NASHVILLE, TN. (AMericana Music/ www.americanamusic.org) - By popular demand, the sixth annual Americana
Music Conference will return to the Nashville Convention Center
Thursday through Saturday,
September 8-10, 2005, with a full schedule of professional panels, presentations, roundtables, trade show, more than 40 daytime and evening showcase performances and many additional attractions. The adjacent Renaissance Nashville will again serve as the official host hotel.
During the Conference, the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony will take place on Friday,
September 9 at the storied Ryman Auditorium at 7 p.m. Awards nominees, guest performers and presenters will be announced over the coming months, along with additional special events that make
September "Americana
Music Month."
"It's been a longtime goal of our organization to celebrate the annual Honors & Awards at the Ryman," said AMA Executive
Director Jeff Green. "After years of steady growth, we've earned the opportunity to make this move, and there's been overwhelming enthusiasm from the artist community for it. We anticipate a magical evening."
Echomusic partner and Americana
Music Association President Mark Montgomery said, "We achieved record numbers last year in terms of delegates from around the world as well as sponsorships, and we're very pleased to be returning to the Nashville Convention Center and the Renaissance. The staff support is terrific and the facilities give us great flexibility to create all kinds of learning, business networking and entertainment opportunities. You'll see a lot of new and exciting activities this year."
Registration details and artist showcase submission information for the Conference will be posted on www.americanamusic.org beginning February 1. Early-bird registration costs only $200 for members and $300 for non-members through April 29. The package includes access to all sessions and showcases, reserved Honors & Awards ticket, a Conference backpack filled with merchandise, program book and much more.
Daytime artist showcases will be held in intimate settings, while attendees will be shuttled each evening to performances at the Mercy Lounge's two venues, including its newly refurbished Ballroom, as well as the fabled Station Inn nearby.
The 2004 Conference featured many memorable appearances by artists including Dave Alvin, Asleep At The Wheel, BR549,
Junior Brown, the Carter Family, Slaid Cleaves, Cowboy Jack Clement, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Radney Foster, Chris Hillman, Ray Wylie Hubbard, King Wilkie, Jim Lauderdale, Bernie Leadon,
Buddy Miller, the
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jason Ringenberg, Bruce Robison, Billy Joe Shaver, Mindy Smith, Mavis Staples,
Tony Joe White with
Shelby Lynne and many more.
For Conference sponsorship, advertising, performing and exhibit opportunities, call the AMA at (615) 321-3456 or e-mail
[email protected]. For special Conference hotel rates, contact the Renaissance Nashville at (615) 255-8400.
The Americana
Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. The AMA is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization.
For additional information regarding the Americana
Music Association, please go to
https://www.americanamusic.org 
