From its earliest days emerging from an idea at South By Southwest, to its current incarnation as a multiday, multivenue celebration of modern day roots music, the Americana Music Association’s annual conference and music festival brings professionals and fans of multiple genres to Nashville for an immersive experience.

AmericanaFest’s mix of programming and networking opportunities can be crucial for helping both upcoming and veteran artists navigate the ever-changing landscape of the music business.

But for fans and pros alike, the chance for celebrating Americana’s excellence at the annual Honors & Awards Wednesday, combined with four days of showcases at more than 60 venues around town, only goes to underscore Nashville’s ongoing reputation as Music City.

The Ledger reached out to a handful of industry professionals to get their take on who will be some of 2023’s AmericanaFest artists to watch…

Jude Mason

Jude Mason is a multi-hyphenate when it comes to the world of media creation. She worked for BBC Music Radio for more than a decade in her native London, but has called Nashville home for over 15 years, where she’s worked as an writer, audiobook narrator and her latest endeavor as a disc jockey at 91.1 WNXP, Nashville Public Radio’s music discovery station.

The East Nashville mainstay spends what little free time she has wrangling her daughters, the family dog, and the wandering football prophet Soccer Moses (her husband Stephen.)

An unexpected breakthrough artist of 2023, 67-year-old Peter One is enjoying a well deserved third act. After achieving regional success in his native Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the ’80s, Peter moved to the U.S. and eventually landed in Nashville where he retrained as a nurse. When a record collector stumbled across one of his old recordings, he found doors opening that had seemed closed forever. This year has seen the release of his excellent album “Come Back To Me,” a recording that blends country, Americana and West African elements and straddles three different languages (English, French and Guoro). He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in April, and has found a large new audience through his Tiny Desk Concert with NPR Music. (The Blue Room, Friday at 7 p.m.)

Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile are two of Americana music’s brightest lights, as displayed at last year’s Americana Honors & Awards. Both are nominated again this year.

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One of the most magical voices in New Nashville, Autumn Nicholas can bring an arena to silence and make everyone think she’s singing directly to them. This is what she managed the night of the Love Rising benefit where, among a lineup of much bigger names, she held the audience at Bridgestone Arena in a state of rapt attention for the duration of her set. Her voice seems bigger than her slight physicality, and her songwriting showcases storytelling in a cocktail of Americana, blues and pop. (City Winery, Tuesday at 8 and 9.30 p.m.; The Basement, Friday at 8 p.m.)

Matt Koziol is one of those artists that you can’t believe haven’t “made it big” yet. A mesmerizing performer, a gifted writer and an all round lovely fella, the New Jersey native has written and collaborated with a host of Nashville talent including John Paul White, Joy Oladokun and Bre Kennedy (with whom he released a duets album Slow & Low in 2018). His gorgeous baritone and engaging songwriting always leave me wanting more. (Riverside Revival, Thursday at 8 p.m.)

Keith Coes

If you’ve been to a show in Nashville in this century, you’ve likely seen Keith Coes. Best known as “The Reverend,” his role as WRLT-Lightning 100’s music director requires him to be out and about, checking in on the best new music Nashville has to offer. Simultaneously a man of few words and an instantly recognizable voice, if Coes points you at music you haven’t heard before, trust him…it’s likely gonna be really good.

BAHAMAS – saw them at Bonnaroo. On Jack Johnson’s Brushfire records. Also played on WRLT. (Brooklyn Bowl, Thursday at 10 p.m.)

The Watson Twins – local act that has received decent radio airplay. They sing with Jenny Lewis and Butch Walker, who produced their new album “Holler.” (The Blue Room, Friday at 8 p.m.)

Jobi Riccio – a Colorado native that now makes Nashville home. I recently saw her at a music conference. New album “Whiplash” came out last week. Really good. (Exit/In, Thursday at 8 p.m.)

Tommy Prine – John’s son! (City Winery, Thursday at 7 p.m.)

Alisa Amador offers a mix of soul, folk and roots music, in two different languages.

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Charlie Mars – A Mississippi based singer-songwriter. I have seen Charlie festivals all over the country. He is probably best known for his song “The Money.” (Riverside Revival, Friday at 9 p.m.)

Phillip-Michael Scales – a local artist who was a runner up in Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem. (AB Hillsboro Village, Thursday at 7 p.m.)

The McCrary Sisters – powerhouse vocal group made up of sisters. They also sing backup for some of our biggest Americana artists. (Eastside Bowl, Friday at 8:30 p.m.)

Charles Alexander

In a market segment that can often be accused of “get off my lawn” mindsets, Charles Alexander uses his expertise to redirect the fire hose of streaming music into a useful sprinkler to help his clients grow their careers. He’s the CEO of Launcher, a label services company and Outside The Box Music, a digital strategy and management agency, and finds himself enthusiastic about the potential uses of AI in music, but still moved by excellence in songwriting and performance.

I saw Alisa Amador last year at AmericanaFest, fresh off being signed by David Macias at Thirty Tigers. I am so enamored by her voice. She’s a bilingual artist. According to her bio she was raised by Latin Folk musicians. She’s my kind of mix of soul, folk and roots. Her song “Timing” has close to 1.5 million streams on Spotify. But if “Nada Que Ver” doesn’t move you, even if you don’t understand a word of it, go see her live and find your soul. (City Winery, Tuesday at 8 p.m. with Kaia Kater and Phoebe Hunt.)

Joy Clark is a virtuoso not only on guitar and vocals, but also in the ways of the heart. Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile agree. Clark is a critical piece of their respective onstage ensembles. That being said, her own work and artistry is no less powerful. “Changes” and “Good Thing” are emphatic demonstrations of her songwriting prowess and she was recently signed to Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. (The Basement, Wednesday at 10 p.m.)

The Magi defy description, and this is coming from someone who works with them. They shouldn’t work. But they do. They have roots in soul, R&B and country. They rock mean bass grooves, write killer melodies and wait for it … beatbox! They’re a musical buffet conjured up by Damien Horne, Kenny Carter and DJ Lee. Their song “Ten Toes” has been burning up the Nashville airwaves. (The Basement, Saturday at 9 p.m.)

Craig Havighurst

If it’s an instrument that has strings, a performer who plays strings, or a vibrational pattern that evokes strings, chances are very high Craig Havighurst has written about it. (Could be a big reason why his podcast, which zoomed past 250 episodes earlier this year, is titled “The String.”) As the editorial director for WMOT Roots Radio 89.5, Havighurst spends most of his time thinking, writing or speaking about sound.

I approach AmericanaFest 2023 wearing two hats.

With my reporter’s fedora, I’m looking at the sweep of the format for WMOT Roots Radio News, and there is, as always, a staggering range of talents, new and proven, to survey.

The other is the straw farmer’s hat I (don’t really) put on every time I cue up music for The Old Fashioned, our old-time and bluegrass show, making for a more manageable view of the sprawl.

• Nothing’s hotter or more perfectly executed in bluegrass these days than Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. He’s the most decorated fiddler of his generation for a reason. (Analog at Hutton Hotel, Thursday at 9 p.m.)

Local favorites The Watson Twins released their latest album “Holler” earlier this year.

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• A more ancient sound, with contemporary messages, comes from Allison DeGroot and Tatiana Hargreaves, who bring an elemental expertise on fiddle, banjo and voice. (The Bluebird Cafe, Friday at 6 p.m. with Mariel Buckley and Brennen Leigh. Open to passholders or $15 at the door)

• A gruffer, more Appalachian take on old-time will come from J.P. Harris’s Dreadful Wind And Rain. (3rd & Lindsley, Saturday at 9 p.m.)

• Alt-country icon Robbie Fulks is on hand with his first ever all-bluegrass project, and that’ll be feisty and funny. (Analog at Hutton Hotel, Friday at 8 p.m.)

• The Chatham Rabbits, married folk duo from central North Carolina, are as charming as their name. (City Winery Lounge, Thursday at 8 p.m.)

And The Arcadian Wild builds on the acoustic precision and refinement of Nickel Creek. Their new album “Welcome” is enthralling, as is their live show. (Station Inn, Thursday at 7 p.m.)

Beverly Keel

It would be a challenge to find someone with a more varied career in and around the business of music than Beverly Keel. Which is why MTSU is fortunate to have her as the dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, a program long known for helping create the creators of tomorrow. She’s also remained a driving force within the music industry, helping shape efforts such as “Change the Conversation,” which continues to address issues of gender inequality within country music.

Of course, I am biased, but don’t miss Change the Conversation’s “Stella Prince and Friends” event, which features Isa Burke, Julie Williams, Maya de Vitry, Phoebe Hunt, and Stella Prince. Women are making some of the most exciting music in Americana, and this is a chance to get a powerful dose of their musical medicine. (The Underdog, Tuesday at 5 p.m.)

Away from the Conference itself, the AmericanaFest Day Stage, presented by NPR Music, World Café and WMOT is the place to be each day, and I’m not just saying that because WMOT is part of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment. (Editor’s note: She’s not NOT saying it, either.) For example, on Wednesday one of my favorite newer artists, Maggie Rose, will share the stage with guitar player extraordinaire Tommy Emmanuel, blues great Bobby Rush, critically acclaimed vintage roots singer/songwriter Eileen Jewell and unforgettable folk artist Dom Flemons.

Similarly, on Friday, try to make out to the Day Stage to master storyteller Brandy Clark, who has one of the most beautiful voices in all genres. She is on a roll, having cowritten the music for the hysterical, Tony-nominated Broadway hit “Shucked” and releasing a new Brandi Carlile-produced self-titled album. You can also catch the Grammy-nominated Alabama duo of sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers, known as The Secret Sisters, as well as Lindsay Lou, Eddie 9V and The Sensational Barnes Brothers. (Eastside Bowl, daily starting at noon)

It will likely be standing room only at the Brandi Carlile and Tracy Gershon Present Northern Lights Music, featuring Brandy Clark, Fancy, Sean McConnell and Sistastrings. Brandi Carlile is both the most popular and MVP of Americana music, having generated some of the most important music in the genre the last few years. If she didn’t exist, we would need to create her because she means that much to the music industry. (City Winery, 1 p.m. on Thursday)

The Grammy-nominated all-female string band Della Mae has released an impressive amount of new music over the past few years, and this performance will serve as a fitting showcase of their talents that are rooted in bluegrass. (The Basement East, Wednesday at 10 p.m.)

Another “don’t miss” set is by Grammy winner Amythyst Kiah. She describes her style as “Southern gothic,” but she’s being humble, as evidenced by her international following. A Chattanooga native who lives in Johnson City, she is one of the most compelling artists today. She defies genre as her music blends folk and old time music with blues, rock and alt-country. Both her songs and albums regularly make music magazines’ “best of” annual lists. (3rd & Lindsley, Saturday at 10 p.m.)