First announcement about performers at the Americana Music Festival in September in Nashville (we're going!!!)

Americana Music Festival announces performances by Peter Case and The Black Lillies
Submission Deadline tomorrow April 30th


The Americana Music Association, working in partnership with Sonicbids, has selected the first two showcase artists for the upcoming Americana Music Festival to be held September 8-11, 2010 in Nashville, TN. Applications are being accepted and must be postmarked by Friday, April 30, 2010. You may submit your materials via Sonicbids or directly to the AMA office via mail. Information on the submission process and access to the application form may be found here.

Artists confirmed to date displaying the genre's breadth and vibrancy now include Peter Case and the Black Lillies. More confirmed artists will be announced in the weeks ahead.



Peter Case
For those who’ve followed the story so far, you know that Case left his upstate New York home in 1974 to travel west to California, As Far As You Can Get Without A Passport, which is also the name of the book about his reminiscences about that trip. Striking up his acoustic guitar as a street singer in San Francisco, Case made his way to Los Angeles began to unravel the rock and roll mystery™. As a member of the Nerves, he released one of the first seven-inch singles in the punk and new wave era and set out all across the U.S.A. as an opening act for the Ramones in 1977. Following that band’s end, Peter and Paul formed the Breakaways, till finally Peter launched the Plimsouls and scored a hit in the ‘80s with “A Million Miles Away.” Case’s former bands continue to enjoy rediscovery by rock’s new generations, but it his solo career that his proven to be most enduring, earning him accolades and die hard fans. As a rocker turned acoustic player, Case opened a door through which others have walked ever since 1986 when his self-titled T-Bone Burnett-produced solo album earned him year end honors and his first Grammy nod. Set to a tribal-folk percussive blend of blues, country and rock’n’roll, its essences pour through everything he’s recorded since, from “Poor Old Tom” and “Two Angels” to “Beyond the Blues” and “Blue Distance.” His songs are continually revived by other artists (a three-disc set was recorded in tribute to him) and used effectively in contemporary film and television (most recently, on the hit HBO series True Blood). Over two decades he’s recorded ten solo albums--from the highly acclaimed and influential the man with the Blue post-modern fragmented neo-traditionalist Guitar, to 2007’s Grammy-nominated Yep Roc release, Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John. His 2001 Grammy nominated effort as a producer of Avalon Blues, a tribute to the music of his country blues hero, Mississippi John Hurt featured contributions by Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Beck.
Find more on Peter Case here.

The Black Lillies
Born in the rumbling cab of a stone truck and aged in the oak of Tennessee’s smoky night haunts, The Black Lillies have come to the forefront of the Americana scene in little more than a year. Founded by multi instrumentalist and vocalist Cruz Contreras (co-founder of Robinella and the CCstringband), The Black Lillies have created their own unique brand of country, roots, rock and blues via Appalachia. The group, formed in 2008, also includes bassist Taylor Coker, electric guitar and pedal steel whiz Tom Pryor (the everybodyfields), and drummer Jamie Cook (the everybodyfields). Trisha Gene Brady rounds out the lineup with Southern charm and smoky vocals.
In April 2009, The Black Lillies released Whiskey Angel, their debut recording. The album was recorded live in Cruz’s living room by Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor, and features Billy Contreras on fiddle. The album received rave reviews and appeared on multiple “Best of 2009” lists across the country.
The Black Lillies toured extensively throughout the past year, with highlights including appearances at the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival, Bristol’s Rhythm & Roots Reunion, the live radio broadcasts of WDVX’s Tennessee Shines: Live from the Bijou Theatre and WSM’s Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Café Barn, and a six-week national tour that kicked off in front of a packed house at the legendary Ryman Auditorium, the “Mother Church of Country Music.” They are scheduled to play a number of festivals this summer, including Pagosa Folk n’ Bluegrass, Rhythm n’ Blooms, Pickathon, the Americana Music Association Festival & Conference, and Bristol Rhythm n’ Roots Reunion.
The Black Lillies have developed their own style of Americana music in true East Tennessee fashion. They may not fit any industry norm, but where they’re from, that’s a good thing.
Find more on the Black Lillies here.