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This year’s UK Americana Music Week features an impressive lineup of live performances, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Hackney’s iconic venues, the festival promises to showcase established artists and rising stars in the genre. The festival will also include a songwriting masterclass led by award-winning Nashville songwriter Mary Gauthier, as well as panels discussing the evolution of Americana music and its growing influence in the UK.

A cornerstone of the week is the Americana Music Awards, which will take place on January 23 at Hackney Empire. The awards ceremony honours the best in Americana music, with categories such as Best Album, Best Song, and Emerging Artist of the Year. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to folk and country legend Linda Thompson for her decades of contribution to the genre. The singer is best known for her work in the British folk-rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson, particularly their seminal 1974 album ‘I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight‘. The title track, ‘I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight’, is widely regarded as one of her most famous songs.

Last year’s Americana Music Awards were won by Michele Stodart for UK Artist of the Year. The singer-songwriter has also won UK Album of the Year for ‘Invitation‘. Tickets for individual performances and festival passes are available via the AMA-UK website, with options for in-person and livestream attendance. Many of the workshops and panels are free or low-cost to ensure accessibility for music lovers of all backgrounds. As UK Americana Music Week 2025 kicks off, it promises to be a thrilling celebration of the genre, with an unforgettable lineup of events that will inspire, entertain, and connect audiences with the heart and soul of Americana. 

Americana Music Association UK, (AMA UK), proudly announced another incredible line up for their annual gala UK Americana Award Show, which takes place, on the 31st January 2019. The star-studded evening, follows two nights of showcases, will include special performances from celebrated nominees and special guests including the likes of Graham Nash, Rhiannon Giddens, Ethan Johns, Israel Nash, Yola Carter, Jade Bird, Curse of Lono, Mary Gauthier, Ben Glover, Bennet Wilson Poole, Seth Lakeman and Chris Hillman.

Acts, which have been confirmed for AmericanaFest 2019 include: Madison Violet, Pretty Archie, Oh Susanna, Harrow Fair and Kaia Kater, Sam Lewis, Gangstagrass, CoCo and the Butterfields, Days Are Done, Martin Harley, The Luck, Birds of Chicago, Austin Lucas, Lucas & King, and Jamie Freeman.

Joining them will be Police Dog Hogan Wild Ponies, Amy Speace, Martha L. Healy, Noble Jacks, The Blue Highways, Caleb Caudle, Caroline Spence, Arkansas Dave, Nicki Bluhm, Mike Farris, Ethan Johns with The Black eyed Dogs, The Hanging Stars, and Neilson Hubbard.

Completing the line-up of exciting acts are The Southern Companion, Bennett Wilson Poole, Beth Rowley, Smith & Brewer, Amber Rubarth, Sam Morrow, Treetop Flyers, Carson McHone, The Hungry Mothers, William The Conqueror, Michaela Anne, Trevor Moss, and Hannah-Lou.

AMA-UK recently announced two guest hosts for the showcase festival; Thirty Tigers and Canadian Music Export. Renowned Nashville label, Thirty Tigers will host a stellar line up at the Moth Club, on the 30th of January. AmericanaFest UK and Thirty Tigers are excited to today announce a 50/50 UK to US line up comprising of new global Thirty Tigers signing Ida Mae, acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter John Smith, and folk-rock royalty The Rails – from the UK, along-side multi-talented music legend John Oates, Ray Benson & Katie Shore, of country music group Asleep At The Wheel, and Red Dirt singer-songwriter Wade Bowen – from the US.

David Macias, President and Co-Founder of Thirty Tigers, said: “The UK market is particularly important to Thirty Tigers, because it is the second biggest market for most of our acts. It’s imperative that if we’re going to serve artists of the calibre of John Prine, Jason Isbell and Lucinda Williams, we need to be able to answer their needs around the world. The AMA-UK organization provides Thirty Tigers a community of like-minded music business professionals that help us spread the word for our beloved family of artists.”

Thirty Tigers’ distinguished line up is in addition to Canadian, Blast, at The Empire Bar, on January the 29th, which will be hosted by Canadian Music Export, and will showcase Leeroy Stagger, Oh Susanna, Harrow Fair, Kaia Kater, Madison Violet, and Pretty Archie. Meanwhile, also performing as part or the Southern Comfort & Bluegrass Situation event will be Chance McCoy (from Old Crow Medicine Show) and Rachel Baimen (from 10 String Symphony).

As Americana evolves and the charts reflect the popularity of the genre, the AMA-UK’s membership has grown rapidly and therefore, the event has grown too. The conference venue is bigger, the talks will take place over 3 days and there will be an incredible 48 artists showcasing at 5 venues over 2 days. Topping it all off, is the Awards show, which has moved to the iconic Hackney Empire. Bands attending the showcase also reflect the pull of the genre and are truly representative of artists coming from here in the UK, but also the USA and Canada.

This year’s artist spotlight interview will be conducted by BBC Ulster’s Ralph McLean chatting with Ray Benson -from Asleep at the Wheel. Bob Harris will be chatting with John Oates, whose recent album ‘Arkansas’ pays tribute to American music’s roots. Following her incredibly well-received Guest Curatorship of Cambridge Folk Festival, US musician, Rhiannon Giddens, will be giving a keynote speech.

Speaking about her invitation to be a keynote speaker, Giddens said: “I’m very excited to see what the UK is doing with the genre of Americana, so I’m honoured to be the keynote speaker for 2019’s AMA-UK conference.”