The Downhome Sound

Diversity and Politics in Americana Music

Mandi Bates Bailey

• Publisher: LSU Press
• Year: 2023
• ISBN:
  9780807179697
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

American roots music, also known as Americana music, can be challenging to categorize, spanning the genres of jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, rock and roll, and an assortment of variations in between. In The Downhome Sound, Mandi Bates Bailey explores the messages, artists, community, and appeal of this seemingly disparate musical collective. To understand the art form's intended meanings and typical audiences, she analyzes lyrics and interviews Americana artists, journalists, and festival organizers to uncover a desire for inclusion and diversity. Bailey also conducts an experiment to assess listener reception relative to more commercial forms of music. The result is an in-depth study of the political and cultural influence of Americana and its implications for social justice.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: The Downhome Sound
• 1. The First Verse
• 2. The Music
• 3. The Artists
• 4. The Community
• 5. The Impact
• Conclusion: The Last Verse
• Notes
• References
• Index