Dave Rawlings, Patty Griffin Lead Americana Music Association Awards Nominees

As the talented sideman to Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings is used to being appreciated from afar. But his new band, Dave Rawlings Machine (which also features Welch) is currently the center of attention of the Americana Music Asocciation, who announced their nominees for their 2010 Honors and Awards ceremony this morning. Rawlings (whose band recently graced the cover of American Songwriter) is up for four awards, including Album of the Year, for A Friend Of A Friend.

Emmylou Harris and Todd Snider announced the nominees following an invigorating performance by the Carolina
Chocolate Drops, who are up for Duo or Group of the Year. The popular string band quickly won over the industry crowd, trading instruments and bringing down-home energy to traditional songs like “Cindy Gal” and “Your Baby Ain’t Sweet Like Mine,” as well as a fiery cover of Blu Cantrell’s 2001 R&B hit “Hit ‘Em Up.”

Song of the Year nominations went to “The Weary Kind,” from the movie Crazy Heart, written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, “Drunken Poets Dream,” written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard, “Ruby,” written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch, and “I and Love and You,” written and performed by The Avett Brothers.

Here’s the complete list for the 2010 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards nominees:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The List, by Rosanne Cash
A Friend of a Friend, by Dave Rawlings Machine
Downtown Church, by Patty Griffin
A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C), by Ray Wylie Hubbard

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ryan Bingham
Patty Griffin
Levon Helm
Steve Earle
Ray Wylie Hubbard

DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Avett Brothers
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Band of Heathens
Dave Rawlings Machine

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Dave Rawlings
Will Kimbrough
Sam Bush

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST
Sarah Jarosz
Ryan Bingham
Hayes Carll
Corb Lund
Joe Pug

SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Weary Kind,” written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, performed by Ryan Bingham
“Drunken Poets Dream,” written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard, performed by Ray Wylie Hubbard
“Ruby,” written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch, performed by Dave Rawlings Machine
“I and Love and You,” written and performed by The Avett Brothers