[Preview] Americana Fest Highlights for Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Americana Music Festival is in full stride with over 55 performances at eleven “official” venues around town in addition to several semi-official and unofficial shows.  Some of tonights shows include award nomineees Rodney Crowell at City Winery, Robert Ellis and Parker Millsap at Mercy Lounge, and instrumentalist of the year winner Buddy Miller at the Cannery Ballroom.

Wristbands allow access to all shows at each venue (Mercy Lounge, The Cannery Ballroom, The High Watt, City Winery, The Basement, 3rd and Lindsley, The Rutledge, the Listening Room, Station Inn, Third Man Records, and the Downtown Presbyterian Church) all four nights.  Tickets for individual showcases are $20; however, only provide access to that one venue. In the event of a line, priority goes to laminate badge wearers, the wristband wearers, then individual ticket holders. The Basement has a 21+ age policy. The Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom, The High Watt, and The Rutledge are 18+ venues. The Station Inn welcomes under age 21 with parents. City Winery, 3rd & Lindsley, and The Listening Room are 18+ (under 18 allowed with parents).

MUSIC CITY ROOTS AT THE FACTORY

It is a special Thursday night Music City Roots at the Factory and official AMA Showcase featuring the original lineup of BR5-49 as well as American folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter Chris Smither, soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel vocalist Ruthie Foster and  Canadian / American fusion folk band the Duhks.  One of the most critically acclaimed alternative country bands of the ’90s, BR5-49’s sound, style, and even look were unabashedly retro. The group took up residency at Robert’s Western World, playing for tips three nights a week, and built a strong local following among both country and alternative rock fans, thanks to their eclectic repertoire and punkish, left-of-center attitude. They signed with Arista in 1995 and their first release was an EP, Live at Robert’s, which appeared in early 1996 and featured both originals and vintage country covers.  You don’t want to miss this extremely rare chance to see the reunited original lineup.

CANNERY / MERCY LOUNGE / HIGH WATT

This is generally our ‘go to’ location during Americana Fest as you can hit three venues by going up and down the stairs…which gets more difficult as the night goes on for several reasons.  The Cannery  has Lee Ann Womack at 7:30, Sam Outlaw at 8:30, Buddy Miller at 9:30, Trigger Hippy at 10;30, and Whiskey Myers at 11:30.  Mercy Lounge has Amy Ray at 8, Robert Ellis at 9, Parker Millsap at 10, Lake Street Dive at 11 and Sean Rowe at 12.  The High Watt has Joe Pug at 8, Angaleena Presley at 9, the Black Lillies at 10, Israel Nash at 11 and the Ben Miller Band at 12.  We have seen many of these folks before and you really can’t make a bad choice but we really like the lineup at the smaller High Watt venue.

3RD & LINDSLEY

There is a full night of music at 3rd & Lindsley with Sharde Thomas and the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band at 7, Leo “Bud” Welch at 7:30, Luther Dickinson at 8:30, Marty Stuart at 9:30, Webb Wilder at 11, and the Paul Thorn Band at 12.

CITY WINERY

City Winery is the brainchild of Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory, one of New York’s longest running music venues, who wanted to create a space where he could combine his shared passions for wine and music.  Nashville is City Winery’s third location.   While the entire project isn’t completely finished, this week’s AmericanaFest events are the venue’s first official previews and tonight’s schedule has Grant-Lee Philips at 8, Laura Cantrell at 9, Rodney Crowell at 10, Joe Henry at 11, and Robyn Hitchcock at 12.  An October 1 grand opening date is still the goal.

THIRD MAN RECORDS

Third Man Records is also making it’s AmericanaFest debut and tonight’s schedule has Frank Fairfield at 8, Gregory Alan Isakov at 9, Andrew Combs at 10, Greyhounds at 11, and Promised Land Sound at 12.

STATION INN

Tonight’s schedule has Parsonfield at 8, Whiskey Shivers at 9, Otis Gibbs at 10, Willie Watson at 11, and Dustbowl Revival at 12.

THE BASEMENT / RUTLEDGE / LISTENING ROOM

The Basement has the Vespers at 8, Tom Freund at 9, Bobby Bare Jr. at 10, Immigrant Union at 11, and Willie Sugarcapps at 12.  The Rutledge has the Ryan Montbleau at 8, Banditos at 9, Joshua James at 10, Robby Hecht at 11, and Police Dog Hogan at 12.  The Listening Room has the Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo at 8, Carlene Carter at 9, Zoe Muth at 10, The Stray Cats at 11, and Matt Anderson at 12.

Be sure to check out our previous coverage of this year’s Americana Music Festival news such as the Partial Lineup Announcement, the Expanded Lineup, Festival Schedule Released and Riverfront Park Lineup.

Weekend wristbands are still available for $50.  Individual show tickets can be purchased at the door for $20, space permitting after badges and wristbands have entered.

More from The Americana Music Association | Site | Facebook | Twitter |Youtube