UK Americana Awards 2017 nominations shortlist announced

The AMA-UK, our confusingly acronymed brethren here at AUK, have announced their shortlist for the nominations for next year’s UK Americana Awards ceremony which will be held in St John at Hackney, London on Tuesday 2nd February, part of AmericanaFest UK, a two-day event which will also include an evening of showcases on the Wednesday featuring 20 bands playing in various venues around Hackney, plus daytime conferences on both days.   Richard Thompson has been chosen for this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to the Americana genre over the span of his career and life in music.  Thompson commented: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. My heartfelt thanks to AMA-UK.” 

You can get early bird tickets for the awards ceremony here (or VIP ones here if you’re feeling flush) and in the meantime, drum roll… here are the 2017 nominees:

UK Album of the Year
Ghost by Lewis & Leigh (produced by Matt Ingram)
Mockingbird Lane by Danni Nicholls (produced by Chris Donohue)
Nos Da Comrade by Peter Bruntnell (produced by Peter Bruntnell)
Palomino by Treetop Flyers (produced by Treetop Flyers)

International Album of the Year
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth by Sturgill Simpson (produced by Sturgill Simpson)
American Band by Drive-By Truckers (produced by David Barbe)
Angeleno by Sam Outlaw (produced by Joachim Cooder and Ry Cooder)
Midwest Farmer’s Daughter by Margo Price (produced by Alex Munoz and Matt Ross-Spang)

UK Song of the Year
‘Mr Sunshine’ by Peter Bruntnell (written by Peter Bruntnell and Bill Ritchie)
‘Silver Liner’ by Ethan Johns & the Black-Eyed Dogs (written by Ethan Johns)
‘Tend To The Thorns’ by William the Conqueror (written by Ruarri Joseph)
‘The 4:19’ by Lewis & Leigh (written by Al Lewis and Alva Leigh)

International Song of the Year
‘Dust’ by Lucinda Williams (written by Lucinda Williams)
‘Hands of Time’ by Margo Price (written by Margo Price)
‘Somebody Save Me’ by Cale Tyson (written by Cale Tyson)
‘Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)’ by Sturgill Simpson (written by Sturgill Simpson)

UK Artist of the Year
Bear’s Den
Billy Bragg
Lewis & Leigh
Yola Carter

International Artist of the Year
Margo Price
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Richmond Fontaine
Sturgill Simpson

UK Instrumentalist of the Year
CJ Hillman
Dave Little
Henry Senior
Kirk Bowman