For a quarter century, AmericanaFest has been the beating heart of Nashville each September. What started in the late ’90s as a gathering for roots musicians and industry folk has grown into a sprawling celebration that’s part festival, part conference, and part family reunion. This year marked its 25th anniversary and the energy across town was electric. I bounced from barrooms to the Ryman and everywhere in between, and what struck me most wasn’t just the music, but the joy of being a part of something bigger.
On day one, tucked in the corner of Broadway, ACME Feed & Seed was bringing “big love” of the Paul McDonald persuasion. Laney Jones & The Spirits launched into an unfiltered indie-rock set that had shades of Janis in the high notes. Jones commanded the stage with a fearlessness that truly set the tone for the week. A few hours later, Rayland Baxter followed. Cool and unhurried, his groove carried us through the sticky Tennessee heat. Baxter is a true storyteller. He stirs something up within each listener and does so with an incredible, earthy voice to boot. Looking around, it was clear he had the audience enthralled, dialed into his every word.
Later, at the Station Inn, Robert Randolph and his band proved why the blues never dies. The whole room felt like a revival with jaws dropping and spirits lifting. Guitarist Tash Neal was an unexpected revelation, a gritty powerful voice tearing through a J.J. Cale cover paired with fierce solos that gave Randolph’s a run for their money. Randolph got up on chairs, played his instrument with his tongue, and brought a level of personality to the small stage that demanded to be remembered. After all these years on the circuit, Randolph still feels like one of America’s best kept secrets.
One of my favorite moments of the Fest wasn’t a song at all but a conversation. Brandi Carlile sat down with Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. where she was raw, funny, and grounded. She talked about her teenage years singing backup for an Elvis impersonator, about leaning on mentors, and about why community matters more than ego. On Elton John, she laughed, “I’ve never met an icon further from being a narcissist. He asks questions and really listens to the answers.” But what stuck with me was her reminder: “The lone wolf outlaw trope is kind of beyond my recognition. Let’s be a community, let’s be vast, so then we can make changes as a group.” In a week fueled by late nights and loud guitars, it felt like the meaning behind it all.
The Americana Honors and Awards sealed the deal. The Ryman roared with unforgettable performances. Maggie Rose reminded us “No One Gets Out Alive.” The McCrary Sisters brought the house to tears with their songs and faith rooted acceptance speeches. Rosanne Cash joked about the Old 97’s being “masters at conflict resolution” as she presented their Lifetime Achievement Award. Jesse Welles accepted his award from John Fogerty with the kind of truth that has earned him his place in the spotlight: “Life is too short not to say exactly what you mean all the time.”
Receiving multiple standing ovations, it’s clear that in a world full of cancel culture Welles is unafraid to sing what others are only thinking. Rebellious and mysterious despite his online presence, he is a modern day Bob Dylan.
To cap off the awards ceremony, rock and roll royalty John Fogerty took to the stage with his sons by his side, inviting all the performers of the evening to join him for a rendition of “Proud Mary.” Jumping around like it was 1971, Fogerty delivered a high-energy, awe-inspiring performance. Age, it seems, is just a number when the rock veteran’s mic is on.
On Thursday night across town at Jack White’s Third Man Records, hundreds of Nashvillians and excited out-of-towners packed into The Blue Room like kids in a candy store, eager to see Medium Build take the stage for an intimate acoustic set off the back of his Australian tour. Just him, his guitar, some little shorts, and a whole lot to say, Medium Build was hands down the highlight of my AmericanaFest, and he is undeniably a star in the making. I’ve attended countless shows in my life and career yet I’ve never seen an acoustic show with such an attentive audience, you could hear a pin drop in the room as he poured his way through his discography.
His cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “Nick of Time” took me by surprise. Emotional, and full of quirks he made it his own which is a hard feat for such a heavily covered song.
Medium Build is carving out his own space in the industry, and it is full of character, vulnerability, and most of all – relatability. He’s for the people. And that, in essence, is what roots music and AmericanaFest are all about. Community. Belonging to something greater than yourself.
From the buzzing bars to the pews of the Mother Church, AmericanaFest proved once again it’s not just about honouring tradition but about pushing forward together.
