at the Awards ceremony on September 13 at the Ryman Auditorium. Deer Tick, The Steel Woods, Travis Meadows and Paul Cauthen will make first-time appearances during the festival, while Turnpike Troubadours, The Mavericks and Old Crow Medicine Show will make triumphant returns. For a complete list of All Eyes Media artists’ schedules during Americana week, click HERE.
Jason Isbell
“…arguably the finest songwriter putting pen to paper these days…” – Associated Press
Performing at the Honors & Awards Show on September 13
Multi-Americana Award, two-time Grammy Award winner and current CMA Album of the Year nominee Jason Isbell, and his mighty band The 400 Unit, released the highly-acclaimed new album The Nashville Sound in June. The album has already sold over 100,000 copies debuting at #1 on the Rock, Country, Independent and Folk Albums charts while reaching #4 overall on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The Nashville Sound received wide-ranging critical praise (View HIGHLIGHTS), with multiple TV appearances, including The Daily Show, Charlie Rose, CBS Saturday and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Catch Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit on Jimmy Kimmel Live on September 19 and a return appearance onAustin City Limits later this year.
Amanda Shires
“The First Lady of Americana gives husband Jason Isbell a run for his money with her first solo album in three years…
she occupies the middle ground between heartland rock and otherworldly folk, wielding a voice that coos, croons and packs a quiet punch.” – Rolling Stone Country
Performing at the Honors & Awards Show on September 13
Official Showcase: Saturday, September 16 The Station Inn @ 9:00 PM
Singer/songwriter/violinist Amanda Shires has been busy touring in support of her recent album, My Piece Of Land, which was released last year. My Piece Of Land was recorded with award-winning producer Dave Cobb, and garnered accolades from outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Texas Monthly, Huffington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Shires contemplates love, fear, stability, self-esteem, and even anxiety, on the album, which she beautifully articulates through her thoughtful lyrics and emotive vocals. Amanda Shires is featured on the cover of this week’s Nashville Scene and she recently taped her debut national TV appearance on Austin City Limits to air later this year.
Deer Tick
“…Deer Tick [is] firmly on an exalted timeline of bands that don’t just exist between genres, but effortlessly transcend them by simply having fun.” – Magnet
Official Showcases: Wednesday, September 13
Mercy Lounge (Electric Set) @ Midnight
Thursday, September 14
The Station Inn (Acoustic Set) @ Midnight
On Friday, September 15, the beloved Providence, RI band Deer Tick will release their first new music in four years with the highly-anticipated release of two albums, Deer Tick Vol. 1 and Deer Tick Vol. 2. The two albums complement each other yet reflect completely contrasting styles, both of which represent the bands two distinctive musical personalities — roots inspired (Vol. 1) and rock/punk infused (Vol. 2). Deer Tick will make their first-ever appearance during Americana week with two different shows on consecutive nights, each reflecting the style of the albums. Deer Tick Vol. 1 and Deer Tick Vol. 2 premiered at Consequence of Sound on Friday, Sept. 8.
Turnpike Troubadours
“The Turnpike Troubadours are the real deal…” – American Songwriter
Official Showcase: Friday, September 15
Cannery Ballroom @ 11:30 PM
Acclaimed Oklahoma roots-rock powerhouse Turnpike Troubadours will make their long-overdue return to the festival. The band will play a big headlining gig on Friday night, just over a month ahead of their new album A Long Way From Your Heart (Out October 20). The album is filled with vivid character sketches and working-class narratives about resilience during hard times. A Long Way From Your Heart is an album that is immediately accessible, yet continues to reveal itself upon deeper listening. The album was produced and engineered by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers). Turnpike Troubadours have become a live phenomenon, averaging sell-outs of 1000–4000 nightly throughout the country.
Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
“As Moorer and Lynne both soar, their majestically synched sadness manages to make keeping an eye on life’s dimmer switch sound positively heroic.” – Variety
Presenting at the Honors & Awards Show on September 13
Official Showcase: Thursday, September 14
Downtown Presbyterian Church @ 7:00 PM
Critically acclaimed artists and sisters Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer recently released their first album together, Not Dark Yet on August 18. Produced by Teddy Thompson and recorded in Los Angeles, the album provides a potent look at the sisters’ individual and collective artistry through eclectic song choices from writers ranging from the Louvin Brothers and Nick Cave to Kurt Cobain and Jessie Colter. Not Dark Yet has been met with critical acclaim, with coverage from outlets including The New York Times, NPR Music, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, Associated Press and many more. Not Dark Yetis no ordinary collaboration but rather a celebration of something that has always been, two voices becoming one and finding a home within each other.
The Mavericks
“It’s such wild musical journeys that make classifying The Mavericks a futile endeavor,
even after eight albums.” – Rolling Stone
Presenting at the Honors & Awards Show on September 13
Official Showcase: Tuesday, September 12
Sin City/Guitartown AMA Kick-Off Party
Basement East @ 10:30 PM
Grammy Award and 2015 Americana Duo/Group of the Year winners, The Mavericks return to Americana week with their one-of-a-kind blend of rock, Latino, folk, blues, country and more. In March, the band released their celebrated new album Brand New Day on their own Mono Mundo Recordings. The album received critical praise (see HIGHLIGHTS) and reached the #1 spot on the American Radio Chart. Considered by many to be one of the most original American bands, The Mavericks just kicked off their nationwide tour in support of the album (Tour Dates). Earlier this year, lead singer/songwriter Raul Malo traveled to his parent’s native Cuba, to shoot and host the upcoming PBS Great Performances special Havana Time Machine, airing on October 6. The special features Malo touring highlights around Havana, while interviewing, and performing with some of the country’s beloved artists as well as with The Mavericks.
Old Crow Medicine Show
‘“Through the lens of Old Crow’s rowdy old-time aesthetic, Dylan’s vividly wordy, mood-swing masterpiece gets a potent injection of front-porch rawness.” – The Washington Post
Performing at the Honors & Awards Show on September 13
Official Performances:
World Premiere Of “50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde” Film
Tuesday, September 12 – Belcourt Theatre @ 7:15 PM
Performing at Americanarama X
Saturday, September 16 – Grimey’s @ 5:00 PM
Grammy award-winning ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show has been touring nationally in support of 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde, their re-creation of Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde album, which was recently released on Columbia. 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde was recorded live at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, coinciding with an exhibit that explored Dylan’s time in Nashville, “Dylan, Cash & The Nashville Cats: A New Music City”. On September 15, Columbia will be releasing the DVD 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde The Concert, which captures the band’s high-octane performance, passion and excitement for this iconic album. Old Crow Medicine Show has a busy week planned during AMA and all details can be found on our master schedule.
The Steel Woods
“Southern rock is having a moment right now, and this group of ruffians reminds everyone why the genre is one of the best forms of American music.” – Rolling Stone Country
Official Showcase: Tuesday, September 12
The Basement @ 9:00 PM
Nashville-based unit The Steel Woods are a musical force making quite a name for themselves following the May release of their debut album Straw In The Wind. Their rapidly growing fanbase is a direct result of their commanding live performances that feature an amalgam of influences with a solid foundation in Southern rock. Their music is a hybrid of rock, blues, folk, gospel, metal, Americana, soul and bluegrass. The songs on Straw In The Windare filled with narratives of cautionary tales, regret, revenge, philosophical questioning, lovers and dreamers. The press has taken note, as the band received coverage in Rolling Stone Country (“10 New Country Artists You Need To Know”), Associated Press, Magnet, American Songwriter and more. Their genre-blending sound is equally as old school as it is contemporary, while remaining unquestionably timeless.
Travis Meadows
“There are honest country-music songwriters in Nashville, and then there’s Travis Meadows, a writer who can’t help but shine a light on his darkest flaws and ugliest demons.” – Rolling Stone Country
Performing at Douglas Corner on Saturday, September 16 @ 9:00 PM
*Note ~ not an AMA sanctioned event
Acclaimed hit songwriter Travis Meadows will release First Cigarette on October 13 via Blaster Records. Meadows is recognized by his peers as an incredible songwriter and unforgettable live performer, but his compelling personal story and how it shapes his music is equally, if not more, powerful. To quote a line from Meadows that sums up his story, “I’m an orphan who turned into a preacher, a preacher who turned into a songwriter, a songwriter who turned into a drunk, and a drunk that is learning to be a human being.” First Cigarette was produced by long-time friend/songwriter Jeremy Spillman and award-winning producer Jay Joyce. Meadows’ story of survival and success is inspirational, and his songwriting and delivery connects deeply to those who have listened. Hear Travis Meadows evoke Springsteen in the new song “Pray for Jungleland” via Rolling Stone Country. (Click HERE).
Mary Gauthier
“…her razor-sharp eye for detail and her commitment to unsentimental self-reflection puts her in a class with greats such as Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and yes, Bob Dylan.” – Los Angeles Times
Official Showcase: Saturday, September 16
The Bluebird Cafe @ 6:00 PM
“SongwritingWith:Soldiers + The Women”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier has received countless accolades for over a decade for the seven studio albums she has released. Her songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffet, Blake Shelton and Candi Staton to name a few, and most recently Bobby Bare Sr. cut two of her songs on his latest album Things Change. Mary’s last album Trouble & Love (2014) received glowing coverage from a variety of national press outlets as well as an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. Those who have seen and heard Mary Gauthier know that she is one of the most powerful and honest songwriters of our generation, and a unique and fearless voice in Americana music, or any genre. Mary will be releasing new music in 2018, and we will be announcing more details soon.
Paul Cauthen
“This promising, outlaw-style solo debut makes the Tyler native sound like the Highwaymen all rolled into one:
he’s got Willie’s phrasing, Johnny’s haggard quiver, Kristofferson’s knack for storytelling, and Waylon’s baritone.” – Texas Monthly
Official Showcase: Friday, September 15
The Basement @ Midnight
Described by Rolling Stone as a triple-barreled blast of Texas country, soul and holy-roller rock-a-billy, Paul Cauthen has been turning heads over the last year in support of his debut album My Gospel. A personal and artistic triumph for Cauthen following his departure from acclaimed duo Sons Of Fathers, My Gospel was produced by Beau Bedford and recorded in multiple studios across the country, including Willie Nelson’s Arlyn Studios in Austin and FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. For a taste of Cauthen’s electric energy and live performance, check out his performance of the song “Hanging Out On The Line” HERE. Cauthen recently unveiled a headlining Fall tour, and will have a new video for the fan favorite “Saddle” coming soon.