AT 8TH ANNUAL AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS
NASHVILLE, JULY 20, 2009 – The Americana Music Association proudly announces that Sam Bush will receive the Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist award at the 8th Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, presented by the Gibson Foundation, scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association, praised Bush’s standing as one of the greatest mandolin players ever. “Sam has created his own genre and has become such an integral part of the Americana community,” Hilly said. “It’s such a privilege to honor him this year.”
As cofounder and leader of the seminal progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival for 18 years, Bush was among the first purveyors of newgrass – the wild bluegrass stepchild that features rock ’n’ roll grooves and extended virtuosic jams – and he continues to burn as one of the genre’s most brilliant lights, both as a sideman and the leader of the Sam Bush Band. Sam’s newest album “Circles Around Me” will be released, October 20th on Sugar Hill Records.
The Kentucky-born Bush – also a champion fiddler alongside his mandolin mastery – has influenced several generations of musicians. Nickel Creek, Yonder Mountain String Band and String Cheese Incident are among the bands indebted to Bush for his wide-ranging choice of material, rock-based acoustic grooves and captivating, high-energy live shows. His status as an in-demand headliner and fan favorite can be seen through annual appearances at noted festivals like Telluride and MerleFest.
The past 20 years have also found Bush performing as a sideman with Emmylou Harris; special guest artist with the likes of Lyle Lovett and Bela Fleck & The Flecktones; spearheading boundary-stretching collaborations with Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor and David Grisman; and driving nearly every “bluegrass supergroup” imaginable with his mandolin playing. Sam Bush’s ability to be continually touched and amazed by new music may be the quality that makes him such an electrifying performer and bandleader.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist is one of several career honors that will be handed out during the awards ceremony on September 17th, along with six-member voted best of the year-end categories. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale with Buddy Miller leading his all star band, the event has earned a reputation for the coolest and best live music awards show around.
From September 16th-19th, 2009, the 10th Annual Americana Music Festival &Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, and bring a stellar lineup of musical showcases each evening. Conference registrations currently at the early bird discount rate of $350 for members and $450 for non-members are available at the Americana Music Online Store:
The Renaissance Nashville serves as our official hotel.
Adjacent to the Nashville Convention Center, the Renaissance Hotel is the hub of activity during the AMA Music Festival. Shuttle buses depart the hotel entrance each evening on a continuous route to our showcase venues. The historic Ryman Auditorium, home of the Americana Honors & Awards, is just steps away. Lower Broad honkytonks and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are all within walking distance.
To reserve a room, please click here call 800.327.6618 or 615.255.8400. Please make sure to mention that you are with the AMERICANA MUSIC group.
About the Americana Music Festival & Conference
Slated for Wednesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 19, the 10th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center. The event’s climax will be the 8th Annual Americana Honors and Awards ceremony, slated for Thursday, September 17 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Each evening brings more than 80 stacked Americana showcases to key venues throughout Nashville. Last year, approximately 1,000 industry professionals attended the conference, while more than 12,000 fans enjoyed the festival’s musical events.
Americana Honors & Awards
Each year we honor distinguished members of the music community with six member voted annual awards and with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Presented by the Gibson Foundation, the Honors & Awards are attended by 2000+ artists, music loving fans and entertainment industry executives in one of America’s musical shrines, the historic Ryman Auditorium. The event has been broadcast internationally via Sirius/XM Radio, BBC2, and Voice of America. The Honors & Awards have featured many amazing moments over the years including Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash’s last live performance together, as well as show-stopping appearances by Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Solomon Burke, Old Crow Medicine Show with Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, the Avett Brothers, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Levon Helm, and so many more. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale along with Buddy Miller and his all-star band, the event has earned a reputation for the coolest and best live music awards show around.
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.
http://e2ma.net/go/2219252905/2020116/75659077/12695/goto:http:/www.americanamusic.org/
