John Prine, Sturgill Simpson, Amanda Shires and others honored at Americana Fest
by Luke Taylor
September 14, 2017
On Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn., the Americana Music Festival hosted its 16th annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards show. The event showcases and honors Americana artists — the singers, songwriters and instrumentalists in American roots music, which emcompasses subgenres such as alternative country, folk, bluegrass, blues and R&B.
The Current's Bill DeVille — host of the weekly program, United States of Americana, heard Sundays from 8 to 10 a.m. — was in attendance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the Americana Awards. Below is a summary of the award winners, as well as Bill DeVille's Instagram highlights from the evening's festivities.
2017 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Summary
Album of the Year
A Sailor's Guide to Earth, Sturgill Simpson; produced by Sturgill Simpson (see album review for A Sailor's Guide to Earth)
Artist of the Year
John Prine (see Rock and Roll Book Club: John Prine's Beyond Words)
Group/Duo of the Year
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives (see Bill DeVille's interview with Marty Stuart)
Song of the Year
"It Ain't Over Yet," Rodney Crowell (feat. Rosanne Cash and John Paul White); written by Rodney Crowell (see Rodney Crowell session at Radio Heartland)
Emerging Artist of the Year
Amanda Shires (see album review for Amanda Shires, My Piece of Land)
Instrumentalist of the Year
Charlie Sexton
Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music Award, co-presented by the Americana Music Association and the First Amendment Center
Graham Nash
Lifetime Achievement Award, Trailblazer
Iris Dement
Lifetime Achievement Award, Songwriting
Van Morrison
Lifetime Achievement Award, Performance
Robert Cray
Lifetime Achievement Award, Instrumentalist
Hi Rhythm Section
Lifetime Achievement Award, Executive
HighTone Records founders Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg
Resources
Americana Festival and Conference - official site