CountryNY

The Abrams Brothers named Best New Artist at the Canadian Country Music Awards

Bluegrass/folk-rock/country trio The Abrams Brothers were just named Best New Artist at the 2012 Canadian Country Music Awards on September 9! The news comes after a summer tour with country star Dean Brody, who also took home awards for Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year on Sunday.

The Abrams Brothers are set to release their latest album Northern Redemption in the U.S. on September 25 before embarking on their first tour of the States. 

RE-CAP OF THE 44TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS

CONGRATS!! to Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum on their big wins for Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year (Need You Now). And to a teary-eyed Brad Paisley who scooped up Entertainer of the Year as well as to his roots-infused performance of This is Country Music.

Another sensation... Miranda Lambert took home THREE CMA trophies for Best Female Vocalist, Album of the Year for Revolution, and a shared win of Video of the Year with Director Trey Fanjoy for The House That Built Me.

"Nobody in country music is more country than Miranda." - Loretta Lynn

Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn brought it right back home with Coal Miner's Daughter. Kudos to these three brilliant and beautiful ladies!!!

Keith Urban induced chills with his beautiful rendition of A Little Help from My Friends.

Gwyneth Paltrow is not just about British accents and running the roads in Spain with Mario Batali (Batals). She is indeed Country Strong. Assuming that you saw her debut the single from her new movie last night with Vince Gill, we're certain you noticed that the girl's got pipes... and spirit, let alone amazing style... and a standing ovation. Bravo Gwynny!

A big shout out to all of the sensational performers and performances and congratulations to the 44th Annual CMA Awards winners. CountryNY loves you!!

 

LEGENDS AND NEWCOMERS HIGHLIGHT 8th ANNUAL AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION HONORS & AWARDS SHOW

(September 17, 2009)

Buddy Miller Pulls Near-Sweep Of Major Categories

Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Buddy Miller was the biggest winner at the 8th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show Thursday night at the Ryman Auditorium, taking home trophies in almost every category for which he was nominated.

Performing in celebration of lifetime achievement awards were John Fogerty, Ray Benson and Asleep At The Wheel, and Sam Bush.   John Prine and Nanci Griffith sang a duet in honor of recipient Jim Rooney.  The AMA's annual awards show, hosted by Jim Lauderdale, was also a showcase for both established artists and the next generation of stars, all contributing fresh material to the Americana music scene.  Performers included Rodney Crowell, The Gourds, Raul Malo, The Flatlanders,  Reckless Kelly.

All four nominees for New & Emerging Artist of The Year - Band of Heathens, The Belleville Outfit, Sarah Borges and Justin Townes Earle - performed during the Thursday ceremony, with Earle taking home the award via the strength of his 2008 record "Midnight at the Movies."  The show ended with an all-star jam around "Dixie Chicken," a salute to the posthumous President's Award recipient Lowell George of Little Feat.

Miller, one of Americana music's most sought-after collaborators and sidemen, won Artist of the Year, Album of the Year ("Written In Chalk," with wife Julie Miller), Duo/Group of the Year (again with wife Julie), and Song of the Year ("Chalk," written by Julie Miller and performed by Buddy and Patty Griffin).

Versatile multi-instrumentalist/producer Gurf Morlix was honored with the Instrumentalist of the Year award, keeping Miller from a clean sweep (and a three-peat in that particular category.)

The Americana Music Association's annual festival and conference, featuring panels and approximately 100 performances by legends and the next generation of stars, runs through Saturday at venues throughout Nashville.

The organization celebrated its tenth anniversary with a formal announcement of the establishment of an Americana Grammy category. The house band, assembled by Miller, included the legendary steel guitar player Spooner Oldham, and keyboardist Al Perkins.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Written in Chalk," Buddy & Julie Miller

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:  Buddy Miller

DUO / GROUP OF THE YEAR: Buddy & Julie Miller

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Justin Townes Earle

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Gurf Morlix

SONG OF THE YEAR: "Chalk" written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE: Asleep At The Wheel

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXECUTIVE: Ken Levitan

Abbie Gardner & Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers Win John Lennon Awards

Posted on May 13, 2009

Abbie Gardner of Stony Point finished first in the Folk category for her song “The Mind Of A Soldier” and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers of Fayetteville took first prize in Country with his tune  “Fly.”

Congrats to both New Yorkers for their exceptional work.

CountryNY looks forward to interviewing the two winners with the hope of gaining a deeper insight into them and their music.

BIG BIG Congratulations from all at CountryNY!!

“She Left Me For Jesus” - ‘Song of the Year’

Posted on September 23, 2008

Fat Caddy Records artist Brian Keane wins ‘Song of the Year’

NASHVILLE, TN - At the Americana Music Association’s Award Show on Sept. 18, Brian Keane and Hayes Carll were awarded “Song of the Year” for the song they co-wrote together, “She Left Me For Jesus.” The song is featured on Hayes Carll’s most recent release, Trouble in Mind (Lost Highway).  Keane and Carll gratefully accepted the honor in the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville among other great Americana artists.

“She Left Me For Jesus,” a first-hand narration of a spurned ex-boyfriend, describes this angry (yet very obtuse) man’s accusations that his now ex-girlfriend is dating some new guy named “Jesus.” After listing several significant changes in her behaviors and habits, the narrator clearly demonstrates a complete ignorance of the actual biblical identity of the new-found love. At its core, it is a humorous country song written in the style of Johnny Cash and Townes Van Zandt. Of the song, the Los Angeles Times said: “a brilliant example of how to simultaneously salute and parody a time-honored musical genre.”

About Brian Keane:

After releasing his first solo record, I Ain’t Even Lonely, in his hometown of Austin, Texas, Keane played around town with great musicians like The Band of Heathens, Rachel Loy and Hayes Carll. Keane was signed to Fat Caddy Records in 2007. Earlier this year he moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career, and his recent accolade at the AMA Awards serves as a testimonial to his skill as a songwriter.

About Hayes Carll:

Hayes Carll released his first critically acclaimed solo record, Flowers and Liquor, in 2002. After performing in and around his hometown of Austin and releasing his sophomore album Little Rock, Carll was signed to alt-country record label Lost Highway in 2006. He released Trouble in Mind in April of 2008, and quickly earned respect in the Texas songwriter genre as a fresh and imaginative new voice.

About the Americana Music Association:

The Americana Music Association is an organization developed to celebrate American music, specifically in the Americana genre. It publishes reports and hosts award shows to raise awareness of Americana artists, as well as connecting artists to interested fans of the genre. It hosts the Americana Music Award Show annually in Nashville.