We asked seasoned AmericanaFest attendee Cary Baker for a handful of performances he was looking forward to during the packed conference and performance schedule.

Baker admits his list includes primarily established artists – “I’m not really the go-to for rookie talent, although I am hoping to serendipitously trip upon one or two good ones once I get there,” he says – but it’s as a good a place as any to start making one’s flight plan for the week.

AmericanaFest attendees can make their own schedules via the conference’s official app, available on Apple and Android devices.

Swamp Dogg (Thursday, Sept. 19 conversation and performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater, 2 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 20 performance at Station Inn, 8 p.m.)

Swamp Dogg

“With origins as an A&R man, staff songwriter and aspiring R&B singer in his own right, it took Jerry Williams till 1970 and a Los Angeles move to become ‘the original D-O double G.’

The result was a discography of LPs with droll titles: ‘I’m Not Selling Out – I’m Buying In!,’ ‘I Called for a Rope and They Threw Me a Rock’ and ‘Love, Loss and Auto-Tune.’

But there remained a serious side to Swamp; his version of John Prine’s ‘Sam Stone’ was downright heart-rending. His friends included Billy Joe Shaver.

So when Swamp signed with the late Prine’s Oh Boy Records and released a bluegrass album, ‘Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St.,’ it made perfect sense – and at no sacrifice to his patent jocosity. At age 82, I wouldn’t count on too many more tours from Swamp. I will be front and center when he plays the Station Inn this week.”

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Guilty Ones (Thursday, Sept. 19 performance, 3rd & Lindsley, 10 p.m.)

“Dave Alvin had an ear to roots music from the suburbs of Los Angeles before applying his influence to his work in the Blasters, Knitters, X, Flesh Eaters and innumerable solo albums.

“Jimmie Dale Gilmore grew up in Lubbock attuned to local legend Buddy Holly as well as Hank Williams, and teamed with fellow Panhandlers Joe Ely and Butch Hancock to form the Flatlanders.

“Alvin and Gilmore united for the 2018 album ‘Downey to Lubbock’ and their chemistry was palpable. The album was an unexpected pastiche of songs from Will Shade, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Chris Gaffney, Lloyd Price, Steve Yong and Dino Valenti.

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore & The Guilty Ones

“They encored that album with ‘TexiCali,’ an album of Alvin/Gilmore originals, released earlier this year. Having caught them during their first union, I’ll be eager to see them together again. Expect dynamic instrumental backing from the Guilty Ones.”

Aaron Lee Tasjan (Friday, Sept. 20, The Purple Building, 10 p.m.)

“My musical food groups include the unlikely pairing of Americana and power pop. It’s rare that one artist combines the two.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band

“Aaron Lee Tasjan doesn’t necessarily call his music power pop. But for those of us who grew up on a diet of Badfinger, The Move and The Nazz, Tasjan dares to marry East Nashville with tuneful, layered pop song craft.

Steve Poltz

“‘His Silver Tears,’ ‘Karma for Cheap,’ and ‘Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!’ are three of my favorite albums of the past 10 years. His live shows are quietly captivating. And while I’ve not fully digested his new release, ‘Stellar Evolution,’ it is full of inventively melodic songs.”

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (Saturday, Sept. 21, Exit/In, 8 p.m.)

“The trio fronted by Indiana-based Reverend Peyton on guitar and vocals and washboard-wielding wife Breezy are bankably fun. I’ll probably need a break from singer-songwriters at some point this week. Last time I saw them, they raised the roof at Pappy & Harriet’s in the California high desert. I look forward to them doing likewise at AmericanaFest.”

Steve Poltz (Thursday, Sept. 19, 3rd & Lindsley, 9 p.m.)

“In these trying times, we can probably all use as many smiles as we can muster. (Poltz’s) stories, songs, humor and spontaneity are one of a kind. Poltz was born in Nova Scotia and lived in Palm Springs, California and San Diego – the latter location being where he gained renown. But his move to East Nashville, where he’s partaken in the region’s creative synergy, has propelled his career like never before. If you’ve never seen him before, you’ll thank me for this tip.”

Whitney Rose (Thursday, Sept. 19, Station Inn, 11 p.m.)

“She comes from Prince Edward Island, Canada, but has taken firm root as a Texan in Austin. Her debut, ‘Heartbreaker of the Year,’ was produced by Mavericks frontman Raul Malo.

“By the time she recorded ‘South Texas Suite,’ she was a Texan and compared with Rosanne Cash. 2017’s ‘Rule 62’ paired Malo with Niko Bolas as producers and Kenny Vaughn on guitar.

“I liked the albums and thought her voice was special. But I had a transformative moment a few years ago: I was at the Station Inn during AmericanaFest and Rose lapsed into Lesley Gore’s 1963 feminist anthem ‘You Don’t Own Me.’ She sang it with conviction and defiance. I’ve never listened to Whitney Rose the same way since.”