UK Americana Awards 2023, powered by Sweet Home Alabama
Thursday 26th January at Hackney Empire
Stellar line-up of performers confirmed including Allison Russell, Passenger, Nickel Creek, Lady Nade, The Hanging Stars, The Heavy Heavy, Ferris and Sylvester, Simeon Hammond Dallas, Elles Bailey, Miko Marks and as previously announced Judy Collins and Mike Scott of The Waterboys
Allison Russell to deliver The Keynote Speech at UK Americana Music Week Conference, Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th January in Hackney
Awards only tickets: https://hackneyempire.co.uk/whats-on/the-uk-americana-awards-2023/
An exceptional list of performers has been revealed for the prestigious UK Americana Awards Show 2023 on Thursday 26thJanuary at Hackney Empire. Bringing together the best in Americana from the UK and internationally, the line-up features highly acclaimed US singer-songwriter Allison Russell, who will be joined on stage by UK Artist of the Year nominee, Bristol’s Lady Nade; international chart-topper, Ivor Novello Award winner and BRIT Award nominee Passenger; 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.
As previously announced, both of 2023’s UK Americana Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Judy Collins and Mike Scott of The Waterboys, will perform at the Awards ceremony.
In addition to individual performances, the Awards show will honour country music legend Loretta Lynn in a multi-artist tribute.
The Americana Music Association UK is thrilled to announce that Allison Russell will deliver the Keynote Speech at the UK Americana Week Conference. 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.”
After two years’ of COVID cancellations, the UK Americana Music Week returns to Hackney in London from January 23rd to 26th 2023. It’s the UK’s biggest celebration of American roots music – from blues to bluegrass; gospel to folk; alt. country to Southern rock – and features an impressive array of showcases, industry panels and special events, all rounded off by the prestigious UK Americana Awards Show at Hackney Empire on January 26th. The Alabama Tourism Department ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, who also sponsor the UK’s Official Americana Chart, are the headline partners for the week’s events, coming on the back of a year which saw the opening of the Orion Amphitheatre in Huntsville, the state’s major new 8000 capacity venue.
The Awards show itself will be preceded by two evenings of showcases, featuring over 75 showcase artists from across all 4 UK nations, Canada, America and Europe, plus guest host showcases from Canada House (CIMA & PEI), Loose Music, Jansen Records and Die With Your Boots On Records from Norway. (Full line-up below)
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. There will also be song-writing circles, keynote speeches, artist interviews and films including the premier 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 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
Ida Mae – UK
Izzie Walsh – UK
Jack Francis – UK
James Riley – UK
Jessica Guise – UK
Julian Taylor – Canada
Katherine Priddy – UK
Lawrence Maxwell – Canada
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
Rooftop Assembly – UK
Ruth Lyon – UK
Shane Pendergast – Canada
Signe Marie Rustad – Norway
Simeon Hammond Dallas – UK
Sister Suzie – 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
Treetop Flyers – UK
Violet Bell – USA
Whitehorse – Canada
William Prince – Canada
Willie Stratton – Canada
Plus more to come…