Lost Highway's Mary Gauthier & Tift Merritt Receive Six Nominations for the 2005 Americana Music Awards

Lost Highway's Mary Gauthier & Tift Merritt Receive Six Nominations for the 2005 Americana Music Awards

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: 'Mercy Now' - Mary Gauthier, 'Tambourine' - Tift Merritt

SONG OF THE YEAR: 'Mercy Now'/Mary Gauthier, 'Good Hearted Man'/Tift Merritt

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tift Merritt

NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Mary Gauthier

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Lost Highway recording artists Tift Merritt & Mary Gauthier (pronounced go-SHAY) received six nominations (three each) for the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards. Gauthier & Merritt each received nominations for ALBUM OF THE YEAR and SONG OF THE YEAR, while Merritt received the nod for ARTIST OF THE YEAR and Gauthier for NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR. Producer/guitarist Gurf Morlix, who produced and played all over Gauthier's album Mercy Now received a nomination for MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR.

Gauthier's "Mercy Now" and Merritt's "Tambourine" have received consistently high-praise in the press. Here's what a few had to say:

Tift Merritt - "Tambourine"

"With her clear, controlled voice and zestful, sensual delivery, Tift Merritt deserves to move from the fringes of stardom onto the A list of country-rockers thanks to this joy of an album ... "

3-1/2 stars - People

"There's not a dud among the dozen tracks, a testament to Merritt's talent as both a distinctive singer and writer." - Rolling Stone

Mary Gauthier - "Mercy Now"

"This fortysomething's resume doesn't prepare you for the intensity and depth of her stark, weather-beaten songs ... a voice as raw and confessional as Kris Kristofferson's ... "

3-1/2 stars - LA Times

"If you own a single note of music by Steve Earle or Lucinda Williams, run, don't walk, to discover Nashville's Mary Gauthier (pronounced go-shay)."

- Esquire

The Awards ceremony will be held in Nashville, TN on September 9 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium.

For more information please contact Jim Flammia at Lost Highway Records (615) 524-7507, or jim.flammia@umusic.com.

Source: Mercury Nashville

CONTACT: Jim Flammia of Lost Highway Records, +1-615-524-7507, or jim.flammia@umusic.com

Web site: http://www.mercurynashville.com/

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