2015 Americana Awards Nominations Led by Graves, Simpson, Williams
Lucinda Williams presented the 2014 Americana Honors and Awards’ trophy for Album of the Year to Jason Isbell, deeming his Southeastern LP “stupendous and beautiful” as he walked to the stage to accept. This year, she finds herself on the other end of the category, as her critically-acclaimed Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone is up for the same award. The iconic singer-songwriter will also compete with Isbell for Artist of the Year, which he won last year, as well.
Williams is in a three-way tie with Shakey Graves and Sturgill Simpson for the most nominations at the 14th annual Americana Honors and Awards, with each scoring three nods, as revealed at today’s press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Rounding out her nominations is a spot in the Song of the Year category for the soulful, politically-charged “East Side of Town.” Former Friday Night Lights actor Graves (real name: Alejandro Rose-Garcia) is included in the Album, Emerging Artist and Song of the Year categories, on the strength of his third studio album, the breakthrough And the War Came. Simpson, last year’s Emerging Artist winner, is still flying high on 2014’s most talked-about album in both country and Americana circles, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, which is up for Album of the Year. The Kentucky native is also nominated for Artist and Song of the Year, for the philosophical “Turtles All the Way Down.”
Country superstar Lee Ann Womack came back from an almost seven-year recording hiatus to find her new, Grammy-nominated The Way I’m Livin’ album embraced by the Americana community. In addition to Album of the Year, she’s also among contenders for the night’s top honor, Artist of the Year. Fellow country legends, the Mavericks have also seen the awards show crossover, as they are up for Duo or Group of the Year.
The 14th annual Americana Honors and Awards show is set for September 16th at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. It falls in the middle of the annual Americana Festival and Conference, which this year boasts more than 200 acts performing around Music City. Womack, Patty Griffin and Los Lobos are set to headline.
Album of the Year
And the War Came – Shakey Graves; Produced by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Chris Boosahda
Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone – Lucinda Williams; Produced by Lucinda Williams, Tom Overby and Greg Leisz
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music – Sturgill Simpson; Produced by Dave Cobb
The Way I’m Livin’ -Lee Ann Womack; Produced by Frank Liddell
Tomorrow Is My Turn – Rhiannon Giddens; Produced by T-Bone Burnett
Artist of the Year
Rhiannon Giddens
Jason Isbell
Sturgill Simpson
Lucinda Williams
Lee Ann Womack
Duo/Group of the Year
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
The Lone Bellow
The Mavericks
Punch Brothers
Shovels & Rope
Emerging Artist of the Year
First Aid Kit
Houndmouth
Nikki Lane
Doug Seegers
Shakey Graves
Instrumentalist of the Year
Hubby Jenkins
Laur Joamets
Greg Leisz
John Leventhal
Stuart Mathis
Song of the Year
“Dearly Departed” — Shakey Graves; Written by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Esme’ Patterson
“East Side of Town” — Lucinda Williams; Written by Lucinda Williams
“Terms of My Surrender” — John Hiatt; Written by John Hiatt
“Turtles All the Way Down” — Sturgill Simpson; Written by Sturgill Simpson
“You’re the Best Lover That I Ever Had” — Steve Earle & the Dukes; Written by Steve Earle