The winners of the eighth UK Americana Music Awards 2023, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, were announced last night (26 February) in a glittering ceremony at Hackney Empire.
Returning to the iconic venue for the first time in three years, the awards celebrated the best in UK and international Americana music, with 15 hand-carved wooden record trophies (known affectionately as ‘Woodies') handed out to the winners.
The evening's two big winners were Elles Bailey and Allison Russell, who both picked up two gongs. Bailey was named as the winner in the new UK Live Act of the Year category – voted for by the public – and as UK Artist of the Year. Meanwhile, Russell took home the trophies for International Artist of the Year and International Song of the Year for ‘You're Not Alone' featuring Brandi Carlile, which she performed during the event accompanied by UK Artist of the Year nominee Lady Nade.
The International Lifetime Achievement Award went to the legendary Judy Collins – who led the winners and Hackney Empire Community Choir in a stirring rendition of ‘Amazing Grace' to close the show – whilst Mike Scott of The Waterboys received the UK Lifetime Achievement Award. He also performed the group's classic hit ‘Fisherman's Blues' alongside the all-female house band, led by Michele Stodart.
Other winners on the night included Ferris and Sylvester (UK Album of the Year for ‘Super Human'), Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (International Album of the Year for ‘Raise The Roof'), Hannah White (UK Song of the Year for ‘Car Crash') and finger-style guitarist and pedal steel player Holly Carter (UK Instrumentalist of the Year).
Elsewhere, Nickel Creek received the International Trailblazer Award, whilst the Grassroots Award went to Ralph McLean of BBC Radio Ulster and The Hanging Stars were given the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award. The Best Selling Americana Album of the Year Award, in association with the Official Charts Company, went to Frank Turner for ‘FTHC'.
The AMA-UK also conveyed a Songwriter Legacy Award upon the late Loretta Lynn, which was accepted by her granddaughter Emmy Rose Russell via video from the USA. Alison Russell, Miko Marks and Elles Bailey also performed Lynn's classic song ‘Coal Miner's Daughter' in a moving tribute.
Other performances on the night included show openers and UK Live Act of the Year nominees The Heavy Heavy, Frank Turner (with his emotional tribute to Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson, ‘A Wave Across The Bay'), Ferris and Sylvester, Nickel Creek, The Hanging Stars and UK Song of the Year nominee Simeon Hammond Dallas.
Hosts Baylen Leonard and Bob Harris did a sterling job at the helm, cracking jokes and keeping the audience entertained throughout, alongside special guest awards presenters including Martyn Joseph, Ward Thomas, Robert Elms, Shaun Keaveny, Katherine Priddy, Tim Dowling, Lauren Down and Bev Whitrick, Ben Earle, Patrick Kielty, Ricky Ross, Belinda O’Hooley & Heidi Tidow, Paul Gambaccini, Andy Facer from Sweet Home Alabama and Becca Monahan from The Official Chart Company.
The Awards ceremony rounded off an exceptional UK Americana Music Week which took place from Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th January in Hackney, London and also featured a 4 day industry conference attended by 300 delegates and 2 nights of exclusive showcases from 80 artists in 6 venues.
The full list of award winners is below:
Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Scott of The Waterboys
International Lifetime Achievement Award – Judy Collins
International Trailblazer Award – Nickel Creek
Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award – The Hanging Stars
Best Selling Americana Album Award – ‘FHTC' by Frank Turner
Grassroots Award – Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster
Songwriter Legacy Award – Loretta Lynn
UK Album of the Year – ‘Super Human' by Ferris and Sylvester (produced by Ryan Hadlock and Michael Rendall)
International Album of the Year – ‘Raise The Roof' by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (produced by T Bone Burnett)
UK Song of the Year – ‘Car Crash' by Hannah White (written by Hannah White)
International Song of the Year – ‘You're Not Alone' by Allison Russell featuring Brandi Carlile (written by Allison Russell)
UK Artist of the Year – Elles Bailey
International Artist of the Year – Allison Russell
UK Instrumentalist of the Year – Holly Carter
UK Live Act of the Year – Elles Bailey
More information on the UK Americana Music Awards and the Americana Music Association UK is available via https://theamauk.org/
