Big Loud’s second annual AMERICANAFEST showcase will take over Nashville’s Aviator Nation Dreamland on September 15. The event will feature performances by six new and ascending artists with very distinct approaches to roots music.
Rising stars Kashus Culpepper, Thelma & James, Alex Lambert, Coleman Jennings, Waylon Payne and Nathan Bess will each take the stage during the free, all-ages afternoon concert.
Admission to Big Loud’s Tuesday showcase is first come, first served, with an RSVP encouraged. The Aviator Nation Dreamland event takes place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and kicks off the first day of the annual five-day Music City conference and music festival with a can’t-miss lineup.
Each year AMERICANAFEST draws hundreds of artists, and thousands of music-industry professionals and fans to Nashville for performances, panels and networking. The 2026 conference/music festival runs from September 15–19 at venues across Nashville.
Guests at the Big Loud event will be treated to an array of heartland styles, from Texas soul and modern country to Appalachian storytelling and Americana music approaches that defy easy categorization.
Alabama’s Kashus Culpepper brings a magnificent soulful element to his Southern roots sound. Also pulling from country, blues, and rock, his widely acclaimed 2026 album, Act I, earned widespread acclaim on the strength of stirring originals like “Man of His Word” and “After Me?” Culpepper’s debut — which boasted collaborations with Marcus King and Sierra Ferrell — paved the way for his irresistible new rendition of Glen Campbell’s 1977 country pop smash “Southern Nights” (from his new EP Act I: Southern Nights). And music superstars have taken notice: Elton John and John Mayer are early, outspoken fans.
Modern country duo Thelma & James — consisting of married singer/songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge — are also on the way up. Both had successful solo careers: the Alberta-raised actor/singer Porter had a run of Canadian Country chart-toppers, while actor/singer Etheridge appeared in projects including Nashville and Daisy Jones & the Six. When they joined forces as collaborators and unveiled “Happy Ever After You” last year, the world listened. Thirty million global streams later, T&J landed a ‘26 ACM nomination for Duo of the Year. From there, they hit the road as openers on Luke Combs’ recent stadium tour and found time to craft two new standout singles, “Home In Your Broken Heart” and “Alternate Ending.”
Meanwhile, Texas-bred songwriter Alex Lambert blurs the lines between country, soul and R&B, citing John Legend, Amos Lee, Kacey Musgraves and Leon Bridges as influences. Lambert linked with Big Loud Texas this year and dropped “Think I’m In Love.” The new single is the kind of soul-stirring, finger-snapping keeper that has helped him wow crowds during his recent run of dates supporting Paul Cauthen. Upcoming shows with Billy Currington and Kip Moore and a growing catalog of winners like “Lay Down in a Pickup” should help grow the profile of this worthy, rising star.
As for Coleman Jennings, his new Big Loud Texas debut, Lead You Home, was produced by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb. Tracks like the rambling “Ride On” and the pensive “Head Spinning” have a vintage Western vibe. With touchstones like Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, The Eagles and more, Jennings’ hypnotic, unconventional vibrato stands out. Although his style of country may not be the norm in 2026, it is definitely original and that’s what makes it special.
Nashville native Waylon Payne was raised in the world of country music. He’s named after his godfather Waylon Jennings, his mother was singer Sammi Smith and his late father Jody played with Willie Nelson. But Payne has worked hard through the years to forge his own legacy. As a singer, songwriter and actor, he’s appeared in films like Walk the Line and Crazy. His latest album, Wayward, is his first with Big Loud Texas, and follows up 2020’s well-received The Drifter and Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me. It’s anchored by the memorable lead track “Looking For a Feeling” and his beautifully crooned ballad “The Rose.”
Rounding out the showcase is Appalachian songwriter Nathan Bess. The Charleston, West Virginia native and former full-time firefighter relays his observations about the lives and struggles people from the Mountain State face. He does so in the vein of Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson, and with captivating songs like “Flows,” “Way She Goes” and “Somethin’ About the Smell,” proves himself to be a moving storyteller.
In a week packed with performances, Big Loud’s afternoon showcase on September 15 is the perfect opportunity for fans and industry insiders to witness some of today’s finest rising performers and developing artists in an intimate space. Aviator Nation Dreamland’s Nashville location is the perfect setting for the showcase, which was designed with the idea that the venue, the sound and the artists each become part of the experience.
The event is free and open to all ages, with admission available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register and attend Big Loud’s September 15 showcase in Nashville, register here. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required.
