GOD BLESS AMERICANA

The Americana Music Association saluted the year’s best today as Rosanne Cash announced the list of 2011 nominees at the Gibson/Baldwin Showroom in N.Y., featuring live performances by multiple nominees The Civil Wars, Levon Helm and His Dirt Farmer Quartet featuring Jim Lauderdale and then Cash, with Benmont Tench on keys.

Elizabeth Cook and Robert Plant lead the pack with three nominations each: Cook’s Welder was tapped in the Album of the Year field, while her “El Camino” earned a Song of the Year nomination. Plant and the Band of Joy will compete for Duo/Group of the Year, while their effort Band of Joy received an Album of the Year nod. Both Cook and Plant are also up for Artist of the Year.

T Bone Burnett, also on hand, gave a poignant statement saluting the artists for "telling the truth" through their music.

The Civil Wars and Mumford and Sons each earned nominations in both the New/Emerging Artist (with The Secret Sisters and Jessica Lea Mayfield) and Duo/Group of the Year categories. The Album of the Year field also includes Lucinda Williams’ Blessed, while the Song of the Year category is rounded out by The Decemberists featuring Gillian Welch’s “Down by the Water.” The Avett Brothers are up for Duo/Group of the Year—an honor the band took home in 2010.

The cornerstone of the Americana Music Conference and Festival, the 10th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Slated for Wednesday, October 12 through Saturday, October 15, the 11th Annual Americana Festival and Conference offers daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. The event brings more than 100 stacked musical showcases to key venues throughout Nashville.

The 2011 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Nominees

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Band of Joy, Robert Plant
Welder, Elizabeth Cook
Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle
Blessed, Lucinda Williams

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Elizabeth Cook
Hayes Carll
Robert Plant

NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
The Secret Sisters
Jessica Lea Mayfield

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Avett Brothers
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy

SONG OF THE YEAR
Decemberists with Gillian Welch- "Down By The Water"
Elizabeth Cook - "El Camino"
Hayes Carll - "Kmag Yoyo"
Justin Townes Earle - "Harlem River Blues"

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Kenny Vaughan
Sarah Jarosz
Will Kimbrough