PRS for Music’s Michael Hingston was at the UK AmericanaFest to get under the finger nails of a scene going from strength to strength…
The second annual UK Americana Awards took place at the beginning of February in the glorious surroundings of the 18th century church of St John at Hackney. It was part of two days of activities branded AmericanaFest UK 2017 and organised by the Americana Music Association UK (AMAUK).
The awards show has already established itself as a must for anybody involved with, or interested in Americana music. The star-studded event was hosted by Bob Harris OBE and handing out the awards were Harry Shearer, Andy Fairweather Low, Al Booth, Imelda May, Kiki Dee, Jim Lauderdale, Timothy B Schmit, Angaleena Presley and former PRS chairman Guy Fletcher.
There were superb performances from the magnificent country-soul voice of Yola Carter (who also bagged the award for UK artist of the year), Mary Chapin Carpenter, William The Conqueror, Peter Bruntnell, Danni Nicholls, Lewis & Leigh (winners of album of the year for Ghost and song of the year for The 4:19), Ethan Johns and international album of the year winner Sam Outlaw. Pedal steel player C J Hillman won instrumentalist of the year and was a sideman in a number of the performances.
There was also a performance by Richard Thompson, the proud recipient of the lifetime achievement award, and the Bob Harris emerging artist winners Wildwood Kin. Margo Price (international song of the year for Hands Of Time), Sturgill Simpson (international artist of the year) and Albert Lee (trailblazer award) all, unfortunately, couldn’t attend, but sent video messages of thanks.
The first anniversary of the UK Americana chart was marked by Jools Holland presenting Van Morrison with the award for best-selling Americana album of 2016 for Keep Me Singing (The UK Americana chart was actually in place before Billboard launched their own Americana chart).
The awards show was the culmination of a two-day conference, with panels that discussed topics such as the UK Americana chart, festivals, touring in Europe and strengthening the brand. Bob Harris interviewed Mary Chapin Carpenter and preselected song-writing members of the AMA-UK were given the opportunity to perform and receive feedback about their songs from a distinguished panel of Beth Nielsen Chapman, Graham Gouldman, Glen Phillips and Angaleena Presley.
A showcase event took place at the end of the first day of the conference with 20 emerging US and British artists performing in three venues around Hackney.
For those who still had the stamina, there was a superb awards after-show at Oslo in Hackney with Sam Outlaw playing country hits until 2am.
So two days of fascinating chat and great music. The conference was a valuable information-gathering and network event for the AMAUK members.
Read our top tips from the event on how artists can get ahead in the music industry.
Photo credit - Michael Hingston
The second annual UK Americana Awards took place at the beginning of February in the glorious surroundings of the 18th century church of St John at Hackney. It was part of two days of activities branded AmericanaFest UK 2017 and organised by the Americana Music Association UK (AMAUK).
The awards show has already established itself as a must for anybody involved with, or interested in Americana music. The star-studded event was hosted by Bob Harris OBE and handing out the awards were Harry Shearer, Andy Fairweather Low, Al Booth, Imelda May, Kiki Dee, Jim Lauderdale, Timothy B Schmit, Angaleena Presley and former PRS chairman Guy Fletcher.
There were superb performances from the magnificent country-soul voice of Yola Carter (who also bagged the award for UK artist of the year), Mary Chapin Carpenter, William The Conqueror, Peter Bruntnell, Danni Nicholls, Lewis & Leigh (winners of album of the year for Ghost and song of the year for The 4:19), Ethan Johns and international album of the year winner Sam Outlaw. Pedal steel player C J Hillman won instrumentalist of the year and was a sideman in a number of the performances.
There was also a performance by Richard Thompson, the proud recipient of the lifetime achievement award, and the Bob Harris emerging artist winners Wildwood Kin. Margo Price (international song of the year for Hands Of Time), Sturgill Simpson (international artist of the year) and Albert Lee (trailblazer award) all, unfortunately, couldn’t attend, but sent video messages of thanks.
The first anniversary of the UK Americana chart was marked by Jools Holland presenting Van Morrison with the award for best-selling Americana album of 2016 for Keep Me Singing (The UK Americana chart was actually in place before Billboard launched their own Americana chart).
The awards show was the culmination of a two-day conference, with panels that discussed topics such as the UK Americana chart, festivals, touring in Europe and strengthening the brand. Bob Harris interviewed Mary Chapin Carpenter and preselected song-writing members of the AMA-UK were given the opportunity to perform and receive feedback about their songs from a distinguished panel of Beth Nielsen Chapman, Graham Gouldman, Glen Phillips and Angaleena Presley.
A showcase event took place at the end of the first day of the conference with 20 emerging US and British artists performing in three venues around Hackney.
For those who still had the stamina, there was a superb awards after-show at Oslo in Hackney with Sam Outlaw playing country hits until 2am.
So two days of fascinating chat and great music. The conference was a valuable information-gathering and network event for the AMAUK members.
Read our top tips from the event on how artists can get ahead in the music industry.
Photo credit - Michael Hingston
