The 2022 Americana Music Awards transpired on the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday Night time, September 14th, with Billy Strings, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, and The Warfare and Treaty all strolling away with large awards. There have been additionally a couple of surprises, some wonderful performances, and an unannounced, however very candy tribute to Luke Bell.
Billy Strings was not available to just accept his Artist of the Yr award. He’s presently on the Outlaw Tour with Willie Nelson. However in any other case, all winners have been on website, and have been additionally a part of the performing lineup, backed up by the superb home band led by Buddy Miller, with Don Was on bass, Brady Blades on drums, Larry Campbell on guitar and fiddle, a refrain from the nice McCray Sisters, and others.
It began off with a quite rocking rendition of the Neil Younger tune famously redone by Waylon Jennings, “Are You Prepared For The Nation” carried out by Phosphorescent, aka Matthew Houck. The always-entertaining Milk Carton Children have been the primary to talk from the rostrum.
“Although he’s not right here and isn’t nominated for something, Jason Isbell will nonetheless in all probability win an award tonight,” they joked. Isbell really was nominated for Artist of the Yr, however didn’t win.
Performers included Neil Francis, James McMurtry enjoying his Track of the year-nominated “Canola Fields,” Morgan Wade, the now main label-signed The Warfare and Treaty who additionally received Duo/Group of the yr, Adia Victoria, Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile, and up to date stroke however, Lucinda Williams got here out and carried out “Can’t Let Go” like Automotive Wheels on a Gravel Highway was launched yesterday.
In Americana, Artist of the yr just isn’t the largest award. That’s reserved for Album of the Yr, which went to Montreal native Allison Russell for her album Exterior Little one. Brandi Carlile received Track of the Yr for “Proper On Time.” And Sierra Ferrell joins a really spectacular roster of earlier winners within the Rising Artist of the yr class, talking to her swelling reputation among the many unbiased music realm.
Lifetime Achievement Awards have been additionally doled out, with Nashville’s legendary Gospel Quintet The Fairfield 4 receiving the Legacy of Americana award, Brandi Carlile handed out the Spirit of Americana Award to The Indigo Women, with a compelling speech about rising up in a time when The Indigo Women have been simply as a lot of a punch line in well-liked tradition as they have been a people duo that took people music to the highest of the favored music charts.
Nation Music Corridor of Famer Don Williams was additionally honored with the President’s Award, with legendary music producer Garth Fundis accepting the award on behalf of Don’s Household, and Lukas Nelson singing “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good” in tribute.
Chris Isaak obtained the Lifetime Achievement Award for Efficiency. “It’s bought my identify on it, nevertheless it’s my band,” Isaak stated humbly after shut good friend Lyle Lovett did the tribute honors for Isaak. They then performed a hilarious tune collectively about giving one another Covid, then Chris Isaak performed a superb rendition of “Someone’s Crying.” Later within the presentation Lyle Lovett got here out to carry out “Willin’” in tribute to Little Toes.
Sure, there have been plenty of tributes. That’s what the Americana Music Awards are greatest at. Robert Plant additionally got here to the rostrum to present Buddy Miller an honorary award, “I come from the land of ice and snow…” Plant stated jokingly, earlier than giving a touching tribute to the Americana Home Band chief, and American music legend.
However maybe probably the most touching tribute was the one which got here unannounced, and sudden. Nation artist Luke Bell handed away a couple of weeks in the past, and JP Harris flew into Nashville whereas on tour to do the honors. “His expertise was unmeasured, his gall unmatched,” JP stated, “Luke by no means bought an opportunity to sing this tune from this stage like he ought to have.”
Then JP Harris carried out Luke Bell’s “The Bullfighter” from the Mom Church stage. JP Harris was a good friend and mentor to Luke Bell, and his boss on quite a few building jobs.
After all, the largest query that at all times comes up every time anybody broaches the topic of Americana is, what’s it? As Brandi Carlile stated whereas honoring The Indigo Women, “Is it a style? Is it a philosophy? Is it nation music for liberals? All I do know is that it’s me.”
There have been a couple of empty seats on the high of the pews this yr, the place beforehand, a ticket to the awards was tough to get. And by the point the presentation wrapped up simply after 10:00 pm, The Ryman was in all probability 2/3rds full. Of us may additionally stream it on The Circle Community, and the total presentation will in some unspecified time in the future be edited right into a tv particular.
The McCrary Sisters helped wrap up the present with an unbelievable efficiency of “Superb Graze” carried out to “The Home of the Rising Solar” association. Then most all of the performers got here out on stage for “I’ll Take You There.”
2022 AMERICANA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Album of the Yr
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Day
Allison Russell – Exterior Little one – WINNER
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Elevate The Roof
Adia Victoria – A Southern Gothic
Yola – Stand For Myself
Artist of the Yr
Brandi Carlile
Jason Isbell
Allison Russell
Billy Strings – WINNER
Yola
Duo/Group of the Yr
Huge Thief
Los Lobos
The Mavericks
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
The Warfare and Treaty – WINNER
Track of the Yr
James McMurtry – “Canola Fields”
Yola – “Diamond Studded Sneakers”
Sturgill Simpson – “Juanita”
Allison Russell – “Persephone”
Brandi Carlile – “Proper On Time” – WINNER
Rising Artist of the Yr
Sierra Ferrell – WINNER
Neal Francis
Brittney Spencer
Adia Victoria
Morgan Wade
Instrumentalist of the Yr
Ethan Ballinger
B.E. Farrow
Larissa Maestro – WINNER
Shelby Means
Justin Moses
All images by Kyle “Set off” Coroneos
