Watch Shovels & Rope, The Lumineers And Bobby Rush Play 'Americana Alphabet'

During AmericanaFest last month, NPR Music's Ann Powers and contributor Jewly Hight got together with musicians at Nashville's historic Union Station Hotel for a series of intimate "Americana Alphabet" performances. Throughout the week, they hosted Dawes and Lydia Loveless, Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, The Lumineers, Lori McKenna, Shovels & Rope and Bobby Rush, all of whom set up in the ornate hotel in various stripped-down configurations.

Each of these performances celebrates Americana music by challenging artists to engage with some of the genre's most treasured keywords. Watch the sessions below.

Bobby Rush

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

Shovels & Rope

Lori McKenna

The Lumineers

Dawes & Lydia Loveless