In lieu of this year’s annual Americanafest, cancelled due to COVID-19, the Americana Music Association Foundation, is presenting Thriving Roots, a brand new event with almost 100 online sessions, panel discussions, interviews and performances with musicians from the Americana music genre. The virtual conference starts tomorrow, Wednesday, September 16 and lasts through Friday, September 19th.
Some of the participants of Thriving Roots include Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Mavis Staples, Jackson Browne, Rhiannon Giddens and T Bone Burnett. Among the panel highlights: Judd Apatow will interview The Avett Brothers, The Milk Carton Kids will present their “Sad Comedy Hour,” Brandi Carlile will talk with Yola about their careers, Bob Weir and Oteil Burbridge will discuss the inspirations and influence Black musicians have had on the Grateful Dead, Emmylou Harris and Ken Burns will look back on Burns’ Country Music documentary, and M. Night Shyamalan will interview The Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites.
There will also be a special film screening of Linda and The Mockingbirds, a new documentary about Linda Ronstadt’s 2019 journey to her grandfather’s hometown in Mexico. The screening will include a conversation with Linda Ronstadt, Los Cenzontles founder Eugene Rodriguez, filmmaker James Keach, and will be moderated by music journalist Randy Lewis.
There will also be music industry panels including: Beyond Representation: Community Leadership For Black Equity In Americana; NIVA and NITO: Fighting for the Survival of Independent Music; The Recording Academy Presents: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in the Music Community, and many more.
For registration and more information, go here.
