Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

For those of you that need a refresher, Ameripolitan is the moniker given to “real” country music. It encompasses such categories as honky tonk, outlaw, rockabilly, and western swing. All of the four food groups are represented. These awards are very important because this is the ONLY forum to recognize the men and women that have, and are, dedicating their lives to preserving these forms of music. This isn’t a revivalist movement at all because that would mean that these musical genres went somewhere. Not true. They have been here all along, it just needs to be returned back to the people. 

Here are the nominees for Outlaw Female 2018:

Summer Dean  Summer has a distinctly thoughtful approach to writing music; raw lyrics, a bare-boned and honest voice, and an approachable confidence you see on stage as well as her sultry timelessness. She was nominated for a 2016 Fort Worth Music Award in the Americana/Roots Rock category in 2017 Fort Worth Music Award for best Country & Western Artist and EP of the Year.

Andrea Colburn  Andrea Colburn was born and raised in NW Ohio. After a difficult move to St. Louis, MO at 13, Andrea turned to music and poetry. Andrea wanted to learn to play guitar, so her mother bought her one as a gift at 14 years old.  She played throughout high school, but didn’t stick with music. She started writing songs and performing in earnest in 2012.

Rebecca Jed Jed started singing when she was three and writing songs at twelve. Willy Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Dolly Patron, and Loretta Lynne are some of her influences. The Texas native has made her home in Nashville for the past 12 years. Currently Rebecca is working on her third album. Her life long dream is to play the Grande Ole Opry.

Nikki Lane Lane’s stunning third album Highway Queen, sees the young Nashville singer emerge as one of country and rock’s most gifted songwriters. This South Carolina native has the ability to bond with hardcore country fans through her music. Lane’s songs are both raw and beautiful and she sings and writes from the heart.

Sarah Gayle Meech Meech released her first album five and a half years ago and has been on a steep trajectory ever since.  She has a song and performance featured on the new season on ABC’s Nashville, frequent airplay on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country, songs featured on hit FX TV series Justified, and won the 2015 Best Outlaw Female Ameripolitan Award. 

Ameripolitan Award Outlaw Female Playlist