The Americana Music Association UK announces UK Americana Music Week 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, Monday 22 – Thursday 25 January in Hackney, London
UK Americana Music Awards 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, confirmed for Thursday 25 January at St John’s Hackney
Jason Isbell to receive International Trailblazer Award
Johnny Morgan to receive Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award
Stevie Smith to receive Grass Roots Award
Nominations Shortlist Announced (see below)
New for 2024: A Month of Exciting Americana and Roots Shows from mid-January to mid-February in Venues Across London
The UK’s annual celebration of Americana and Roots music, UK Americana Music Week, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, returns to Hackney in London from 22 – 25 January 2024. 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, next year returning to its spiritual home of St Johns, Hackney. 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.
Kick-off party, full delegate passes and showcase wristbands are on sale here
Announcing the Association’s plans for 2024, Acting CEO Charlie Pierce said: “It was with great pleasure (and a few nerves) that I stepped into the role of Acting CEO in September. I was able to spend the first week of my tenure at AmericanaFest in Nashville, supporting our UK contingent and being with our wider global community. I returned to London full of inspiration for where we can take Americana Music UK in the coming years. We’ve watched the incredible rise of Country music here in the UK over the last few years and, alongside this, the surge in popularity of Americana and, more broadly, Roots music. Following a hugely successful event in January 2023, now is the moment to focus on growing our strong roots in Americana and bringing our talented artists to a new and bigger audience. A big thanks must go to our returning headline sponsors, Sweet Home Alabama along with all of our supporters and sponsors – and talent – who make this wonderful event possible for our community.”
Commenting on the continuing partnership with AMA-UK, Andy Facer, Account Director UK & Ireland for the Alabama Tourism Department said: “We are delighted to partner with the Americana Music Association UK for another year and Powering the UK Americana Music Week as the headline sponsor. Alabama plays an integral role in shaping the landscape of Americana music. By sponsoring the UK Americana Music Week, The Alabama Tourism Department aims to bridge the geographical gap, inviting enthusiasts to experience the authentic charm of the state’s musical culture.”
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 (details below), and also the winner of the coveted International Trailblazer Award, presented by the AMA-UK board: Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell has established himself as one of the most respected and celebrated songwriters of his generation. The North Alabama native possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song. Isbell broke through in 2013 with the release of Southeastern. His next two albums, Something More Than Free (2015) and The Nashville Sound (2017), won Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album & Best American Roots Song. The creation of Reunions (2020) is the subject of a documentary from Sam Jones, “Running With Our Eyes Closed” and Isbell and his band the 400 Unit’s most recent album is Grammy-nominated Weathervanes (2023). Isbell’s song “Maybe It’s Time” was featured in the 2019 reboot of “A Star Is Born.” Isbell also appears in the Martin Scorsese film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Shining a spotlight on exciting new talent, this year’s Emerging Artist Award selected by Bob Harris OBE will go to Jonny Morgan.
Speaking about his choice, Bob Harris OBE said: “I have been at the heart of the Americana Music Association UK from day one and I am so proud to be a part of such a warm and creative community. My Emerging Artist of the Year 2024 is Jonny Morgan and I cannot wait to introduce him onstage at the awards. It’s going to be an amazing night.”
The AMA-UK Grass Roots Award, recognising the sometimes-unsung heroes of the UK Americana scene, will be given in 2024 to Stevie Smith, former CEO of the Americana Music Association UK, who stepped down earlier this year. Stevie’s tireless, dedicated, hard work over more than a decade has been fundamental to the huge progress and advancement within the UK Americana landscape.
In honour of Jason Isbell’s Award, the Week’s kick-off party on Monday 22 January, presented by Sweet Home Alabama and Thirty Tigers, will celebrate Jason Isbell’s seminal album Southeastern, and other world class music coming out of The Yellowhammer state.
On Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 January, an eclectic programme of daytime talks and panels will be followed by an extensive UK and international showcase programme across five stages in Hackney both evenings. The jewel in the Week’s crown, the UK Americana Awards 2024, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, will take place on Thursday 25 January at St John’s Hackney.
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
26/01 Darlingside at Lafayette
26/01 Drew Holcombe 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
Stay tuned for more information on the AMA-UK Board’s Special Awards for 2024. The award for the Best-Selling Americana Album by a UK artist, presented in conjunction with The Official Charts Company (OCC), will be announced in January.
Footnote 1:
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
Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys
The Hanging Stars
Special Awards:
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