AMERICANAFEST Outlines Panel Offerings For 2019

The Americana Music Association has revealed the lineup for its 20th annual AMERICANAFEST conference, slated for The Westin Nashville on Sept. 11-13. This year’s keynote will include an interview with Brandi Carlile and Change the Conversation’s Tracy Gershon, as well as an artist development panel with NPR Music’s Bob Boilen as well as Jade Bird and Daniel Glass. The conference will include more than 60 panels and workshops and will bring more than 200 music industry members to discuss current issues with conference registrants.

The conference will also include:

• A discussion on the current state of the Music Modernization Act with Keb’ Mo’ and Regan Smith, general counsel from the U.S. Copyright Office and Concord Music Publishing’s Brad Kennard.
• Live tapings of Chris Shiflett‘s “Walking The Floor” podcast featuring Delbert McClinton and Yola
• As previously announced, second keynote interview will feature Rhiannon Giddens (a co-recipient of this year’s inaugural Legacy of Americana Award), in discussion with writer John Jeremiah Sullivan
• NPR’s Boilen will discuss how artistry and advocacy work together as part of a panel with Leah Song and Chloe Smith from Rising Appalachia, as well as Oh Boy Records’ Jody Whelan and The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter and Tanya Trotter.
• A screening of the documentary Woody Guthrie: Three Chords and the Truth, which reveals a previously unheard recording from Guthrie. Following the film, Woody Guthrie Center Director Deana McCloud will provide commentary alongside Jaimee Harris and Will Hoge.
• Gospel scholar and DJ Kevin Nutt will look at 1970s gospel music, as former Staples Jr. Singers leader Annie Caldwell shares her own experiences.
• A look at Americana Music Association’s recent membership intitiatives, including the Americana Tour Blueprint. A panel will include singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty, agent Mark Lourie, AMA’s Anna Lee Crenshaw, Hypebot’s Bruce Houghton and Point Entertainment’s Jesse Lundy. The panel will be led by WMOT Roots Radio’s Craig Havighurst.
• The panel “Out Of Balance” will tackle the issue of gender imbalance on music festival bills. The panel includes Red Light Management’s Mark Cunningham, Live Nation’s Ali Harnell, artist Erin Rae, TT Management’s Traci Thomas and freelance writer Marissa Moss.