Americana (also known as American roots music)[1] is an amalgam of American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States of America, with particular emphasis on music historically developed in the American South. - Wikipedia

Americana music is derived from the origins of American folk music, country, blues, bluegrass and gospel. It is a celebration of the music created here in the South during the mid 19th to early 20th century. More than that it’s a lifestyle, a kickback to a softer time of country roads and old pick up trucks, sunrises breaking over tobacco barns but also the sounds of protest of war and racial inequality. It is the song of the United States… it is me.

I am now one of the newest members of the Americana Music Association, a group created to support musicians like myself as well as keeping this melting pot genre of regional music alive and thriving. What’s it for me? The resources that I need to move to the next level performance. Of course there is the discount to AmericanaFest, an annual celebration of music here in Nashville, but more than that a directory of radio stations that might play my music… festival listings making it easier to research where I might be able to perform. I just found out that I have a discount to Bandzoogle which is my website host and I’m sure as I go through the membership information I will find many more benefits. But most of all in purchasing a membership I feel like I’m giving back to an association that has enriched my life. I have now attended three years of AmericanaFest and it’s a beautiful thing.