This year’s Americana Music Festival and Conference (Americanafest), which took place Sept. 12-16 in Nashville, TN, was the most successful one in its 13-year history – drawing record attendance and registrations, according tot the Americana Music Association.

“I have never been more optimistic about the future in my 20 years in the music industry,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the not-for-profit music association. “The passion for this music and the community spirit we experienced last week was mind blowing.”

The five-day celebration of American Roots-inspired music, featuring plenty of learning and networking opportunities, as well as a wide array of music showcases by up-and-coming and veteran artists, drew more than15,000 fans, 300 performing artists and more than 1,100 music industry professionals, according to the association.

Richard Thompson (Photo: Ron Slezniak)

Americanafest featured some 175 educational workshops, panels and seminars, and musical performances. With the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel as its base, the daytime conference featured nearly 200 speakers and included an artist keynote address by Bonnie Raitt, an interview with Booker T. Jones, a songwriting session with Richard Thompson, and panel discussions on “100 Years of Woody Guthrie” and “The Music of Memphis,” among others. More than 100 Americana artists/acts showcased during the festival portion of the event at various venues around the music city. A special presentation of the songs of “Mercyland” at the Downtown Presbyterian Church featured Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson.

Americana Honors and Awards Presented

A highlight of Americanafest was the 11th annual Americana Honors and Awards Show, Sept. 12, at the historic Ryman Auditorium, which featured musical performances by nearly two-dozen acts and included an all-star tribute to the late Levon Helm. Nashville-based artists dominated the awards. Singer-songwriter Gillian Welch – whose album, The Harrow & The Harvest, drew extensive radio airplay during the past year, was named artist of the year, while her musical partner Dave Rawlings was named instrumentalist of the year. Although neither of them was on hand to personally accept their awards, other award winners were. The Civil Wars, a Grammy-winning Nashville/Alabama duo, accepted the award for duo/group of the year.

Guy Clark (photo: Senor McGuire)

This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, a two-disc. 30-track set produced in Nashville and featuring contributions by 33 artists, was voted album of the year by AMA members, while Clark himself received a standing ovation following his performance of “My Favorite Picture of You,” a song he wrote for his late wife, Susanna. Accompanying Clark were Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp (a frequent co-writer with him), who also are core band members on the album produced by Grammy winner Tamara Saviano, who also is working with Clark on his definitive biography.

Nashville-based roots rocker Jason Isbell won the song of the year award for “Alabama Pines,” which he performed with his group, the 400 Unit. Alabama Shakes were named emerging artist of the year.

In addition to the award winners who were selected by AMA members from among a group of nominees, Lifetime Achievement Award honorees also were recognized. Among them were Bonnie Raitt (for Performance), Booker T. Jones (for Instrumentalist) Richard Thompson (for Songwriting), and Dennis Lord (for Executive).

Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring an all-star band led by Buddy Miller, the Americana Music Honors & Awards program drew a sold-out crowd and also aired nationally on AXS TV, broadcast via SiriusXM, WSM radio, and streamed by NPR.org. Musical segments of the show are slated to air on PBS stations nationwide during a special presentation entitled ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2012, beginning Nov. 10 in the Austin City Limits time slot.

Established in 1999, the Americana Music Association (www.americanamusic.org) is a professional trade organization dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and supporting the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. Its next annual Festival & Conference will take place in Nashville, Sept. 18-22, 2013.