Five Can't Miss Acts from the Initial AMERICANAFEST 2025 Lineup

The Americana Music Festival and Conference, known by most as AMERICANAFEST, released its initial lineup of artists for its 2025 festival, being held September 9-13 in dozens of venues around Nashville. And while there is plenty of great music throughout the lineup, these five caught our eyes as can't-miss shows.

Amanda Shires
There's a reason Amanda Shires is the first name on the AMERICANAFEST poster. Shires is about as big a name as there is in Americana music. Since her debut album in 2005, Shires has produced a body of music that is rivaled by few. She's a multi-time Americana Honors and Awards nominee and 2017 winner for Best Emerging Artist, and a 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards nominee with her supergroup The Highwomen. She's also known and respected throughout the Americana world, so while there's no guarantee of a guest sit-in during her set, she's probably one of the most likely to have one.

Willi Carlisle
It wasn't that long ago that Willi Carlisle was near the bottom of the AMERICANAFEST lineup poster, playing sets in some of the festival's smallest venues. What a difference a few years make. With the release of his 2024 album Critterland, Carlisle's star has risen in the Americana world, and now he will likely be playing to a near-capacity crowd in one of the fest's larger venues. Carlisle's mixture of traditional banjo folk, queer country, and liberal doses of humor make his show the kind of rollicking and side-splitting good time that is perfect for a festival audience.

Mike Farris and the Fortunate Few
I'm not sure who makes up Mike Farris' band The Fortunate Few, but I've known Mike Farris' various bands and projects going back to his days with The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies in the '90s. Since that time, he's dabbled in blues, soul, gospel, and on his latest album, the Muscle Shoals sound. Having seen Farris at more than one AMERICANAFEST, either solo or as part of one of the festival's many all-star tribute shows, I can guarantee that you won't find a higher energy level at any show the entire week.

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
If there's anyone at AMERICANAFEST who might rival Mike Farris for high energy output, it will be The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Despite their gargantuan name, they're a three-piece with two percussionists, bringing a raw, almost punk, sound that matches perfectly with Reverend Peyton's big damn voice. Since their debut in 2006, the band has played all over North America and Europe, logging over 200 dates most years, snagging opening slots for the likes of Flogging Molly and playing festivals like Austin City Limits and Bonnaroo. I don't know how big the stage is at the venue where they'll be playing, but it likely isn't going to be big enough for the three large personalities that will be on it. This is the place to be if you want a pure party.

Palmyra
I was fortunate enough to catch Palmyra a couple of years ago at AMERICANAFEST at the Wild Ponies Happy Hour (always a great place to hear new bands before they blow up). I spent the entire show trying to figure out how to genre label them. There are elements of the humor-tinged folk of Arlo Guthrie, but with a core that is equal parts rock and roll and country. In other words, they're the perfect band for the big tent genre approach that is Americana. Their debut album for John Prine's Oh Boy Records, Restless, just came out last month, so this will be a first impression of the band for many attendees of AMERICANAFEST. Lucky them.

You can get your passes to AMERICANAFEST 2025, September 9-13, here.