Returning for the 5th year, the mighty AmericanaFest UK is coming back to Hackney, London from 28-30 January 2020!
This year’s theme is ‘Collaborate and Cross Pollinate’, which reflects on how Americana artists work together across different genres and art forms, culminating in the excellent UK Americana Awards 2020, which after 4 sold-out years, moves to the Troxy in Limehouse, East London (Tickets are here)
Once again, they’ll be recognising the huge breadth of talent across the genre with some incredible artists nominated this year including such diverse names as Yola, Frank Turner, Jade Bird, Mavis Staples, Larkin Poe, Highwomen, Ida Mae and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
Not forgetting the Special Awards, of course, that carries on the tradition of honouring the great and good of Americana, with AMA-UK announcing the winners of their incredible work within Americana, country, folk and beyond:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Joan Armatrading
- Trailblazer Award – Nick Lowe
- Grassroots Award – Mark Whitfield – Americana-UK.com
- Emerging Artist Award – Ferris and Sylvester
- Legend Award – Lonnie Donegan
The evenings of 28 and 29 January will see 75 artists from UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe showcasing across 8 venues in Hackney, including
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- Venues hosted by influential North Carolina label Yep Roc
- Canada House – featuring 2 nights of artists from across Canada including Prince Edward Island
- House of Songs – celebrating 10 years of songwriting camps in Austin Texas and Bentonville Arkansas, hosting many UK artists for week-long stays collaborating with other writers from around the world
There’s also a superb mix of emerging and established artists performing including The Secret Sisters, Jonathan Wilson and Ilse DeLang – Check out the full list just below – and on 27 January Hackney’s OSLO will be host to an extra special Charity Kick-off event – Americana Clash – celebrating the 1978 meeting of Texan roots rocker Joe Ely with London punks the Clash – West Texas Hellraisers Meet East London Hellraisers – and the friendship between the two Joes.
This event is presented in partnership with Austin Texas & ACL Music Festival to raise money for Hackney Night Shelter as well as The Joe Strummer Foundation. Frank Turner, Grace Petrie and Danny Champ are already confirmed to appear with many more artists to be announced.
Full list of Nominees:
UK Instrumentalist of The Year
- Ben Smith
- Jim Maving
- Siân Monaghan
- Will Page
UK Song of The Year
- Little Piece of Heaven by Elles Bailey (Written by Elles Bailey, Bobby Wood and Dan Auerbach)
- The Fire by Jamie Freeman (Written by Jamie Freeman and Ben Glover)
- Hear Your Voice by Danni Nicholls (Written by Danni Nicholls and Kyshona Armstrong)
- Amy by Roseanne Reid (Written by Roseanne Reid)
UK Album of The Year
- Here There’s No Sirens by Pete Gow (produced by Joe Bennett )
- Chasing Lights by Ida Mae (produced by Ethan Johns)
- Bleeding on the Soundtrack by William the Conqueror (produced by Ethan Johns)
- Walk Through Fire by Yola (produced by Dan Auerbach)
UK Artist of The Year
- Jade Bird
- Bear’s Den
- Frank Turner
- Yola
International Song of The Year
- Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) by Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real (written by Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real)
- Letter to Madeline by Ian Noe (written by Ian Noe)
- Saying Goodbye by J.S. Ondara (written by J.S. Ondara)
- Me and The Ghost of Charlemagne By Amy Speace (written by Amy Speace)
International Album of The Year
- Undress by Felice Brothers (produced by Jeremy Backofen)
- Highwomen by Highwomen (produced by Dave Cobb)
- Songs Of Our Native Daughters by Our Native Daughters (produced by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell)
- Mint Condition by Caroline Spence (produced by Dan Knobler)
International Artist of The Year
- Brandi Carlile
- The Dead South
- Larkin Poe
- Mavis Staples
Book your tickets for the Awards by clicking here!
critical popcorn 