Mike is in Nashville this week for the Americana Music Honors & Awards where he will present an award with Big Star’s Jody Stephens for the Duo/Group of the Year on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Mike, Chris Stamey (db’s), and Stephens (Big Star) will perform “The Songs of Big Star” at the finale of the Americana Music Festival and Conference’s celebration of “The Music of Memphis.” Read the press release for the Americana Music Festival & Conference just below and visit americanamusic.org for more details!
AMERICANA MUSIC FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE CELEBRATES THE MUSIC OF MEMPHIS
The Americana Music Festival & Conference, presented by Nissan, September 12-15, is honoring “The Music of Memphis” this year with three programming events featuring Memphis luminaries. Since the early Beale street era, to the extraordinary output of Sun Studio, and to the “Memphis Sound” created by Stax Records, ââ¬Ëthe home of the blues and birthplace of Rock ââ¬Ën’ Roll’ is at the epicenter of American music.
Booker T. Jones will kick off the tribute on Wednesday September 12 by performing and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. On Thursday, September 12, famed Memphis author and music fan Robert Gordon will interview Jones at 12pm at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. They will discuss his historic contributions to Stax Records in the 60s as well as his work with Wilson Pickett, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and more, as well as Jones’ future plans.
Also on Thursday, at 2:30pm at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, Memphis native and producer Rick Clark will moderate “The Music of Memphis” panel discussion. Panelists include: famed musician,producer and solo artist, Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars; Jody Stephens of Memphis-based Ardent Music and musician for Big Star and Golden Smog; Scott Bomar, Memphis-based musician with The Bo-Keys and GRAMMY nominated music producer and recording engineer; and John Hampton of Ardent Music and a GRAMMY winning producer.
The icing on the cake is the music itself and the day will culminate with the Thursday showcase at the Rutledge, with Memphis’ new emerging and artists Star & Micey kicking off the evening. Luther Dickinson will perform solo as well as with Jim Lauderdale and The North Mississippi Allstars — previewing songs from their forthcoming collaborative album. The Bo-Keys, featuring alumni of Stax and Hi Records who all have deep ties to Memphis soul music, will take the stage.
The finale will be “The Songs of Big Star” performed by Chris Stamey (db’s), Mike Mills (REM) ,and the surviving member of Big Star’s original lineup, Jody Stephens. Although Big Star’s first era came to an end in 1974, the profound influence of their style and material continues to wield power. Rolling Stone notes that Big Star “created a seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations of rockers, from the power-pop revivalists of the late 1970s to alternative rockers at the end of the century to the indie rock nation in the new millennium.”
The event was conceived and implemented by Americana Music Association’s Director of Operations, Danna Strong. “”Curating events that explore the origins and roots of Americana, is a passion,” she shares. “The music of Memphis is an obvious choice to celebrate the many sources of the genre’s tapestry. Meeting and working with the artists and producers that made this music is an honor.”