Marshall Chapman Archives

Americana Music Festival opening night: Spanning the decades

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.

Americana Music Festival announces artists

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.”