by Samantha Van Arsdale
The Americana genre that many of Olivia Management’s clients identify with has a history of voices and influence. Blending the soul of folk, country, blues, and rock, Americana has a way of telling authentic stories in a uniquely beautiful way. Let’s explore some of the voices that shaped the genre and brought it to what we know it as today!
The genre’s roots reach back to storytellers like Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, and The Carter Family! Guthrie’s songs spoke directly to the human experience in not only modern America but all around the world, from the working class to the wandering soul. While he was not explicitly making “Americana” music as we know it today, his influence ran deep and shaped artists like Bob Dylan, who, in turn, inspired a new wave of artists to blur genre lines.
Eventually, in 1968, The Byrds came along with their album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which featured their take on Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” The record finally built the bridge between country, folk, and rock, and laid the foundation for what would become known as Americana music.
Since then, artists like Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, and The Band carried on with the Americana sound. Paving the way for voices like Lucinda Williams, John Prine, and Bonnie Raitt, who brought even more to the genre, covering relevant topics that tackled what it truly means to live an American life. That same spirit lives on today in artists like Mary Gauthier and Aaron Lee Tasjan. Their songwriting brings to light personal truths and inspires a movement of healing, and consistently develops and pushes Americana into bold new territory.
Today, organizations like the Americana Music Association continue to celebrate and uplift the same sentiment through events like Americanafest, which Olivia Management is honored to be a part of every year! It serves as a reminder that the genre is about telling the stories that still need to be heard and is carried by artists who support this storytelling tradition in new and powerful ways.
Both Aaron Lee Tasjan and Mary Gauthier are on tour now, performing their takes on the genre! Catch a show in a city near you while there are still tickets left!
