2008 Americana Music Awards Doled Out
The 7th annual Americana Music Awards were handed out last night (Sept. 18) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN and the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant duo took top honors, winning Album of the Year and Duo/Group of the Year, while Levon Helm took Artist of the Year home. Nanci Griffith received the Americana Trailblazer Award, only the second to be handed out after the category was created last year. Mike Farris beat out stiff competition in the New Emerging Artist of the Year category and Hayes Carll’s “She Left Me For Jesus” was awarded Song of the Year. The nominees and winners are highlighted below.
Album of the Year
Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm
Just Us Kids, James McMurtry
Raising Sand, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
Trouble in Mind, Hayes Carll
Artist of the Year
Steve Earle
Levon Helm
Jim Lauderdale
James McMurtry
Duo/Group of the Year
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
The Avett Brothers
Drive By Truckers
Kane Welch Kaplin
Instrumentalist of the Year
Sam Bush
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Chris Thile
New Emerging Artist of the Year
Ryan Bingham
Justin Townes Earle
Mike Farris
The SteelDrivers
Song of the Year
“Broken,” Tift Merritt
Written by Tift Merritt
“Cheney’s Toy,” James McMurtry
Written by James McMurtry
“Gone Gone Gone,” Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Written by Don & Phil Everly
“Poor Old Dirt Farmer,” Levon Helm
Written by Tracy Schwarz
“She Left Me for Jesus,” Hayes Carll
Written by Hayes Carll & Brian Keane
President’s Award
Jerry Garcia
“Spirit of Americana” Free Speech in Music
Joan Baez
Trailblazer Award
Nanci Griffith
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Executive: Terry Lickona
Instrumentalist: Larry Campbell
Performance: Jason & the Scorchers
Producer/Engineer: Tony Brown
Songwriting: John Hiatt
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[...] win. Nothing against him or his music, but that’s some pretty stiff competition.” — Patrick “I guess the left wing leanings of so many “Americana/Alt. Country” artists carries all the [...]
16 Comments
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September 19, 2008 at 8:15 am Permalink
I sure was surprised to see Farris win. Nothing against him or his music, but that’s some pretty stiff competition.
September 19, 2008 at 8:23 am Permalink
I was thinking the same thing. I guess the other acts had a little too much notoriety to deserve an Americana award ;)
September 19, 2008 at 8:59 am Permalink
I am just glad we can finally get past the whole Allison Krauss/Robert Plant album now. It was ok, but WAY over-rated.
September 19, 2008 at 11:12 am Permalink
“”Spirit of Americana” Free Speech in Music – Joan Baez”.
I guess the left wing leanings of so many “Americana/Alt. Country” artists carries all the way to the top of the Americana organization. Who’s getting this award next year, Woody Guthrie? And then there’s the award for Jerry Garcia. The “Americana” realm is a poor if not illegitmate relation to the world of real (ie traditional) country music…..
September 19, 2008 at 12:00 pm Permalink
What can you do? It’s tough to find right-wingers who actually support free speech. Perhaps they should start a “Shut Your Mouth, Commie Pinko Hippie” award.
September 19, 2008 at 12:09 pm Permalink
The “Americana” realm is a poor if not illegitmate relation to the world of real (ie traditional) country music…
Could the same not be said for a lot of mainstream music that falls under the title of country?
I don’t think Americana ever intended, nor claimed, to be a bastion of traditional country music, but the fact remains that a lot of the music that’s placed under the Americana label has roots in country music, and at least that’s accepted in Americana.
As for your other remark, I don’t see the point in attaching a political agenda to a genre of music. Hayes Carll won Song of the Year for the irreverent “She Left Me For Jesus,” but wasn’t New Emerging Artist of the Year Mike Farris’ last album heavily influenced by his spirituality? I just don’t see the agenda there.
September 19, 2008 at 12:35 pm Permalink
If it weren’t for Americana there wouldn’t be any outlet at all to hear artists who have been dumped by mainstream country. I certainly don’t like everything that falls under the Americana banner, but I’m glad that it’s there, because at least there’s a chance of hearing SOMETHING that I like once in a while.
September 19, 2008 at 1:18 pm Permalink
I guess the left wing leanings of so many “Americana/Alt. Country” artists carries all the way to the top of the Americana organization.
I guess that’s why Charlie Daniels was the winner last year.
September 19, 2008 at 2:16 pm Permalink
You mean Charlie Daniels leans right? I hadn’t noticed.
September 19, 2008 at 2:17 pm Permalink
I dunno if you can lean that far without falling over.
September 19, 2008 at 2:22 pm Permalink
“I dunno if you can lean that far without falling over.”
You can with a little practice. Trust me. ; – )
September 19, 2008 at 3:02 pm Permalink
Mike Farris OWNS almost everybody in the vocals department. A well deserved award to one of my heroes. Congratulations Mike and everyone involved with “Salvation in Lights”.
September 19, 2008 at 7:13 pm Permalink
Mike may have also won by the Norah Jones method–everyone else split the vote.
September 20, 2008 at 11:48 am Permalink
To Kelly: What planet are you on? There is NO “finally” getting past Raising Sand anytime soon!! I look for it to win album of the year at the Grammys. I think it is a breath of fresh air and they sound amazing together.
September 21, 2008 at 11:33 am Permalink
The Lifetime Achievement Award for instrumentalist should read:
Larry Campbell
September 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm Permalink
I’d like to see more of the contemporary bands that are loosely lumped in to the ‘Jamband’ genre. You’ve got Garcia with a ‘Presidents Award’ whatever that is, so someone is listening, but what about the up and comers? Railroad Earth (fantastic song writing) comes to mind, as does Hot Buttered Rum
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