Conversation and Performance: Where the Action Is: Americana Artists and Activism featuring Adeem the Artist, Mya Byrne, Autumn Nicholas, and Allison Russell
Following a long tradition of folksingers and gospel powerhouses providing the soundtracks to social movements, artists from roots music communities have engaged in especially direct, concrete, and creative ways when major social or political events have happened in 2023. Adeem the Artist, Mya Byrne, Autumn Nicholas, and Allison Russell have been among the most active, writing protest songs and parodies, organizing and showing up for benefit shows, and speaking in ways that illuminate the human impact of news headlines. During this program, they will discuss why and how they’ve chosen to use their platforms, and they will also perform songs they have shared at pivotal moments this year. Adeem the Artist, from Knoxville, Tennessee, is nominated for Emerging Act of the Year at the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards. They released their newest album, White Trash Revelry, in December and made their Grand Ole Opry debut in June. Mya Byrne—who splits her time between New York, California, and Tennessee—recently released her newest album, Rhinestone Tomboy, on Kill Rock Stars Nashville. She is the first artist signed to the independent rock record label’s Nashville imprint. Autumn Nicholas has won several North Carolina–based songwriting contests, has performed at CMA Fest’s CMA Close Up Stage, Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, and Newport Folk Festival, and is a member of the Black Opry. Allison Russell has been performing in duos and groups since the late 1990s but only released her first solo album, Outside Child, in 2021. After winning Album of the Year at the 2022 Americana Honors & Awards, she is nominated for two awards, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, at the 2023 ceremony. Journalist Jewly Hight will host this program. Presented in partnership with the Americana Music Association. Ford Theater. Program ticket required.
Conference registrants should refer to the email sent by the Americana Music Association for the link to reserve tickets. Museum members reserve tickets here. Limited tickets may be available for visitors who have purchased Museum admission on the day of the program.
