Americanafest 2026: Two Days, A Lot of Music, and Plenty to Remember

My Americanafest experience this year was short, but certainly not lacking in excitement.

I only had two days to take in everything the festival had to offer, and while I wasn’t able to experience nearly as much as I would have liked, I made the most of the time I had. Between personal obligations and an ongoing wrist injury, I had to pace myself this year. But if there’s one thing Americanafest continues to prove, it’s that you don’t need to see everything to discover something memorable.

And I certainly did.

Day One: Thirty Tigers Day Party at Vinyl Tap

I kicked off my Americanafest with the Thirty Tigers Day Party at Vinyl Tap in Nashville.

I caught part of Jack Blocker and Lance Roark’s sets on the outdoor stage before heading inside for Alicia Blue. Despite Nashville’s intense heatwave, Vinyl Tap was packed and buzzing with energy. The heat certainly wasn’t keeping music lovers away.

Jack Blocker is an Americana singer-songwriter whose music is rooted in sincerity, storytelling, and a deep love for his home state of Texas. Drawing inspiration from legends like Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson, Blocker describes his music as “friendly, honest, and Texan”—a fitting description for both his songwriting and his performances.

Whether he’s jumping around onstage with a full band or stripping things back to an acoustic guitar, Blocker has a way of making a performance feel personal. There’s an authenticity to his music that feels right at home within the Americana genre.

Lance Roark brought an entirely different kind of energy to the stage. His performances combine hard-hitting rhythms, a commanding voice, and lyrics that explore the beauty, joy, and heartache found in everyday life.

Rooted in bluegrass and country, Roark isn’t afraid to venture into country rock, creating a sound filled with twang, grit, and soul. His set was energetic and unmistakably his own.

Then there was Alicia Blue.

Hailing from the South Texas borderlands and the orange groves of Southern California, the Nashville-based songwriter brings a distinct perspective to country music. Her songs explore desire, consequence, and control, while her blue-collar upbringing and influences from mariachi and rancheras give her music another layer of character.

Her set was the final performance I caught that day, but it was a strong way to begin my Americanafest experience.

Sometimes, one good show is enough to set the tone.

Day Two: A Full Day of Discoveries

Interstate 88 at Love & Exile

My second—and final—day of Americanafest was considerably more packed.

I started the day at Love & Exile for Interstate 88’s Annual Show, which brought together an impressive lineup of musicians across two stages.

The scheduling was particularly thoughtful. With performances alternating between the indoor and outdoor stages, attendees could move between sets without having to sacrifice an entire performance. And with the Nashville heatwave continuing, having an indoor option was more than welcome.

Love & Exile provided the perfect setting for a long day of music. There was plenty of room to sit, grab a drink or something to eat, cool down, and simply take in the atmosphere.

Most importantly, the lineup felt thoughtfully curated. Every artist brought something different to the table, and there was never a sense that you were hearing the same sound twice.

The indoor stage featured Lance Cowan, Hannah Fairlight, Abbie McAllister, Maisy Owen, Maddie Medley, Jackie from The Vindys, Chris Pierce, Afton Wolfe, and Jaime French.

Outside, the lineup included Keturah Allgood, Hannah Connolly, Steve Poltz, Lemongrass, Austin Machay, Josie Sal, Next of Kin, Salt & The Wound, and Joey Stuchey.

With so much talent packed into one afternoon, it was a reminder of exactly why festivals like Americanafest are so exciting. You can arrive looking for one artist and leave having discovered several more.

The Basement: The Suitcase Junket and Marfa

Later that day, I was invited to check out Marfa at The Basement in Nashville. I arrived early enough to catch the beginning of The Suitcase Junket, the project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Lorenz.

For more than two decades, Lorenz has built a reputation for his deeply poetic brand of dark folk. His performance that night centered heavily around loss and death, particularly the people he has lost throughout his life, including his sister, singer-songwriter Kate Lorenz.

His seventh album, To Go On, was created in the aftermath of her death. The album is described as an internal dialogue with the departed—a deeply personal exploration of grief, love, and what it means to continue after losing someone.

Seeing that material performed live gave those themes an even greater weight.

Lorenz performed solo, using an unusual collection of objects, instruments, and devices to build the sounds surrounding his vocals. Watching him create music this way reminded me of one of the things I love most about musicians: their ability to find creativity almost anywhere.

You don’t always need the most expensive equipment or the biggest production. Sometimes, all you need is an idea, a few unconventional objects, and the willingness to experiment. But more than anything, you need something to say.

That was what stayed with me during Lorenz’s performance. I could feel the grief behind the songs, but I could also feel the love. There was sadness, but there was also gratitude for having known and loved these people in the first place.

Then came Marfa.

I had listened to their music before the show and already liked what I heard, particularly their songwriting. But what I experienced live went beyond what I expected.

Marfa’s sound feels like the dreamscape of Laurel Canyon meeting the restless energy of modern indie rock. Texas- and Washington-raised and shaped by their time in Colorado, Bryce Menchaca and Kellen Wall combine sun-soaked sonics, indie-rock influences, and timeless storytelling into something that feels familiar while remaining distinctly their own.

Now based in Nashville, the duo has continued to develop their identity as songwriters, with Bryce and Kellen writing the majority of their catalog themselves. That personal connection comes through in their lyrics.

And live? They brought it.

There wasn’t a dull moment in their set. I’ve always loved a wide range of genres, but indie, alternative, and rock have a particularly special place in my heart. Marfa managed to bring all of those elements together while still maintaining an Americana sensibility. The band brought the sound, and the crowd brought the energy.

The Basement was packed, loud, and completely engaged. If the response from the crowd was any indication, Marfa has something special brewing—not just for Nashville, but for audiences well beyond Music City.

Ending the Festival with Alicia Blue

To close out my final day of Americanafest, I headed over to ACME Feed & Seed for Alicia Blue’s official showcase.

By that point, I was tired, overheated, and definitely feeling the limits of my two-day festival adventure. But somehow, I still had enough energy left to end the night with great music and good company.

And honestly, what better way to end Americanafest?

There’s something special about being surrounded by so many artists, musicians, photographers, fans, and music lovers who are all there for the same reason: a love of music and storytelling.

Even though I experienced only a fraction of what Americanafest had to offer this year, I left with new music to listen to, new artists to follow, and plenty of photographs and memories to look back on. Americanafest has a way of reminding me why I love covering music in the first place. There are always more stories to discover, more artists waiting to be heard, and more songs that might unexpectedly become part of your own story.

I’m already looking forward to seeing what next year’s festival brings. And hopefully, with a little luck—and a lot of care on my end—I’ll be healthy enough to dive even deeper into it next year. Until then, I’ll be listening to the artists I discovered along the way.