The Americana Music Association will the 24th annual AmericanaFest from September 17–21, with seminars and panels for music professionals, as well as performances spread all across Nashville. While most Nashvillians are fully aware when the CMA Fest comes to town each summer, AmericanaFest may be one of Music City’s best kept secrets. Silver passes are required for many of the conference events, but festival passes, at a lower cost, allow fans to enjoy music non-stop from Tuesday through Saturday.
Online sale of passes continues until 11:55 Sunday, but walk-up passes may be purchased for $125 at City Winery. Since the performances take place all over town, first time attendees should plan ahead to make the most of the experience. The first step is to get the AmericanFest app. It is easily searchable by day, venue, or artist, letting you build your own schedule day-by-day.
The centerpiece of the week is the Americana Music Awards Show held at the Ryman Auditorium each year. The show, ticketed separately, begins at 6:30 CT, with doors opening at 5:30. Again this year, City Winery will host a viewing party for those who prefer table seating to crowded pews. The awards ceremony in projected on the big screen, and the venue offers a special food and beverage menu.
On weekdays, WMOT Roots Radio also hosts their day stage at East Side Bowl Wednesday through Friday from 12-5 with sets rotating hourly. They offer a variety of acts, some established acts and some great new discoveries. The advantage is being able to enjoy several hours of music in one place with free parking.
As a side note, parking can be a challenge any time in Nashville, so some people prefer to take an Uber to events. Watch for scams, however. A ticket with a QR code for payment (especially when you’ve gone through the steps for parking) may not be legitimate!
One favorite event every year is the Basement East celebration of the music of 50 years ago, now in its sixth year. Hosted again by Tim Jones, this year’s show will feature “A Tribute to the Songs of 1974,” four sets (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) with a variety of performers each performing one song from that year–from a variety of genres. Although the Basement East is a standing venue with very limited seating, the energy is high all night, and it’s always fun to try to guess the grand finale.
After a change of hands, Cannery Hall has also reopened, with three venues offering the opportunity to move among the stages for the maximum number of great performances without moving parking spots. The variety of performances at 3rd & Lindsley is also a draw for those who want to settle in for the evening. Station Inn, Brooklyn Bowl, the Analog, and many other Nashville venues have a full roster of performances.
While the larger, better-known venues have their attractions, so many locations host AmericanaFest shows that the biggest threat to attendees is FOMO. At some point, one has to make choices. Since Americana music offers one of the largest tents, fans can home in on their favorite flavors–country, bluegrass, folk, rockabilly–or enjoy the variety that is Americana Music.