CMT Blog: Archive

John Fogerty's surprise showcase during the Americana Music Festival turned out to be my favorite set of the festival but it frustrated a lot of other people at Nashville event. With his intimate two-hour set on Wednesday night (Sept. 16), some people complained that he drew people away from up-and-coming artists on the other stages around town. So, in order to spread the love around, let me tell you about some of the other cool shows covering the wide musical spectrum of Americana.

Just prior to Fogerty's set, blues man Seth Walker held court at the Cannery Ballroom with fierce guitar work and original tunes. The next night, Seth James blended the blues with country, which worked especially well on the lively "Thing for You." I tuckered out early on Friday night, following a set by the exquisite Shannon Whitworth although I was delighted to have lunch in a honky-tonk earlier that day to hear Oh Susanna and Luke Doucet, two of Canada's finest singer-songwriters.

The Nashville music community was well-represented at a Thirty Tigers showcase at the Basement on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 19), with quick, engaging sets by Ashley Cleveland, Charlie Pate & Dixie's Finest, Mandy Barnett and Elizabeth Cook. After a few tunes by Baskery, a boisterous all-girl Swedish band, I ducked out for an outdoor party at Imogene + Willie's, which boasted quiet country music by Caitlin Rose and delicious grub from the locally famous Mas Tacos truck. Then I returned to the Basement to hear intense singer-songwriter Ken Will Morton and the Fleetwood Mac-inspired White Owls -- both of whom I'd like to see again.

You can't go wrong hearing Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin harmonizing on "The Dark End of the Street," my personal highlight of the Saturday night showcases. Over the course of the night, I also caught a few tunes by Jerry Douglas, Missy Raines and W.P.A., then finally called it a night after Raul Malo stepped up to join Hot Club of Cowtown for a lovely reading of "I Can't Believe You're Still in Love With Me." And I can't believe how much excellent music I heard in just four days.