Hayes Carll "Wild As a Turkey"

What a day, what a day...day two of the Americana Music Festival! Last night, the 2010 Americana Honors & Awards Show took place at the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium, and I got to host a webcast of the festivities for Folk Alley and NPR Music. It will be available on those sites starting today for you to hear the whole show, so check it out if you didn't listen live last night. Thanks to the folks a Folk Alley, Linda and Al, for asking me to host! I brought Marty Fitzpatrick, former X Country Music Director with me, and it was like old times as we got to use the same broadcast booth as when we anchored this show in the past, live on XM. Felt real good being back on the mic...I have to say.

There were some pretty intense presenters, as Robert Plant gave Buddy Miller his Instrumentalist of the Year Award, and Jack White gave the Lifetime Performance Award to Wanda Jackson. Great to be able to celebrate legends like her and John Mellencamp, at the same time as we acknowledge this year's winners. Rosanne Cash won Album of the Year for her CD The List. Ryan Bingham picked up two, for Artist of the Year, and for Song of the Year for "The Weary Kind." The Avett Brothers got the Duo or Group Award, and the New and Emerging Artist of the Year winner was Hayes Carll, who came to see us in the Sweet Suite yesterday, before the awards show, and he brought the band. We felt it only fitting to put this up for you, as we are basking in the afterglow! This week will make you feel "Wild As a Turkey!"

- Jessie Scott

Raul Malo "Lucky One"

Day One, yesterday, of the Americana Music Association Festival in Nashville and there is just no way to see everybody and do it all, but we are having a blast! We are camped out at convention headquarters, the newly renovated Sheraton Nashville Downtown. They had the ribbon cutting and grand re-opening ceremony just before the festival offically got underway. The rooms are beautiful! Simple, elegant. The pillows, oh yeah, are a thing to behold. Ensconcing and utterly luxurious. What better preparation for the busy days ahead, than laying your head in clouds of down at the end of the day. We kicked it off early, starting with an able assist from Eric Brace, who helped us on our round of errands. This included a stop at the Gibson Showroom, to pick up beautiful guitars and solid amps. We thank the Gibson folks for providing them to us!

Couple of things: there is a special guest for the Honors and Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium. We can't tell you who it is exactly, but he is a rock icon, and his latest project makes a "joyful" noise! Tickets are still available at the box office, and all I can say is if you are in Nashville, or close, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SHOW. Really! If you can't get here, listen to the live stream on Folk Alley starting at 6:30pm CT today, but the special guest won't be broadcast...you have to be at the Ryman for that part! The second thing I wanted to mention is that another roots luminary is here, as there is a book signing with Rosanne Cash to celebrate the release of her memoir, Composed, in the second floor atrium at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown on Friday, September 10th, from Noon to 1pm.

Yesterday in our studio, which is set up in a sweet suite at the Sheraton, we had visits from Myk Gordon, Frontier Ruckus, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shawn Camp, Marshall Chapman, Hans Rotenberry, John Brannen and Raul Malo. Just a half day for us! Only kidding. We started at 7am and wrapped at 7:30pm, grabbed a bite to eat, then sequestered ourselves to the production suite for video editing, mastering, uploading and writing. We thought it fitting to bring you a tune from Raul, actually one that he also did for us at last year's Americana Festival. This year we have a different rendering, as he brought Michael Guerra on accordion. "Lucky One," from the album of the same name. Not to worry, this is just the first of the videos from the 2010 Americana Music Festival. We have just begun to rock.

- Jessie Scott

Americana Honors & Awards

The Americana Music Festival and Conference is just a few days away, and boy am I excited! The Americana Honors and Awards Show, at The Ryman Auditorium this coming Thursday, September 9th, has to be one of its crown jewels, as it was just announced that Jack White and Lucinda Williams will be on hand as presenters. Also stepping up to the podium on that historic stage will be: 2010 Spirit of Americana recipient Mary Chapin Carpenter, Grace Potter, Martie Maguire & Emily Robison (of The Courtyard Hounds & Dixie Chicks), and John Oates (of Hall & Oates).

2010 Lifetime Achievement honoree, for Songwriting, John Mellencamp will kick off the show with a live performance, and expect that to be followed by music from Emmylou Harris, The Avett Brothers, Rodney Crowell, Wanda Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Sam Bush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Corb Lund, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Joe Pug, Sarah Jarosz, Will Kimbrough, and Ryan Bingham.

We have some great news for you! You will be able to hear this show LIVE on Thursday, September 9th on Folk Alley and NPR. The 2010 Americana Music Association Honors & Award Show from the Ryman Auditorium - 7:30pm ET / 6:30pm CT, and I will be anchoring the webcast!

If you want to attend, the Sheraton Nashville Downtown is the host hotel for the Americana Music Festival and Conference. We can't wait to get there and immerse ourselves in good friends, good times and good music! For conference registrations, Honors & Awards Show tickets, and venue wristbands, click here to purchase, but the Americana Music Association's online store closes today at 5pm CT. So, after that you can buy Honors & Awards Show tickets online via the Ryman and in person at their box office, or at Ticketmaster. You can buy venue wristbands, to see ALL the showcase performances (4 nights for $50), at Grimey's New and Preloved Music, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Store and the Nashville Visitors Center (inside Bridgestone Arena), or get them directly at each of the five venues starting September 9th; The Basement, Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom, The Station Inn and The Rutledge. C'mon along!

Now, since I mentioned Ryan Bingham above, I thought we would remind you that his new CD Junky Star came out this past week. Riding on the heels of an amazing year comes this collaborative effort with T Bone Burnett. The folks at Lost Highway Records posted a peek behind the curtain, in a video called "The Making of Junky Star." YUM!!!

- Jessie Scott