Five Must-See Shows from the Initial Americanafest Lineup

The initial lineup of the 2024 Americana Music Festival and Conference has been revealed. With dozens of choices (and remember, that's just the first release), it's difficult to decide what to see. We've gone through the lineup and pulled five artists who we think are must-see sets at Americanafest 2024. So far, that is.

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
When Molly Tuttle put together her bluegrass band Golden Highway, she had her choice of instrumentalists. And with a bluegrass band, no instrument was more important than the fiddle. So when she tapped Bronwyn Keith-Hynes as Golden Highway's fiddler, she was getting a 2-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, as well as an accomplished solo artist. Her latest album I Built a World has an impressive list of guest appearances, from Sam Bush to Dierks Bentley to her boss Molly Tuttle, making this a set ripe for the kind of guest sit-in that makes Americanafest special.

Mike Farris
If you're looking for the Americanafest set most likely to have you on your feet dancing, look no further than Mike Farris. The Screaming Cheetah Wheelies frontman and prolific solo artist's mix of blues, Southern gospel, and soul is given a high-energy injection. While he knows his way around a ballad (check out his cover of Mary Gauthier's “Mercy Now”), it's when he cuts loose that his sets become truly special.

John Oates Acoustic Band
Anytime a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer graces an Americanafest stage, it's worth the wait in line to see them. Even the largest Americanafest venue is smaller than you'll ever see these stars normally. When the show is booked as “One Night Only,” you can put it in ink. Considering its prominent place (and font size) on the lineup poster, Americanafest knows the level of special they have with John Oates (of Hall & Oates fame) performing a one-off acoustic set. Oates has been a guest at Americanafest before and seems to relish the community so expect him to leave it all on the stage.

Tony Trischka- Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs
Anytime you see the word “Tribute” in an Americanafest show, consider it. While you can catch most of the lineup any given year on tour at another time, the tribute shows happen once and never again. And with the level of Americana talent on hand for the festival and awards show, you never know who is going to show up. That's doubly the case when the tribute, to banjo legend Earl Scruggs, is led by Tony Trischka, who has done more to innovate with that instrument than anyone not named Bela Fleck. Scruggs is, rightly, revered among Americana fans so expect both his name and Trischka's connections to deliver a mind-blowing list of guests.

Willie Watson
Willie Watson has been on my “must-see” list at Americanafest before and will continue to be so any year he performs. Watson is one of the most thorough chroniclers of roots music history that has ever lived. But his shows aren't dry history lessons. Watson's delivery is earnest and intense, his voice cutting through the silence of a hushed crowd as he holds court with a long-forgotten song from the 19th Century.

Americanafest 2024 is being held September 17-21 in venues across Nashville. Festival passes are on sale now. Stay tuned for more Concert Hopper coverage of Americanafest as future lineup drops happen!