Few artists are more associated with Americana music than Lucinda Williams, even as her incredible career is hard to categorize. Her Grammy wins range from Best Country Song (“Passionate Kisses”) to Best Contemporary Folk Album (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road) to Best Female Rock Vocal Performance (“Get Right With God”). Just a few days following her 70th birthday, the Americana Music Association hosted an impressive all-star tribute concert at the fabled Troubadour club in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 4. The intimate performances underscored Williams’ versatility as a songwriter, with each of the performers putting their own personal stamp on her songs without ever losing the straightforward and often sensual lyricism that she’s known for.
Enjoy photos from the AMERICANAFEST Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams:
Grace Potter kicks off the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Jade Bird performs at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Sean & Sara Watkins at AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Aoife O'Donovan joined by Sean & Sara Watkins at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Katie Pruitt performs at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Lori McKenna at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Allison Russell plays clarinet at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Now Grammy winner Molly Tuttle at the Troubadour for the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Bethany Cosentino at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Brandy Clark sings at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Brittney Spencer and Grace Potter collaborate at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Lucius perform at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Sierra Ferrell at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
The Milk Carton Kids perform at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Charlie Hickey at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Abraham Alexander at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Our January Artist of the Month, Madison Cunningham, performs at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Mumford & Sons at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Sierra Ferrell, Kenneth Pattengale of Milk Carton Kids, and Brandy Clark during the grand finale of the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
Brittney Spencer and Sierra Ferrell during the finale at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
The grand finale of the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams.
The evening's house band backstage at the AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Salute to Lucinda Williams. L to R: Sara Watkins, Mark Stepro, Greg Leisz, Val McCallum, Lee Pardini, Daniel Rhine, Molly Jenson.
All Photos: Erika Goldring, Courtesy of the Americana Music Association.
It was late 2016 when the world first learned of North Carolina’s HB2 – the “bathroom bill” – prohibiting trans folk from using bathrooms and locker rooms that aligned with their gender identity. The International Bluegrass Music Association was having its conference in Raleigh that autumn, and we at BGS were feeling restless about wanting to do something at the conference to create a safe space for marginalized artists who were already not feeling welcome at the annual event. And thus the first ever Shout & Shine was conceived and held at the Pour House in Raleigh on September 27, 2016.
In the years since its inception, Shout & Shine has taken on multiple forms – from a one-night showcase, to a day-long stage, to an ongoing editorial column and video series on the BGS homepage, Shout & Shine continues to create a dedicated space for diverse and underrepresented talent in the roots music world.
“Shout & Shine began with a simple mission, to create a space for marginalized and underrepresented folks in bluegrass to be celebrated for who they are, unencumbered by their identities,” explained Shout & Shine co-creator Justin Hiltner. “Since 2016, it’s grown into so much more but above all else, it continues to be exactly what we created it to be first and foremost: a community. Our Shout & Shine community demonstrates that these roots music genres are for everyone; they always have been and they will be in the future, too.”
Past lineups have included Amythyst Kiah, Nic Gareiss, Kaia Kater, Alice Gerrard, Jackie Venson, Lakota John, The Ebony Hillbillies, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Yasmin Williams, and many more.
You can read about the first Shout & Shine event from 2016 here and more Shout & Shine video sessions and features here.
BGS is thrilled to partner once again with our friends at Yamaha to bring you the Yamaha Guitars x BGS SXSW Official Showcase. While this year’s music festival may look a little different than the standard event, the essence is still the same: bringing together an international community of artists and music professionals for a unique celebration, discussion, and exploration of music.
Hosted by actress and Harmonics podcast host Beth Behrs, this hour-long virtual performance features mini-sets from four artists we can’t wait to hear more from in 2021, including:
• Jade Jackson & Aubrie Sellers • Aaron Lee Tasjan • Katie Cole
The Yamaha Guitars x BGS showcase premieres for all SXSW virtual attendees on Saturday, March 20 at 4p PT / 6p CT and will be available to re-watch for one week.
Clips from each artist’s performance will be released via the BGS website at a later date!
BGS is proud to announce our partnership with Yamaha Guitars for Folk Alliance International’s 2021 virtual conference, Folk Unlocked. Join us on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 5:30pm CST for the Yamaha + BGS Spotlight Showcase, hosted by friend of BGS and acoustic blues and Americana veteran Keb’ Mo’.
Yamaha Guitars tapped BGS to collaborate on the curation of the Spotlight Showcase, which highlights Yamaha official artists, instruments, and gear as well as music from folk scene stalwarts and newcomers alike — from all across the continent and around the world. The hour-long virtual showcase features intimate, acoustic performances that certainly capture the atmosphere of connection and discovery that typically permeates FAI’s in-person conference.
Yamaha official artist Katie Cole performs during the Spotlight Showcase.
To lead us off, Australian singer-songwriter Katie Cole flavors the program with her pop-influenced alt-Americana material. A fresh face in bluegrass and old-time, Bella White sings her original Gillian Welch-meets-Hazel Dickens tunes with a warm honey yodel just breaking through her voice. You’ll also hear a captivating performance from Joy Oladokun, one of the buzziest names in the indie-folk world at the moment, and soaring tunes from American-Canadian folk duo Birds of Chicago, who headline the event with a trio set that feels as full band as a pandemic would allow. Our talented host, Keb’ Mo’, will treat our audience to a couple of selections as well.
In the coming weeks, BGS and Yamaha will release individual sessions from our Spotlight Showcase film! Stay tuned for more music and content from this exciting partnership.
Joy Oladokun is featured during our Yamaha + BGS showcase.
In place of an in-person conference this year, Folk Alliance International is hosting Folk Unlocked, a five-day virtual event for the entire international folk community to come together for panels, workshops, showcases, affinity and peer group meetings, exhibit spaces, networking, and mentorship. FAI are actively unlocking the doors and windows of the house of folk to be as broad and inclusive as possible, inviting those who have been loyally attending Folk Alliance International conferences for years while aiming to reach folk musicians and professionals who have never benefited from or attended FAI before.
Usually, the in-person version of this amazing event is only available to artists and industry professionals, but this year, thanks to the virtual nature of the conference, anyone can tune in from anywhere! Conference registration and Spotlight Showcase and Unlocked Showcase access are all available on a sliding scale, with the cost to attend being decided by each individual. In addition, donors to Folk Alliance’s Village Fund receive showcase access as well. There are so many ways to support Folk Alliance and attend our Yamaha + BGS Spotlight Showcase.
In collaboration w/ @TheBGSituation, we’re proud to present our 2021 @folkalliance showcase. Join us Thurs, Feb 25th @ 5:30pm CST as we share some amazing music together and enjoy the expressive sound of premium #Yamaha acoustic guitars.https://t.co/CghePloZJh
BGS is proud to announce we will once again be partnering with our friends at Bloodshot Records and IVPR at Folk Alliance International 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In past years, folk, bluegrass, and Americana artists of all varieties have performed in rooms sponsored and co-sponsored by the three staples of the American roots music industry. Over time these lineups have perfectly balanced the truly unique atmosphere of discovery at FAI with showcasing the best of the best in folk music. As Folk Alliance moves to New Orleans for a singular year, BGS, Bloodshot, and IVPR are excited to fully incorporate this integral American music city, its sounds, its songs, and its local scene into their programming as well.
The full schedule for the Bloodshot + BGS + IVPR room at Folk Alliance International 2020 is available now! Make plans to join us each night starting at 1o:30pm, Thursday through Saturday, at room 1020 at the Sheraton New Orleans.
If you’re attending Folk Alliance International in Montreal this week, come by and say hello. And stick around for some excellent music in Room #571, presented by the Bluegrass Situation and IVPR.
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