Day 3: AmericanaFest Tanya Tucker, Hank Jr. & The Black Keys Oh-My

Going into day 3 of AmericanaFest we didn’t know what was to come. The day started at The City Winery with Northern Lights Music and UMG Music presenting Sean McConnell, Ashley Ray, and some very special guests in an intimate singer/songwriter round. Hosted by Brandi Carlile. They were also joined onstage by SistaStrings a very impressive duo, that received a huge standing ovation after an instrumental number. A few special guests also joined Brandi onstage during the event. Garrison Starr sat in for a song while Allison Russell the winner of album of the year at this year’s Americana Music Awards also joined for a rocking set that saw her and Brandi collaborate on a song. The event wasn’t over just yet when one more guest was welcomed to the stage, and it was the legend herself, Tanya Tucker. After a few jokes and a Tequila shot, Tanya and Brandi captivated the crowd. Tanya told the story about how she came up with part of “Ocean Front Property” with Dean Dillion & Brandi telling her she has always been a songwriter. Be on the lookout for a new album soon, where Tanya has written most of the new songs herself. 

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Next up we were off to the Easy Eye Sound’s 1st Annual Fish Fry. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys started the Easy Eye Sound record label and showcased a few of his artists with a few special surprises. Plus, you had free Lucky Reunion tattoo’s, Giveaways, Photobooth and so much more.  

Brit Taylor

Brit Taylor kicked the day off with a phenomenal acoustic set, we caught up with her later in Americanafest to talk about what’s on the horizon for this hard-working singer/songwriter.

while alternating indoor and outdoor Stages, Early James followed up with a stellar set from these Alabama boys. Also on the lineup were John Muq, Nat Myers, Robert Finley & Nikki Lane. The event was held at the American Legion Post 82, which now hosts many live shows & quickly being one of Nashville’s bigger spots to see a show especially around Honky Tonk Tuesdays.

Early James

The day was long and getting hot, but just as we turned to look at Uber’s, someone caught my eye. No other than Kid Rock was just hanging out, I then thought this show could get interesting and it did. While gazing at the crowd I saw Mike from American Pickers, Lucas Nelson & some other big names in the industry and media. Needless to say, we decided to stay with a little rumor amongst the guest that there could be 2 Surprises. This rumor became true as a Country Music Legend himself took the stage. Hank Williams Jr. emerged from the crowd to take the American Legion stage, or should we say Thunderhead Hawkins which is his blues alias. Hank showed up to help promote his new blues album “Rich White Honky Blues” released on Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound record label.

“The first time I ever saw Hank Jr. on TV, I was a kid raised on Robert Johnson and Hank Williams, Sr. records, and those things came through so clearly watching him. So, I tried to assemble the right parts to just sit in that piece of who he is,” Auerbach said in a statement.

The set included songs "Fireman Ring The Bell", "Rock Me Baby", "Take Out Some Insurance" and "Georgia Woman" Hank was even backed by a few familiar faces in the Black Keys, Dan Auerbach himself on guitar & Patrick Carney on drums. After Thunderhead’s 25-minute set the Black Keys finished the day off with a set of their own including songs "Stay All Night", "Coal Black Mattie", "Going Down South", "Poor Boor Long Way From Home" and "Crawling King Snake".

Hank has been an avid Blues fan and you can hear it in a lot of his prior music, but to finally make a Blues Album was right up Hank’s alley.

“The blues is where it all comes from. It’s the start of everything musical in my family; everything starts with Tee-Tot and flows from there. I’ve always flirted with this stripped-back blues – all the way back to the ’80s. But I finally made an album that’s just that, and I like it.” Said Thunderhead Hawkins  

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