The Americana Music Association announced today comprehensive and pragmatic greening initiatives to take place during next week’s festival, Sept. 17-20, in Nashville. Not only will there be recycling, but there will be a daily schedule of panels at the conference devoted to green ways of living, touring and promoting.

There will be workshops and panels including the legendary Sam Bush speaking on the Greening of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Kathy Mattea presenting highlights from “An Inconvenient Truth“, and The Duhks sharing their experiences on green touring, just to name a few. The panels, coordinated by Atlanta based Change of Atmosphere, will be presented daily at the festival.

Also offered at this year’s Americana Music Conference and Festival is recycling for festival goers. Nashville environmentalist Paula Larson coordinated recycling initiatives with the Ryman Auditorium, Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom, and the Nashville Convention Center, in conjunction with the generous support of Metro Nashville Public Works providing recycling trailers and bins for use. For several of these venues, this will be their first time recycling.

Numerous organizations have lent their support to the Americana Green initiative including Planet Bluegrass, New Belgium Brewery, Kilowatt Ours, Local Table, E3 Innovate LLC, Change of Atmosphere, WRLT Lightning 100’s Team Green, Bridgestone Americas, Tree Sound Studios, NTS Promedia, MusicMatters, XM Radio, Dogwood Alliance, ASK Apparel, Bonnaroo, Open Dome Productions, Vanderbilt Biodiesel Collective, and Seven-Star.

Slated for September 17-20, 2008, the 9th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, while each evening brings stacked Americana showcases. Legend Levon Helm will officially jump start the festivities Wednesday, September 17 with his Ramble at the Ryman, and the capstone of the festival will take the form of the annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards, scheduled for September 18 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Tickets are now available for the Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman and the Americana Honors & Awards show at Ticketmaster and the Ryman box office for $65 or $45 and $45, respectively.

For the latest additions to showcase lineups, ticket purchasing and more information about the Americana Music Festival and Conference, please visit http://www.americanamusic.org/.

About the Americana Music Association
The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. Dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and the individuals who participate in that industry, the Americana Music Association works closely with artists, labels, radio stations, retailers, print media, festivals, agents,