Nashville once again played host to the Americana Music Association’s 11th annual Music Festival and Conference this past weekend. As in years past, the event offered a little something from every corner of the genre, including the chance to sit in on renowned Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke’s conversation with musician/ author Sid Griffin at the Country Music Hall of Fame. In addition, the conference offered panel discussions like Festivals as an Artists Development Tool with Bonnaroo founder Ashley Capps and Chris Frayer from the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Most importantly four nights of multiple showcases including Todd Snider’s Rock ‘n Roll Revue, an Exile on Main Street reproduction (with Grace Potter, producer Don Was and original recording players Bobby Keys and Al Perkins) and Guy Clark.

As well this year’s Awards show may have generated the conference it’s most notable publicity, with guest presenters like Lucinda Williams, Grace Potter and Jack White. It also featured performances from The Avett Brothers, John Mellencamp and the surprise special guests Robert Plant and the Band of Joy who played a brief but powerful set of music to close the Awards.