AmericanaFest

Now in its 23rd year, AmericanaFest in Nashville was a celebration of anniversaries. 50 years since that landmark year for popular music - 1973; 25 years since the release of Lucinda Williams' masterpiece, 'Car Wheels On A Gravel Road'; 60 years of Fame Studios from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the big one, the 100th heavenly birthday of the Hillbilly Shakespeare himself, Hank Williams. All these anniversaries were celebrated in righteous style throughout the week of the festival.

Coming in at under $100 dollars for an early bird ticket, AmericanaFest offers extraordinary value for five days and nights of amazing gigs, parties, talks and seminars.

The festival kicked off with a tribute to Rick Hall's Fame Studios (Shine A Light! Fame Recording Studios 60th Anniversary Bash). An array of bands with guest vocalists performed songs by the likes of Otis Redding, Mac Davis, Candi Staton, Tony Joe White, Clarence Carter, Aretha Franklin and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Following the Fame celebrations at Basement East, it was off to a Nashville institution, Honky Tonk Tuesdays at the American Legion Post 82, where all the cognoscenti from the Americana scene appeared to be gathered. The venue, akin to a British Legion club here in England, played host to the Cow Pokes, who delivered wonderful traditional country music to a packed dance floor of two steppers and jivers.

Wednesday is always the set piece of the festival with the Americana Honours and Awards show at the Ryman auditorium (the mother church of country music). The likes of Bonnie Raitt, War and Treaty, The Milk Carton Kids, The Avett Brothers, The McCrary Sisters, Margo Price and soul great, Bettye LaVette, performed with a crack house band led by Don Was and guitar great, Buddy Miller.

This year's award winners in the following categories were:

Album of the year: Tyler Childers - Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?
Artist of the Year: Billy Strings
Emerging Act of the Year: S.G. Goodman
Song of the Year: Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That
Instrumentalist of the year - Sista Strings

Following the awards show, it seemed like everyone hotfooted it down to 3rd and Lindsley for queen of outlaw country, Jessi Colter, performing with Margo Price's band. A host of guests, including Margo herself, joined Jessi for a rousing rendition of her classic Mickey Newbury penned, 'Why You Been Gone So Long?' Preceding Jessie was Jesse Dayton with his unique blend of country, punk, soul and rockabilly. Famed for his soundtrack work for the horror maestro, Rob Zombie, Jesse wowed the audience with his classics, 'Daddy Was A Bad Ass' and 'May Have To Do It (Don't Have To Like It)'. His band behind him was on fire!

Early Thursday afternoon was one of the delights of the week, for the 100th birthday celebrations of the Godfather, Hank Williams, at The Country Music Hall of Fame Theatre. Led by an all-star band featuring Chris Scruggs and Kenny Vaughan from The Fabulous Superlatives, an array of country music legends, including Lyle Lovett, Charlie McCoy, Brennen Leigh, Suzy Bogguss, Delbert McClinton and Hank Williams IV, each performed one Hank classic each. The entire ensemble returned to the stage for a rousing rendition of 'Jambalaya'. Hank would have been proud.

Another AmericanaFest institution is DJ and country music wild man, Mojo Nixon, with his Music City Mayhem at Robert's Western World on Lower Broadway (the best bar in the world). Sara Gayle Meech and her Meech Boys were backing the cream of Alt Country, Blues and Soul including, Chuck Meade, Jessie Coulter, Jesse Dayton, Bobby Rush, Summer Dean, and Brennen Leigh. The highlight, though, had to be Norman Greenbaum singing his classic world wide smash hit, 'Spirit In The Sky'. Robert's on a Thursday afternoon at AmericanFest is always such fun. If you have never heard of Mojo Nixon check out his video, 'Elvis Is Everywhere'.

Thursday evening was spent at the wonderful Retro Bowling Alley, Eastside Bowl, to watch the Jive Sisters, featuring the guest harmonica of Brian Hurd from Daddy Long Legs and Chuck Mead and his band performing a high octane rock and roll set.

Every year at AmericanaFest you can always count on seeing someone you have never previously heard of stealing the show. This year it was the turn of Eddie 9V (Eddie 9 Volt). Eddie has been making something of a name for himself in the blues scene, wowing all types of audiences with his searing Freddie King-style approach to guitar and his original retro/soul songs. His mix of Blues and Southern Soul was indeed incendiary.

Friday started off with a talk and seminar about the Sam Phillips recording studio in Memphis and Sun records founder, Sam Phillips. The talk was led by Sam Phillips' son, Jerry Phillips, and Chuck Mead told great tales of his father (who had a banjo and accordion-driven hillbilly band) and Elvis Presley, along with Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Charlie Rich.

Friday evening proved to be the highlight of the festival, 50 years since 1973 at Basement East. An all star band with a multitude of guest vocalists each performed one song from the eponymous year, 4 hours of some of the greatest music ever recorded. Some of the songs covered included David Bowie's 'The Jean Genie', T-Rex's '20th Century Boy', Wings' 'Let Me Roll It', Steve Miller's 'The Joker', Ike and Tina Turner's 'Nutbush City Limits,' Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On', Charlie Rich's 'Behind Closed Doors', Dobie Gray, 'Drift Away', The Rolling Stones' 'Angie', Elton John's 'Daniel', Brownsville Station's 'Smoking In The Boys Room', Pink Floyd's 'Money', and Black Oak Arkansas' 'We're An American Band'. The house band - about 15 strong - accompanied by backing singers and horns, finished the night with a rousing version of 'Free Bird'. Not for the first time I thought the roof was gonna come off Basement East! If music is just recorded noise, what glorious noise was made in 1973.

Saturday afternoon marked the 25th anniversary celebration of Lucinda Williams' masterpiece, 'Car Wheels On A Gravel Road'. The great lady was in the house for this wonderful show. Fabulous Nashville bands, Lady Couch and Them Vibes, opened proceedings and then a composite band of the two, with guest vocalists, performed the album in its entirety. As Lucinda once sang, "There's a wall between us, but it's not what it seems / It's only made of concrete and barbed wire'. Musical and lyrical literacy delivered with great aplomb.

We closed out Saturday night, as so often, at Robert's Western World watching the great Brandon Birkedahl perform country classics until 2am. Bang for your buck, AmericanaFest cannot be topped. A wonderful celebration of the melting pot of Americana's influences including roots, folk, country, blues and soul-based music. Each year, AmericanaFest brings together legendary artists, the next generation of rising stars, fans, and industry professionals for multiple days of music and education. Throw in sponsored day time events with free food and drink, famed southern hospitality and you are set. The weather is always fabulous, but I guess the sun always shines on the righteous.