Americana Music Association Announces Initial Lineup for AmericanaFest 2015, September 15-20

(Nashville, Tenn.) May 7, 2015 - The Americana Music Association has unveiled its first round of artists to perform during the 16th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, presented by Nissan, September 15 - 20, 2015. The early lineup, featuring icons, innovators and up-and-comers, underscores Americana's perennially formative place in the world's musical landscape. With more than 100 acts still to be announced, the event promises to live up to its critical acclaim where MOJO Magazine described it as the "roots alternative to the GRAMMYs and South by Southwest."

The $50 Americanafest wristband is the best buy on the festival circuit, allowing admission into all showcase venues to experience four nights plus a weekend stocked with music and community events. Wristband wearers are invited to select sanctioned cocktail parties and special events.

AmericanaFest wristbands may be purchased for only $50 (rates will increase to $60 on August 15) exclusively at mercylounge.com and are on sale now.

The Festival & Conference Registration is the premier pass to experience the "Booming Genre" (Entertainment Weekly), offering priority admission to all showcase venues and invitation only events, access to daytime educational panels and parties, and one ticket to the critically acclaimed Honors & Awards show at the Ryman Auditorium. Click here to purchase your Festival & Conference registration. Rates will top out at $500, so act now and save.

Only Festival & Conference registrants have access to Americana Honors & Awards show tickets.

Showcase artists confirmed to perform include:
Anderson East
Andrew Combs
Anthony D'Amato
Banditos
Barna Howard
Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
Billy Bragg & Joe Purdy
Birds of Chicago
Brian Wright
The Bros. Landreth
Caleb Caudle
Caleb Klauder Country Band
Carly Ritter
Carsie Blanton
ChessBoxer
Christopher Paul Stelling
The Contenders
Corb Lund
Crooks
Darlingside
Dead Winter Carpenters
Dom Flemons
The Dustbowl Revival
Emma Swift
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
The Freightshakers
The Grahams
Grant-Lee Phillips
Guthrie Brown & The Family Tree
Hackensaw Boys
Halfway
The Hello Strangers
Henry Wagons
honeyhoney
Horse Feathers
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Hugh Bob and the Hustle
Jackie Greene
James McMurtry
Joe Pug
John Moreland
John Paul Keith
Kingsley Flood
Kristin Diable
Kristin Andreassen
Laney Jones and the Spirits
Lee Ann Womack
Legendary Shack Shakers
Lera Lynn
Leyla McCalla
Lilly Hiatt
Liz Longley
Los Lobos
Low Cut Connie
Lucette
Lydia Loveless
Martin Harley
Mary Gauthier
Nikki Lane
Nora Jane Struthers
Nudie
Oh Pep!
Packway Handle Band
Patty Griffin
Pokey LaFarge
Porter
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen
Ray Wylie Hubbard
River Whyless
Sarah Borges
Sean McConnell
Shemekia Copeland
The Show Ponies
Session Americana
Steelism
The Steel Wheels
Stephen Kellogg
The Stray Birds
Tall Heights
The Vespers
Water Liars
The Whistles and The Bells
Whitey Morgan and the 78s
The Wild Reeds
William Elliott Whitmore
Whitehorse

The Americana Music Festival & Conference is open to the general public and music industry professionals. Festival and Conference Registrations are now available at the reduced rate of $415 for Americana Music Association members and $465 for non-members (rates will increase to $500). Registrants receive entrance to all sanctioned daytime conference music, panels and parties, plus priority access to all evening showcase performances and one ticket to the critically acclaimed 14th annual Americana Honors & Awards on Wednesday, September 16 at the Ryman Auditorium.

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About the Americana Music Association 
The Americana Music Association is a professional not-for-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world. The Association produces events throughout the year including the Americana Music Festival & Conference , presented by Nissan, and the critically acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards program. Registrations for the 2015 Festival & Conference, slated for September 15-20, and the September 16, 2015 Honors & Awards show, are on sale now . For more information, please visitwww.americanamusic.org .

About the Americana Music Festival & Conference 
The 16th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will take place September 15-20, 2015. The event brings together fans and music industry professionals alike, offering six days of celebration through seminars, panels and networking opportunities by day and raw, battery recharging showcases each night. The Americana Honors & Awards Show is the featured performance of the festivities, taking place at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The Americana Music Festival & Conference is proudly sponsored by Nissan, Tennessee Department of Tourism, Lagunitas Brewing Company, BMI, SESAC, ASCAP, Blackberry Farm, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Music City Networks, and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.