Celebrated Aussie artists Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, Felicity Urquhart, Caitlin Harnett and Jordie Lane have each been booked for official showcases at this year’s festival, with additional performances scheduled throughout what is known in Nashville as “Americana Week.”
2012 marks the third consecutive Americana Conference trip organized by Sounds Australia, a government-supported music industry organization dedicated to spreading the music of Australia abroad. Since 2010, Sounds Australia has maintained a strategic partnership with the Nashville-based Americana Music Association that promotes the exchange of American and Australian music between the two countries.
“We’ve had many acts from Australia the last few years, and it’s been really exciting,” says Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly. “This year is extra special for us with Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson attending. They are truly in the pantheon of great Americana acts – they are Artists, which goes beyond the borders of nations. There are several great supporters of the community Down Under. I see that growing, and who knows, maybe we’ll have an Americana outpost some day soon!”
Adds Sounds Australia manager Dobe Newton, “Nashville has always been a major destination for Aussie artists and writers, but the involvement in the Americana Festival has taken it to a whole new level. Our Sounds Australia touring party has grown from six in 2010 to this year’s 25 artists. While it’s very exciting to present genuine stars like Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson at their first Americana Festival, perhaps my greatest thrill has been presenting new and unknown artists and seeing the great reception they’ve received from industry and fans alike.”
Additional Australian artists appearing at this year’s festival include: 8 Ball Aitken, Chris Altmann, Karl Broadie, Lachlan Bryan, Kristy Cox, John Flanagan & The Begin Agains, Lee Griffin, Damian Howard, Kelly Menhennett(Telstra Road to Discovery songwriting winner), Jen Mize, Lee Morgan, Chris Pickering, Melody Pool, Sue Ray, Andrew Redford (Telstra Road to Discovery performer winner), Lianna Rose, Ruby Boots, Shandell, Ben Wright Smith and Catherine Traicos.
Registration for the Americana Music Festival and Conference is $350 for organizational members and $450 for non-members. Registration includes one ticket to the Americana Honors and Awards Show. Showcase-only wristbands are available for $50 at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music or through the official Americana Music Association website. For more information, call (615) 386-6936 or visit www.AmericanaMusic.org.
About the Americana Music Association:
The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. In short, we are a professional trade association dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and the individuals who participate in our industry. Visitwww.AmericanaMusic.org for more information.
