New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Congratulations to Yola, Rhiannon Giddens, and Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge, who have all been nominated for Americana Honors & Awards.
Yola is up for two awards: she has been nominated for Emerging Act of the Year, and her debut album, Walk Through Fire, has been nominated for Album of the Year. The Dan Auerbach-produced album, released via his Easy Eye Sound label, puts a contemporary twist on a traditional sonic tapestry of orchestral strings, fiddle, steel, and shimmering tremolo guitars. Yola's arresting vocals captivate with sincere tales of heartache and loves lost, forgotten, and broken. The album "showcases Yola's otherworldly vocals and compelling songwriting," says NPR. "It's the work of an artist sure to stun audiences for years to come."
Rhiannon Giddens has been nominated for Artist of the Year, joining fellow nominees Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, and Mavis Staples. Her new album, there is no Other, released too recently to be eligible for this year's awards, has been met with great critical acclaim. "This is acoustic roots music at its most glorious," exclaims Uncut, "and Giddens is fast becoming the genre's brightest star in the firmament." Another project of hers, Our Native Daughters, has been nominated for Duo/Group of the Year.
Punch Brothers guitarist Chris "Critter" Eldridge has been nominated as Instrumentalist of the Year. The band's new album, All Ashore, won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. The Independent calls it "an album of rich instrumentation and understated beauty that reveals deeper nuances on each and every listen." The
Boston Globe says it's "a deeply meaningful and downright gorgeous record."
The winners will be announced during the Americana Honors & Awards held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville as part of Americanafest, which runs from
September 10 through 15. Details at americanafest.org.