In Photos: The 35th Annual Austin Music Awards

The 35th Annual Austin Music Awards took place on March 12 at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre, as part of South by Southwest. Pictured here: Charlie Sexton, Erika Wennerstrom and LouLou of Thievery Corp. and Night Glitter. All photos by Lynne Margolis.

American Songwriter’s 2017 coverage of SXSW is presented by D’addario.

Kelly Willis singing “What I Deserve” with house band leader Charlie Sexton and the Trishas’ Kelley Mickwee at the Austin Music Awards at ACL Live at the Moody Theater Sunday, March 12, as part of South By Southwest.

The Trishas’ Savannah Welch, left, sings “With A Little Help from my Friends” with Carolyn Wonderland, Kelly Willis and fellow Trishas Kelley Mickwee, Jamie Lin Wilson and Liz Foster, backed by members of the house band, at the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Getting by with a little help from their friends are, from left, The Bluebonnets’ Dominique Davalos, Kristy Mcinnis, Kathy Valentine and Eve Monsees, with Charlie Sexton, the Trishas’ Savannah Welch, Carolyn Wonderland, Kelly Willis and Trishas Kelley Mickwee, Jamie Lin Wilson and Liz Foster. They jammed together during a segment of the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

The Trishas’ Savannah Welch shares a mic with blues singer and guitarist Carolyn Wonderland during a segment of the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Kelly Willis and the Trishas’ Kelley Mickwee share a mic during a segment of the Austin Music Awards at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The awards were held Sunday, March 12, as part of South By Southwest.

Joe Ely performs as part of a tribute to Texas songwriters at the 35th annual Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Kat Edmonson and mentor Lyle Lovett duet on Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You” during a tribute to Texas songwriters at the 35th annual Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Gina Chavez accepts her Best Latin Band award for the fifth year in a row at the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Willie Nelson’s son Lukas reaches a high note during his rendition of “Amazing Grace” at the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Lukas Nelson inducted his aunt, Bobbie Nelson, pianist in her brother and his father Willie Nelson’s Family Band, into the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The awards are held annually as part of South By Southwest.

Perennial winner Bob Schneider once again took home an Austin Music Award for Best Rock Band at the 35th annual awards ceremony, held for the first time at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Sunday, March 12.

Joe Ely presents his old Lubbock pal Terry Allen with the inaugural Townes Van Zandt Award, to be given annually in honor of the late Texas songwriter, at the 35th annual Austin Music Awards, held at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Sunday, March 12.

House band leader Charlie Sexton, drummer Conrad Choucron, Terry Allen, sons Bukka on accordion and Bale on percussion, and Lyle Lovett perform Terry Allen’s “Amarillo Highway” after he accepted the inaugural Townes Van Zandt Award at the 35th annual Austin Music Awards, held at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Sunday, March 12.

There’s always a highway … in this case, it was Terry Allen’s “Amarillo Highway,” performed by Allen, center, his son, Bukka, on accordion, and Lyle Lovett, as part of the 35th annual Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater as part of South By Southwest.

Townes Van Zandt Award honoree Terry Allen, seated, and his son Bukka share a midsong moment onstage at the Austin Music Awards, held Sunday, March 12 at ACL Live at the Moody Theate as part of South By Southwest. Photo by Lynne Margolis.

Surprise guest Chrissie Hynde rushed over to ACL Live at the Moody Theater to perform at the Austin Music Awards after her band, the Pretenders, opened for Stevie Nicks across town on Sunday, March 12. In recent years, the awards have attracted high-watt talent from Pete Townshend and Steven Van Zandt to Robert Plant and Bruce Springsteen.