We’re getting pretty close now to that much anticipated annual event – the Americana Music Association UK’s annual conference including the ever popular showcase evenings and Awards Show. It all kicks-off on Monday 22nd with a launch party at Night Tales in Hackney, presented by Sweet Home Alabama & Thirty Tigers. This will feature music from the Northern Cowboys and a special line-up of previous AMA-UK award winners and nominees, celebrating 10 years of Jason Isbell’s seminal album ‘Southeastern‘.
There then follows two days of conference by day – with informative and interactive daytime panels and talks – and two nights of music at four venues around Hackney – Night Tales, Moth Club, Oslo and Paper Dress Vintage. The daytime conference includes highlights such as an In Conversation interview with International Trailblazer Award winner Jason Isbell and the UK exclusive premiere of ‘Finding Lucinda‘, a fascinating documentary film which takes viewers on a heartfelt journey through the life and early career of iconic US singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.
The Evening Showcases will feature more than 50 artists each performing short sets – and the one thing you can guarantee is that all your personal favourites will clash…and that’s part of the fun. Hmm… the artists list reads a bit like last year’s Track section…no bad thing…
The Showcases will as usual feature two nights of Canadian artists at Moth Club, always tempting, and this year has on Tuesday Joce Reyome, Quote The Raven, Irish Mythen, Kellie Loder, Shaun Ferguson, and Villages and then on Wednesday The Redhill Valleys, Aysanabee, Kyle McKearney, Amanda Rheaume, Jesse Roper and Leonard Sumner.
Thursday night will see the AMA-UK Awards, held this year at Hackney Church. It’ll be a star studded event as usual with Jason Isbell, Billy Bragg, Margo Cilker, Drew Holcomb, Elles Bailey, St Catherine’s Child, Michele Stodart, Jonny Morgan, and Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys among the live performers. Alongside the Awards presentations there will also be a multi-artist tribute to 2024’s International Lifetime Achievement winner, the legendary American singer-songwriter, musician and producer Dan Penn.
This will, of course, be followed by the legendary debauchery of the conference after party – where the great and the good of the Americana scene let their hair down (some literally, some metaphorically) and no tales get told…
Tickets are available here for whichever level of participation you may be looking for.
This year, the AMA-UK conference sits in the middle of a season of top-notch Americana gigs at venues across London, so really the music never stops with gigs at these fine locations:
19/01 – Milk Carton Kids at The Barbican
20/01 – Ashley McBryde at Eventim Apollo
26/01 – Darlingside at Lafayette
26/01 – Drew Holcomb 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
11/02 – Transatlantic Sessions featuring Carlene Carter, Jerry Douglas and more at Royal Festival Hall
14 & 15/02 – Noah Kahan at OVO Arena Wembley
15/02 – Al Lewis at St Pancras Old Church
21/02 – Rhiannon Giddens, Barbican Hall
21 & 22/02 – Tyler Childers at Eventim Apollo
