LISTEN: Bill Scorzari, “Treat Me Kind”

Artist: Bill Scorzari
Hometown: Huntington, New York
Song: “Treat Me Kind”
Album: Now I’m Free
Release Date: September 20, 2019

In Their Words: “Knowing I had a good number of sad/slow songs for this record, I set out to write some uptempo songs to balance things out, and ‘Treat Me Kind’ is the first one that came to me. I could feel some of the old 1970s ‘country rock’ (Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band…) influences from my youth welling up and flowing out and that made writing this song a whole lot of fun. Brent Burke played Dobro on my last record, Through These Waves (2017), and I asked him to come back and play some more for the 2019 album, Now I’m Free. That’s him warming up before the song starts. When the band kicks in, it’s me on acoustic guitar and vocals, Will Kimbrough on slide and electric guitar, Juan Solórzano on electric guitar, Michael Rinne on electric bass, and producer Neilson Hubbard on drums.” — Bill Scorzari


Photo credit: Lauren Johoda

Americana Honors & Awards 2019 Nominees Revealed

Lori McKenna, John Prine, The War and Treaty, and Yola are among the artists nominated in multiple categories for the 18th annual Americana Honors & Awards, to be held on September 11 in Nashville.

Meanwhile, Dave Cobb produced three of the four albums in the Album of the Year category. In addition, Rhiannon Gidden received nominations for Artist of the Year, while her ensemble Our Native Daughters earned a Duo/Group of the Year nod.

A full list of categories and nominees for the Americana Music Association’s 18th annual Americana Honors & Awards is below:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
To the Sunset, Amanda Shires, produced by Dave Cobb
The Tree, Lori McKenna, produced by Dave Cobb
The Tree of Forgiveness, John Prine, produced by Dave Cobb
Walk Through Fire, Yola, produced by Dan Auerbach

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Brandi Carlile
Rhiannon Giddens
Kacey Musgraves
Mavis Staples

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR:
I’m With Her
Our Native Daughters
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The War and Treaty

EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR:
Jade Bird
J.S. Ondara
Erin Rae
The War and Treaty
Yola

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR:
Chris Eldridge
Eamon McLoughlin
Chris Powell
Michael Rinne

SONG OF THE YEAR:
“By Degrees,” Mark Erelli, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell & Josh Ritter, written by Mark Erelli
“Mockingbird,” Ruston Kelly, written by Ruston Kelly
“People Get Old,” Lori McKenna, written by Lori McKenna
“Summer’s End,” John Prine, written by Pat McLaughlin and John Prine

In addition, the Americana Music Association honors distinguished members of the music community with six member-voted annual awards and with Lifetime Achievement Awards, which will be announced leading up to the event. The Milk Carton Kids and Mavis Staples unveiled this year’s nominations in Nashville.

The winners of each category will be announced during the Americana Honors & Awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Americanafest runs from Sept. 10-15. Tickets for the Americana Honors & Awards are currently only available for purchase by Americanafest conference registrants.


Photo credit for John Prine: Danny Clinch