Margo Price, The Milk Carton Kids, Lucinda Williams Join Americana Music's Thriving Roots Conference

The Milk Carton Kids, Margo Price and Lucinda Williams are among the latest panelists who have been announced for the upcoming Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference, Sept. 16-18. With close to 70 sessions including artist, industry and workshop panels, plus special events and music breaks, the full conference schedule is also now available.

The Milk Carton Kids will speak with Williams and perform together during a special edition of their “Sad Songs Comedy Hour” residency. Elsewhere, “Price Points: Talking Artistic Values With Margo Price” finds the outspoken singer-songwriter opening up about channeling her values and voice into songs, statements and other aspects of the public sphere during a discussion with music critic/NPR Music Contributor Jewly Hight.

National Independent Venue Association Board Members Chris Cobb, Dayna Frank and Sarah Mertz will join National Independent Talent Organization founding member Frank Riley for “Fighting for the Survival of Independent Music,” an examination of the groups’ advocacy work for U.S. government aid and how the entire independent music community is working together toward a future of live venue reopenings in the wake of COVID-19.

Carrie Colliton (Record Store Day) rounds up a team of seasoned brick-and-mortar owners and managers including Terry Currier (Music Millennium, Portland, OR), Doyle Davis (Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, Nashville, TN), John Kunz (Waterloo Records & Video, Austin, TX) and Andy Nelson (Easy Street Records, Seattle, WA) for “The Brick and the Mortar,” shining a light on the new business opportunities and revenue streams that have arisen in the face of adversity.

Additional new programming includes “Indie Labels in the Time of Consolidation: Surviving or Thriving?,” an inside look at how a handful of independent labels are navigating the choppy waters of retail and marketing, as well as their strategies on artist signings. Moderated by David Hirshland (BMG), this discussion will include John Allen (New West Records), Jim Olsen (Signature Sounds), Paul Roper (Dualtone Music Group) and John Strohm (Rounder Records).
In between panels and after business hours, attendees can also enjoy special events and music breaks. ANTI- Records will spotlight Ben Harper, Jeremy Ivey and Wynonna for show-stopping performances, while Thirty Tigers will treat audiences to numbers by Brent Cobb, Charley Crockett, Lori McKenna and more. During Mono Mundo’s “The Mavericks & Friends En Español,” catch the band celebrating their Cuban and Mexican roots with performances from their home in Nashville.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at [email protected].

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