The third annual UK Americana Awards will take place on Thursday 1st February 2018 at Hackney Empire, a move to a larger venue due to the increasing popularity of the event, and AUK will of course be there covering it. The Americana Music Association UK has chosen Robert Plant to receive its highest honour, the 2018 UK Americana Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his contribution to the Americana genre over the span of his career and life in music.
Stevie Freeman, CEO of the Americana Music Association UK said: “Robert Plant has introduced countless millions of music lovers to American roots music. In 2007 he released the iconic Raising Sand album with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, creating new fusions in the Americana world and garnering six Grammys along the way. His latest album, Carry Fire, continues to combine elements of American roots and blues with folk styles from the UK and beyond.”
The Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award will be given to up and coming London based four-piece The Wandering Hearts and the full list of nominees has been announced which you can peruse below. Tickets for the awards and conference are available from the AMAUK website now.
AMERICANA UK AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES
UK Album of the Year
Brilliant Light by Danny & The Champions of The World (produced by Chris Clarke)
I’ll Make The Most Of My Sins by Robert Vincent (produced by Robert Vincent, Michael Gay and Etienne Girard)
Proud Disturber Of The Peace by William The Conqueror (produced by Ruarri Joseph and Harry Harding)
Sweet Kind Of Blue by Emily Barker (produced by Matt Ross-Spang)
International Album of the Year
A Deeper Understanding by The War On Drugs (produced by Adam Granduciel)
Honest Life by Courtney Marie Andrews (produced by Courtney Marie Andrews)
So You Want To Be An Outlaw by Steve Earle & The Dukes (produced by Richard Bennett)
The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell (produced by Dave Cobb)
UK Song of the Year
Devon Brigade by Police Dog Hogan (written by James Studholme)
Endless Road by Worry Dolls (written by Zoe Nicol, Rosie Jones and Jeff Cohen)
Home by Yola Carter (written by Yola Carter)
Moonshine by Foy Vance (written by Foy Vance)
International Song of the Year
Pa’lante by Hurray For The Riff Raff (written by Alynda Segarra and Pedro Pietri)
Ready To Die by Aaron Lee Tasjan (written by Aaron Lee Tasjan)
Thirteen Silver Dollars by Colter Wall (written by Colter Wall)
Tenderheart by Sam Outlaw (written by Sam Outlaw)
UK Artist of the Year
Danni Nicholls
Danny & The Champions of The World
Emily Barker
Laura Marling
International Artist of the Year
Angaleena Presley
Courtney Marie Andrews
Imelda May
Rhiannon Giddens
UK Instrumentalist of the Year
Georgina Leach
Kit Hawes
Harry Harding
Thomas Collison
Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected by the board members, their highest honour is awarded to a UK artist, duo or group in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music.
Recipient 2018: Robert Plant
Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award
Selected by Bob Harris OBE, this special award celebrates the breakthrough artist, duo or group that has particularly impressed the legendary music broadcaster throughout the year.
Recipient 2018: The Wandering Hearts
The Grass Roots Award: a newly-established award selected by the board members, this special award celebrates the sometimes un-sung heroes of the UK Americana scene. It is presented to people working in the industry (in a capacity other than as artists) who have made outstanding efforts to support Americana music from the grass roots up.
Recipient 2018 – Come Down & Meet The Folks, Alan Tyler & Big Steve
Recipient of the other AMA-UK board member selected Award will be announced at a later date:
The Trailblazer Award celebrating a UK artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre.
The Best-Selling Americana Album of 2017 will be announced at the Awards show:
The AMA-UK works with the Official Charts Company to create the UK Americana Chart. This Award is given to the best-selling Americana Album of the year, by a UK Artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOL2OkV-TkU
