So here we go again – as is tradition, on our last day of publishing for the year, we can share with you the results of this year’s readers poll in which hundreds of you voted for your favourite stuff from the last 12 months. This year we ditched the hero and villain of the year categories as a few people had commented they were bored of them but then a few (presumably different) people commented this year that they wanted them back, so who knows what we’ll do next year. We did get some nice comments as always from some of you, including one who said “The best Americana web site by far is not even in America!” which is very kind, please don’t tell you know who or you might pay 300% tariffs just to read our content. Anyway, without further ado, here are this year’s winners.
Best Americana Act of 2025: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
2. The Delines, 3. Dean Owens, 4. Kassi Valazza, 5. Mavis Staples
For the fourth year running, the ex-Drive by Trucker is along with the 400 Unit our number one artist of the year, in a year in which he released a studio album which didn’t actually make our writers’ list – more on that shortly. Isbell and his band return to our shores next year for a series of dates but played some solo gigs at the start of this year including a date at the Barbican which AUK’s Jon Aird covered for the site, saying “Isbell, over the 90 minutes or so of the gig, had demonstrated his undoubted prowess – one person holding a big room in thrall is not so easy, but that’s what he did. Here’s to the next time – be it band or solo – Isbell has deservedly carved a big place for himself.” As Jon noted, Jason Isbell is demonstrably one of the shining lights of Americana – if someone wants to know what Americana is then you point at the totality of his musical output and just say “that“. There’s the reinvention of Southern Rock by The Drive-By Truckers, there’s his own take on rock with the 400 Unit and there’s his solo albums with their own more acoustic rock vibe which leans into a “classic” rock singer-songwriter style. Oh, and being on occasion Justin Townes Earle’s lead guitarist, and supporting Jerry Joseph, and… so much more. Simply – Jason Isbell has become one of the keystones of the Americana music movement.
Best Album of 2024: Jason Isbell “Foxes in the Snow”
2. Kathleen Edwards “Billionaire”, 3. The Delines “Mr Luck and Ms Doom”, 4. Dean Owens “Spirit Ridge”, 5. James McMurtry “The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy”
A double-whammy for Isbell this year as he not only scoops the artist of the year with his band but album of the year too for his first solo acoustic record, a format where the songs need to speak for themselves. As we noted at the time, it was recorded over five days in New York City at the Jimi Hendrix-founded Electric Lady Studios, and all we hear in addition to Isbell’s voice is his all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar, which means an extra challenge to him as a songwriter in that there is no storming band performance or studio wizardry to paper over any cracks. Reviewing “Foxes in the Snow” on its release, AUK’s Richard Parkinson commented ““Foxes In The Snow” feels like a transitional album perhaps pointing a new way for Isbell as an artist. With foundations in the present as a well as the distant and near past, it’s a solid collection of songs albeit without a standout matching the best of his work” which might explain its absence from our writers’ choices. However it still resonated for you the readers, over and above any other album released in 2025.
Best UK artist of 2025: Dean Owens
2. Lady Nade, 3. Sorrel Nation, 4. Peter Bruntnell, 5. Brown Horse
Not sure we have ever had this run with an artist and one category for all the years we have been running AUK before but once again Dean Owens walks away with the best UK artist category, well deserved as always. Dean was performing in places like Australia, Netherlands and Italy over the course of of 2025 but released his latest album “Spirit Ridge” at the start of the year, recorded at Don Antonio’s Crinale Studios with a band of local musicians and guest appearances from Calexico’s John Convertino, Tom Hagerman and Martin Wenk. We described it glowingly as “very much a continuation of the path that Owens has been on for several years, drawing on the strengths of the musicians he’s working with as well as the surroundings to enhance his songs and his own performances.”
Dean told us: “Wow! I am even more shocked than any of the last four years to hear that I have been voted Americana UK Artist of the Year, for the fifth year running. It’s crazy! I feel very honoured to receive this award again and very, very grateful to everyone who voted for me, especially in a year where I wasn’t as active in the UK as I’d like to have been. I also want to thank all the incredible musicians I’ve had working with me, especially Craig Ross, Adam McMillan and Pip Cardwell aka The Sinners. I’m so lucky to have these guys with me as my band. I can’t wait to record a brand new album with them in 2026. Also, a big thank you to my manager, Morag Neil, for all her support and to Jacky Pankhurst for joining the team. I’d like to dedicate this award to the memory of my late friend, the mighty Raul Malo of The Mavericks, who passed away recently. Here’s to a lovely Christmas and good New Year. Peace and love to all.”
Best radio show of 2025: Bob Harris Country, BBC Radio 2
2. Mike Ritchie on Sunday, 3. Richard Leader’s American Pie, 4. Another Country with Ricky Ross, 5. Ralph McLean
If Dean Owen has won a category five times, we have literally now lost track of the amount of times Bob Harris has won the best radio show category – whether it’s for his Saturday show in day’s gone past or in recent years his country show which continues to be essential listening every Thursday evening and one of the few places on mainstream radio you’ll hear regular airtime given to americana as a genre. Bob told us: “I am absolutely thrilled to hear this news. Thank you to everyone who has voted for the show. I love doing it so much and it’s fantastic to know my work is appreciated. Thank you to the Country Show team Mark Hagen and Paul Mann and thank you to Radio 2 for supporting the music we love.” And thank you Bob – Long may your reign continue!
As ever, please share your own choices for the year in the comments below. Thanks for taking part everyone.
When is the Americana Awards Ceremony taking place?
I can find nothing about it.
The company Americana Music Association UK Limited is showing up at Companies House as being in the process of being struck off which would suggest the UK organisation is defunct. This would explain the absence of any 2026 January event. The interpretation is surmise on my part.
Just to be clear too, we are not the same organisation