Predictions Abound!

A funny thing happened as I was writing this last night. I was writing out my predictions for tonight’s Americana Music Awards in Nashville. I was doing a helluva job, analysing the possibilities, making solid educated guesses as to who the winners were most certainly going to be.

Then, the road took a detour. Since we’re a two high school student, three-cat and one computer family, my youngest daughter comes to me and says she needs the computer. Clearly, high school homework has to take priority, so I graciously vacated the chair and had to abandon my original article. So, here’s plan B, which is a little more watered down, but hopefully will be much fun to talk about. Tomorrow’s column, which will be posted tomorrow night, will talk about the winners and the rationale I used for my picks for tonight. For those of you (like me) who could not be in Nashville this week, the awards show is being broadcast on the internet on 650 WSM-AM.

The link for WSM radio is www.wsmonline.com

So, here we go with the nominees and the predicted winners:

Song of the Year:

“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”

Written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, performed by Ryan Bingham

“Drunken Poets Dream”

Written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard, performed by Ray Wylie Hubbard

“Ruby”

Written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch, performed by Dave Rawlings Machine

“I and Love and You”

Written and Performed by The Avett Brothers

Americana Review Prediction: The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart), by Ryan Bingham

Album of the Year:

The List, by Roseanne Cash

A Friend of a Friend, by Dave Rawlings Machine

Downtown Church, by Patty Griffin

(A) Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint … there is no C), by Ray Wylie Hubbard

Americana Review Prediction: The List, by Roseanne Cash

New and Emerging Artist

Sarah Jarosz

Ryan Bingham

Hayes Carll

Corb Lund

Joe Pug

Americana Review Prediction: Ryan Bingham

Instrumentalist of the Year

Will Kimbrough

Buddy Miller

Sam Bush

Dave Rawlings

Americana Review Prediction: Buddy Miller

Duo or Group of the Year

The Avett Brothers

Band of Heathens

Carolina Chocolate Drops

Dave Rawlings Machine

Americana Review Prediction: Dave Rawlings Machine

Artist of the Year

Ryan Bingham

Patty Griffin

Levon Helm

Steve Earle

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Americana Review Prediction: Ryan Bingham

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment and send me your predictions, either on this blog or at americanareview@gmail.com.

Check back on Saturday for a discussion about the winners. Take care!