Confirmed acts so far include Tony Joe White, Tift Merritt, a solo show from Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and film composer Randy Newman, Texan-born singer songwriter Guy Clark, and a rare UK visit from country rocker Dwight Yoakam.
As well as evening performances from some of America’s finest there will be a programme of free events all day Saturday and Sunday with an outdoor stage on Performance Square (right next to The Sage Gateshead on the Baltic side) featuring some of the best international country, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass and honky-tonk artists around, presented by Jumpin’ Hot Club. The line-up includes: Nashville based bluegrass/country folk trio and winner of Best New Band at the Austin Music Awards 2006 The Greencards; country, plenty of soul and even a little reggae from singer/songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols; Americana music queen Eve Selis and her band; plus classic country, early soul and Nashville duo Stacey Earle and Mark Stewart.
There’ll be more free festival entertainment from noon until sundown on Saturday and Sunday when Northern Rock Foundation Hall is transformed into the Americana Lounge. Confirmed so far are Otis Lee Gibbs presenting workshops, performances and open mic sessions; genuine cowboy poet and ‘Cowboy Curmudgeon’, Wallace McRae; and Americana film screenings programmed by Star & Shadow Cinema.
The Americana Festival is part of SummerTyne, part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class programme of events and festivals for 2006.
To book tickets call 0191 443 4661.
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