Winners and Recap of the 2020 Ameripolitan Awards
The 2020 Ameripolitan Awards were celebrated this weekend in Memphis, TN, with numerous showcases and performances happening all across the city, from the famous clubs on Beale Street, to Dale Watson’s newly-opened historic music venue, Hernando’s Hideaway, to the stately Guesthouse at Graceland where the awards show proper was help Monday night, February 24th. See all the winners below.
Meant to recognize American music with a strong roots influence that often gets lost in the realm of popular music, as Nick 13 of Tiger Army said when presenting an award during the show, “The music that the mainstream has forgotten, that’s the music we remember.”
Earlier in the week, Tanya Tucker helped provide one of the coolest moments of the event as she showed up to Hernando’s unexpectedly Thursday night to sing a couple of songs at the pre-party. Other events helped lead up to the awards, including Junior Brown performing Friday night, a fashion show and musical showcase at the Circuit Playhouse in midtown Memphis Saturday night with Farmer & Adele, Johnny Falstaff, and Charley Crockett all performing, the “Godfathers” of Ameripolitan—The Reverend Horton Heat, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys, and Wayne “The Train” Hancock—all performing Sunday night at Hernando’s, and a tribute to the Bakersfield Sound during the day on Monday.
It all led to Monday night when the respective artists in the Rockabilly, Western Swing, and Honky Tonk categories showed up dressed to the 9’s, and an awards show broke out. Announced by Dallas Wayne and hosted by Big Sandy and Doris Mayday, it saw performances by Big Cedar Fever, Whitney Rose, Two Tons of Steel, Tami Savoy, Summer Dean, James “Slim” Hand opened the show (like he’s done all 7 years) performing “Baby, Baby Don’t Tell Me That,” along with other performances.
As Western Swing Male winner Dave Stuckey said, the Ameripolitan Awards are like artists that are from an island of misfit toys that don’t fit in Americana. Honky Tonk Male winner Charley Crockett told the storywhile accepting his award about hearing a street performer in New Orleans, Louisiana playing “My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It” by Hank Williams, and knowing that’s what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
This was the first year there was not an “Outlaw” category. Instead, those acts were considered in the Honky Tonk category. Special awards included drummer J.M. Van Eaton who was one of the original Sun Studios players who performed on tracks from Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others. He was awarded the Founder of the Sound award, while Duane Eddy was honored with The Master Award.
Thanks to Kevin Smith for select photos. For more photos and coverage of the 2020 Ameripolitan Awards, check out Saving Country Music On Instagram.
WINNERS:
Honky Tonk Male
Zephaniah OHora
Charley Crockett – WINNER
Pat Reedy
Johnny Falstaff
Honky Tonk Female
Jaime Wyatt
Sarah Gayle Meech
Kathryn Legendre
Sarah Vista – WINNER
Honky Tonk Group
The Country Side of Harmonica Sam – WINNER
Western Centuries
The Shootouts
Casey James Prestwood Band
Rockabilly Male
Bloodshot Bill – WINNER
Eddie Clendening
Jittery Jack
Shaun Young
Rockabilly Female
Laura Palmer – WINNER
Amber Foxx
Ruby Ann
Linda Gail Lewis
Rockabilly Group
Modern Don Juans
Bebo & The Good Time Boys
Mark Gamsjager and the The Lustre Kings – WINNER
Trix O Treat Band
Western Swing Male
Ranger Doug
Kyle Eldridge
Keenan Wade (Farmer & Adele)
Dave Stuckey – WINNER
Western Swing Female
Georgia Parker – WINNER
Cheryl Deserée
Wendy Newcomer
Katie Shore
Western Swing Group
The Farmer and Adele – WINNER
The Urban Pioneers
Bill and the Belles
50 Shades of Hay
Venue
American Legion Post 82 – Nashville
Southgate House Revival – Newport, KY
Luckenbach, TX – WINNER
Skinny Dennis – Brooklyn, NY
Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge – Nashville
Duke’s Indy – Indianapolis, IN
Musician
Joel Patterson
Rose Sinclair
Sean Mencher – WINNER
Amy Griffin
Bobby Trimble
Becky Hinson
Mike Bernal
Festival
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – WINNER
High Rockabilly- Spain
Western Swingout Weekender -Tehachapi, California
SYMCO Weekender – Symco, Wisconsin
DJ
Kevin Martinez
Celia Villagran
Don Sticksel
Marivi Yubero García
Jimi Palacios
Eddie White – WINNER
From Early in the Week:
February 25, 2020 @ 5:12 am
Looks & sounds like it was a wonderful time.
Love listening to Dallas Wayne on Willie’s Roadhouse.
February 25, 2020 @ 4:59 pm
It was not a wonderful time. Trust me. I was there
February 25, 2020 @ 6:59 pm
Is it because there are so many smaller venues involved?
Have not been to this event.
Am picturing it to be something like New Orleans, where there are many intimate venues and clubs.
I love New Orleans, for the architecture, for the aura that is distinct to that location (same as Santa Fe, N.M.)
Personally love the smaller venues, where you are close to the band onstage, can observe the little things, enjoy the people enjoying the music, etc.
Sorry you had a bummer time
February 25, 2020 @ 9:11 pm
Why was that? What made it not such a wonderful time for you?
February 26, 2020 @ 1:45 am
Can’t please everyone …
February 26, 2020 @ 7:28 am
So true, Celine.
From the photos Trigger posted, looked like great fun.
February 29, 2020 @ 10:39 pm
what went wrong?
February 25, 2020 @ 7:26 am
Cool to see people getting recognized.
Interesting though, that now we have The Americana Awards, The Ameripolitan Awards, The “Country” Music Association Awards, and yet to my tastes, none of them come close to this:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/2019-saving-country-music-album-of-the-year-nominees/
February 25, 2020 @ 8:01 am
We are awash in awards shows. However, any way to get exposure to great artists is worth it.
Since the CMA’s or ACM’S does not give us said exposure, and Americana gives us exposure to those artists that pass a liberal litmus test, maybe this show will continue to deliver.
February 25, 2020 @ 8:17 am
Two girls same outfit. Uh oh! I’m glad Charley Crockett got recognized. The Valley is an absolutely stellar record and much much more than a throwback or imitation. Sounds like it’s all him.
February 25, 2020 @ 10:02 am
Seeing all the pictures, I’m wondering if they were volentold what to wear, or if most were just on the same page trying to respect tradition.
February 25, 2020 @ 10:39 am
It’s sort of the thing with the Ameripolitan Awards, to dress up and wear cool vintage clothes. There’s people selling vintage clothes at the event as well. And yes, it’s part of the way to honor tradition, even thought it may come across as hokey to some.
February 25, 2020 @ 11:36 am
Not that I’m ever the contrarian or naysayer round these parts…but If I was, I would say any interesting critique would be about the cookie cutter dress up conformity, not the hokeyness.
But in all honesty, seems silly to dwell on that. Nothing wrong with a nod to tradition, and the same thing happens in the mainstream with all the bros anyway. Most of us do it in one way or another.
February 25, 2020 @ 8:56 am
Laura Palmer, live, is like Little Richard, without the nutty quality, delivered by a redheaded tattooed bombshell. What a show.
February 25, 2020 @ 9:16 am
Any word on when the ACM Awards nominations will be revealed? I thought it was this week, probably on Thursday…. But no word about it yet
February 25, 2020 @ 9:25 am
For those who don’t know Kathryn Legendre (nominee in Honky tonk–Female), she’s terrific.
February 25, 2020 @ 10:18 am
go harmonica sam!
also, the lap steel/tele is one cool combo.
February 25, 2020 @ 10:24 am
Not big on awards shows but this one is pretty cool. I do not know many of these artists but that is a good thing. I’ll take this over those awful CMAs or those dopey Americana awards.
February 25, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
jjazznola,
I am with you on that.
February 25, 2020 @ 10:28 am
I think i have posted this before, but people who enjoy this music don’t need to see award shows to appreciate it. It is phony, just like the usual award shows. If it helps people discover new artists, i am all for it, but wanting to stray away from the mainstream and making award shows is weird.
We are not like them, but we do the same glittery things. And if foul mouth mojo steps out of line, let ‘s kick him out. I guess mojo was a bit over the top, but that is what he does.
We are not like the mainstream, but some artists get some awards, some don’t. It is a family.
Who wants to get the award for the best cook in a family reunion ? It feels akward.
My 2 cents though.
February 25, 2020 @ 4:50 pm
Is that the stolen guit steel Junior Brown has back or a different one?
February 25, 2020 @ 11:49 pm
No, Big Red has yet to be recovered. That one is “Old Yeller,” which was on display in a museum was stolen and shipped to Junior.
February 25, 2020 @ 4:57 pm
This whole weekend was the most disjointed, unorganized, and overcrowded event in the short history of this event. I will not be attending next year. Too small a venue held for the elites not the fans. They really need someone to do a better job planning for crowds and quit catering to the few to ignore the real fans.
February 25, 2020 @ 9:13 pm
They’d better go ahead and figure out how to classify Logan Ledger for next year’s edition.
February 26, 2020 @ 5:28 pm
I would like to thank Celine and Dale for an amazing event! I am grateful for these small festivals where you actually meet and talk to ALL the bands/artists, and in some instances have them sitting at your table or standing right next to you while your watching a band play. So many festivals these days are corporate owned and you can expect that when you go to one of their events if you pay extra you might be a few rows from the band playing but that is the closest you will get to meeting the band/artists. I know Celine and Dale have their day jobs and putting on the Ameripolitan festival is strictly for the love and passion they have for the music and the artists. They are not making money off the backs of artists like corporate festivals do. The purpose is to showcase and shine a spotlight on the artists who otherwise are mostly ignored by the mainstream country, western swing, rockabilly etc. industry. I have personally seen Dale drive people in his own vehicle to venues himself because the transportation bus was full. I have also witnessed Celine say hello to everyone at Hernando’s Hide away and make sure everyone was having a good time. My only critique of the event was due to the limited amount of space at Hernando’s Hide Away individuals had to pay a little extra to see certain bands and wasn’t included with the cost of the weekend wristband. That information could have been made slightly more clear on the Hernando’s website and Ameripolitan program.
Again wonderful event and highly recommend going!! Oh and Bravo to all the bands and award winners!!
February 26, 2020 @ 6:54 pm
I don’t know who just used the word “elites,”, but that’s about the last word I’d use to describe anyone’s attitude at this event.
I walked in off the street as a random fan in street clothes, and felt absolutely welcomed by the incredibly friendly attendees and organizers and artists. I didn’t really know what most of the artists looked like, found everyone incredibly friendly, and would only later realize that someone I was hanging out with was an artist or nominate because later I’d see them on stage playing their heart out. I think the words “down to earth” and “community event” apply to this event more than anything. I’m sorry someone had a bad time.