Americana
tagStarted 1990Peak 2005–presentLast big hit still active
Americana is roots-oriented music that freely combines country, folk, blues, gospel, bluegrass, soul, and rock into a sound that is usually organic, narrative-rich, and less genre-policed than mainstream country. Acoustic instruments are common, but electric bands are equally welcome so long as the songs still sound human.
History
The term existed earlier, but it consolidated institutionally and aesthetically in the 1990s and 2000s as artists and radio programmers needed a home for roots music outside rigid market categories. The style became a broad umbrella for writers, bands, and singers working in the overlap between country tradition and contemporary roots experimentation.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Americana Music Association
- Britannica
- No Depression
- uDiscover Music