Flashing like a shooting star was this year’s AMERICANAFEST — it’s here and it’s gone.
Each and every year, AMERICANAFEST brings a cavalcade of dreamers, admirers, music lovers, industry heads, and so on together for what’s nearly a dawn ’til dawn romp. It’s a time of year where I feel the closest I’ll ever be to a pinball: zipping here, zipping there, zipping everywhere, sometimes not knowing where I’m going until that very moment — and that’s what it’s all about.
From the BMI rooftop kickoff parties on Tuesdays, to the Thirty Tigers gospel brunches on Saturdays, the abundance of unique outings other than simply artists playing music is astounding. Another massive draw to the festival other than the live music, food, and drink events are the various panels and conferences put on by a wide range of industry folk — typically held at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Nashville — delivering music business insight, artist Q&As, current affair conversations, and more.
But enough of the fanfare and general reflection. Here are the Top 10 things we experienced at AMERICANAFEST 2025 that inspired us to write this article.
10. The Weather
I mean c’mon. This is always going to make the list if in fact the weather is chill. Pretty sure it didn’t rain once throughout the five days, and sure it might’ve been a little bit on the toastier side, but that’s Nashville in September for ya. Ma Nature did us a solid this time around all things considered.
9. The Vibes
Okay okay look, I’ll get to the actual happenings here in a minute, but folks are always in such a chipper, chatty mood during AMERICANAFEST and it’s great. Spirits are high, and people are just stoked to bask in such a positive and fun atmosphere no matter the locale or event. You never know who you’re going to see.
8. The Paste Americana Day Party: Presented By Ilegal Mezcal
This was a super fun hang at Love & Exile in East Nashville with one outdoor “main” stage, and one under shelter on the other end of the establishment. The fine representatives of Ilegal Mezcal provided smoky tastings, cocktails, and swag during the various acts, which included Willi Carlisle, Max Gomez, William Prince, and Ruston Kelly among others. There was also a pop-up tattoo parlor within, which frankly was not uncommon among these parties. (see: #3) They even had an on-site seamstress sewing custom names onto Ilegal Mezcal tote bags while acoustic strings rang out onto Main Street. Pretty dope.
7. Salt Lick Incubator’s Burger & Beer Hang
The folks at Salt Lick Incubator know how to throw an AMERICANAFEST party. Always lavish with appetizers, burgers (Wagyu!), fried chicken, drink tickets, and swag (hoodies!), these getdowns are always a great place to meet people, indulge, and have a good god damn time. Previous years were held at Brown’s Diner, which I love, but the switch up to Lipstick Lounge was just as poppin’. This non-profit artist development organization does the damn thing in more ways than one.
6. Ameri-Kinda Backyard Party
Few things take me back to my youth like house parties, specifically backyard parties. Cans on car hoods and trailing like breadcrumbs, empty coolers filled with ice water, glowing embers in various directions, and so on. I’m sure you get the picture. At the very back of the yard was a small makeshift stage for various acts including Sydney Rose, Jack Van Cleaf, and the most popular of the bunch, Medium Build. Between the deck and the yard, it was jam-packed. The large group of strangers and friends alike were serenaded under an East Nashville neighborhood sky.
5. Conferences & Panels @ The Embassy Suites
Some of the most anticipated events of AMERICANAFEST come in the form of informational, educational, and often just entertaining panels & conversations amongst industry professionals and artists alike. Panel conversations included The Evolving State of Sync Licensing, Staying Ahead in the Age of AI, From Songwriting to Streaming: Understanding the Full Royalties Journey, Keynote: John C. Reilly & Jack White, and dozens more. Grab a cup of cold water, pull up a chair, pull out a notepad, and get to listening. It’s fantastic.
4. John C. Reilly & Margo Price Sing Willie Nelson @ The Honors & Awards Show
When two delightful worlds collide. It’s been interesting seeing John C. Reilly emerge in the folk & roots music (Americana) world, buddying up with the likes of Sierra Ferrell, performing at Newport Folk Fest and more. He undoubtedly is one of this writer’s top-whatever-number comedic actors, so it was a real treat to see him host the Americana Honors & Awards show at The Ryman last Wednesday. He came out to croon a few times, with one being after a recognition of the 50th anniversary of Red Headed Stranger, where Reilly and Margo Price did a duet together singing “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain.” It was hypnotizing and beautiful. Reilly is also in the thick of promoting his new album via his stage name Mister Romantic called What’s Not To Love?
Of course the event as a whole was tremendous to watch, as it included other heavy hitters like John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Nathaniel Rateliff, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Dawes, I’m With Her, Joy Oladokun, Jesse Welles, Old 97’s, The McCrary Sisters and many more.
3. Easy Eye Fish Fry
This was just fun in the sun, plain and simple. But also fun on the inside of the American Legion Post 82, as a number of rad Easy Eye Sound artists lit up the stage, including the bad MFer known as Robert Finley, Leah Blevins (who played outside), and none other than the proprietors of Easy Eye Sound, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. Served outside via the iconic folks of the late Arnold’s Country Kitchen, deep fried fish, hush puppies, collared greens, and baked beans were served along with various drinks and yet again, a pop-up tattoo parlor. It was an East Nashville party of the hippest order, and is a premier AMERICANAFEST function.
2. Keynote: John C. Reilly & Jack White
These two could’ve sat together and read the dictionary back and forth and I would have been smitten, and I bet others would too. This unlikely (but likely) pair couldn’t have brought a better Yin and Yang chemistry to the Embassy Suites, talking about a variety of things including Reilly’s live performances as Mister Romantic (which include him taking the stage hidden in a trunk pallbearered by his bandmates), White’s new music video featuring Reilly in “Archbishop Harold Holmes,” the filming of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and much more. Both were very friendly and playful with the audience as they asked their excitable questions, and it was undoubtedly a highlight for many.
- John Fogerty @ The Americana Honors & Awards Show
The coup de grâce. And this is what the beauty of AMERICANAFEST entails — it honors the past while celebrating the present and future. And for a disciple of classic rock, it doesn’t get much cooler than seeing John Fogerty rip through some classic Creedence Clearwater Revival numbers — some very interesting choices, mind you. Some songs that came to mind included “Fortunate Son,” “Green River,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” and so on. But, of course they’ve got a bounty of hits to choose from.
Flanked by his two sons Tyler and Shane, both on guitar like their papa, he ripped into “Up Around the Bend” and then into the car hood tappin’ number “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.” The encore was to be expected in “Proud Mary,” which saw a vast majority of presenters and performers join Fogerty on the stage to take part in one last big blow out — and it ruled. It was an epic way to wrap up the awards show, which will be available for viewers on PBS’s Austin City Limits at a later date.
