Wrapping Up AmericanaFest: Americana Artists and Fans Thrive on Originality

 “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — Judy Garland (I’m worn out, but totally satisfied. AmericanaFest was even better than in years past with outstanding performances by legends and emerging artists (and plenty of surprises). Friday night, my fellow MCAU writer and I saw a splendid show at the Analog featuring legendary pianist/songwriter Benmont Tench of the Heartbreakers (on Steinway), along with Michaela Anne, Abigail Rose, and Nicole Atkins (with surprise guest Chris Isaac). We soaked in (while sweating) amazing live music for 12 hours on Saturday (the final day). Highlights included the soulful McCrary Sisters at the Americana Gospel Brunch with surprise guest Sheryl Crow (City Winery), the bluegrass-accented Commonwealth of Kentucky Party (Basement West), the Texas swing band Eddie Slide and His Cowtown Dozen (Basement East), and sassy heartbreaker Ashley Monroe (Station Inn). As always, we struck up conversations with visitors from far and wide, which shows just how popular Americana music is (and how far this wonderful festival has come). I also ran into friend/songwriter Lisa Aschmann as always. Unlike the CMA Fest (which spotlights mainstream artists represented by the major labels), AmericanaFest is tried and true, down-in-the-gut originality by immensely talented musicians who have to be themselves. That authenticity (heart and soul) is what music fans like me are yearning for.) #ChuckWhiting #ChucksDiary #AmericanaFest #Music #MusicCityArts 9-21-26 Check out our coverage at https://musiccityartsupdate.blogspot.com/?m=0 

MCAU staffers Chuck Whiting & Wil Comstock… 

Talent Overwhelms Americana Music Lovers at Analog

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

Analog at the Hutton, Friday Evening (Sept. 18, 2026)

     Arriving as Michaela Anne was finishing up her soundcheck, we spotted a table near the front with two empty chairs.  Tom, our new friend, was seated alone.  He recently retired from the University of New England with years in administration. He and his wife now live in Fairview, Tennessee.

     Michaela Anne is a little alt-country and a little indie pop-rock.  Her lyrics are honest and open. Giving us a window on her own life, caring for a mother recovering from a stroke, and her own challengers with early motherhood.  I was hooked by the second number, “Will You Still Love Me with a Broken Heart.”  Her warm, down-home vocals and easy going delivery reminded me of the artists I loved from the ‘70s.  Other favorites were “Desert Rose” and “These are the Days.”

     By the time Benmont Tench (Benjamin Montmorency Tench III) took the stage, there was standing room only. Benmont was born in Gainesville, Florida.  He met Tom Petty when he was 12 years old.  They later formed the band Mudcrunch, which morphed into The Heartbreakers. Besides playing keys with Petty, he is an in-demand session player for the likes of Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.  He and Petty penned several songs together for the band.  Tench also had his songs recorded by other artists, including the gut-wrenching “Unbreakable Heart,” my favorite.  He told us he had gone through reconstructive surgery for his jaw and tongue due to cancer, saying it gave him a lisp. But honestly, I couldn’t tell.  Highlights were “Under the Starlight” and “Waddle.”  Watching his set, I was very much aware I was in the presence of a musical songwriting genius.

     Be on the lookout for Abigail Rose!  This Nashville native has presence, a powerful voice, and her first album coming out next month.  I thoroughly enjoyed this indie folk artist’s enthusiasm for each song she forthrightly delivered.  Favorites were “Run Girl,” “Dying to Live,” and the beautiful “Heaven,” written on a trip to Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay.  

     Nicole Atkins grew up in Neptune, New Jersey, listening to her parent’s recordings of the Ronettes, Beach Boys, and Johnny Cash.  She went to college in Charlotte, North Carolina, for illustration and soon became involved in the local independent music scene.  She has never looked back.  With seven albums under her belt, and working with artists like Chris Isaac, Elvis Costello, and Tommy Stinson, this seasoned performer presented a great set, treating us to her new album “Drama” track by track.  I particularly enjoyed “ Trippin on Teardrops.” Like a Stranger” and “Cue the Symphony” a duet with her producer, Pat Sansone, of Wilco.

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Amy, Melissa and Madison: AmericanaFest Spotlights Legends and Soon-to-Be’s

 

“There’s a beauty to wisdom and experience that cannot be faked. It’s impossible to be mature without having lived.” — Amy Grant (AmericanaFest is going full blast with a host of talented acts taking stages at music venues across Music City. On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to see legendary artists at 3rd and Lindsley, including the remarkable Amy Grant and blues-rock lady Melissa Etheridge. Amy, who hasn’t performed live for a long time, sang fan favorites including “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Baby, Baby.” Melissa’s renditions of “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One” had us rockin’ and rollin’ to our feet. Another venue not too far from there called The Blue Room featured the incredible Madison Cunningham on Thursday night. Madison first wowed me during an outside performance in Lexington, Virginia, several years ago. She impresses even more now with brilliant avant-garde arrangements and voicing’s that leave music fans speechless. I have felt the same way in the past listening to Joni Mitchell, Yes, and others. Another wonderful thing about AmericanaFest is being able to hear newer, yet-to-be well-known artists. You might want to check out Hollow Hand, Aubrie Sellers, and Maggie Rose. MCAU contributing writer Wil Comstock has been busy writing reviews for some of the performances we’ve taken in. You can check them out at https://musiccityartsupdate.blogspot.com .) #ChuckWhiting #ChucksDiary #AmericanaFest #AmyGrant #MusicCityArts 9-18-26 

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Amy Grant and Melissa Etheridge Rock the House During AmericanaFest

 By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

Americanafest Tuesday Evening at the Station Inn, 9/15/26

     Leaving behind the sweat and heat of the hopping BMI Rooftop Party, Chuck and I headed over to 3rd and Lindsley. I prayed for a free parking space on the way over. We grabbed the last one on the side of the building! Then, we were offered the last two seats in the venue!

     After introducing ourselves to the nice people at our table, Aubrie Sellers took the stage.  The woman next to me showed me her phone. I read “Daughter of Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers.”  Well, what do you know about that!  Sellers is part of the new wave of Country artists. Her edgy songs mixed with traditional country vocals set her apart from the pack.  My favorites were “Far from Home” and “My Love Will Not Change.”

     Next up, Amy Grant. Although I’ve seen her in the round in the last 20 years, this was the first time I saw a full set of Amy’s during that time period.  I joined the crowd at the foot of the stage.  Yes, I’ve been a fan since Grant’s first album.  She reached back into her catalog, opening with “Nobody Home” and “Walk on Water.”  Up front, the sound wasn’t too good, more than a little disappointing.  At 65, and after open heart surgery and a serious bike accident, Amy seemed contemplative and reflective.  A quieter woman than the one I saw on arena stages so long ago.  Except for her number one hit “Baby Baby,” most of her set came from her new album “The Me that Remains.”  I loved the ethereal “Beautiful Lone Companion” and the song she wrote with husband Vince Gill, “Until We Get It Right.”  If I headed for home at this point, I would have been filled to the brim.

     Reaching for my phone and opening the AmericanaFest app, I found that Maggie Rose would be next.  I was not familiar with her, but let me tell you, I will not forget her!  She commanded the stage. What presence, what vocals, what a dress!  Her mix of classic rock and blues reached back to the sixties but was every bit in the present.  It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I sure liked “I Could Get Used to It” and “In This Life.” The house was on its feet when Melissa Etheridge walked out during “Poison in My Well.”  Their voices blended well and lifted the song to a new level.  I’ve got to pick up one of Maggie’s albums. You should too!

     What can I say about Melissa Etheridge that you don’t already know?  Powerful, sassy vocals; a gunslinger on guitar; and a Kansas native living in sunny California.  She set the mood for the evening opening with “Don’t You Want a Woman.” Lawd girl!  All of the numbers were from her new album “Rise,” except for the last song.  I could hear every lyric and every word she spoke.  That doesn’t happen much for me anymore.  Although I have several of her albums, I gained a lot of respect for her as a lyricist tonight.  She used direct, open and honest words to convey her thoughts.  She was funny and in a surprising way, quite endearing.  Highlights for me were “Matches” with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sandwiched in the middle.  And the closing number, “Come to My Window.”   What a night!

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AmericanaFest: Joe Henry and Mike Reid Take Music Fans to Heaven

 By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

City Winery

Sept. 12 (Friday)

Ron Pope went viral on My Space in 2007.  He released four independent albums before signing with Universal Republic, which released two singles. After that, Pope created his own label, Brooklyn Basement Records.  His appeal to the party crowd was evident on the swamp rock numbers “Let’s Get Stoned” and “Nobody’s Gonna Make It Out Alive.”

Joe Henry and Mike Reid met as fellow instructors at a local song camp. Mike started the conversation by asking Henry who his favorite poets were.  They hit it off right away resulting in Henry sending Reid some lyrics.  The next day, Joe received an mp3 of what Mike came up with.  This continued until there was an album’s worth of music. Joe took the original piano vocals and added sparse production. 

The band at City Winery was comprised of Reid on piano, Joe on guitar, a pedal steel player, and Levon Henry (Joe’s son) on tenor sax and clarinet. The music swelled and took me off to another land, reminding me of mid-career Joni Mitchell.  Mike Reid’s seasoned voice was the perfect vehicle for these songs. Heavenly!  I especially enjoyed “The Bridge,” “Life and Time,” “History,” and the huge Reid/Shamblin co-write for Bonnie Raitt, “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”

I could listen to David Nail’s honest and aching voice all night. He sings country like it should be sung, from experience.  He writes or co-writes most of his songs. He’s not afraid to talk about his depression, saying “It’s just who I am.” Highlights of the evening included “Strangers on a Train,” “Let it Rain,” and the new “I Got Everything I Want.”

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AmericanaFest: The War and Treaty Tease, Flirt and Wail at Skinny Dennis

 By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

WassTeam Party at Skinny Dennis

Featuring The War and Treaty

Sept. 13 (Saturday):

Grammy nominees The War and Treaty took the stage at Skinny Dennis (East Nashville) for a rousing and energetic late afternoon performance.  Michael and Tanya Trotter gave their all on the steamy “Keep You Warm Tonight.” They teased, flirted and wailed on this up-tempo number. The confessional “Hey Judith,” a song about Tanya’s recently deceased mother, spoke to all who have lost a parent.  

All of the musicians were top notch, enjoying every moment of sharing the stage with the dynamic couple. The addition of saxophone and trumpet beefed up their sound and raised the excitement on stage by several notches. 

The upbeat scat-swing of “Crazy” had me dancing and swaying. They gave the band ample time to showcase their instruments as Michael left the stage and stood in the audience beside me. All of a sudden, I felt a warm arm around my shoulder.  

I won’t forget this show!  Mike preached a little and said he was going to run for president under the slogan “Shut the F**K Up,” saying people have the freedom to speak and the freedom not to speak.  

They ended with the audience participation number “Can I Get an Amen,” as the crowd sang, danced and shouted their “amens” in appreciation of The War and Treaty’s splendid show.   

AmericanaFest: Unforgettable Moments from 2025

AMERICANAFEST: “American music is always best when it comes from a mixture of things.” — Rhiannon Giddens (AmericanaFest always has unforgettable moments. This year was all about helping bring people together. My MCAU staffer and I took in a number of shows that dug deep into the various “roots” of American music. My hunger and thirst for authentic, expressive, down-deep singing and instrumentation seemed to grow fiercer with every performance. The McCrary Sisters (at then Gospel Brunch) took us to Heaven with a deeply emotional opening performance of “Amazing Grace.” Legendary songwriters Joe Henry and Mike Reid brought pin-dropping silence, appreciation and tears… especially when performing the tune “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” War and Treaty blew the roof off of the building with groove, dance and soul… and heartfelt testimony. The Carlisle Family (Brandi Carlile kin) offered relaxing, down-home folk in an outdoor setting. Newly IBMA Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Tim O’Brien (with Jan Fabricius) brought smiles and laughs to bluegrass fans young and old. The Isaacs filled the room with heart and harmonies. Musicianship hit the stratosphere. The festival, which celebrated it 25th year, has grown to a whopping 58 venues across Middle Tennessee. There were other festivities, too, including the Commonwealth of Kentucky Party and the Americana Marketplace. Along the way, we had nice conversations with fans from states including California, New Hampshire, and New York. And you are always likely to run into someone you know. I am thankful to have opportunities like this in Music City. Here are a few photos from four straight days of live music and merriment.) #ChuckWhiting #ChucksDiary #RhiannonGiddens #AmericanaFest #Americana #Music #McCrarySisters #JoeHenry #MikeReid #WarandTreaty #TheCarlileFamily #TimOBrien #JanFabricius #Music #Nashville #Arts #MusicCityArts 9-14-25 (Observations and photos by Chuck Whiting, MCAU Editor)

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