Congrats to Larry Campbell on his Americana Music Association Nomination

Unlike so many other award shows that seem to create dozens and dozens of categories in an effort to insure that almost everyone wins an award – yeah, we’re lookin’ at you, Grammys – the fourth annual Americana Music Association keeps their trophies valuable – if not positively precious – by only honoring musicians in a mere six categories.

The nominees have been announced for the 12th annual Americana Honors & Awards, which will held at the historically cool Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday, September 18. Jim Lauderdale will once again host the ceremonies, while Buddy Miller will lead the all-star band.

Among the nominees for Instrumentalist of the Year is Larry Campbell, who was previously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his multi-instrumental work in 2008, the same year that his longtime boss Levon Helm garnered the Artist of the Year trophy.

In addition to Campbell, who still regularly leads the Midnight Ramble Band and the Dirt Farmer Band at ongoing Midnight Rambles at Levon Helm Studio in Woodstock, the other nominees for Instrumentalist of the Year are Doug Lancio, Greg Leisz, Jay Bellerose and Mike Bub.

A couple of other Americana Music Association nominees are headed into Greater Nippertown in the upcoming months including Richard Thompson – nominated for Song of the Year for “Good Things Happen to Bad People” and the prestigious Artist of the Year honor – who is scheduled to perform at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at 9pm on Friday, June 28, as well as Dwight Yoakam – also nominated for Artist of the Year – who is slated to kick off the summer season at the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount at 8pm on Saturday, July 6.