Americanfest 2018

Photography by Kenny Schick – Kenny is a music producer, engineer, singer songwriter & professional photographer, living in Nashville TN (from the Bay Area CA)  (see more photos here)

  • War and Treaty at BMI rooftop Americanafest 2018 by photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • War and Treaty at BMI rooftop Americanafest 2018 by photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • War and Treaty at BMI rooftop Americanafest 2018 by photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • I'm With Her at the City Winery Nashville Americanafest 2018 by photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Samantha Fish at The Cannery Ballroom Nashville Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • I'm With Her at the City Winery Nashville Americanafest 2018 by photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Fantastic Negrito at the Cannery Ballroom Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Fantastic Negrito at the Cannery Ballroom Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 - Executive Director of the Americana Music Association Jed Hilly photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • David Briley Mayor of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County at Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • KD Lang and Ann Powers NPR - at Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • KD Lang and Ann Powers NPR - at Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • KD Lang and Ann Powers NPR - at Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 Panel: Independent 101 - Scott Robinson, Hope Selevan, Patrick Ferrell, David Macias, Kim Buie photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 Panel: Demystifying Digital Streaming - John Strohm, Josh Berman, Rachel Barnard Whitney, Meg Tarquinio, Emily Cohen photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Creamer at the 5 Spot Nashville, Americanafest 2018 - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Creamer at the 5 Spot Nashville, Americanafest 2018 - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Creamer at the 5 Spot Nashville, Americanafest 2018 - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Creamer at the 5 Spot Nashville, Americanafest 2018 - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Creamer at the 5 Spot Nashville, Americanafest 2018 - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 Panel: 20 years of Loose, Europe's Premier Americana Label John Strohm, Julia Grant, Patrick Ferris, Tom Bridgewater, Ruarri Joseph, Crispin Parry photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanfest 2018 at The Local Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Kaia Kater Americanfest 2018 at The Local Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Kaia Kater Americanfest 2018 at The Local Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #courtneymarieandrews #americanafest
    Courtney Marie Andrews at the High Watt Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #courtneymarieandrews #americanafest
    Courtney Marie Andrews at the High Watt Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #courtneymarieandrews #americanafest
    Courtney Marie Andrews at the High Watt Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 Panel: People are my drug: The art of collaboration in Americana Music, Tommy Emmanuel, Craig Havighurst, Spencer Cullum, Jr., Regina McCrary. Sam Bush photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Tommy Emmanuel at Americanafest 2018 at The Filming Station Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #tommyemmanuel #americanafest
    Tommy Emmanuel at Americanafest 2018 at The Filming Station Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Ruby Boots and Brandy Zdan at Americanafest 2018 at The Filming Station Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Ruby Boots at Americanafest 2018 at The Filming Station Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Mary Gauthier with Randy Lewis Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Mary Gauthier Americanafest 2018 photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #trudiemyerscough-harris #americanauk #americanafest
    Americanafest 2018 Panel: Americana in the UK - The growth of the AMAUK, the UK Americana - Emily Baker, Gary Harries, Stevie Freeman, Trudie Myerscough,-Harris, Sam Outlaw - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #jimlauderdale #americanafest #canneryballroom
    Americanafest 2018 Jim Lauderdale (sound check) at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Americanafest 2018 Jim Lauderdale (sound check) at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Tommy Emmanuel Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Tommy Emmanuel Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Tommy Emmanuel Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Buddy Miller & friends (Regina McCrary) Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Buddy Miller & friends (Kinky Friedman) Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Buddy Miller & friends (The McCrary Sisters & War and Treaty) Americanafest 2018 at the Cannery Ballroom Nashville - photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #marcribot #americanafest
    Marc Ribot (and band) Americanfest 2018 at the High Watt Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #marcribot #americanafest
    Marc Ribot (and band) Americanfest 2018 at the High Watt Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #americanafest #marcribot
    Marc Ribot's Bass Player Americanfest 2018 at the High Watt Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #marcribot #americanafest
    Marc Ribot (and band) Americanfest 2018 at the High Watt Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #wilsn #soundsaustralia #the5spot #americanafest
    WILSN - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #wilsn #soundsaustralia #the5spot #americanafest
    WILSN - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #tomwest #americanafest #the5spot #soundsaustralia
    Tom West - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • WILSN - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
    Tom West - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    @ The 5 spot Americanafest Sounds Australia Aussie BBQ photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #theweepingwillows #americanafest #the5spot
    The Weeping Willows - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    @ The 5 spot Americanafest Sounds Australia Aussie BBQ photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #rubyboots #americanafest #brandyzdan #the5spot #soundsaustralia
    Ruby Boots (and band with Brandy Zdan)- Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #rubyboots #americanafest #brandyzdan #the5spot #soundsaustralia
    Ruby Boots (and band with Brandy Zdan)- Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #rubyboots #americanafest #brandyzdan #the5spot #soundsaustralia
    Ruby Boots (and band with Brandy Zdan)- Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Josh Rennie-Hynes- Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #joshrenniehaynes #soundsaustralia #the5spot #americanafest
    Josh Rennie-Hynes- Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Fanny Lumsden - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • Fanny Lumsden - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #tommyemmanuel #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    Tommy Emmanuel - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #tommyemmanuel #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    Tommy Emmanuel - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #tommyemmanuel #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    Tommy Emmanuel - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com
  • #smithcurry #briancadd #soundsaustralia #americanafest
    Brian Cadd (with Smith Curry) - Sounds Australia Americanfest 2018 at the 5 spot Nashville photo by Kenny Schick https://B3PMusic.com

Americanafest and Conference has been held in September in Nashville Tennessee for the past 19 years – 6 days of music for both fans and the music industry.

There are venues all over the city that partake in hosting legendary artists and the next generation of rising stars in intimate settings; there is a LOT going on!

Inspiration

As part of our business, we attend several conferences and events every year; to make connections, attend panels, learn about industry trends, get inspired and glean new ideas for our business.  All of these events are worthwhile and inspiring in some ways for sure, but Americanafest turned out to be a very different beast.  Yes, there were panels, and meet ups all over the city, and opportunities to meet new people and learn, but also, this event centered around the music itself much more than other conferences and really top notch music and top artists/performers from all over the globe!

Conference panels had total industry giants like KD Lang, Mary Gauthier, Brandi Carlile, & Tommy Emmanuel.  The panel / interview with KD Lang interviewed by NPR’s Ann Powers was particularly inspiring as she really gets to the heart of what it means to be an artist, a human, and and individual within the industry.  Mary Gauthier’s interview about her album ‘Rifles and Rosary Beads’ and her work with Songwriting With Soldiers was equally inspiring (interviewed by LA Times Randy Lewis).

You can see photos below and also more in our Photo Gallery Page and other Blogs on our Blog Page.

There were so many performances that blew our socks off as well and really reminded us what great song writing and performance is all about.  Americanafest was full of artists who really dig deep and push their craft to outstanding levels.  I can’t recommend this event enough to artists who need an injection of inspiration, or simply to fans of really great music.

The first performance we saw at the BMI (opening party on their rooftop) by the mighty War And Treaty, who were discovered at Americanafest a few years back – they set the pace for the week.  Another highlight was the dreamy I’m With Her, the trio Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan at the City Winery – we all crammed in to see them.

Americana Awards Show

We are so glad we also decided to go to the  Americana Music Honors and Awards show at the beautiful Ryman Theater, this year it was hosted by The Milk Carton Kids who were SO funny and performed a song they wrote for the night ‘What is Americana?’).  It shone pretty brightly in there with all those stars in the audience and on stage.  We were treated to outstanding performances by Courtney Marie Andrews, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Irma Thomas, Buddy Guy, Margo Price, and KD Lang.

We crammed into to the Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom or High Watt and caught many great artists there, including Fantastic Negrito. As it was pretty packed there a lot, we chose smaller venues and saw Creamer at the 5 Spot and dashed over to The Local to see the jazzy/americana Kaia Kater.  We missed some of War and Treaty’s set at the Cannery Ballroom to catch the quirky Marc Ribot upstairs at the High Watt and we laughed with Bob Boilen (NPR’s Tiny Desk host and creator) that it was really pushing the already loose boundaries of ‘Americana’.

Inspiring Artists from all over the world

Australia was represented by the amazing artists featured by Sounds Australia (The Winnie Blues, (you can check out photos from their gig at The Bowery Vault), Wilsn, Tom West, The Weeping Willows, Ruby Boots, Catherine Britt, Josh Rennie-Hynes, Fanny Lumsden, Tommy Emmanuel, Brian Cadd). There was so much to remind me why music captured my heart and spirit so many decades ago. We ended the week feeling as much inspired as we were exhausted. Next year we’ll be more prepared and know our way around better to perhaps fit more in, but we got way more than we even expected to.

Yes you should definitely go next year

Go check out the line up at th Americana Assocation website – there are so many great artists – many we didn’t get a chance to see which we were bummed about. Thank goodness for their great app which helped organize us. If you’ve never been and you love music, you will love every moment of it. If you don’t want to go to the conference you can just get a wrist band to see all the music as that gets you into all the venues (unless stated they are for conference guests only).

ALSO:

Bob Boilen has a great book out called ‘Your Song Changed My Life’. Happy to see a lot of my favorite music discussed! (audible version, hard cover & ebook). We bought the audio book – coz it’s really cool when the author reads it.

Become a member of Americana Association if you’re an artist/musician/songwriter join here http://www.americanamusic.org  You’ll need to become a member to attend the conference and the awards show.

There is also an association in the UK – AmericanaUK – they also have a huge awards show and have many community events – https://americana-uk.com/

If you’d like any of the photo’s as high rez let me know EMAIL

The Winnie Blues

Photography by Kenny Schick – Kenny is a music producer, engineer, singer songwriter & professional photographer, living in Nashville TN (from the Bay Area CA)  (see more photos here)

Contact Kenny if you would like High Rez photos without water marks

Our new gem of a discovery, in terms of place to see music, is just down the street from us: The Bowery Vault.

The Bowery Vault is not just a music venue… oh no no… it’s a clothing and vintage store, it serves beer and food, and is very intimate and super cool. The audiences are respectful and quiet and even the softest of singer songwriters will be heard in full detail… thank you!!

We went to see the Australian duo (now residing in Nashville) The Winnie Blues, apparently named after a brand of cigarettes… it was a celebration of their fantastic new single, ’Settle Down’. Despite singer Alice Beatty having lost her voice almost completely, she, in true rock star fashion, muscled through it and delivered a great performance with her temporarily cigarette/whiskey/road worn sounding voice. Partner Cameron Potts killed it too and as a good partner does, helped hold it all together with his strong vocals and guitar.

It was a pleasant surprise to be treated to sets from a few of their friends, Lauren Farrah and Connor McGinnis, who opened the night. Lauren Farrah is a fantastic writer with a killer voice that ranges from a whisper to an occasional roar—an intimate delicacy and captivating lyrics. Her quirky and funny stage persona is a great balance to her serious material. Connor McGinnis delivered a quiet, understated set with his gentle guitar work and soft, emotional vocal delivery.

An additional treat was the act playing when we got there, Anana Kaye (along with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel)—they were not part of the ‘Winnie Blues night’, but they were freekin’ great! They had that kind of cabaret, eastern european vibe with a bit of goth (a bit like Dresden Dolls), and as it turns out, that makes sense, as they are from Tbilisi, Georgia (that would be the country, not the state). Super dynamic and theatrical.

So…great venue, and lots of great performers who are now on our ‘watch list’….

  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 Anana Kaye with husband/guitarist Irakli Gabriel
  • Connor McGinnis
    The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis
  • The Winnie Blues' at The Bowery Vault 8_17_18 with Lauren Farrah, Connor McGinnis