Americanafest is an annual event organized by the Americana Music Association and held in Nashville, Tennessee. Americanafest 2019 will be held between Sept. 10 and Sept. 15 with the Americana Honors and Awards Show taking place at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 11. The five-day event will feature panels and performances at several venues in Nashville. Janiva Magness will be playing on Tuesday, September 10 at 9 pm at 3rd and Lindsley and Friday, September 13 at 6:20 pm at the Blue Elan Party at White Avenue Studios.
When did you start singing? Well, I would say probably at about age 5 along with the TV commercials and radio, I was like a Mina Bird! But professionally speaking at 19 when I lived in Minneapolis.
How would you describe your music? Blues/Americana/Soul.
Who are your musical influences? Lots over the course of time really. It’s so hard to chose just one. Most stand out in Blues would be Etta James & Koko Taylor, Then in Country it would be Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, then soul is gonna have to be Aretha and James Brown. It all branches out from there.
What is your favorite concert you have attended? Again hard to chose one, but lately I been thinking a lot about the first time I saw Etta James in the early 80’s.
What made it memorable? It was stunning because her career had been in a huge slump, she was opening for James Brown and Martha Reeves. Both very powerful entertainers. Etta had no real band so she was using Leo Nocentelli and a couple other fellas from Martha’s band. She was incredible and sang as if her life depended on it. The whole crowd was taken hostage by her, me included and she stole the show – no small feat with THAT billing!
What is your favorite place to perform? Lately there have been more Theater type venues. I dig those a lot.
What do you like about it? There is an intimacy afforded in that kind of setting that you might not have on larger festival stages – But I love them too! Why do I have to choose – I really love performing for people!
What was the first song you wrote? Momma Said. I co-wrote that in about 1987 with my now producer Dave Darling. I never got further than being demoed!
What is your favorite original song? Right now, it’s Wrote A Song For Everyone written by John Fogerty – and recorded on my newest album called Change In The Weather.
What was the inspiration behind it? I feel like that tune is about human connection, needing a friend and how hard it can seem to find one at times. The sadness that goes with being an artist that performs in front of thousands of people and yet is still lonely.
What does it mean to you to be selected to play Americanafest? This is my third time performing for Americana fest and it is a huge honor and thrilling frankly! It really is the best party!
Anything else you would like to add? Yes, Americana Fest. is really refreshing and still pretty down-home, I really dig that! There is such a strong focus on the art of the music and artist. There is a strong focus on the craft itself, and that seems to have been washed away in so much commercial b.s. in the music business.
Where can people hear your music? The usual outlets and streaming places – Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes, Amazon etc. and at a record store if you can find one!!