The Americana Music Association UK announces more exciting performers for the UK Americana Music Awards 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, on Thursday 25 January at Hackney Church, London
First Wave of Award Presenters Revealed
Legendary soul music songwriter Dan Penn to receive the International Lifetime Achievement Award
Highlights of UK Americana Music Week 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, Monday 22 – Thursday 25 January in Hackney, London, include 59 showcases and the UK premeire of Finding Lucinda documentary film
Jason Isbell, Billy Bragg, Margo Cilker, Drew Holcomb, Elles Bailey, St Catherine’s Child, Michele Stodart, Jonny Morgan, and Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys will be among the live performers at this year’s UK Americana Awards which takes place on Thursday 25 January at Hackney Church. This impressive line-up displays the best in contemporary Americana from the UK and abroad.
There will also be a multi-artist tribute to 2024’s International Lifetime Achievement winner, the legendary American singer-songwriter, musician and producer Dan Penn. Penn has enjoyed a long and storied career which began in the 1960s and continues to the present day, during which he has written or co-written numerous hit songs including “The Dark End Of The Street”, “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man”, “I’m Your Puppet”, “Cry Like A Baby” and “Sweet Inspiration”. Alongside composing and producing for a long list of fellow artists across the Americana, soul, country, blues and pop genres, Penn has released a select few, acclaimed albums of his own.
Confirmed for presenting duties so far are: Award-winning and best-selling author Nick Hornby, Frank Turner, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, Bob Harris OBE and Head of Station for BBC Radio 2, Helen Thomas, as well as Jason Isbell, Billy Bragg and Drew Holcomb who are also performing. The evening is hosted by esteemed broadcaster Baylen Leonard (Absolute Radio Country, Holler, The Long Road Festival).
The UK’s annual celebration of Americana and Roots music, UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, is this year themed Growing Our Roots in Americana. The week’s activities will include an impressive array of showcases, industry panels and special events, all rounded off by the prestigious UK Americana Awards Show, powered by Sweet Home Alabama. Following an incredibly successful inaugural year partnership in 2023, The Alabama Tourism Department ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ return as headline partners for the week’s events.
Highlights during the week include an extensive UK and international showcase programme across five stages in Hackney on the evenings of Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 January, and during the daytime, an In Conversation interview with International Trailblazer Award winner Jason Isbell and the UK exclusive premiere of Finding Lucinda, a fascinating documentary film which takes viewers on a heartfelt journey through the life and early career of iconic US singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. More information on the film here: https://www.findinglucindafilm.com/. Full list of showcases below.
Other industry lead panels and conversations during the conference include advice on social media management and composing music for sync, as well as a dialogue on the Artist/Manager Relationship, featuring industry legend Traci Thomas of TT Management.
The week will begin with a kick-off party on Monday 22 January, presented by Sweet Home Alabama and Thirty Tigers, which will celebrate Jason Isbell’s seminal album Southeastern, and other world class music coming out of The Yellowhammer state.
The Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) has revealed the nominations for the eight panel and member-voted categories of the UK Americana Awards 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, and a full list follows below, alongside the Special Awards conferred by the AMA-UK Board. The award for the Best-Selling Americana Album by a UK artist, presented in conjunction with The Official Charts Company (OCC), will be announced at the Awards ceremony.
For the first time in 2024, UK Americana Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, is the feature event in an exciting month of music for Americana and Roots fans in London, with shows running from mid-January through to February at various venues across the capital. This includes:
12/01 Tommy Emmanuel with special guest Molly Tuttle at Cadogan Hall – sold out
19/01 Milk Carton Kids at The Barbican
20/01 Ashley McBryde at Eventim Apollo
26/01 Darlingside at Lafayette
26/01 Drew Holcomb at The Garage
27/01 Teddy Thompson at Cadogan Hall
28/01 Israel Nash at Oslo
30/01 Allison Russell at Lafayette
31/01 Noah Guthrie at St Pancras Old Church
02/02 Dave Hause and Will Hoge at Union Chapel
06/02 The Wood Brothers at Lafayette
11/02 Transatlantic Sessions featuring Carlene Carter, Jerry Douglas and more at Royal Festival Hall
14 & 15/02 Noah Kahan at OVO Arena Wembley – sold out
15/02 Al Lewis at St Pancras Old Church
21/02 Rhiannon Giddens, Barbican Hall – sold out
21 & 22/02 Tyler Childers at Eventim Apollo
About the AMA-UK
The Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) is a professional trade association representing and advocating for the voice of Americana music in the UK. Our membership comprises musicians, both from the UK and overseas, plus individuals and organisations from all sectors of the music industry, including; agents, promoters, venues, festivals, labels, distributors, retailers, management, touring crew, journalists, broadcasters and publicists.
We are committed to treating all artists and associated parties equally regardless of their gender status, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, age or disability. We are always listening and learning from our membership and strive to ensure we provide a safe environment that allows all to feel welcome, safe and able to contribute.
Previous recipients of our Special Awards have included Robert Plant, Mumford & Sons, Billy Bragg, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson and Albert Lee, Graham Nash, Joan Armatrading, Lucinda Williams and many more. The show is hosted by Baylen Leonard with guest presenter Bob Harris OBE and awards have been presented by Sir Patrick Stewart, Jools Holland, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Difford, Ricky Ross, Harry Shearer, Timothy B. Schmidt, Jim Lauderdale and Kiki Dee, amongst many others.
Nominations
UK Album of the Year
Far From Saints – Far From Saints
Michele Stodart – Invitation
Roseanne Reid – Lawside
Ward Thomas – Music In The Madness
International Album of the Year
Allison Russell – The Returner
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Strangers No More
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Weathervanes
Margo Cilker – Valley of Heart’s Delight
UK Song of the Year
Hannah White – “Chains of Ours”
Kirsten Adamson – “My Father’s Songs”
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys – “High Time”
St Catherine’s Child – “Every Generation”
International Song of the Year
Chris Stapleton – “White Horse”
Maren Morris – “The Tree”
Margo Price – “Radio”
Noah Kahan – “Stick Season”
UK Artist of the Year
Cardinal Black
Elles Bailey
Hannah White
Michele Stodart
International Artist of the Year
Allison Russell
Jason Isbell
Lucinda Williams
War & Treaty
UK Instrumentalist of the Year
Holly Carter
Joe Coombs
Joe Harvey White
Keiron Marshall
UK Live Act of the Year
Elles Bailey
Far From Saints
Ferris & Sylvester
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys
The Hanging Stars
Special Awards:
International Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected by the board members, our highest honour is awarded to an international artist, duo or group in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music. The 2024 recipient will be Dan Penn
International Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates an international artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2024 recipient will be Jason Isbell
Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award
Selected by Bob Harris OBE, this special award celebrates the breakthrough artist, duo or group that has particularly impressed the legendary music broadcaster throughout the year. The 2024 recipient will be Jonny Morgan
Grass Roots Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates the sometimes-unsung heroes of the UK Americana scene. It is presented to individuals working in the industry (in a capacity other than as artists) who have made outstanding efforts to support Americana music from the grass roots up. The 2024 recipient will be Stevie Smith