Similar to the multi-venue setup of Noise Pop and SXSW, AmericanaFest takes over Nashville in a wide-ranging celebration of all things “Americana.” While the genre can be a bit hard to pin down, the festival embraces eclecticism and evolution, welcoming artists from Lucinda Williams to Robert Plant to Brandi Carlile.
While the sun is up, AmericanaFest explores the ins and outs of the music industry with a series of conferences and panels at the Westin Nashville. Last year, acclaimed music critic Ann Powers interviewed The Indigo Girls, and Stax Records representatives discussed the 1972 Wattstax Festival. Later on, musical performances inhabit some of Nashville’s most prominent venues, inviting festivalgoers to explore the unique sanctuaries of sound that populate the city. And AmericanaFest also brings the unexpected: In 2018, Margo Price and Brandi Carlile performed a surprise cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” on top of Jack White’s Third Man Records.
Though AmericanaFest spans five days, its keystone event is the Honors and Awards Ceremony at the renowned Ryman Auditorium. It’s like the festival’s own version of the Grammys, but the music is all Americana and the attire is much less formal. This year, the event is set to take place on Wednesday, September 20, though the lineup and additional information is yet to be announced at the time of this writing.
The Specs
- About 50,000 people went to AmericanaFest in 2019.
- Festival passes start at $125, and conference + festival passes start at $449 at the time of writing, though prices increase as the festival approaches. Find the full breakdown here.
- Tickets for the Honors & Awards Ceremony are purchased separately, and the festival will update ticketing information here at a later date.
- Door tickets can be purchased at the door for select shows if they are not sold out.
- Americanafest is open to all ages, though some venues have strict 18+ and 21+ guidelines.
- The mobile app will be available in late summer.
- Check out Fifty Grande’s Guide to Nashville.
FAQs
Is AmericanaFest ADA accessible?
All venues participating in AmericanaFest are ADA compliant. City Winery, Lindsley and Station Inn also have plenty of seating available.
Are festival passes refundable?
No, you will only receive a refund if the event is canceled.
How can I receive my festival pass?
Festival passes will not be mailed. They can be picked up between September 19 and September 2023, though the location and time windows are still TBA.
