NMAAM creates signature AmericanaFest experience with Keb’ Mo’ and Ghost Hounds
NASHVILLE, TN (September 17, 2025) – The National Museum of African American Music transformed into Nashville’s premier AmericanaFest destination Saturday, September 13, hosting a sold-out intimate conversation with five-time GRAMMY winner Keb’ Mo’ followed by Ghost Hounds’ debut performance at NMAAM in a multi-layered cultural experience that set a new standard for museum programming during major music festivals.
The day began with Keb’ Mo’s arrival at NMAAM, where the longtime museum ambassador immediately settled into the green room – a space he’s frequented during his multiple visits to support the institution. In a spontaneous moment that created museum history, Keb’ Mo’ became the first artist to take a Polaroid photograph in the green room, launching a tradition where every visiting artist will contribute to a permanent shadow box display for future performers to witness NMAAM’s growing legacy.
The centerpiece conversation between Keb’ Mo’ and acclaimed Tennessean journalist Marcus K. Dowling filled the museum’s 200-seat Roots Theater to near capacity, with overflow crowds creating anticipation throughout the building. The hourlong discussion traced Keb’ Mo’s extraordinary 50-year journey from his French horn-playing youth in Compton, California, through his five GRAMMY Awards, 14 Blues Foundation Awards and recent Americana Lifetime Achievement Award recognition.
“One fan told us she was on the edge of her seat the entire conversation – she enjoyed every minute,” noted museum staff, capturing the magnetic pull of Dowling’s expertly crafted questions that revealed both Keb’ Mo’s musical evolution and his deep personal connection to American roots traditions.
The conversation seamlessly transitioned into the unveiling of “Roots Uncovered: Keb’ Mo'” in the museum’s main lobby, where artifacts spanning his complete career trajectory created a visual timeline from his early musical exploration to his Grammy-winning album Oklahoma. In both the conversation and a full case of the exhibit, a spotlight was shone on his collaborations with griot Taj Mahal. Mo’ shared with the audience the story of first seeing Mahal play while still in high school and tracing that to their two albums together: TajMo (with their Grammy award on display) and Room On The Porch (with the Mayor of Nashville’s Proclamation declaring that album’s release day as “TajMo Day”). The exhibition demonstrates how one artist’s journey embodies the broader story of African American musical innovation that NMAAM preserves and celebrates.
“I was really impressed with the high-level programming and caliber of our team to put together a partnership activation like this for AmericanaFest,” said Dexter D. Evans, deputy director of strategy and advancement at NMAAM. “This continues to show the value and uniqueness of The National Museum of African American Music and why it is strategically placed in the center of Music City – this was the place where folks needed to be during AmericanaFest 2025.”
Ghost Hounds elevated the afternoon with their own exhibition unveiling in NMAAM’s Donation Corner, where frontman SAVNT personally presented artifacts including his striking “She Runs Hot” music video jacket. The band’s generous contribution exceeded display space, with additional items joining the museum’s permanent archives – exactly the kind of comprehensive donation that makes the Donation Corner program invaluable for preserving contemporary musical history.
SAVNT’s heartfelt presentation about each artifact, including stories behind the music video and his 18-month journey with Ghost Hounds since early 2024, created the intimate artist-audience connection that distinguishes NMAAM programming from typical museum experiences.
The experience culminated in Ghost Hounds’ eight-song acoustic performance in NMAAM’s 90-seat Amplify Lounge, where the standing-room audience included SAVNT’s family who traveled from New Jersey and Colorado specifically for this NMAAM debut. The three-piece configuration featuring fiddle, guitar and vocals transformed the space into an intimate listening room that felt both exclusive and accessible – the perfect embodiment of what makes Amplify at NMAAM special.
NMAAM Chief Curator Dr. Bryan Pierce emphasized the exhibition’s significance: “Working with Keb’ Mo’ to display these artifacts allowed us to tell the complete story of an artist who embodies the evolution of American roots music. Adding Ghost Hounds demonstrates how African American musical innovation continues to shape contemporary Americana.”
The weekend also featured the permanent installation of Van Wentz’s striking Jimi Hendrix portrait on NMAAM’s Donation Art Wall, completing a multi-day celebration of visual and musical artistry that reinforced the museum’s role as both cultural repository and active participant in Nashville’s creative ecosystem.
Both “Roots Uncovered: Keb’ Mo'” and Ghost Hounds’ Donation Corner exhibition are scheduled to remain on display through December 2025. NMAAM invites visual artists to submit works representing African American music for the Donation Art Wall at curatorial@nmaam.org.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC: The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is the only museum dedicated to preserving, celebrating and amplifying the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. As the Home of Black Music Month and a national cultural authority, NMAAM tells the complete story of the American soundtrack through innovative and interactive exhibits and programming that integrate history and cutting-edge technology to bring musical heroes of the past into the present. For more information, visit www.nmaam.org.
ABOUT AMERICANAFEST: AMERICANAFEST brings together hundreds of showcasing artists, industry leaders and music fans throughout the most notable venues in Nashville, Tennessee. To complement the nightly official showcases curated by a festival committee, multiple special events during the day allow agencies, labels and other industry entities to highlight their roster. The destination event also offers a three-day educational conference with networking opportunities, numerous panels and premium industry interaction. The annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony at Ryman Auditorium recognizes the groundbreaking figures of Americana music and celebrates the music achievements of the past year. AMERICANAFEST serves as a fundraiser supporting the initiatives of the Americana Music Association and its Foundation and will take place in Nashville from Sept. 9-13, 2025.
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