COUNTRY CONNECTIONS LIVE is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between music export organizations Sounds Australia, CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) and British Underground.  It brings together exciting home-grown talent for a unique showcase in front of US and international music industry delegates attending AMERICANAFEST, the annual music showcase and conference held in Nashville, TN from 15 to 19 September. 

The show at the 5 Spot will feature 12 emerging artists from Australia, Canada and the UK officially selected by the AMERICANAFEST team including Austin Mackay (Australia), Azure Ryder (Australia), Bobby Dove (Canada), Boy Golden (Canada), Braden Lam (Canada), Brown Horse (UK), Elles Bailey (UK), Georgia Harmer (Canada), Hollow Hand (UK), Ian Moss (Australia), Our Man in the Field (UK) and The Dreggs (Australia).

Country Connections Live
Saturday 19 September 2026
11.30AM to 6:30PM
The 5 Spot, 1006 Forrest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

All three organizations have been successfully participating in AMERICANAFEST for several years and, in response to current global challenges, agreed to take a new approach by working together, sharing resources and combining expertise. Included in the Country Connections Live programme will be a bespoke artist development package with dedicated industry networking events, orientation sessions and artist mixers all run in partnership with AMERICANAFEST.

Larry Heath, Associate Producer, Sounds Australia said “At Sounds Australia, we often talk about the benefit of artists collaborating across borders to grow their international fanbase. After years of working behind-the-scenes with the UK and Canada, the unique opportunity to showcase all our countries on one Nashville stage encourages exactly that. We can’t wait to see what might grow out of this AMERICANAFEST event, and hope to see everyone come out and discover new talent from all corners of the globe.” 

Jenia Schukov, Export Programming Manager, CIMA said “We’re thrilled to partner with Sounds Australia and the British Underground for our first Country Connections Live showcase in Nashville. This exciting global collaboration brings artists and industry from different markets together to build connections, spark creativity, and open doors to new opportunities.” 

Crispin Parry MBE, CEO, British Underground said “AMERICANAFEST can be a particularly tricky event to navigate for international artists as it is so strongly associated with the Nashville scene.  Our new partnership with Sounds Australia and CIMA helps to bring emerging international artists into one high-profile programme, strengthening their visibility, reach and opportunities at this important   international industry event.  We are also delighted to be working again with UK americana trade body AMA UK at this year’s event.”  

For more information contact: jenia@cimamusic.ca

About Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA):
Founded in 1975 CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing over 700 Canadian-owned music companies connected to over 6,000 artists and music industry workers in every province and territory in Canada. CIMA’s membership ranges from individual artists and solopreneurs to Canadian-owned global music companies. Its membership also includes music publishers, managers, agents, songwriters, as well as other industry associations, provincial MIAs, and industry-adjacent service companies including digital marketing, public relations, and content creation.

About AMERICANAFEST: 
The 26th annual AMERICANAFEST will take place in Nashville from September 15-19, 2026, for five days of discovery, insight and connections. AMERICANAFEST showcases hundreds of artists and bands throughout many notable venues. The destination event also features a first-rate industry conference, bringing together the top tier of the music business to discuss current industry topics and issues. The critically acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards celebrates luminaries and welcomes the next generation of trailblazers while offering one-of-a-kind performance pairings at Ryman Auditorium. For more information, please visit http://www.americanamusic.org/