Oklahoma Musicians Nominated for Awards

Two Oklahoma musicians have recently been nominated by the Americana Music Association (AMA) for the 2016 AMA’s Honors & Awards. Parker Millsap’s newest album, The Very Last Day, has been nominated for Best Album of the Year and John Moreland is up for Emerging Artist of the Year.

Millsap’s third album The Very Last Day, co-produced by Gary Paczosa, was released March 25. At only 23 years of age, Millsap is known for his ability to weave intricate, honest narratives of the everyman experience through his lyrics, which has been likened to the storytelling of Flannery O’Conner. Millsap was born in the small town of Purcell, Oklahoma, where he grew up listening to artists like John Prine and Lyle Lovett, perfecting his Americana sound.

Moreland hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he recently performed on the main stage of the Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival.  In 2015, Moreland released his third album High on Tulsa Heat, co-produced by Thirty Tigers and Old Omens. Tracks from the album like “Cherokee” and “Hang me in the Tulsa County Stars,” directly reference his Oklahoma roots. Moreland’s current tour will cover 15 different states and he will even perform at this year’s Newport Folk Festival.

Millsap and Moreland will be in the company of artists like Alabama Shakes, The Milk Carton Kids, Leon Bridges, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats at the awards

ceremony. The winners of the AMA’s 15^th Annual Honors & Awards will be announced September 21 at the Mansion on O Street in Washington, D.C. This event will be streamed live via Facebook by NPR Music.