It’s more than a genre — it’s a rich, sprawling sound that ties together the storytelling of folk, the harmonies of country, and the spirit of rock and roll. From dusty ballads to widescreen anthems, Americana has shaped some of the most enduring songs of the past fifty years. You’ve heard it in the lonesome echoes of Hotel California and the sweeping vistas of The Joshua Tree. But what truly defines Americana, and why does it still resonate today? Let’s explore.
Defining Americana: More Than Just a Genre
Americana blends traditional American roots music — folk, blues, country, bluegrass and gospel — with rock and contemporary influences. It reflects the stories, landscapes, and spirit of American culture while evolving with new voices and styles.
It is separate to, but influenced by more defined musical genres including Roots, R&B, Bluegrass and Country & Western. Where British Folk music has subtle regional variations, the ‘folk’ music of America will change across the regions. Influences coming from the Catskill Mountains near Woodstock will be different to the Appalachian Mountains (the birthplace of Bluegrass) or the rural areas of Western America (Country & Western.)
A Personal Journey Into Americana
Americana may be my favourite genre of music. Over the past decade my tastes have been moving west, from folk-influenced British music like Pink Floyd and Genesis to the American and West Coast sounds of Americana. From Solsbury Hill to Hotel California! While bands like the Eagles and Neil Young are sometimes labelled as folk rock, their sound leans more into Americana — which takes the storytelling of folk, the harmonies of country, and the freewheeling spirit of rock & roll.
Many of my favourite Americana records come from the 60s and 70s, when artists like The Band, Neil Young and Bob Dylan shaped the genre. But the style lives on. For example, Lucas Nelson and the Promise of the Real bridge the gap between old and new. The son of Willie Nelson, Lucas was involved in the creation of Shallow, the Oscar-winning song from A Star is Born. His band, Promise of the Real, have backed Neil Young (at Desert Trip and other tours) as well as releasing their own successful albums.
Many of my favourite Americana records come from the 60s and 70s, when artists like The Band, Neil Young and Bob Dylan shaped the genre. But the style lives on. For example, Lucas Nelson and the Promise of the Real bridge the gap between old and new. The son of Willie Nelson, Lucas was involved in the creation of Shallow, the Oscar-winning song from A Star is Born. His band, Promise of the Real, have backed Neil Young (at Desert Trip and other tours) as well as releasing their own successful albums.
Is Americana only from Americans?
Americana isn’t just shaped by American-born artists — it has a global reach. Graham Nash, the ‘N’ in Crosby, Stills & Nash, hails from Blackpool, England. Joni Mitchell and Neil Young brought a Canadian perspective to the genre, blending folk storytelling with American influences.
Even U2 absorbed Americana into their music — first with The Unforgettable Fire and its tributes to MLK, then with The Joshua Tree, which captured America’s vast landscapes and contradictions. They doubled down on this influence with Rattle & Hum, an album (and film) that felt as much like a musical road trip as a documentary on American music and culture.
The Joshua Tree introduced the world to another slice of Americana, through the eyes of a band from Dublin.
Few artists outside the U.S. embraced Americana as successfully as Elton John and Bernie Taupin. From the start, their songwriting painted vivid portraits of an America they had only imagined — before ever setting foot there. Tumbleweed Connection, Elton’s third album, is steeped in Americana, from its sepia-toned front cover to My Father’s Gun, a ballad rich with Civil War imagery. The duo romanticised the mythic West and small-town stories, turning their vision of America into global hits. Perhaps their greatest trick was packaging up an idealised version of the U.S. and selling it straight back to American audiences — one reason the Rocket Man remains one of the best-selling artists of all time.
The future of Americana music
Americana hasn’t stopped evolving — modern artists like Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile and The Lumineers are carrying it forward, proving its staying power. I don’t yet know much of Brandi’s music but she has been responsible for getting Joni Mitchell back on stage and is now collaborating with Elton John, so she’s one to watch!
Want to hear Americana in action? I’ve put together a playlist of classic and contemporary Americana tracks—check it out and discover your next favourite artist!
