| Basically, Americana is Country Music. Hold on! | | | | generation. Take a listen on a road trip and you'll |
| Wait! Don't go clicking away yet!We're not talking | | | | be singing along. Guaranteed.Americana has its |
| here about the cliches of Line Dancing, Stetsons | | | | own association, and it is close to having its own |
| and songs about losing Wife, Dawg and Car (not | | | | Billboard chart. But Americana is independent; the |
| necessarily in that order).What we're talking about | | | | Americana Music Association could just as easily |
| is music with attitude, whether that be protest | | | | have been named the Awkward Musicians |
| songs, introspective ballads or just plain old | | | | Association. It is a free spirit, embraces all comers |
| bad-ass hell-raising good time music - country yes, | | | | and loves the diversity of the dobro, mandolin, |
| but Americana is also rock, blues, traditional | | | | Les Paul and Stratocaster. It is conservative and |
| bluegrass and even soul. Music without boundaries, | | | | liberal in equal measures and pretty darn hard to |
| held together by a common thread of realism, | | | | pin down.In 2005 the Americana Music Association |
| honesty and heart.You like Springsteen and Neil | | | | celebrated its 4th annual Honors and Awards |
| Young? Well, Steve Earle is probably the most | | | | ceremony which was held for the first time at |
| high profile name in Americana. If you're a fan of | | | | the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville |
| The Boss and Neil Young in equal measures and | | | | Tennessee, the spiritual home of Country Music. |
| you haven't come across the phenomena that is | | | | The AMA is happy to co-exist with the Country |
| Steve Earle then do yourself a favour and get | | | | Music Association, but where the CMA Awards |
| hold of 'Guitar Town' or 'Copperhead Road' and | | | | are a glitzy, showbiz affair, the AMA Awards are |
| see what you've been missing.A whole new | | | | more down home, more real. Heck, they even |
| generation of singer-songwriters influenced by | | | | have a 'Freedom of Speech' award.Americana |
| pre-'Achy, Breaky Heart' country music are | | | | music is deserving of your attention. The |
| making their mark today, inspired by another | | | | Americana Music Association is run by people who |
| anti-hero Townes Van Zandt (a better songwriter | | | | care deeply about the music, about its influence |
| than Dylan, many would say). And don't think | | | | and about retaining the true spirit of traditional |
| Americana music is a closed-shop club of | | | | music and traditional values. Yes, we love our |
| world-weary men. Take a listen to Tift Merritt as | | | | Country Music and our singer-songwriters and our |
| an example of a young girl with vocals as soulful | | | | Texan attitudes, but you won't find any inverted |
| and powerful as Aretha, or Patty Griffin, who can | | | | snobbery about Shania, Tim or Faith.So, enough |
| fell a person at fifty feet with her soaring vocals | | | | words ... track down the music and judge for |
| and incisive lyrics, and can blow you away with | | | | yourself.Sally Smart has been running a successful |
| the hardest rocking alternative guitar music | | | | Booking and Promotions agency for US acts |
| around.So you don't want deep and introspective? | | | | touring the UK for a number of years. She has |
| Okay, Shooter Jennings might be just up your | | | | recently expanded the business into retail by |
| street - the son of Waylon, Shooter has hung out | | | | opening a dedicated Americana online CD and |
| with Guns'n'Roses and obviously listened to Ted | | | | download store. |
| Nugent as a kid. Good time music, next | | | | |