The Americana Music Association UK has named Richard Thompson as its Lifetime Achievement Award winner in recognition of his “contribution to the Americana genre over the span of his career”.
The announcement took place at the press launch for the awards show at Gibson Studios in London, co-presented by Imelda May and Baylen Leonard.
Thompson has thanked AMA-UK for his nomination, commenting that he is “deeply honoured” to receive the award.
Imelda May added: “I was so pleased to be asked to present the nomination party alongside Baylen. The AMAUK are a fantastic organisation doing so much to support up and coming UK Americana talent and the awards are a great excuse to celebrate everything achieved so far!"
The full shortlist for the seven, membership-voted Awards has also been revealed. The winners will be revealed at the second annual ceremony on February 2 in London.
The show will be hosted by broadcaster Bob Harris and will feature performances from nominees and award winners, including Thompson.
The show coincides with the first anniversary of the Official Americana Albums Chart, launched this year by the Official Charts Company in partnership with AMA-UK and published each week on OfficialCharts.com. To celebrate, the best-selling UK Americana album of 2016 will also be recognized.
The Awards are part of AmericanaFest UK, a two-day event that will also 20 bands playing in various venues around Hackney on February 1 and daytime conferences on both days. AMA-UK represents American Roots music in the UK, its membership comprises musicians and professionals from all sectors of the music industry.
Americana UK awards 2017 shortlist:
UK Album of the Year
Ghost by Lewis & Leigh (produced by Matt Ingram)
Mockingbird Lane by Danni Nicholls (produced by Chris Donohue)
Nos Da Comrade by Peter Bruntnell (produced by Peter Bruntnell)
Palomino by Treetop Flyers (produced by Treetop Flyers)
International Album of the Year
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth by Sturgill Simpson (produced by Sturgill Simpson)
American Band by Drive-By Truckers (produced by David Barbe)
Angeleno by Sam Outlaw (produced by Joachim Cooder and Ry Cooder)
Midwest Farmer's Daughter by Margo Price (produced by Alex Munoz and Matt Ross-Spang)
UK Song of the Year
Mr Sunshine by Peter Bruntnell (written by Peter Bruntnell and Bill Ritchie)
Silver Liner by Ethan Johns & the Black-Eyed Dogs (written by Ethan Johns)
Tend To The Thorns by William the Conqueror (written by Ruarri Joseph)
The 4:19 by Lewis & Leigh (written by Al Lewis and Alva Leigh)
International Song of the Year
Dust' by Lucinda Williams (written by Lucinda Williams)
Hands of Time by Margo Price (written by Margo Price)
Somebody Save Me by Cale Tyson (written by Cale Tyson)
Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)' by Sturgill Simpson (written by Sturgill Simpson)
UK Artist of the Year
Bear’s Den
Billy Bragg
Lewis & Leigh
Yola Carter
International Artist of the Year
Margo Price
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Richmond Fontaine
Sturgill Simpson
UK Instrumentalist of the Year
CJ Hillman
Dave Little
Henry Senior
Kirk Bowman
Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Thompson
By Ewan Wilkie
