Tag: Connie Smith

Americana Music Festival opening night: Spanning the decades

 in Americana Music Festival

The reunited Foster and Lloyd

There’s plenty of time-tripping to be done tonight as the Americana Music Festival opens in Nashville.

It’s a measure of the genre’s wide embrace that performers who first hit their stride in every decade since the ’60s – and songs that were written years before that – are in the mix of showcase performances.

At the Rutledge at 9 p.m., country music legend Connie Smith will perform. She had her first number one record in 1963 with “Once A Day” and just released a new album, “Long Line of Heartaches.”

Marshall Chapman, playing at 8 p.m. at the Station Inn, began her recording career in 1977, and has long been one of Nashville’s most respected and irreverent songwriters and storytellers. Some of her performances include readings from her very entertaining books. The latest is “They Came To Nashville.”

The reunited Foster and Lloyd (pictured) emerged in the mid-’80s, when they brought a fresh sound to country music with songs like “Crazy Over You” and “What Do You Want From Me This Time?” Their new album “It’s Already Tomorrow” may be their best.

You get the idea. Just look at the line-up at the Cannery Ballroom tonight. From the Muscle Shoals tribute to The Blind Boys of Alabama (founded in 1939), to the very contemporary breakout duo The Civil Wars, the bill and the festival cut a wide swath across American music.

Preview: Americana Music Festival 2011 in Nashville

 in Americana Music Festival

The 2011 Americana Music Festival lights up Nashville this
week, bringing a remarkably diverse and talented range of artists to the city’s venues.
And of course, it also prompts the question: “What is
Americana music?”
Peter Cooper of the Tennessean took a stab at it in 2003:

American music is “country music that is too rooted and true for contemporary country radio programmers. Twangy music that draws from blues, folk and rock forms. Music with smart and
literary lyrics that can be more layered and “difficult” than most
radio fare. Or maybe it would be simpler to say that what they mean is ‘Johnny Cash Music.’

Not bad. That description holds up well today. The biggest change over the years has been a broadening of the genre by the Americana Music Association and radio programmers, inviting more alternative folk performers and storied rock artists into the tent.
That means you’ll see country legend Connie Smith at 9 p.m.
at the Rutledge and emerging folk duo The Civil Wars at the Cannery Ballroom two hours later. You’ll hear the rootsy Knoxville band the Black Lillies one night, and Bobby Keys, saxophonist for the Rolling Stones the next.

Among the performers scheduled for the Americana Music
Festival, which runs from Oct. 12-15:

– The Jayhawks
– North Mississippi AllStars
– Elizabeth Cook
– Keb’ Mo’
-The Bottle Rockets
– Foster and Lloyd
– John Oates
– Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
– Marty Stuart
– Blind Boys of Alabama
– Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
– Hayes Carll

The highlight of the week is the Americana Americana Honors and Awards Show, scheduled for the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 13. The show recognizes the best in Americana music and always features stellar performances. This year the show will be broadcast live
for the first time on Nashville Public Television. An edited version will be featured on Nov. 19 on Austin City Limits.

Ticket information for the week’s showcases available at the Americana Music Association website.
You’ll find schedules for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Sun209.

Americana Music Festival schedule: Wednesday, Oct. 12

 in Americana Music Festival

Sun209: The Americana Music Journal will be providing extensive coverage of the Americana Music Festival in Nashville all week. Here’s a quick look at opening night:

7 pm Music City Roots at the Loveless Barn, featuring Grayson Capps, The Wilders, Elephant Revival, The Milk Carton Kids, and Scott Miller and Mic Harrison of the V-Roys

The Basement

8 pm Brian Wright
9 pm The Greencards
10 pm Lake Street Dive
11 pm The Dirt Daubers

The Station Inn
8 pm Marshall Chapman
9 pm The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore
10 pm Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
11 pm Peter Rowan

The Rutledge

8:15 pm Marty Stuart

9 pm Connie Smith

10 pm Mountain Heart

11 pm David Mayfield Parade

The Mercy Lounge

8 pm The Gourds

9 pm Kenny Vaughan

10 pm Foster and Lloyd

11 pm Hayes Carll

The Cannery Ballroom

8 pm Muscle Shoals Tribute

10 pm Blind Boys of Alabama

11 pm The Civil Wars

Americana Music Festival announces artists

 in Americana Music

The Americana Music Festival, scheduled for Oct.12-15, 2011 in Nashville, is unveiling more details about the performances:
From the AMA’s press release:
“More than 100 of the genres’ trailblazers and rising stars will perform in the talent packed showcases that draw music lovers from all over the world. Among the first round of artists announced are: Gurf Morlix, Foster & Lloyd, JD Souther, Will Hoge, Elizabeth Cook, Marty Stuart and Marshall Chapman. They’ll be joined by buzz-worthy up and coming acts The Civil Wars, Amy LaVere, The Farewell Drifters, Catherine Britt and The David Mayfield Parade along with others listed below.
Festival Showcase Artists confirmed to play so far include:
Amy LaVere ~ Black Lillies ~ Blackie and the Rodeo Kings ~ The Bottle Rockets ~ Carrie Rodriguez ~ Catherine Britt ~ The Civil Wars ~ Connie Smith ~ The David Mayfield Parade ~ David Wax Museum ~ The Dirt Daubers ~ Elephant Revival ~ Elizabeth Cook ~ The Farewell Drifters ~ Foster & Lloyd ~ The Gourds ~ Grayson Capps ~ The Greencards ~ Gurf Morlix ~ Hymn for Her ~ Ian McLagan ~ The Jayhawks ~ JD Souther ~ John Oates ~ Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison ~ Kenny Vaughan ~ Lake Street Dive ~ Lera Lynn~ Malcolm Holcombe~ Marshall Chapman ~ Marty Stuart ~ Matraca Berg ~ New Country Rehab ~ North Mississippi Allstars ~ Patrick Sweany ~ Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three ~ Tim Easton ~ Tommy Womack & the Rush to Judgment ~ The Vespers ~ Will Hoge~ Will Kimbrough and more tba.”