Candi Staton, Lyle Lovett and CMAT pick up Special Awards at UK Americana Music Awards 2025

The winners of the UK Americana Awards 2025, powered by Sweet Home Alabama, were revealed on the evening of Thursday 23 January in a glittering ceremony at Hackney Church, London.

During a remarkable night, which celebrated the best in UK and International Americana and Roots music, highly acclaimed US singer-songwriters Gillian Welch & David Rawlings scooped Best International Album and Single awards for Woodland and “Empty Trainload of Sky” respectively. The duo’s current album Woodland was released to widespread praise in 2024 and marked their first LP of new, original music since 2017.

London-based singer-songwriter Hannah White won the coveted UK Artist of the Year Award, plus UK Album of the Year for Sweet Revolution. A leading light of the homegrown Americana music scene, White’s album was recognised as a major progression in her craft.

Robert Vincent was awarded UK Song of the Year for his stand-out track “Follow What You Love and Love Will Follow” and multi-talented guitarist Keiron Marshall was UK Instrumentalist of the Year.

Alabama’s Jason Isbell, one of the most respected and celebrated songwriters of his generation, won the prestigious International Artist of the Year Award.

Kezia Gill, who has toured extensively, playing to packed houses throughout the UK, took home the Live Act of the Year Award.

The Grassroots Award, presented by the AMA-UK to individuals working in the industry (in a capacity other than as artists) who have made outstanding efforts to support Americana music from the grass roots up, was given to independent music promoter David Messer.

Bob Harris chose sensational young English guitarist Toby Lee for his 2025 Emerging Artist Award.

Of the evening’s Special Awards, legendary soul icon Candi Staton collected the AMA-UK Board’s highest accolade, an International Lifetime Achievement Award. Four times Grammy-winning singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett received the International Trailblazer Award and groundbreaking Irish singer, songwriter and musician CMAT was presented with the UK/Ireland Trailblazer Award.

The Awards show boasted an eclectic mix of stunning live performances, illustrating the breadth of talent within the genre, including Lyle Lovett, CMAT, Hannah White, Robert Vincent, Kezia Gill, The Heavy Heavy, Willie Watson, Toby Lee and Kyshona. The evening was brought to a close with an outstanding group rendition of Candi Staton’s worldwide hit “You Got The Love”, featuring Staton herself.

The show was hosted by broadcaster Baylen Leonard, who was joined by Award presenters Bob Harris OBE, BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean, journalist and broadcaster Paul Sexton, and Immy Doman and Risa Tabatznik of famed London venue The Green Note.

In addition to the star-studded artist lineup, the event also welcomed senior music executives, including from organisations such as Amazon Music, PPL, Live Nation, The Orchard, WME, AEG, CAA, FUGA and Atlantic Records, as well as many UK and international media representatives.

The UK Americana Awards concluded in style a full week of activities during UK Americana Music Week 2025, powered by Sweet Home Alabama.

Two nights of showcases in venues across Hackney took place on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22, featuring an incredible line-up of artists from around the world including: Danni Nicholls, The Dreaming Spires, Robert Vincent, Savannah Gardner, Viv & Riley, Willie Watson, the Canada House at Moth Club, and many more.

During the daytime on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22, the annual AMA-UK conference, the cornerstone of the week’s programming, was held at Night Tales in Hackney. This year’s theme was “Can Songs Change the World Americana in 2025,” covering a diverse range of topics tailored for Americana enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

The event is proudly supported by Sweet Home Alabama, who were headline sponsors again for the third year, CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association), PPL, PRS for Music, Concord, Thirty Tigers, Uncut, Musicians’ Union, Americana Music Sweden, and the US Americana Music Association.

Award Winners:

UK ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Elles Bailey
Ferris & Sylvester
Hannah White - WINNER
Katherine Priddy
Robert Vincent
The Heavy Heavy

UK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Elles Bailey -Beneath The Neon Glow
Hannah White -Sweet Revolution - WINNER
Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand -Willson Williams
Nina Nesbitt - Mountain Music
The Hanging Stars -On A Golden Shore
The Heavy Heavy -One of a Kind

UK SONG OF THE YEAR
Blue Rose Code – “Sadie”
Brown Horse – “Stealing Horses”
Jack Francis – “Failure”
Nina Nesbitt – “Pages”
Our Man In The Field – “L'Etranger”
Robert Vincent –“Follow What You Love and Love Will Follow” - WINNER

UK INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Ashley Campbell
Henry Senior Jr
Joe Coombs
Joe Harvey White
Joe Wilkins
Keiron Marshall - WINNER

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bonny Light Horseman
Charley Crockett
Jason Isbell - WINNER
Larkin Poe
Sierra Ferrell
Waxahatchee

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
American Aquarium - The Fear Of Standing Still
Bonny Light Horseman - Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland - WINNER
Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well
Kyshona - Legacy
Willie Watson - Willie Watson

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – “Empty Trainload of Sky” - WINNER
Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Buffalo”
Julian Taylor & Allison Russell – “Pathways”
Kyshona – “The Echo”
Lizzie No – “The Heartbreak Store”
Sierra Ferrell – “American Dreaming”

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR
Ben Ottewell & Ian Ball (of Gomez)
Campbell Jensen
Danny & The Champions of the World?
Kezia Gill - WINNER
Lola Kirke
Morganway
Savannah Gardner
Skinny Lister
The Heavy Heavy
Wunderhorse

AMA-UK Special Awards

International Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected by the board members, their highest honour is awarded to an international artist, duo or group in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Americana genre over the span of their career and life in music. The 2025 recipient is Candi Staton

International Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates an international artist, duo or group that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2025 recipient is Lyle Lovett

UK/Ireland Trailblazer Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates an artist, duo or group from the UK or Ireland that has taken an exceptional path, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps in developing the Americana genre. The 2025 recipient is CMAT

Grass Roots Award
Selected by the board members, this special award celebrates the sometimes-unsung heroes of the UK Americana scene. It is presented to individuals working in the industry (in a capacity other than as artists) who have made outstanding efforts to support Americana music from the grass roots up. The 2025 recipient is David Messer

Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award
Selected by Bob Harris OBE, this special award celebrates the breakthrough artist, duo or group that has particularly impressed the legendary music broadcaster throughout the year. The 2025 recipient is Toby Lee

Check out our Music News Exclusive Lyle Lovett and Candi Staton interviews below:





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