Libera Award for Best American Roots Record

Libera Award for Best Americana Record
Awarded for	quality Americana records
Country	United States
Presented by	American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
First award	2018
Currently held by	Angel Olsen, Big Time (2023)
Website	liberaawards.com

The Libera Award for Best American Roots Record ^[a] is an award presented by the American Association of Independent Music at the annual Libera Award which recognizes "best americana album released commercially in the United States by an independent label" since 2017. ^[1]

American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann was the first recipient of the award for her album Mental Illness . While no artist has won the award more than once, rock band Calexico is the most nominated in the category with four nominations, followed by Kevin Morby with three.

Winners and nominees

Year	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
2018	Aimee Mann	Mental Illness	Capacity – Big Thief City Music – Kevin Morby Hallelujah Anyhow – Hiss Golden Messenger Stranger in the Alps – Phoebe Bridgers	[2] [3]
2019	John Prine	The Tree of Forgiveness	13 Rivers – Richard Thompson Black Cowboys – Dom Flemons See You Around – I'm with Her The Thread That Keeps Us – Calexico	[4] [5]
2020	Steve Gunn	The Unseen In Between	III – The Lumineers Oklahoma – Keb' Mo' Years to Burn – Calexico and Iron & Wine Tip of the Sphere – Cass McCombs	[6] [7]
2021	Bonny Light Horseman	Bonny Light Horseman	Good Souls Better Angels – Lucinda Williams Old Flowers – Courtney Marie Andrews Seasonal Shift – Calexico Sundowner – Kevin Morby	[8]
2022	Madi Diaz	History of a Feeling	Another Side – Leo Nocentelli Georgia Blue – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Leftover Feelings – John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band Other You – Steve Gunn The Pet Parade – Fruit Bats Quietly Blowing It – Hiss Golden Messenger	[9]
2023	Angel Olsen	Big Time	Fortune Favors the Bold – 49 Winchester El Mirador – Calexico The Man from Waco – Charley Crockett This Is a Photograph – Kevin Morby Denim & Diamonds – Nikki Lane	[10] [11]

Artists that received multiple nominations

4 nominations

• Calexico

3 nominations

• Kevin Morby

2 nominations

• Hiss Golden Messenger
• Kevin Morby
• Steve Gunn

References

1. Formerly known as:
   • Best American Roots & Folk Album (2018–2019)
   • Best Americana Album (2020)
   • Best Americana Record (2021–2022)

1. "2020 Libera Awards - 2020 Categories". October 9, 2019. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
2. "A2IM Libera Awards 2018 - Nominees". Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
3. Aswad, Jem (June 22, 2018). "Aimee Mann, Funky Four +1 Perform, Slowdive Wins Big at Indie Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
4. Houghton, Bruce (March 28, 2019). "A2IM Names Indie Libera Award Nominees 2019: Mitski, Bad Bunny, Courtney Barnett, More". Hypebot. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
5. Houghton, Bruce (June 24, 2019). "A2IM Libera Indie Music Awards 2019 – Full Winners List". Hypebot. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
6. Brandle, Lars (April 2, 2020). "Chance the Rapper, FKA Twigs, Courtney Barnett & More Shortlisted For 2020 A2IM Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
7. "2020 - Libera Awards". Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
8. Grein, Paul (March 22, 2021). "Phoebe Bridgers, Run the Jewels & Perfume Genius Among Top Nominees For 2021 Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
9. Aswad, Jem (March 23, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
10. Aswad, Jem (March 22, 2023). "Wet Leg Leads Nominations for A2IM's Indie Libera Awards". Variety . Retrieved March 22, 2023.
11. Garcia, Thania; Okusanya, Emanuel (June 16, 2023). "Wet Leg, Sudan Archives and More Win Big at 2023 A2IM Libera Awards". Variety . Retrieved November 5, 2023.