UK Americana Music Week and Awards 2023
powered by Sweet Home Alabama
Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th January in Hackney, East London
80 UK and International Artist Showcases
Awards ceremony featuring live performances from Judy Collins, Mike Scott
of The Waterboys, Nickel Creek and many more
4-day conference hosting industry panels, film screenings, songwriting circle, artist interviews and a keynote speech from Allison Russell
Less than two weeks to go until the highlight of the UK Americana Music calendar, UK Americana Music Week and Awards, takes place in London. Running from Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th January, the event brings together a 4 day industry conference, 2 nights of exclusive showcases from 80 artists in 6 venues and a glittering Awards ceremony at the famed Hackney Empire, celebrating the best in UK and international Americana Music from the past 12 months.
Awards only tickets: https://hackneyempire.co.uk/whats-on/the-uk-americana-awards-2023/
Delegate passes and showcase wristbands: https://theamauk.org/events
The Awards ceremony boasts an exceptional line-up of performers including Lifetime Achievement Award winners Judy Collins and Mike Scott of The Waterboys, highly acclaimed US singer-songwriter Allison Russell, who will be joined on stage by UK Artist of the Year nominee, Bristol’s Lady Nade; UK Americana International Trailblazer Award winners 2023 Nickel Creek; Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award winners 2023, London based five-piece The Hanging Stars; 2023 Award nominees The Heavy Heavy, Ferris and Sylvester, Simeon Hammond Dallas, Elles Bailey and from the USA, showcase artist Miko Marks. Alongside the live performances, special guests will present the awards conferred by the AMA-UK Board as well as the awards for the winners of the 8 nominated categories. The best-selling Americana Album 2022 by a UK artist will also be revealed.
Two evenings of showcases on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th January will feature a remarkable array of 80 artists from the UK, Europe, America and Canada, plus guest host showcases from Canada House (CIMA & PEI), Loose Music, Jansen Records and Die With Your Boots On Records from Norway, and take place in Oslo, Moth Club, Paper Dress Vintage, Night Tales, Hackney Social & The Globe. All of the venues are walking distance apart in central Hackney, east London, making the experience all the more unique. Full line-up below. Day splits here:
The 3-day UK Americana Music Week conference powered by Sweet Home Alabama will be covering topics including income, sync pitching, royalties, touring, building your team and safer and more inclusive spaces for Americana artists, with participants including worldwide artists and industry professionals. Allison Russell will deliver the Keynote Speech. Entitled “All Americana —The Mycelial Network of the Music Industry and The Rise of The Rainbow Coalition”, the speech will examine “Once and Future Sounds, beyond borders and genre – An exploration of the expansive inclusive, international community thriving at the Intersection of Art, Anti-Bigotry Activism and Creative Collaboration.” Bluegrass pioneers Nickel Creek will be In Conversation with BBC Radio Ulster broadcaster Ralph McLean. Leading Canadian record label Six Shooter Records will present a song-writing circle, hosted by Bob Harris, which will feature the outstanding line-up of: Allison Russell, Elles Bailey, Whitehorse and William Prince. There will also be films including the premiere of ‘Looking for a New England’, a new music film featuring Misty River, Katherine Priddy and Chloe Foy, shot at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield by Northern Cowboys and produced by British Underground, plus a special showing of ‘Big Old Goofy World: The Story of Oh Boy Records’, followed by a Q&A hosted by singer-songwriter Siobhan Mayer Kennedy who talks to the film’s director Neilson Hubbard. The schedule can be found here:
The Americana Music Association UK – UK Americana Music Week 2023 (theamauk.org)
Marking its 10th anniversary in 2023, UK Americana Music Week and Awards has gone from strength to strength since its inception with huge increases in delegrate numbers, artists involved and Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) members. Its impact has been widespread, raising the profile of the genre, providing a platform for new and established talent, including opportinuties for UK artists at festivals here and abroad, and establishing the Official UK Americana Chart in conjunction with The Official Chart Company.
The Americana Music Association UK continues to focus on its PRS Foundation Keychange pledge to deliver a minimum 50:50 gender balance in female participants at 2023’s UK Americana Music Week, alongside working hard to ensure an inclusive and diverse line-up across the whole event, including showcases from indigenous Canadian artists William Prince and Digging Roots.
Details of UK Americana Awards 2023 nominees and special award winners follow below.
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.
Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected by the board members, our highest honour is awarded to a UK 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 2023 recipient will be Mike Scott of The Waterboys
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 2023 recipient will be Judy Collins.
International Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates a UK artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2023 recipient will be Nickel Creek
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 2023 recipient will be The Hanging Stars
Best Selling Americana Album
AMA-UK works with The Official Charts Company to create the UK Americana Album Chart. This Award is given to the best-selling Americana Album by a UK Artist. The 2023 recipient will be announced in January.
Grass Roots Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates the sometimes-un-sung 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 2023 recipient is Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster
Songwriter Legacy Award
This award celebrates the life and work of legendary songwriters who the board want to recognise for their writing and important contribution in shaping this genre to what it is today. The 2023 recipient is: Loretta Lynn
Nominations
UK Album of the Year
- Birds That Flew and Ships That Sailed by Passenger (Produced by Mike Rosenberg and Chris Vallejo)
- Blue Hours by Bear’s Den (Produced by Ian Grimble)
- Shining In The Half Light by Elles Bailey (Produced by Dan Weller)
- Superhuman by Ferris and Sylvester (Produced by Ryan Hadlock and Michael Rendall)
International Album of the Year
- In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile (produced by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings)
- Pohorylle by Margo Cilker (produced by Sera Cahoone)
- Raise The Roof by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (produced by T Bone Burnett)
- The Man From Waco by Charley Crockett (produced by Bruce Robison)
UK Song of the Year
- Car Crash by Hannah White (Written by Hannah White)
- Grace by Marcus Mumford (Written by Blake Mills and Marcus Mumford)
- Make It Romantic by Simeon Hammond Dallas (Written by Simeon Hammond Dallas)
- Right Place by Danny George Wilson (written by Danny Wilson)
International Song of the Year
- I Don’t Really Care for You by CMAT (Written by Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson)
- Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan (Written by Zachary Lane Bryan)
- Take It Like A Man by Amanda Shires (Written by Amanda Shires and Lawrence Rothman)
- You’re Not Alone by Allison Russell feat. Brandi Carlile (Written by Allison Russell)
UK Artist of the Year
- Bear’s Den
- Elles Bailey
- Ferris and Sylvester
- Lady Nade
International Artist of the Year
- Allison Russell
- Brandi Carlile
- Margo Cilker
- The Dead South
UK Instrumentalist of the Year
- Holly Carter
- Joe Coombs
- Joe Wilkins
- Mark Lewis
UK Live Act of the Year
- Beans On Toast
- Elles Bailey
- Ferris & Sylvester
- Holy Moly & The Crackers
- Noble Jacks
- The Heavy Heavy
Showcase Line-up (In alphabetical order)
Brennen Leigh – USA
Caleb Caudle – USA
Dan Bettridge – UK
Danny Addison – UK
Danny George Wilson – UK
Darling West – Norway
Del Barber – Canada
Desirée Dawson – Canada
Digging Roots – Canada
Early James – USA
Eddy Smith & The 507 – UK
Emily Scott Robinson – USA
Ferris & Sylvester – UK
Forty Elephant Gang – UK
Gareth Dunlop – UK
Hannah White – UK
Hollie Rogers – UK
Holy Moly & The Crackers – UK
Izzie Walsh – UK
Jack Francis – UK
James Riley – UK
Jessica Guise – UK
Julian Taylor – Canada
Katherine Priddy – UK
Kirsten Adamson – UK
Lawrence Maxwell – Canada
Legends Of Country – UK
Louien – Norway
Louis Brennan – UK
Madison Violet – Canada
Malin Pettersen – Norway
Maz O’Connor – UK
Mikaela Finne – Sweden
Mikhail Laxton – Canada
Miko Marks – USA
Misty River – UK
MOM & The Rebels – UK
Native Harrow – UK
Nigel Wearne – Australia
Noble Jacks – UK
Ole Kirkeng – Norway
Our Atlantic Roots – UK
Our Man In The Field – UK
Rooftop Assembly – UK
Ruth Lyon – UK
Shane Pendergast – Canada
Signe Marie Rustad – Norway
Simeon Hammond Dallas – UK
Sister Suzie – UK
Skinny Living – UK
St Catherine’s Child – UK
Steady Habits – UK
Stephen Wilson Jr – USA
Suzie Ungerleider – Canada
Tara MacLean – Canada
The Blue Highways – UK
The Hello Darlins – Canada
The Northern Belle – Norway
The People Versus – UK
The Remedy Club – Ireland
The Sadies – Canada
The Vanguards – UK
The Wandering Hearts – UK
Violet Bell – USA
Whitehorse – Canada
William Prince – Canada
Willie Stratton – Canada
Plus more to come…