Justin Townes Earle Leads BMI Nominees for 2009 AMA Honors and Awards

Posted in News on May 21, 2009

Roots music enthusiasts, industry executives, and artists gathered on BMI’s Music Row rooftop Wednesday, May 20 as mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush and the Belleville Outfit’s Phoebe Hunt announced the nominees for the 2009 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards.

Justin Townes Earle received three nods, including album of the year for Midnight at the Movies, as well as artist and emerging artist of the year. With a royal roots music pedigree—he’s the son of alt-country hero Steve Earle and named after legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt—Justin Townes Earle has charmed critics and fans alike with his contemporary take on golden-age honky tonk.

Alejandro Escovedo and the Flatlanders—made up of individually celebrated BMI troubadours Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock— garnered two nominations each. Escovedo was tapped in artist and album of the year categories, while the Flatlanders garnered song and duo/group of the year nods. Additional BMI nominees include Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Raul Malo, Band of Heathens, Belleville Outfit, Reckless Kelly and the Gourds.

Slated for Thursday, September 17 at the Ryman Auditorium, the awards ceremony is the apex of the 10th Annual Americana Festival and Conference, which will run Wednesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 19 in Nashville. For more information, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Real Animal, by Alejandro Escovedo
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Midnight at the Movies, by Justin Townes Earle

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alejandro Escovedo
Justin Townes Earle
Raul Malo

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas
Sam Bush

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST
Band of Heathens
Belleville Outfit
Justin Townes Earle

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Country Love” by the Gourds
“Homeland Refugee,” written by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock; performed by the Flatlanders

DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR
Flatlanders
Reckless Kelly

SOURCENews TAGS Blues Country Folk Rock Nashville Band of Heathens Belleville Outfit Sam Bush Jerry Douglas Justin Townes Earle Joe Ely Alejandro Escovedo The Flatlanders Jimmie Dale Gilmore The Gourds Butch Hancock Jason Isbell Raul Malo Reckless Kelly