Beginning with the Honors & Awards show next Wednesday at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the Americana Music Association’s AmericanaFest will infuse Nashville, with a conference and panels by day and over 215 showcases from the genre’s finest by night, across 14 venues throughout the city. Conference registration and wristband purchase are still available here.
The week kicks off with the Honors & Awards, featuring performances from Bob Weir to George Strait – the first time the two have ever shared a stage – as well as Billy Bragg, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Joe Henry, Jason Isbell, Alison Krauss, Jim Lauderdale, The Lumineers, Milk Carton Kids, Buddy Miller, Parker Millsap, John Moreland, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bonnie Raitt, and Lucinda Williams.
Confirmed presenters for the Honors & Awards Show include Jack Ingram, Timothy B. Schmit, Taylor Goldsmith, Wynonna Judd, the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, Bruce Hornsby and Joe Henry, with more presenters to be announced soon.
In addition to the annual “of the year” nominees on the program, the 2016 Honors & Awards Show will include this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honorees: Bob Weir, Jim Lauderdale, William Bell, Billy Bragg, and Shawn Colvin, and will pay tribute posthumously to the great Woody Guthrie.
For those not able to attend, a live video stream will be available from NPR.org, and live audio will stream on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country station as well as local stations in Nashville.
Check out the mobile app as well for a complete schedule.