The UK’s annual celebration of Americana and Roots music, UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, returns to Hackney in London from 22nd – 25th January 2024. Themed Growing Our Roots in Americana, the week’s activities will include an array of showcases, industry panels and special events, all rounded off by the UK Americana Awards Show, next year returning to its spiritual home of St Johns, Hackney. The Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) has revealed the nominations for the eight panel and member-voted categories of the UK Americana Awards 2024, and also the winner of the coveted International Trailblazer Award, presented by the AMA-UK board: Jason Isbell. Shining a spotlight on new talent, this year’s Emerging Artist Award selected by Bob Harris OBE will go to Jonny Morgan. Speaking about his choice, Bob Harris OBE said: “I have been at the heart of the Americana Music Association UK from day one and I am so proud to be a part of such a warm and creative community. My Emerging Artist of the Year 2024 is Jonny Morgan and I cannot wait to introduce him onstage at the awards. It’s going to be an amazing night.” The AMA-UK Grass Roots Award, recognising the sometimes-unsung heroes of the UK Americana scene, will be given in 2024 to Stevie Smith, former CEO of the Americana Music Association UK, who stepped down earlier this year.
On Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th January, an eclectic programme of daytime talks and panels will be followed by an extensive UK and international showcase programme across five stages in Hackney both evenings. The awards themselves will take place on Thursday 25th January at St John’s Hackney. For the first time in 2024, UK Americana Week is the feature event in a month of music for Americana and Roots fans in London, with shows running from mid-January through to February at various venues across the capital, which includes:
12/01 Tommy Emmanuel with special guest Molly Tuttle at Cadogan Hall – sold out
19/01 Milk Carton Kids at The Barbican
26/01 Darlingside at Lafayette
26/01 Drew Holcombe at The Garage
27/01 Teddy Thompson at Cadogan Hall
28/01 Israel Nash at Oslo
30/01 Allison Russell at Lafayette
31/01 Noah Guthrie at St Pancras Old Church
02/02 Dave Hause and Will Hoge at Union Chapel
06/02 The Wood Brothers at Lafayette
Announcing the Association’s plans for 2024, Acting CEO Charlie Pierce said: “It was with great pleasure (and a few nerves) that I stepped into the role of Acting CEO in September. I was able to spend the first week of my tenure at AmericanaFest in Nashville, supporting our UK contingent and being with our wider global community. I returned to London full of inspiration for where we can take Americana Music UK in the coming years. We’ve watched the incredible rise of Country music here in the UK over the last few years and, alongside this, the surge in popularity of Americana and, more broadly, Roots music. Following a hugely successful event in January 2023, now is the moment to focus on growing our strong roots in Americana and bringing our talented artists to a new and bigger audience. A big thanks must go to our returning headline sponsors, Sweet Home Alabama along with all of our supporters and sponsors – and talent – who make this wonderful event possible for our community.
Commenting on the continuing partnership with AMA-UK, Andy Facer, Account Director UK & Ireland for the Alabama Tourism Department said: “We are delighted to partner with the Americana Music Association UK for another year and Powering the UK Americana Music Week as the headline sponsor. Alabama plays an integral role in shaping the landscape of Americana music. By sponsoring the UK Americana Music Week, The Alabama Tourism Department aims to bridge the geographical gap, inviting enthusiasts to experience the authentic charm of the state’s musical culture.”
UK Americana Awards 2024 nominations:
UK Album of the Year
Far From Saints – Far From Saints
Michele Stodart – Invitation
Roseanne Reid – Lawside
Ward Thomas – Music In The Madness
International Album of the Year
Allison Russell – ‘The Returner’
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – ‘Strangers No More’
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – ‘Weathervanes’
Margo Cilker – ‘Valley of Heart’s Delight’
UK Song of the Year
Hannah White – “Chains of Ours”
Kirsten Adamson – “My Father’s Songs”
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys – “High Time”
St Catherine’s Child – “Every Generation”
International Song of the Year
Chris Stapleton – “White Horse”
Maren Morris – “The Tree”
Margo Price – “Radio”
Noah Kahan – “Stick Season”
UK Artist of the Year
Cardinal Black
Elles Bailey
Hannah White
Michele Stodart
International Artist of the Year
Allison Russell
Jason Isbell
Lucinda Williams
War & Treaty
UK Instrumentalist of the Year
Holly Carter
Joe Coombs
Joe Harvey White
Keiron Marshall
UK Live Act of the Year
Elles Bailey
Far From Saints
Ferris & Sylvester
Frank Turner
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys
The Hanging Stars
Isreal Nash gig now at the Garage not the Oslo
Great to see my friend Holly Carter nominated again in the Instrumentalist category. Would have been nice to see The Black Feathers get in there too somewhere ……………….. Next year?
When will the programme be released for the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Thanks