This is one of the festival articles that I put out, that will be constantly updating all month. There is just too much information to be able to publish a total survival guide on here at one time.
It’s that time once again folks where I get to swap out from Muddy Roots to the prodigious Americanafest and this one is perhaps one of the biggest extravaganzas yet! The lineup is HUGE as well as all of the side festivities that are involved with all of the music, if you try to take this whole entire festival in you’ll be worn out. So I’m going to include the intro here directly from their website:
Our 19th annual AMERICANAFEST: The Americana Music Festival & Conference will take place September 11th-16th, 2018, gathering thousands of artists, fans, and industry professionals from all over the world in Nashville, TN. With planning already underway, 2017 promises to once again be the must-attend event for anyone who loves the melting pot of Americana’s influences including roots, folk, country, blues and soul-based music. Each year, AMERICANAFEST℠ brings together legendary artists, the next generation of rising stars, fans, and industry professionals for six days of music and education.
Our conference portion features numerous panels, seminars, exclusive day time performances, and much more, proudly providing Nashville’s most educational music industry forum. This special event covers the interests and needs of artists, managers, labels, radio stations, publishers, agents, promoters, retailers, legal and business affairs executives, merchandisers and new media professionals – all enthusiastically attended and presented by music industry leaders.
And FYI, you do not have to be a member of the Americana Music Association℠ or in the music industry to purchase a conference registration and attend all the events. We encourage all music lovers to be apart of the conference experience.
If you choose not to be a part of the entire AMERICANAFES experience through a conference registration, then our festival wristband is the option for you. For six nights, AMERICANAFEST will feature 230+ live performances at almost 40 of Nashville’s most prominent venues and much, much, more! However, wristbands do not guarantee entry if venue is at capacity. In the event of a line, conference registrants have priority access. If there is a must see band on your list we suggest arriving to the venue early.
You can purchase all admission wristbands HERE that will get you any avenue of admission you wish to include yourself in.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
($199 – 499)
What do I have access to with the conference registration?
All conference and festival events! A Conference Registration badge allows you access to every single event in our program guide including education panels, parties, luncheons, showcase performances and additional various events. Registration prices vary upon membership or date of purchase. With a Conference Registration you will be able to purchase up to two tickets for the Honors and Awards show.
Please note, some events will require an RSVP, so watch your inbox for the invitation. Please use a unique email address for each attendee when you register. Multiple people with the same email address will miss out on invite only events. If you have opted out from receiving our emails, you will also miss out on these events. You may opt back in by joining our email list here. You will receive an email asking you to confirm this.
Buy Your Conference Registration
FESTIVAL WRISTBAND
($75)
What do I have access to with the festival wristband?
A Festival Wristband gets you into all six nights of performances at any of the official showcase venues. Also, you are welcome to attend various special events and parties to be announced. When the full schedule is released, the event will clearly indicate if wristband holders may attend. In 2016, wristband holders were welcome to attend an additional 46 events. This wristband is the best valued festival access in the nation. You definitely get a huge bang for your buck!
Buy your wristband here
FLY TO NASHVILLE:
Nashville’s airport is designed to keep you moving, with an easy flow to and from the terminal’s 45 gates. The award-winning airport features a range of dining and retail options, two massage bars, a nail salon, terminal-wide Wi-Fi access, an extensive Arts at the Airport program featuring visual art and live entertainment, a full-service business center with foreign currency exchange – and even space for one last meeting before you head home. Airport Information Center: Call 615-275-1675 or visit flynashville.com.
GETTING AROUND:
Visit Music City has compiled an extensive list of transportation options including information regarding bus service, car rental, taxis, etc: http://www.visitmusiccity.com/Visitors/travel
For information on downtown parking, please visit parkitdowntown.com.
AMERICANAFEST SHUTTLES:
The AmericanaFest Shuttle is the free shuttle that runs between the host hotel and most AmericanaFest venues. During the daytime events, the shuttle service will be available to and from any venue that is not within a walking distance of a mile from the hotel. Please check the details of the specific event for shuttle availability once the schedule is announced. For the nightly showcases, the shuttle will make a continuous loop to every participating venue from 7pm until 1am departing approximately every 30 minutes. The shuttle service is provided as a convenience. If you need to be at a certain event at a specific time, you might consider taking alternative transportation.
Club Hotel Nashville Inn And Suites
Country Inn And Suites Opryland North
Best Western Opryland
Holiday Inn Express Opryland
Airport Super 8 Opryland
Courtyard Nashville
Hampton Inn And Suites
Guest House Inn
Days Inn Opryland
Fiddler’s Inn Opryland
12:00 pm
Festival Wristband Pick-Up
City Winery
NPR Music, World Cafe and WMOT Kick-off Party
The Local
6:00 pm
Sounds Australia at The Bluebird Cafe
Fanny Lumsden, Josh Rennie-Hynes
The Bluebird Cafe
7:00 pm

Arkansas Dave
Cannery Ballroom

Jason James
ACME Feed & Seed
8:00 pm

Brandi & the Alexanders
Cannery Ballroom
Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound – A Tribute to Rick Hall

Kyle Daniel
ACME Feed & Seed

Chance McCoy
The Basement
TWO DOLLAR TUESDAY Featuring Nashville’s Finest
Kristina Murray, Carson McHone
The 5 Spot
Free to Registrants or $2 cover
BETTER TOGETHER: Show Up & Sing!
Ian Moore, Jaime Wyatt, Mary Gauthier, Sam Morrow, Sugaray Rayford Band, Whiskey Wolves of the West, Will Hoge
The Basement East
8:30 pm

Jill Andrews
Mercy Lounge

9:00 pm

Ruen Brothers
Cannery Ballroom

The Reckless Electric
ACME Feed & Seed
Sounds Australia at The Bluebird Cafe
The Bluebird Cafe
9:30 pm

Neighbor Lady
Mercy Lounge
Jerry Douglas
City Winery
10:00 pm

Samantha Fish
Cannery Ballroom

Mandolin Orange
City Winery
11:00 pm

Fantastic Negrito
Cannery Ballroom

The Way Down Wanderers
The Local
12:00 pm
Festival Wristband Pick-Up
City Winery
3:00 pm
Tales & Ales with Paul Thorn and Tony Magee
InDo Nashville
AMA-UK Welcome Party
Ida Mae, John Smith, The Wandering Hearts
Nashville Underground
4:00 pm
Underground Muddy Roots Party
Vinyl Bunker
5:00 pm

In-Store: Amy Helm
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
6:00 pm
The Official Viewing Party of the Americana Honors & Awards Show
City Winery
6:30 pm
17th Annual Americana Honors & Awards Show
Ryman Auditorium
Separate Ticketed Event
7:00 pm
Live at The Local: Tony Lucca & Friends Songwriter Residency
The Local
10:00 pm

Drivin N Cryin
Mercy Lounge

Hymn For Her
3rd & Lindsley

The Black Lillies
The High Watt

Hayley Thompson-King
The 5 Spot

Pony Bradshaw
Station Inn

Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons
The Local
10:30 pm

Surprise
Cannery Ballroom
Big Velvet Revue: Hosted by Paul Cauthen
Paul Cauthen, Whiskey Wolves of the West
The Basement East

Vandoliers
3rd & Lindsley

Ghost of Paul Revere
The Basement

Mary Gauthier
City Winery
11:30 pm

Tyler Childers
Cannery Ballroom
11:59 pm

Jason Boland & The Stragglers
3rd & Lindsley

Town Mountain
The Basement

Southern Avenue
The High Watt

Quicksilver’s Dirty Kitchen Experience
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, Kaia Kater, Town Mountain
Station Inn

Day Stage presented by NPR Music, World Cafe & WMOT
The Local

The House of Songs and Texas Music Office Present: TACOS
InDo Nashville

2:00pm

In-Store: Alejandro Escovedo
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
5:00pm

The 5 Spot Residency: The Mark Robinson Band with Guests
The 5 Spot
Free to Registrants or $5 cover

Musicians Corner
Musicians Corner at Centennial Park

Music Export Memphis Presents: The Pure Memphis Happy Hour
The Filming Station

The California Country Social
Fond Object Records East Nashville

BreakOut West BBQ
The Groove

Queer Roots
The Crying Wolf
5:30pm

Hooks, Lines & Singers: 30A Songwriters Presents
City Winery Lounge
6:00pm

Kristina Murray
ACME Feed & Seed

Songwriters in the Round, hosted by Mary Gauthier
The Bluebird Cafe
6:20pm

Scott Mulvahill
Musicians Corner at Centennial Park
6:20pm

Scott Mulvahill
Musicians Corner at Centennial Park
7:00pm

Lynn Langham
3rd & Lindsley

Lauren Morrow
ACME Feed & Seed

Music City Roots
Nashville Palace
7:05pm

William Fitzsimmons
Nashville Palace
7:10pm

Sarah Siskind
Musicians Corner at Centennial Park
7:30pm


Shemekia Copeland
City Winery

Kelsey Waldon
The Basement East

Rachel Baiman
Station Inn
7:35pm

Yola Carter
Nashville Palace
8:00pm

Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear
Cannery Ballroom

Thomas Csorba
3rd & Lindsley

Bottle Rockets
12th & Porter

Johnny Irion
The Basement

William the Conqueror
The High Watt



Chris Gantry
Third Man Records

Carl Anderson
City Winery Lounge
8:05pm

Aaron Lee Tasjan
Nashville Palace
8:30pm

Katie Pruitt
Mercy Lounge

Guthrie Trapp
City Winery

Liz Brasher
The Basement East


9:00pm


Hayes Carll
3rd & Lindsley

Nicki Bluhm
12th & Porter

Jeremy Pinnell
The Basement

The Americans
The High Watt



Birds of Chicago
Third Man Records

Bobby Long
City Winery Lounge
9:30pm

Mandy Barnett
Mercy Lounge

John Oates and The Good Road Band
City Winery

Amanda Shires
The Basement East

The Earls of Leicester
Station Inn

10:00pm

Tyler Ramsey
Cannery Ballroom



Israel Nash
The High Watt


Josh Rennie-Hynes
The Local

Erin Rae
Third Man Records

Steve Poltz
City Winery Lounge
10:30pm

H.C. McEntire
Mercy Lounge


Lee Ann Womack & Friends
The Basement East


11:00pm

The Milk Carton Kids
Cannery Ballroom

The Suffers
3rd & Lindsley

Alejandro Escovedo
12th & Porter

William Crighton
The Basement

Courtney Marie Andrews
The High Watt


Courtney Hartman
The Local

Cedric Burnside
Third Man Records
11:30pm

Asleep at the Wheel
Mercy Lounge

Mountain Heart
City Winery

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Station Inn

11:59pm

Sons Of Bill
The High Watt

Jeffrey Foucault
The Local

The Nude Party
Third Man Records
12:00pm

Shore Fire Media’s Salute to Americana
3rd & Lindsley
Festival Wristband Pick-Up
City Winery

It’s Cooler in Canada at Borealis Records’ Songwriter Session
Station Inn

The Shootouts & Sam Morrow Lunchtime Party
InDo Nashville
2:00pm

Day Stage presented by NPR Music, World Cafe & WMOT
The Local
3:00pm

Activism, Commerce and the Soul of Americana: Two Case Studies
Analog at Hutton Hotel
5:00pm

Esther Rose
ACME Feed & Seed
Finest Folk: A Celebration of Women in Music12th & Porter
Tim Carroll’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Happy Hour The 5 Spot
Green Room Music Source American Legion Post 82
Third Annual Bloodshot Records Backyard Bash Bottle Rockets, Vandoliers, Ruby Boots, Robbie Fulks with Linda Gail Lewis, Luke Winslow-King The Groovea
6:00pmJohnson Crook ACME Feed & Seed
Rosanne Cash: Live at Third Man Records Third Man Records Conference registrants only
7:30pmNew West Records 20-Year Celebration 3rd & Lindsley
Buxton 3rd & Lindsley
Dawn Landes The Anchor
Ian Noe ONE
8:00pmLogan Ledger Mercy Lounge
Peter Case The Basement
The Josephines The High Watt
A Tribute to 1968: Winter The Basement East
Logan Ledger MercThe Wandering Hearts The 5 Spoty Loun
Catherine Britt The Local
Old Crow Medicine Show: LIVE AT THE RYMAN Ryman Auditorium Separate Ticketed Event
Amythyst Kiah City
8:30pmJim Lauderdale Cannery BallroomWinery Lounge
Robby Hecht & Caroline Spence City Winery
Shook Twins Analog at Hutton Hotel
Phil Cook The Anchor
9:00pmRuston Kelly Mercy Lounge
Guy Davis 12th & Porter
Blackfoot Gypsies The High Watt
Jamie McLean Band The Basement
Andrew Combs Station Inn
John Craigie The Local
Lula Wiles City Winery Lounge
9:30pmTommy Emmanuel Cannery Ballroom
Sunny War City Winery
Lindsay Lou Analog at Hutton Hotel
10:00pmBrandy Clark Mercy Lounge
Janiva Magness 12th & Porter
Mando Saenz The Basement
Robbie Fulks with Linda Gail Lewis The 5 Spot
Ashley Monroe Station Inn
American Folk with Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth Joe Purdy, American Folk with Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth The Local
The Small Glories City Winery Lounge
10:30pmAmerican Aquarium 3rd & Lindsley
Kim Richey City Winery
Lee Roy Parnell ONE
The Watson Twins Analog at Hutton Hotel
11:00pmRon Pope Mercy Lounge
Candi Staton 12th & Porter
Luke Winslow-King The High Watt
The Lone Bellow Station Inn
Elise Davis The Local
11:30pmThe War and Treaty Cannery Ballroom
Aaron Lee Tasjan 3rd & Lindsley
John Carter Cash City Winery
River Whyless Analog at Hutton Hotel
11:59pmMike Farris 12th & Porter
John Paul Keith The Basement
Ryan Culwell The 5 Spot
Well folks I’m hoping to see y’all down there, I’m going to tell the honest truth here I have so many functions going on at once that month It’s uncanny. I HAD a ticket for Cody Jinks at the Ascend Ampitheater, but I got called upon for Kickin’ It On The Creek..so I dropped what I was doing for them.