As Michael and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty put it, the honor is “absolutely incredible” and completely humbling.
The Michigan-based, soulful Americana band has earned two 2019 nominations in the prestigious Americana Music Awards, for emerging act of the year and duo/group of the year, with the awards being announced on Sept. 11 in Nashville as part of AmericanaFest.
“I can’t tell you how excited we are to be nominated with so many amazing artists,” Michael Trotter said after learning of the nominations.
The War and Treaty will join some renowned performers as nominees for duo/group of the year: The Tedeschi Trucks Band, I’m With Her and Our Native Daughters.
In the emerging act category, Jade Bird, J.S. Ondara, Erin Rae and Yola also are nominated.
Nominees in other categories include acclaimed international artists such as John Prine, Mavis Staples and Brandi Carlile.
Michael Trotter noted that band members are friends with several of the other nominated bands, including I’m With Her and Our Native Daughters.
“It’s so cool,” he said. “Plus to see our friend Brandi and our Queen Mavis and King John Prine on ballots (in other categories) is always a true blessing.”
The Albion couple’s rise to national prominence began at AmericanaFest two years ago. The duo was invited at the 11th hour to fill in for producer/guitarist Buddy Miller at AmericanaFest because he was ill. That gave them the opportunity to perform with Miller’s band and showcase their music, a performance that earned them widespread accolades.
Not long after, Miller ended up producing the band’s highly acclaimed full-length debut album, “Healing Tide.” The band has since played major festivals and toured the country, earning universal raves from critics for its passionate, fiery performances.
The group — focusing on Michael Trotter’s experience as an Iraqi war veteran who learned how to play piano on an instrument found in one of Saddam Hussein’s abandoned palaces — last week was featured on CBS’ “Sunday Morning.”
“We are living out a dream and at a loss for words,” band members declared on their Facebook page after the award nominations were announced, calling it “absolutely incredible."
"Thank you to AmericanaFest, Americana music lovers and all of you who nominated us. What an honor.”
The Michigan band has credited its Great Lakes State fans for supporting its music and helping propel its meteoric rise to fame. In February alone, The War and Treaty played two inspiring, crowd-uplifting concerts in Grand Rapids.
The band — which also includes guitarist Sam Wilson, bassist/music director Max Brown and drummer Nolan Levels II — plays Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio in early June, before returning to Michigan to play Beacon Park in Detroit on June 15 and Founders Fest in Grand Rapids on June 22.