Tuesday was the third annual Ameripolitan Music awards, a show that combines honoring lesser-known artists from grass-roots genres with legendary presenters and performers. Nominees came from all across the country and across the pond to be at this years event, which was especially sentimental, as many of the presenters and veterans of the industry emphasized coming together to show equal respect for all musicians, regardless of success. Ray Benson hosted the affair, and the biggest performance of the evening came from esteemed Outlaw Country musician Charley Pride.
The new Antone’s has barely opened and appropriately, it’s already hosting legendary moments and events. Just one day after performing a BB King tribute at the Grammy’s, Gary Clark Jr. returned home to Austin to do an episode of PBS’s Artist’s Den. Though the show’s producers were happy to tape the episode in LA, Clark insisted that the performance not only take place in his hometown, but in the very club he recently helped to resurrect. Gary Clark Jr. will be playing at Antone’s again on March 3rd when KUTX hosts A Celebration of Paul Ray benefitting the Paul Ray Memorial Fund. The night will celebrate Paul’s life as a musician and DJ, with tribute performances by Clark as well as Charlie Sexton, Denny Freeman, and others, as well as a set of Twine Time favorites. Tickets went on sale yesterday, and sold out within hours.
The latest innovation in guitar technology is for the ladies. Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, has worked with Ernie Ball to create, from scratch, the St. Vincent signature model. The guitar isn’t cosmetically feminine, but the lightweight instrument is just over 7lbs and is designed with a woman’s chest and slighter frame in mind. With so few female signature guitars in existence, Clark is hoping her design and experience will serve as inspiration for the conception of other models sympathetic to the female form. The Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent model, set to be released next month, will come in black and Clark’s custom shade of Vincent blue.
