John Mellencamp "No Better Than This"

For decades, John Mellencamp has been a fact of life and a force of nature, having quietly used his celebrity status to help others. It is no wonder that folks around him are now talking politics, though he seemingly discounts it. He has just released his 25th CD, No Better Than This. It is a haunting affair, crafted with a rootsy vibe, an apt follow up to the earthy and heartfelt CD of 2008, Life Death Love and Freedom. For the latest, he wrote the 13 songs in a 13 day fever in 2009, during days off from the Baseball Stadium Tour with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. T Bone Burnett produced it, taking it on the road this time to three locations: at the historic First African Baptist Church in Savannah, GA, the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, and the room where Delta blues legend Robert Johnson made his archetypal recordings in the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio. And we are talking seriously Lo-Fi, as the entire album was recorded mono to a single track 1955 Ampex Reel-to-Reel recording deck, and one vintage microphone.

Mellencamp is about to be acknowledged by the Americana Music Association in the category of Lifetime Achievement Songwriting at the Americana Honors and Awards Show coming up on September 9th, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. He has been a vocal proponent for homelessness through 1Matters and for family farms with the ongoing Farm Aid, slated this year for October 2nd in Milwaukee, WI. John is an original Farm Aid board member, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, having organized and participated in these iconic concerts since their inception in 1985, though none of them expected that they would still be shining a light on this issue 25 years later.

As we get ready for these upcoming events, and to celebrate the release of the new album, we bring you the title track from the new CD, "No Better Than This."

- Jessie Scott

Americana Music Festival & Conference Awaits

It's coming soon! We are just over two weeks away from the Americana Music Association's event of the year! The Americana Music Festival and Conference kicks off September 8th. Here is the current list of artists playing in five of Nashville's coolest venues over four nights.

18 South  •  Abigail Washburn  •  American Aquarium  •  Danny Barnes  •  Ryan Bingham  •  The Black Lillies  •  Paul Burch and the WPA Ball Club  •  Rayland Baxter  •  Cadillac Sky  •  Hayes Carll  •  Carolina Chocolate Drops  •  Rosanne Cash  •  Peter Case  •  Troy Cassar-Daley  •  Exene Cervenka  •  Chapmans  •  Cherryholmes  •  Elizabeth Cook  •  Susan Cowsill  •  The Defibulators  •  Tommy Emmanuel  •  Frazey Ford  •  Frontier Ruckus  •  Mary Gauthier  •  Kevin Gordon  •  Ray Wylie Hubbard  •  Wanda Jackson  •  Sarah Jarosz  •  Richard Julian  •  Peter Karp & Sue Foley  •  Will Kimbrough  •  Randy Kohrs Band  •  Jon Langford & Skull Orchard  •  Shelby Lynne  •  Charlie Louvin  •  Corb Lund  •  Raul Malo  •  Chuck Mead  •  Micky and the Motorcars  •  John Oates  •  Over the Rhine  •  Joe Pug  •  Dex Romweber Duo  •  Steeldrivers  •  Sara Storer  •  Stonehoney  •  Stone River Boys  •  Sweetback Sisters  •  Todd Snider's Rock and Roll Revue (featuring Jason D. Williams, Dan Baird and Friends)  •  Chip Taylor  •  Todd Thibaud  •  Paul Thorn  •  Tristen  •  Tony Joe White

Wow, that'll make ya' dizzy! Stay tuned, as more artists are announced. And if you just want to attend the evening's shows in the clubs, wristbands are a steal at just $50, and can be purchased by clicking here. Don't forget the Americana Honors and Awards Show that takes place in the venerable Ryman Auditorium on Thursday evening, September 9th. Lifetime Achievement will be honored, and a listing of the yearly award nominees are to be found by visiting here. What can I say...I CAN'T WAIT!!! It's gonna rock. Be there or be square, (ahem). Oh, by the way, the host hotel for the conference this year is the Sheraton Nashville Downtown, where there is a special $169/night room rate, just ask for the Americana Group rate when you make your reservations. See you there!

- Jessie Scott

Robert Plant - Band of Joy

Wha...? Robert Plant is Americana? Now when did that happen? He, the iconic Led Zeppelin vocalist and native of Great Britain? Well, hell yeah! When you think about Led Zeppelin's inclusion of the roots flavors, it really should come as no surprise. He and Alison Krauss collaborated on the Raising Sand CD, and then attended the Americana Conference in Nashville two years ago. Robert was seen everywhere, wanted to go to everything, and by all accounts had a blast! There was a famous quote from him issued back then, "It's great to be considered to be part of the movement that is healthy and has some discrimination."

So, it should come as no surprise that Robert would follow up the 2007 album by continuing, again, to work with guitarist and co-producer Buddy Miller. And the inclusion of Patty Griffin, Marco Giovino, Byron House, and Darrell Scott makes the self titled Band of Joy album an Americana MVP project, which drinks deep from American roots music. The palate is broad, with flourishes from mid 50's Rockabilly, Country, Soul and R&B; covering traditional songs as well as "Harms Swift Way" from Townes Van Zandt and Los Lobos' "Angel Dance," which is the lead track. Check it out here, or dive even deeper (below) with a back-story video on the making of the album, which comes out on September 14th.

Don't forget the Americana Music Association's Festival and Conference is coming up September 8th--11th in Nashville. The 2010 Americana Lifetime Achievement Award honorees were just announced. They are Wanda Jackson - Performance; John Mellencamp - Songwriting; Luke Lewis - Executive; Greg Leisz - Instrumentalist, and Brian Ahern - Producer/Engineer. All will be present to receive their awards at the 9th Annual AMA Honors and Awards Show September 9th, presented by the Gibson Foundation at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The show will also feature appearances by Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Sam Bush, The Avett Brothers, Corb Lund, Will Kimbrough, Sarah Jarosz, and more. Jim Lauderdale will again serve as master of ceremonies, while Buddy Miller will lead an all-star house band. The host hotel is the Sheraton Nashville Downtown, which has a special conference room rate. Can't wait!!!

- Jessie Scott