News & Press

Conference News and Updates

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 21:59:23 GMT

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO DELEGATES

Wed, 7 Feb 2018 15:28:11 GMT

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO DELEGATES:

A benefit exclusive to FAI membership is access to the most recent delegate list with email information for use in year-round professional communication and pre/post conference business.

The email addresses from that list cannot be added to mailing lists or used in any way for bulk messaging. The list is intended exclusively for targeted, one-to-one communication.

FAI requires that all attendees adhere to the guidelines set forth by the CAN-SPAM Act. As you prepare your pre-conference marketing, please take note of the following guidelines:

Sort and segment your lists. It will reflect poorly on you if you email attendees who don’t find your message to be relevant.
Send personalized, clear, and targeted emails. Tell your recipients who you are and why you’re emailing them.
Learn more by reading CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business.

Please respect the inboxes of all delegates, the criteria by which this information is made available, and the cooperative nature of membership.

We will continue to follow up with members who spam the list.

Respectfully,

Folk Alliance International, Executive Director

Announcing 2018 Official Showcase Artists

Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:55:31 GMT

ANNOUNCING 2018 OFFICIAL SHOWCASE ARTISTS

October 30, 2017, Kansas City, MO - Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the Official Showcase artists (*confirmed to date and subject to change) for the 30^th annual conference taking place February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

A platform for luminaries and rising stars, the annual conference is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community. FAI’s Official Showcases are jury-selected nightly concerts featuring emerging artists and touring legends from around the world. The performances are 30 minutes in length and are held concurrently on ten full-production stages throughout the host hotel over three nights.

For the most up-to-date list of 2018 Official Showcase artists* visit folkconference.org/OSA. See also below.

Over 800 artists applied for the opportunity to perform for hundreds of festival and venue bookers, agents, managers, labels, media, and music industry representatives. The curated showcases feature touring and export-ready artists representing a diverse array of folk genres including Appalachian, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Global Roots, Indie-Folk, Indigenous, Latin, Old Time, Traditional, Singer-songwriter, Spoken Word, and every imaginable fusion.

Breakthrough artists from previous conferences include Lake Street Dive, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Milk Carton Kids, Darlingside, The Stray Birds, Valerie June, John Fullbright, David Francey, The Wailin’ Jennys, Kaia Kater, The Waifs, and Nickel Creek. Past showcase performances have also included guest appearances by Judy Collins, Béla Fleck, Rita Coolidge, Ron Sexsmith, Archie Fisher, Peggy Seeger, and more.

Bringing together musicians, educators, and music industry professionals from around the world, FAI’s annual conference is known for its community atmosphere, business and networking opportunities, and as a hotspot for discovering new talent.

The 30th annual Folk Alliance International Conference will be held February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri and features presentations from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Richard Thompson, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards, and the 3rd annual Kansas City Folk Festival. The 2018 conference celebrates 30 YEARS OF COMMUNITY AND SONG, honoring the past 3 decades of the organization’s growth and activity, as well as the broader story of folk music during that time.

"Folk Alliance may have the biggest stylistic tent in the field. It’s an explosion of variety-spanning established folk forms from around the world and some pretty heady fusion." - Bluegrass Situation

"Diversity and discovery aren’t just buzzwords here, they’re a philosophy that drives one of the most forward looking organizations in the music business and well as perhaps the best music event you can attend, year after year." - Twangville

2018 Official Showcase Artists*

*confirmed to date, subject to change

AHI (Canada)

Abbie Gardner (United States)

The Accidentals (United States)

Aerialists (Canada)

Alex Meixner Band (United States)

Amanda Rheaume (Canada)

Ambre McLean (Canada)

Ana Egge (United States)

Anais Mitchell (United States)

Anika Moa (New Zealand)

Anna & Elizabeth (United States)

Anne McCue (United States)

Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire (Canada)

Baile An Salsa (Ireland)

Beppe Gambetta (Italy)

Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe)

Bon Débarras (Canada)

Boogát (Canada)

Breabach (Scotland)

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (United States)

Celeigh Cardinal (Canada)

Charlie Mars (United States)

Chastity Brown (United States)

Choir! Choir! Choir! (Canada)

Christie Lenée (United States)

Colter Wall (Canada)

Connie Kaldor (Canada)

Cosmo Sheldrake (England)

Courtney Hartman (United States)

The Crane Wives (United States)

Crys Matthews (United States)

Cubanisms (United States)

DIGGING ROOTS (Canada)

Daniel Champagne (Australia)

Danni Nicholls (England)

Danny Burns (United States)

Daoirí Farrell (Ireland)

Dar Williams (United States)

Darling West (Norway)

Dayna Kurtz (United States)

Delhi 2 Dublin (United States)

Devarrow (Canada)

Dizraeli (England)

Dylan Menzie (Canada)

Elephant Sessions (Scotland)

Eljuri (United States)

Elsten Torres (United States)

EmiSunshine & The Rain (United States)

Erin Costelo (Canada)

Evie Ladin Band (United States)

Fara (Scotland)

Findlay Napier (Scotland)

Fiver Fines (Canada)

Fortunate Ones (Canada)

The Fugitives (Canada)

Giri & Uma Peters (United States)

Grant-Lee Phillips (United States)

Gretchen Peters (United States)

Guy Davis (United States)

Hackensaw Boys (United States)

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage (England)

Hans Theessink (Denmark)

Hat Fitz and Cara (Australia)

Heather Maloney (United States)

Henry Nam (United States)

in/PLANES (United States)

In The Willows (Ireland)

Jack Semple (Canada)

Jaimee Harris (United States)

Jake Morley (England)

James Maddock (United States)

Jarlath Henderson (Northern Ireland)

Jayme Stone (United States)

Jeremy Dutcher (Canada)

Jeremy Kittel Trio (United States)

Joe Purdy & Amber Rubarth (United States)

John Blek (Ireland)

John Flynn (United States)

John Gorka (United States)

John Oates (United States)

John Smith (England)

Jorma Kaukonen (United States)

Julian Taylor (Canada)

Kim Taylor (United States)

Kolonien (Sweden)

Kuinka (United States)

Larissa Tandy (Canada)

Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards (United States)

Leaf Rapids (Canada)

Les Grands Hurleurs (Canada)

Les Poules à Colin (Canada)

Lisa LeBlanc (Canada)

The LYNNeS (Canada)

Making Movies (United States)

The Mammals (United States)

Martha Redbone Roots Project (United States)

Martyn Joseph (Wales)

Mary Gauthier (United States)

The Mastersons (United States)

Matthew Byrne (Canada)

Maybe April (United States)

Megan Bonnell (Canada)

Mick Flannery (Ireland)

Mile Twelve (United States)

Molly Tuttle (United States)

Monique Clare (Australia)

Mountain Heart (United States)

Natalia Zukerman (United States)

Nathalie Pires with Ensemble Iberica (United States)

NewTown (United States)

Newpoli (United States)

The Next Generation Leahy (Canada)

Old Hannah (Ireland)

Oliver Swain (Canada)

Ouroboros (Canada)

Over the Rhine (United States)

Rachel Baiman (United States)

Rachel Laven (United States)

Radio Free Honduras (United States)

Rafiki Jazz (England)

Raine Hamilton String Trio (Canada)

Roanoke (United States)

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley (United States)

Rose Cousins (Canada)

Rosie & the Riveters (Canada)

Royal Wood (Canada)

Ruby Boots (United States)

Rura (Scotland)

Ruthie Foster (United States)

Ryan McNally (Canada)

Sally & George (United States)

Sam Baker (United States)

Sam Reider and The Human Hands (United States)

Sarah Jane Scouten (Canada)

SaulPaul (United States)

The Sea The Sea (United States)

Sergio Beercock (Italy)

Session Americana (United States)

Shelley Segal (Australia)

Shreem x Celtic Remixing (Canada)

Skerryvore (Scotland)

The Small Glories (Canada)

Southern Avenue (United States)

Steve Poltz (United States)

The Stray Birds (United States)

Suzie Vinnick (Canada)

Talisk (Scotland)

Tom Chapin (United States)

Tom Prasada Rao (United States)

Tommy Sands (Ireland)

Trout Steak Revival (United States)

Victor & Penny (United States)

Villalobos Brothers (United States)

Vox Sambou (Canada)

Wallis Bird (Ireland)

The War and Treaty (United States)

The Western Flyers (United States)

Wild Ponies (United States)

Wild Rivers (Canada)

William Crighton (Australia)

Ye Vagabonds (Ireland)

Yirrmal (Australia)

For more information about Folk Alliance International and the 2018 conference, please contact Erika Noguera at communications@folk.org, 816.221.3655 x7.

Press Release: Gene Shay Folk DJ Scholarship

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:18:52 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2017 Erika Noguera
Folk Alliance International
816.221.3655 x7 communications@folk.org

Folk Alliance International and the Folk DJ Community Announce Applications Now Open for the inaugural Gene Shay Folk DJ Scholarship to FAI

Kansas City, MO: The community of Folk DJs around the world and Folk Alliance International (FAI) are pleased to announce that applications for the inaugural Gene Shay Folk DJ Scholarship are now open through September 30, 2017, at folk.org/folkdjscholarapp.

The Gene Shay Folk DJ Scholarship includes conference registration to the upcoming Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri Feb 14-18, 2018, hotel for four nights at the Westin Hotel Crown Center, travel compensation up to $500, and more.

The scholarship is determined by a committee comprised of radio veterans and music industry executives and will be awarded on an annual basis. The current committee is Tom Coxworth (CKUA - Edmonton, Canada), Biff Kennedy (Charterhouse Music Group - Philadelphia, PA), John Platt (WFUV - New York, NY), Ellen Stanley (KFAI - Minneapolis-St.Paul, MN), and Mary Sue Twohy (SiriusXM - USA & Canada) working in tandem with FAI staff.

The scholarship requires that on-air broadcasters program Folk and World formats, broadcast on terrestrial, satellite or internet formats for a minimum of one year and no more than 5 years. Aircheck and application are due September 30, 2017, and notification will happen on or by November 10, 2017. All applicants are encouraged to pencil February 14-18, 2018, on their calendars.

For more detail and to submit an application and aircheck please visit folk.org/folkdjscholarapp.

About Gene Shay
Gene Shay is frequently referred to as the "Dean of Folk DJs." His career has spanned more than five decades on six different radio stations in the Philadelphia market, most recently at WXPN, where he did his final Sunday night Folk Show on February 1, 2015. Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Phil Ochs, and Tom Waits are just a few of the artists he interviewed early in their careers, a tradition that he's continued with today's best artists.

Beyond his radio work, Gene brought Bob Dylan to Philadelphia in 1963 for his debut concert, is a co-founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and co-owner of Sliced Bread Records. He was present at the creation of Folk Alliance, and he was given FAI’s first Folk DJ lifetime achievement award. Above all, he has been a friend and mentor to countless artists and DJs.

From the outpouring of camaraderie around the on-air tribute to Gene Shay on his last broadcast show on WXPN on February 1, 2015, Rich Warren and John Platt suggested the spirit be kept alive. In 2016, they met at NERFA (North East Regional Folk Alliance) with Biff Kennedy to find a way to encourage and support the next generation of broadcasters in the style and name of Gene Shay. After creating a scholarship plan, the three went to colleagues for a financial contribution in Gene Shay's name and raised a generous endowment to build the scholarship. Kennedy, Platt, and Warren then partnered with FAI to help manage, market, and determine a new broadcaster each year to attend the international conference carrying the legacy of Gene Shay's 50+ years of radio and folk music industry leadership forward. In his honor, the Gene Shay Scholarship has been established to annually send a Folk DJ for the first time to the FAI conference.

The Folk DJ Community and FAI remain thankful for all who have donated to support the annual Gene Shay Folk DJ Scholarship: Sonny Ochs, WXPN (Philadelphia, PA) , Philadelphia Folksong Society, NERFA, WRKF (Baton Rouge, LA), Laurel Zydney, Sing Out!, Erik Balkey (Hudson Harding Music), MarySue Twohy, (SiriusXM),Taylor Caffery, (“Hootenanny Power” on WRKF), Bud Johnson (Acoustic Accents on KNBA, KBRW,KYUK, KUAC, KXGA, KXKM, KTNA, KCHU in Alaska), James Curley (Earnest & Troubled, Artists), Michelle Conceison, (Market Monkeys in Nashville, TN), Richard Kardon (Philadelphia, PA), Philadelphia Folksong Society, Wayne Greene (radiowayne.com of Euless, TX), John Platt (WFUV Radio in New York, NY) and Rich Warren (WFMT Radio - 98.7 FM in Chicago, IL), Biff Kennedy (Charterhouse Music Group in Philadelphia, PA).

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About Folk Alliance International
Established in 1989, Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit with more than 3,000 members worldwide and a mission “to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community - traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional – through education, advocacy, and performance.”

FAI’s year-round services and promotion include producing the world’s largest gathering for the folk music industry and community of artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, music support services, and manufacturers. The annual event includes a 3-day conference with daytime panels and evening showcases, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards Show, and the Kansas City Folk Festival.

The FAI conference is one of the five largest music conferences in North America and draws 2700 registrants from 27 countries. The 30th edition will be held February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Hotel Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. For more information visit www.folk.org.