Nashville, Tenn. — The Americana genre houses a mighty share of music’s most provocative new artists, and each year, the Americana Music Association delivers due recognition to these auspicious newcomers with nominations in the New/Emerging Artist category. All four of this year’s nominees will perform live at the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony September 18, during which the winner shall also be named. The New/Emerging class of 2008 features a nomadic storyteller, a vintage-inspired original, a virtuosic dream team, and a soul-saving singer’s singer.

Autobiographical tales stemming from wistful wandering propelled troubadour Ryan Bingham’s gritty swagger to new heights on his 2007 debut for Lost Highway, Mescalito; American Songwriter praised the album, calling it “compelling listening to the highest sense,” while Texas Music Magazine compared the 26 year-old storyteller to Tom Waits.
www.myspace.com/ryanbingham

Justin Townes Earle faced high expectations seemingly without breaking a sweat: The son of roots rock royalty Steve Earle and the namesake of legend Townes Van Zandt, the younger Earle’s 2008 release The Good Life introduces a disarmingly sincere songwriter whose vintage-inspired honky tonk prompted praise from Pitchfork, The New York Times and more.
www.myspace.com/justintownesearle

Individually, the members of The SteelDrivers have garnered Grammy nominations and penned country chart-toppers, but together, the soul-dipped bluegrassers form one of the most inspiring roots music troupes to emerge in years; their debut album released in early 2008 helped word spread, clearing a path for cross-country touring and a gig on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. www.myspace.com/thesteeldrivers

The buzz surrounding gospel/soul synergist Mike Farris may now officially be dubbed a deafening roar: The former frontman of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, Farris’ 2007 release Salvation In Lights and Stax-inspired live throw-downs prompted widespread endorsements from trusted sources including: Buddy Miller, who proclaimed, “Mike Farris has enough heart, soul, and power to light up a city.” www.myspace.com/mikefarrismusic

The 9th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, while each evening brings stacked Americana showcases. Legend Levon Helm will officially jump start the festivities Wednesday, September 17 with his Ramble at the Ryman, and the capstone of the festival will take the form of the annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards, scheduled for September 18 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by Buddy Miller, the ceremony will toast winners in six member-voted categories and also bestow Lifetime Achievement Awards on John Hiatt, Jason and the Scorchers and longtime Austin City Limits producer Terry Lickona in the categories of Songwriting, Performance and Executive, respectively. The AMA will also present the unique “Spirit of Americana”
Free Speech award to Joan Baez.

Tickets are now available for the Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman and the Americana Honors & Awards show at Ticketmaster and the Ryman box office for $65 or $45 and $45, respectively.

Showcase wristbands granting admission to all four evenings of live music showcases are also available for only $35 via www.americanamusic.org and Grimey’s New and Preloved Music (1604 8th Ave. South, Nashville). Registration for the Americana Music Festival & Conference is $350 for AMA members and $450 for non-members until August 13. Fees will increase after that date.

For the latest additions to showcase lineups, ticket purchasing and more information about the Americana Music Festival and Conference, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

About the Americana Music Association

The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. Dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and the individuals who participate in that industry, the Americana Music Association works closely with artists, labels, radio stations, retailers, print media, festivals, agents, publishers and more to help organize and build the infrastructure necessary for the Americana genre to achieve success both creatively and financially.

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Justin Townes Earle received a nomination for The Americana Music Association’s 2008 New Emerging Artist of the Year. Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins.

The Americana Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2008 Honors and Awards ceremony - Justin Townes Earle received a nomination for New Emerging Artist of the Year. The winners will be announced September 18th in a ceremony at the historic Ryman Auditorium - the show will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale and features a band led by Buddy Miller. The 7th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars and panels from September 17 - 20.

It’s been a huge year for Justin Townes Earle - since the release of his first album, he debuted on the Grand Ole Opry, appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition and in dozens of profile publications like New York Times, LA Times, Nashville Scene, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, American Songwriter, No Depression and many others. “The Good Life” debuted on the Billboard country chart, no small feat for a new artist, and is currently charting at #10 on the AMA Radio Charts, 3 months after the release.

With Justin Townes Earle’s pedigree comes mixed blessings. As the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, high expectations are the name of the game; but he’s shown that he is up to the task, crafting stark portraits with elements of acoustic blues and folk. After a misspent youth in bluegrass/ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking The Distributors, the 25-year-old cleaned up his act, dropped his self-destructive habits and began to focus on songcraft. With inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of the elder Earle’s hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin forged his own brand of American roots music.

“The Good Life” is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

Justin Townes Earle on the road:

• Fri June 20 — Knoxville, TN - World Grotto
• Sat June 21 — Atlanta, GA - Smith’s Olde Bar
• Sun June 22 — Nashville, TN - 3rd and Lindsley
• Tue June 24 — Mobile, AL - Callaghan’s Irish Social Club
• Wed June 25 — Auburn, AL - The Strutting Duck
• Thu June 26 — Macon, GA - The Hummingbird
• Fri June 27 — Gatlinburg, TN - Arrowmount School of Arts
• Sat June 28 — Louisville, KY - Francis of Assisi
• Sun June 29 — Chicago, IL - Belmont Arts and Music Festival
• Mon June 30 — Rock Island, IL - Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor
• Fri July 11 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Sat July 12 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Sun July 13 — Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Thu July 17 — Kilbarchan, Scotland - The Cellar
• Fri July 18 — Greenock, Scotland - Greenock Wanderers Club

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Justin Townes Earle made his Opry Debut May 2, 2008. (Left to right: Pete Fisher, VP and GM, Grand Ole Opry, Vince Gill, Cory Yount, Justin Townes Earle, Josh Hedley and George Hamilton IV.) Photo by Billy Kingsley. Courtesy of the © Grand Ole Opry, 2008

Justin Townes Earle was honored to make his Grand Ole Opry debut Friday, May 2nd. His performance was quite well received and will soon be streaming in the WSM archives at http://www.wsmonline.com/onair/archives.shtml.

With Justin Townes Earle’s pedigree comes mixed blessings. As the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, high expectations are the name of the game; but he’s shown that he is up to the task, crafting stark portraits with elements of acoustic blues and folk. After a misspent youth in bluegrass / ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking The Distributors, the 25-year-old cleaned up his act, dropped his self-destructive habits and began to focus on songcraft. With inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of the elder Earle’s hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin forged his own brand of American roots music.

The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

Earle kicked off his North American touring with a plethora of critically acclaimed shows in Austin at SXSW, earning kudos from outlets like Austin Chronicle, Time Out Chicago, CMT.com and others for his spot-on, warm performances of the songs on “The Good Life”. He is scheduled to appear on NPR’s Morning Edition in April, while continuing his non-stop road work.

Justin Townes Earle on tour
Jun 2 — One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME
Jun 3 — The Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
Jun 4 — Joe’s Pub - New York, NY
Jun 5 — Ashland Coffee & Tea - Richmond, VA
Jun 6 — The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
Jun 7 — The Showroom - Spartansburg, SC
Jun 12 — Knucklehead’s - Kansas City, MO
Jun 13 — Blue Door - Oklahoma City, OK
Jun 14 — The Loft - Dallas, TX
Jun 15 — Stubb’s - Austin, TX
Jun 16 — Warehouse - Houston, TX
Jun 18 — Hi-Tone - Memphis, TN
Jun 19 — Workplay Theater - Birmingham, AL
Jun 20 — World Grotto - Knoxville, TN
Jun 21 — Smith’s Olde Bar - Atlanta, GA
Jun 22 — 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, TN
Jun 25 — The Strutting Duck - Auburn, AL
Jun 26 — The Hummingbird - Macon, GA
Jun 27 — Arrowmount School of Arts and Crafts - Gatlinburg, TN

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