It’s Americana week here in Guitar Town, and there’s non-stop music in nightspots all over the city.

There’s non-stop music on disc, too. Of the hundreds of hopefuls lined up for a listen, I chose these 10 for your edification.

The Disc of the Day belongs to that force-of-nature, body-positive and completely fabulous Sarah Potenza. She is one incredible piece of work.

For our DISCovery Award, I turn to a youngster I only learned about this week. And, boy, am I glad I did. The Marcus King Band makes me hopeful about the future of rock & roll.

MANDOLIN ORANGE/Belly of the Beast
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Yep Roc
– This compelling North Carolina folk duo (Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz) captivates audiences at sold-out venues like the Ryman. This new single casts its spell with weaving, wandering banjo droplets and dreamy vocals. Haunting.

DELBERT McCLINTON/Let’s Get Down Like We Used To
Writers: none listed; Producers: McClinton/Bob Britt/Kevin McKendree; Publishers: none listed; Hot Shot/Thirty Tigers
– Loose limbed and funky, this is a gently rocking, swaying, romantic come-on for couples of a certain age. Senior citizenry sounds sexy here. Delbert showcases on Saturday at 11:30 pm at 3rd & Lindsley.

AUBRIE SELLERS/Drag You Down
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Thirty Tigers
– Sassy and ferociously rocking. She lays down the law on this searing, roaring outing, promising doom and despair to her paramour. Aubrie’s fusion of country singing with alternative-rock bashing is completely unique. Also check out her new duet with Steve Earle on “My Love Will Not Change.” Her crystalline country soprano and his backwoods growl are terrific contrasting textures. Coupled with a dark, pounding track they are gripping, essential and utterly magnetic. Both tunes are previews of an album that drops early next year. Catch Aubrie at 8:00 pm Saturday in Mercy Lounge.

CORB LUND & HAYES CARLL/The Cover of Rolling Stone
Writers: none listed; Producer: Corb Lund/John Evans; Publisher: none listed; New West
-This always-welcome Canadian troubadour drops his new, 8-song CD tomorrow. Titled Cover Your Tracks, it is a set of reinvented oldies by everyone from Marty Robbins to AC/DC. Also represented are classics popularized by Billy Joel, Willie Nelson & Ray Charles, Nancy Sinatra, Bob Dylan and The Eagles. And then there’s this, a delightfully rumpled, rollicking duet with Hayes Carll on the 1973 Dr. Hook hit. The original version actually did get Dr. Hook on the cover of Rolling Stone. Can lightning strike twice in the same place? Lund is on Saturday’s bill of the all-day “Under the Sun” show at the Rooftop Lounge of the Westin Hotel.

JOHN HIATT/Cry To Me
Writer: John Hiatt; Producer: Kevin McKendree; Publisher: So Not That, BMI; New West
– Hiatt is in the spotlight this week as the 2019 winner of BMI’s Troubadour Award. His current album is titled The Eclipse Sessions and includes this strummy, rootsy, midtempo shuffle. His national-treasure strangled rasp promises to never oppress a lover, even though he might not be all that reliable. Rolling, strolling brilliance.

SARAH POTENZA/Diamond
Writers: Potenza/Ian Crossman/Justin Wiseman; Producer: Jordan Brooke Hamlin; Publishers: none listed; Snax
– This former contestant on The Voice is a take-no-prisoners artist. Cross this bodacious, soulful, brassy, in-your-face dame at your own peril. Drawn from her Road to Rome CD, this stormy, fierce, edgy, roaring number is a powerful self-love anthem. The whole album is anchored by this East Nashvillian’s colossal, bluesy voice and her lyrics of determination, self-worth and empowerment. A feminist battle cry. Her live performances are super theatrical, and she’s showcasing at 10:30 pm Friday at Analog in the Hutton Hotel.

THE MARCUS KING BAND/Goodbye Carolina
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Easy Eye Sound
– He’s a young pup of 23, but King is a full-grown guitar slinger. Blessed with a rock-star’s soulful shout as well as instrumental chops to spare, he gets down to basics on this deliciously moaning ode. He has, indeed, said farewell to South Carolina and now calls Music City home. You’ll be tempted to call his sound throwback Southern rock, but he’s a lot cooler than that. The Marcus King Band showcases at 8:15 pm tonight at Musicians Corner in Centennial Park. Expect to have your socks rocked.

STURGILL SIMPSON/Sing Along
Writers: none listed; Producer: Sturgill Simpson/John Hill; Publishers: none listed; Elektra
– This dude simply refuses to fit in any musical category. Instead of a neo-classicist country guy, he’s now a ZZ Top techno stomper, at least judging by this throbbing track. Exciting, electronic and innovative.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS/Up and Rolling
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; New West
-Despite the band name, these guys are Nashvillians. Their new album doesn’t appear until next month, but this advance single/video of the title track is out now. As the lyrics indicate, the vibe is Delta-dirt hippies tripping on LSD to a languid, bluesy accompaniment. Mellow and groovy. The group will be at the “Music City Roots” broadcast from Yee Haw Brewing Company tonight at 7:00 pm.

GARY NICHOLSON  & THE McCRARY SISTERS/Hallelujah Anyhow
Writers: none listed; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publisher: none listed; Blue Corn
-This esteemed, hit-machine, Music Row tunesmith has crafted a semi-political collection titled The Great Divide. Its songs contemplate our nation’s troubled state and search for understanding and cooperation. On this bluesy, ragtimey hand clapper Gary offers a tuneful prescription to your “blues watching the evening news.” He’s helped along in no small measure by our city’s favorite soul siblings and some get-happy piano tickling by Catherine Marks. Catch Gary on Friday at 8 pm at 3rd & Lindsley and the McCrarys on Friday at 9:30 pm at Analog in the Hutton Hotel.

Allie Colleen, Tyler Childers

Come one, come all.

This week’s column includes several folks who made their name in other genres, but who now fit comfortably under country music’s umbrella. Sheryl Crow, Jason Crabb and Mac Powell are such great artists, that we should welcome them with open arms, however and whenever they come calling.

The same goes for Americana favorite, Tyler Childers, who wins this week’s Disc of the Day award. The DisCovery Award honor goes to singer-songwriter Allie Colleen. Lend her your ears.

ALLIE COLLEEN/Work In Progress
Writers: Allie Colleen/Marcus Hummon/Greg Beick; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MC1 Nashville
– Lilting and lovely, it’s a meditation on growing up and taking “a journey to me.” The lyrics describe the uncertainty of youth, but there’s nothing immature about this performance. Extremely promising. This recent Belmont grad is the daughter of Garth Brooks, but richly deserves to be judged on her own talent. Allie Colleen is booked to play The Dawghouse in Music City next Tuesday (8/13).
 

MAC POWELL & THE FAMILY REUNION & CRAIG MORGAN/Whoo!
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jason Hoard; Publishers: none listed
– A rowdy and rocking invitation to party, party, party. The rhythmic undertow and the chesty baritone lead vocals are irresistible. Powell was formerly with the CCM act Third Day, but he’s a country-rocker now. And how.
 

SHERYL CROW & CHRIS STAPLETON/Tell Me When It’s Over
Writers: Sheryl Crow/Chris Stapleton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Valory
-Thumping and tart, this has a distinct, old-school r&b groove. She begins in a light soprano range, but dips into a throaty alto when Chris joins her on the choruses. The searing guitar solo is the icing on the cake. Sheryl’s highly anticipated Threads CD appears on Aug. 30.
 

JASON CRABB/Day One
Writers: Jason Crabb/Gloria Gaynor/Chris Stevens; Producer: Jay DeMarcus; Publisher: none listed; Daywind
– This native Kentuckian possesses one of the most powerful voices in gospel music. Drawn from his Grammy winning Unexpected CD, this stately ballad is one more example of his electrifying greatness.
 

CASSADEE POPE/I’ve Been Good
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Awake
– When her ex asks how she is, she answers, “I’ve been good,” meaning she’s been good at being miserable. But she’s darned if she’s going to show him that. As usual, she sings with aplomb, even when the track plods just a little.
 

RODNEY ATKINS/Thank God For You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb
– The hell-raising boy becomes a settled man. He sings well, and the rocking song is a good one. But there is something unattractive about how compressed and muffled this sounds. It should have been much edgier.
 

DYLAN SCOTT/When You Say Nothing At All
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jim Ed Norman, Matt Alderman, Curt Gibbs; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Dylan sings this classic every night in his concerts. Now it is the debut video from his Keith Whitley tribute CD An Old Memory. It’s a flawless, heartfelt performance on a record meant to keep alive Whitley’s music and legacy. It’s Dylan’s way of saying “Thanks” to his biggest influence. And just as important, it’s a statement about who he really is as an artist, a proud neo-traditionalist. Absolutely play this.
 

CRYSTAL GAYLE/Ribbon of Darkness
Writer: Gordon Lightfoot; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Southpaw
– For her first album in 16 years, Crystal revisits the country classics she grew up on. You Don’t Know Me features the first recorded trio of her with sisters Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue (”Put It Off Until Tomorrow”), as well as this rippling, lustrous lead single. The evergreen was previously a hit for Marty Robbins (1965) and Connie Smith (1969). Crystal’s single of it drops tomorrow.
 

JOE DIFFIE/As Long As There’s A Bar
Writers: Jessica Pearson/Galen Griffin/Keith Burns; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: none listed; Silverado
– Diffie returns to down-home honky tonking with this steel-soaked, twanging, drawling roadhouse outing. Personality on parade.
 

TYLER CHILDERS/Country Squire
Writer: none listed; Producer: Sturgill Simpson/David Ferguson; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– The title tune to Tyler’s latest is a peppy two stepper. He reigns as the Americana genre’s Emerging Artist honoree, but there’s no reason on earth why mainstream country music shouldn’t embrace this authentic, gifted, rootsy singer-songwriter. I love this real-deal artist. You should too. Tyler appeared on Jimmy Fallon this week. I’d say that’s a pretty good launch for his CD.
 

Country music is back.

Luke Combs is the hottest guy in town, which tickles me no end. This week, he is joined by knockout performances from Jon Pardi, Chris Young and Cody Johnson, all of whom are wonderfully country, country and country.

The Disc of the Day belongs to the Eli Young Band. But there are plenty of other fine listening experiences in this stack of sounds.

Not the least of these is “On Paper” by newcomer Faren Rachels. I was first exposed to her during the CMA Music Fest and loved her live act. The single, which has been out for several months, demonstrates that she is just as potent in the recording studio. Give the lady a DisCovery Award.

By the way, Luke Combs took her on tour with him this year.

KASSI ASHTON/Field Party
Writers: none listed; Producer: Luke Laird; Publisher: none listed; UMG
– Please explain to me in what way this is a country-music performance/artist/song.

MIRANDA LAMBERT/It All Comes Out In The Wash
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Liz Rose/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– Her personality comes through wonderfully, although you’ll wear yourself out trying to find a melody.

TREA LANDON/Get The Girl
Writers: Justin Wilson/Paul Jenkins/Brandon Ratcliff/Pete Good; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Music
– Very romantic. He has a warm, winning singing voice, and the song is loaded with nifty lyric details. I think I hear stardom.

KENNY CHESNEY/Tip of My Tongue
Writers: Kenny Chesney/Ross Copperman/Ed Sheeran; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music
-Like swinging in a hammock in the summer sun.

JON PARDI/Me and Jack
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol
– This bops and rocks with plenty of drawling wit. You’ll tap yer toes and smile, I guarantee. Love the stuttering guitar as well as the boozer-loser lyric.

RACHEL WAMMACK/Something People Say
Writers: Rachel Wammack/Sam Ellis/Derrick Southerland; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– This lady continues to impress with every note she sings. This is an acoustic ballad with simple piano accompaniment, but it is written and performed so beautifully that it seems practically symphonic. Love this. Love her.

CHRIS YOUNG & LAUREN ALAINA/Town Ain’t Big Enough
Writers: Chris Young/Cary Barlowe/Corey Crowder/Shay Mooney; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– Soaring and stirring and sensational. Chris totally rules as a country vocal stylist, and the rhythmic undertow is inescapable. So nice I played it twice.

CODY JOHNSON/Nothin’ On You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Music
– It’s a hold-her-tight slow dance with the lights down low. Plus, she’s nekkid.

FAREN RACHELS/On Paper
Writers: none listed; Producers: Aaron Goodvin/Sammy Mitchell; Publishers: none listed; FR
– Wow. She sings with immense authority, and the song packs a wallop. “He don’t look good on paper/But he looks good on me.” Somebody make this gal a star.

ELI YOUNG BAND/Break It In
Writers: Benji Davis/Brandon Day/Daniel Ross/Michael Whitworth; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; Valory
– Very, very cool. Your truck, your guitar, your blue jeans, your boots, your baseball glove all seem just great when they are new. Then you break ‘em in, and they are even better. Your heart’s like that, too. Churning and burning and brilliant. I believe I just heard a fifth No. 1 record for these talented fellows.

For this outing of DisClaimer, it’s all about the future.

There are plenty of fine works by established stars here — Jon Pardi, Garth & Blake, Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen. But my ears perked up the most for the up and comers.

The Disc of the Day award goes to Jenny Tolman, for whom I wish nothing short of superstardom. For today’s DisCovery Award, we have a tie between two terrific pop-leaning platters. They come to us from Blanco Brown and The Sisterhood Band.

JENNY TOLMAN/So Pretty
Writers: Mark D. Sanders, Sophie Sanders, Jenny Tolman; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: Songs of Sanderosa/Old Sol, ASCAP/SESAC; Old Sol (track)
– Gorgeous. Her voice aches exquisitely on this beautiful melody. It’s a woman-to-woman ballad about one losing her love to the other. Jenny’s album-release party for her awesome There Goes the Neighborhood CD is at City Winery on July 15. Those of you in A&R, in particular, need to hear this extraordinary artist. Get there however you can.

JIMMIE ALLEN/Unwell
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BBR
– If there is even the slightest doubt in your mind about how wonderfully worthy this new artist is, this will erase it. If you’re already a fan, like I am, this will totally confirm it. It’s an acoustic cover of a Matchbox 20 tune where Allen sings his face off. Find it online and experience a little bliss.

THE SISTERHOOD BAND/Bullet
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista
– Alyssa Bonagura and Ruby Stewart were both fabulously gifted solo singer-songwriters in Music City. Together in this ensemble, they are dynamite. Their vocal harmonies are twin-like, and their production skills are an audio delight. This track has snappy rhythm, echoey energy and feisty charm. They might have “dodged a bullet,” but you shouldn’t. The other available Sisterhood track is the poppy, choppy “Get Up and Go.” More, more, more.

KANE BROWN & MARSHMELLO/One Thing Right
Writers: Kane Brown/Marshmello/Jesse Frasure/Josh Hoge/Matthew McGuinn; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– Solid. Kane’s lead vocal keeps it grounded while international star Marshmello’s audio touches flitter around him. It’s all about the groove.

BLANCO BROWN/The Git Up
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BBR
– This is a boatload of fun, a wonderfully wacky set of instructions for the saloon dancefloor. I am told this is already a viral sensation, and I can certainly hear why. It’s an irresistible novelty. He was a big fan favorite at CMA Music Fest.

JON PARDI/Ain’t Always The Cowboy
Writers: Brandon Kinney/Josh Thompson; Producers: Jon Pardi/Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publishers: none listed; Capitol
– Hot on the heels of his single and title tune of the upcoming “Heartache Medication” CD comes another advance taste of the collection. As always, he is a beacon lighting up the darkness to lead us back to true country music. From the fiddle intro to the wailing choruses, this is righteous.

JON LANGSTON/Now You Know
Writers: Jon Langston/Brad Clawson/Brock Berryhill; Producer: Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/Warner-Tamerlane/Mandy’s Favorite/Murphy the Wolf/Five Miles West/Don’t Be a Gypsy, BMI
– The truck, the hunting dog, the booze, the cooler, the babe, the fishing, the small-town thang, the red neck. You know the drill.

GARTH BROOKS & BLAKE SHELTON/Dive Bar
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: None listed; Pearl
– Raucous and rowdy. Full of high spirits and good intentions. Somewhat reminiscent of the atmosphere created by the iconic “Friends in Low Places.” Hit bound.

JEANNIE C. RILEY/Me and Bobby McGee
Writers: Kristofferson/Foster; Producers: Larry Marrs & J.R. McNeely; Publishers: none listed; Country rewind
– Her plain-spoken, Texas-twang delivery is perfect for this timeless story song. The tempo is jaunty, and the steel passages are perfection. Never previously released, it is drawn from 1970 radio-show tapes that have been given new productions and now packaged as a CD titled The Music City Sessions. Country Rewind Records has similar releases of long-lost and updated collections by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Russell, Conway Twitty, Connie Smith, Mickey Gilley, Faron Young, Ferlin Husky and more. Cool stuff.

JACKSON MICHELSON/One At A Time
Writers: Jackson Michelson/Justin Ebach/STeven Dale Jones; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb
– Generic sounding. A memorable melody would have been nice.