UK Americana Awards will return to Hackney Empire Theatre in early 2023 after it was cancelled due to the Omicron Covid variant, Rising East has learned.
The ceremony will be held on January 26 by the UK Americana Music Association which has held the awards show since 2016. The association has showcased artists from the UK as well as from overseas.
Rising East Music reporter Warren Dela Cruz, who has interviewed the host of the upcoming event, gives us a brief look at what Americana music is.
The big question is what exactly is Americana Music?
According to an article by MasterClass, it is a style of music that incorporates elements from every facet of traditional American music, borrowing heavily from blues, country, and bluegrass as well as jazz and gospel.
The defining characteristics of Americana music would be the emphasis on acoustic instruments like guitars, banjos and violins, though electric guitars and organs are regularly used.
Songwriters are typically the storytellers; the lyrics could either be personal stories or traditional American stories passed down through generations.
I got in contact with Baylen Leonard, a DJ who specialises in country music and is currently a host for Absolute Radio Country. He will be the host of next year’s UK Americana music awards and is an executive board member of the UK Americana Music Association.
Over LinkedIn, Leonard said that he was “excited that the awards and showcases are returning to Hackney next year” and added: “Americana music is one of the most diverse, innovative, and exciting musical genres today, yet it still manages to honour the tradition it was founded on.”
Tickets for the UK Americana Awards Show can be booked via the Hackney Empire’s website.