The 16th annual Americana Conference and Festival, which opens with the Americana Music Awards Tuesday night (9/15), represents a big moment for Jed Hilly. The longtime Americana Music Association Executive Director has watched the once-tiny organization, founded by a handful of artists, turn into one of the nation’s premiere gatherings of organic music lovers. Hard to believe the tireless Hilly, who’s been working 80-hour weeks leading up to the Sept. 15-20 extravaganza, slowed down long enough to talk to HITS’ fast-talking Holly Gleason.

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