The Americana Music Festival and Conference is just a few days away, and boy am I excited! The Americana Honors and Awards Show, at The Ryman Auditorium this coming Thursday, September 9th, has to be one of its crown jewels, as it was just announced that Jack White and Lucinda Williams will be on hand as presenters. Also stepping up to the podium on that historic stage will be: 2010 Spirit of Americana recipient Mary Chapin Carpenter, Grace Potter, Martie Maguire & Emily Robison (of The Courtyard Hounds & Dixie Chicks), and John Oates (of Hall & Oates).

2010 Lifetime Achievement honoree, for Songwriting, John Mellencamp will kick off the show with a live performance, and expect that to be followed by music from Emmylou Harris, The Avett Brothers, Rodney Crowell, Wanda Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Sam Bush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Corb Lund, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Joe Pug, Sarah Jarosz, Will Kimbrough, and Ryan Bingham.

We have some great news for you! You will be able to hear this show LIVE on Thursday, September 9th on Folk Alley and NPR. The 2010 Americana Music Association Honors & Award Show from the Ryman Auditorium - 7:30pm ET / 6:30pm CT, and I will be anchoring the webcast!

If you want to attend, the Sheraton Nashville Downtown is the host hotel for the Americana Music Festival and Conference. We can't wait to get there and immerse ourselves in good friends, good times and good music! For conference registrations, Honors & Awards Show tickets, and venue wristbands, click here to purchase, but the Americana Music Association's online store closes today at 5pm CT. So, after that you can buy Honors & Awards Show tickets online via the Ryman and in person at their box office, or at Ticketmaster. You can buy venue wristbands, to see ALL the showcase performances (4 nights for $50), at Grimey's New and Preloved Music, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Store and the Nashville Visitors Center (inside Bridgestone Arena), or get them directly at each of the five venues starting September 9th; The Basement, Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom, The Station Inn and The Rutledge. C'mon along!

Now, since I mentioned Ryan Bingham above, I thought we would remind you that his new CD Junky Star came out this past week. Riding on the heels of an amazing year comes this collaborative effort with T Bone Burnett. The folks at Lost Highway Records posted a peek behind the curtain, in a video called "The Making of Junky Star." YUM!!!

- Jessie Scott