MusicCityNashville.net: AmericanaFest Undergoes a Significant Revival with Asleep At The Wheel in East Nashville

• All Feature Articles

AmericanaFest Undergoes a Significant Revival with Asleep At The Wheel in East Nashville

by Rich and Laura Lynch

Following a cancellation in 2020 and a medically reduced offering in 2021 we can happily and excitedly report that AmericanaFest was alive and well, wide awake and completely revitalized on Thursday, September 15, 2022 when the giants of western swing Asleep At The Wheel opened up the evening's proceeding for a standing room only capacity crowd at the lovely music venue Riverside Revival in East Nashville.

AmericanaFest Undergoes a Significant Revival with Asleep At The Wheel in East Nashville

Asleep At The Wheel made an impressive showing at AmericanaFest.

AATW founder Ray Benson and company were on hand at AmericanFest as part of their slightly delayed 50th anniversary celebration of a grand career that culminated in an impressive nine Grammy Awards and more than 20 singles on the Billboard country charts. Also on the bill in East Nashville was the much loved James McMurtry - the one time Mellencamp prot g who more than 30 years after his "discovery" by Johnny Cougar was being honored in Nashville at this week's award ceremonies as a nominee for song of the year with his evocative "Canola Fields" that is harvesting a late-career reviving bounty of praise for the singer/songwriter from the Lone Star sate.

AATW founder Ray Benson was a charismatic presence in a church setting as he fronted his large band.

Riverside Revival is a gorgeous event space with supreme sound, on-site parking, natural light, and exquisite interiors located in the heart of East Nashville with a sought after stage that is situated on the alter of a beautifully renovated church. The space that is quickly becoming legendary for top shows in the shadow of the Batman Building is also available for rent for a variety of events and use by non-profits. Reach out to them to book your needs today!

James McMurtry was up for song of the year in Nashville. (MCN file photo)

Related Links: For more information on AMERICANFEST and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - AmericanaFest | Asleep At The Wheel | James McMurtry | All 2022 AMERICANAFEST Coverage on MCN

Did you know that MCN Founder Rockin' Rich Lynch hosts some of the world's top musicians and songwriters on his regularly scheduled webcast - watch all the episodes here - and please share the links far and wide!

Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the easiest way to support this site is to BUY our founder's Latest Single on BANDCAMP? At check out you can even throw in a bit more to really say "we appreciate you"! Thanks!!!

• Beauty From Ashes: A Night of Worship, Witness and Unshakable Hope at the 2026 K‑LOVE Fan Awards

• Frist Art Museum Presents Surrealism Retrospective and Agha's Immersive Light Works in Nashville

• A Homecoming in Stories and Song: Volume 1 of Richie Owens' Mountain Saga

• A Thousand Steps to a New Downtown: Nashville Yards Reaches Its Defining Moment

• Cheekwood Keeps On Rollin' as It Gears Up for America's 250th Birthday Celebration

• Still Soaring: The Eagles Deliver a Night of Timeless Magic in Nashville

• Full Disclosure at the Ryman: SATCHVAI Confirm That Guitar Aliens Are Real

• Inside The Putting Zone: Nashvilles New Arena for Precision, Play and Performance

• Multi Ultra and Bluphoria Raise a Banner For Indie Rock on May Day in Nashville

• What We Learned at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: The Importance of Influence, Inspiration and Infrastructure in Music

• From Jubilee to Jesus Rock: Inside the Museum Preserving the Soul of America's Sacred Music

• A Jurassic Jam: Nashville Zoo's Sips for Species Serves Drinks, Dinos and After‑Hours Magic

• The Palomino Makes Historic Nashville Debut After Seven Years in the Making

• Gov't Mule and Larkin Poe Were in Peak Form at The Pinnacle in Nashville

• Daniel Leyes Marks 4/20 With a Weed‑Themed Double Single at the Late Todd Snider's East Nashville Compound

• When It Comes to Dolly's DNA and Dynasty, There's More Where That Came From via OwePar Records

• Just Call It the SV SG: Sadler Vaden Unveils His Signature Model at the Gibson Garage in Nashville

• Music Valley Is on the Rise With New Shops, Upgrades and an Annual Easter Service as Spring Has Sprung in Nashville

• Celtic Woman Casts a New Era Spell Over The Fisher Center in Nashville

• Music City Blitz 2026: Where Inclusion Took the Field and Nashville Brought the Noise

• Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.