The Bros. Landreth by Erika Goldring

Americana Music Festival

Nashville, TN

September 17-21

It’s easy to have a love-hate relationship with the Americana Music Festival that offered up nearly a week of music, awards, showcases, and exhibits throughout Nashville.

What makes the festival alluring – hundreds of performances by the not-always-on-the-circuit entertainers at the city’s notable and legendary venues – is what makes it so frustrating. You need a trusty GPS, a meticulously crafted schedule, and plenty of stamina to experience just a small percentage of the “must-see” shows and events. Even when all the stars align, luck plays a major role in the experience.

Few attendees were luckier than those that experienced the Mississippi-tinged Americana performances last Thursday evening at 3^rd & Lindsley. If the evening proved anything it is that Luther Dickinson – the monster guitar talent that formed The Wandering and introduced the world to Valerie June – is himself one of the most under exposed talents of his generation.

The son of the legendary blues great Jim Dickinson, Luther Dickinson played an electrifying set including “Blood and Guts,” “Yard Man,” and the title track of his latest release “Rock n’ Roll Blues.” You always hear how you can’t appreciate an artist’s music until you hear it live. That’s certainly true in Dickinson’s case. The ease and mastery with which the North Mississippi Allstar front man plays, the joy he exudes when singing and sharing stories about his legendary father, and the musical power he radiates even as cedes the spotlight to others is magical.

The other performers on the bill including virtuoso drummer and flautist Sharde Thomas, Leo “Bud Welch, who recorded his first album when he was in his ‘80s, the legendary Marty Stuart, Webb Wilder and Paul Thorn, also hit all the right notes.

If attendees heard no other music than that showcase, the AMA would have been a success. Yet, there were dozens of other musical highlights including:

The Bros Landreth, a Winnipeg, Manitoba quartet that made their Americana debut in advance of their 11-song debut “Let It Lie,” slated for January release. It’s tough to tell if the capacity crowds that turned out to hear the band, led by brothers Joey, 27 and Dave, 29, were more in awe of the elegantly understated blues-and-soul soaked acoustic music, the soaring harmonies or the multi-layered lyrics. Enchanting.

Over the Rhine. If there’s any American folk outfit more beautiful than that created by Linford Detwiler and Karin Bergquist, I have yet to hear it. Even without their thoughtfully heartfelt lyrics and virtuoso playing, Bergquist’s succulent vocals would make the group one of the most exciting folk outfits since Sandy Denny-era Fairport Convention.

Suzy Bogguss. Has there ever been a more talented “opener” at a showcase than Suzy Bogguss? Suffice to say the Illinois-born country icon had the capacity crowd cheering long and loud as she played a set including several songs from “Lucky,” her recently released Merle Haggard tribute. Although she has won coveted awards from the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association, Bogguss’ spine tingling renditions of everything from the traditional folk tune “Froggie Went a Courtin’” to The Hag’s “Today I Started Loving You Again,” proves she truly belongs in Americana.