Americana Music Festival in Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee is known for country music. The Grand Ole Opry, honky tonks, Hee Haw, the Country Music Association, the pretty blonde girl du jour on American Idol – we have Nashville to thank for them all. But in fact, deep down, Nashville harbors a more eclectic soul. While the mere mention of Nashville might conjure thoughts of what I call “big hair” country music, the Athens of the South sits at the epicenter of one of today’s most quickly expanding genres: Americana.

The sound is so big, in fact, that Americana received its own music festival and major awards show in the heart of Nashville just 8 years ago. Fix your hair, well, however you like, and head to Nashville this September for the Americana Music Festival and Conference.

Truth be told, I don’t like the label “Americana”, which to me always reads old-fashioned, even kitschy, and Americana music is anything but. I much prefer the less defined but more accurate label “Alternative Country” or “Alt-Country”. Americana is a movement to expand the sound of country music without becoming pop or, for the love of all that is good, whatever this is.

Americana fuses more traditional Nashville country western with rock & roll, bluegrass, American folk, and even punk if you look hard enough. I like it, because it’s young. While the form has been embraced by several generations of musicians, alt-country is dominated by young artists who have chosen not to regurgitate the same old ditties for another 20 years. It’s like the country music version of the early 90s grunge revolution. It’s fresh, it’s exciting, it’s different!

And there’s no better place to learn all about it. The Americana Music Festival and Conference in Nashville, TN is already one of the most anticipated events in this sonically inclined city. In just four short days, the festival packs in over 100 performances by up-and-coming alt-country superstars as well as seasoned acts and legends who no doubt provided the inspiration. And that’s just at night.

During the day, the Americana Music Conference is a place for alt-country acts, or their management really, to come together, meet and greet, wheel and deal. Plus there are seminars, panels and so much more that an aspiring Americana group can use.

Honestly, unless you plan on starting a group yourself, the conference really isn’t for you. Four days of terrific music, however, most certainly is. A single festival wristband, $50, gets you access to every venue, every night. The hard part will be deciding just which venue to choose. On a given night you’ll have anywhere from four to six options, so weigh the choice carefully. View the schedule.

The highlight of the Americana Music Festival might be the Americana Honors & Awards Show at historic Ryman Auditorium. I think the Americana Music Association (AMA) still needs to get with the scene a little bit and stop handing out all the awards to the older acts, but doubtless the show is always a good time. And it’s rare that the public has the chance to attend such an event. Tickets are still on sale and cost $55.

The Americana Music Festival will be held September 8-11, 2010 throughout Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more.

Have fun at the 2010 Americana Music Festival and Conference in Nashville!

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