The Americana Music Association's nominations for this year's Honors & Awards will be announced this Thursday at the GRAMMY® Museum's Clive Davis Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Jim Lauderdale will host, and actor John C. Reilly will unveil the list, and then Buddy Miller and The Americana Allstars; Don Was, Greg Leisz, and Don Heffington, will be the backup band for performances by Robert Ellis, Shelby Lynne, and Lucinda Williams. You can watch the nomination ceremony online at The Americana Music Association's Facebook page. Of course, don't forget this year's Americana Fest will take place from September 12-15, 2012 in Nashville, TN, and the Americana Honors & Awards Show returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on September 12th. Americana Music Festival and Conference Registrations are now available at Early Bird rates through their online store.

Of course, we wish everyone who is eligible 'Bon Chance!' The nominees are unknowable for the moment, but we wonder if Jason Isbell will be on that list. His Here We Rest album solidifies his footprint as a major talent, and his shows with the 400 Unit at places like MusicFest at Steamboat, Cherokee Creek and Luckenbach have made legions of new fans. Jason is playing an intimate solo show tomorrow night at The Mansion On O Street in Washington, DC, and tickets are available in advance only, not at the door. Today, we bring you one of the fine tunes from that album, here's “Alabama Pines.”

- Jessie Scott