The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) hosts its annual conference at the Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin, Texas, Sept. 26-29, 2013. Attendees – primarily performing artists, presenters, managers, agents and others engaged more than peripherally in the world of folk and acoustic music – will enjoy open mics, showcases and shared meals; be enlightened during daytime seminars, panel discussions and one-on-one mentoring sessions; and have an opportunity to forge new relationships, renew existing ones, and help build folk community.

Brian Kalinec

Brian Kalinec is among the official showcase artists.

Artists selected to perform official showcases on Friday night, Sept. 27, include Mikaela Kahn, Michael Mulder, Ellis, Linda McRae, Kira Small, Parker Millsap, Laura Marie and Lost and Nameless Orchestra. Saturday night’s official showcase lineup will feature Roy Schneider, Whit Hill, Brian Kalinec, Laura Zucker, Paper Moon Shiners, Bob Cheevers, Karen Dahlstrom and Moors & McCumber. The official showcases are slated to extend from 7:30- 10 p.m., and no other conference events can compete with them.

Alternates include Aengus Finnan, Libby Koch, Guillermo Serpas, Daniel Makins, Emily Herring and Ashlee Rose. These six artists will showcase their talents following a pool party on Thursday night. Charlie Stewart emcees.

In addition to the official showcases, various artists, presenters and others will host afternoon and late-night showcases in their hotel rooms; while singer-songwriter Butch Morgan will host open mics by the pool. A number of informative seminars and panel discussions are being planned for the daytime hours, while attendees also can visit the exhibit hall.

Although the conference begins Thursday evening with an open mic by the pool, a meet and greet and open mic for early arrivers will take place the previous night at Threadgill’s North. The conference concludes on Sunday with a brunch, followed by SWRFA’s popular song assignment performances. All artists who are registered for the conference are given a random song topic to write during the weekend and perform on Sunday afternoon.

Following the conference, from 4-10 p.m, a Be-Bob-Alooza supporting Austin singer-songwriters takes place at Nutty Brown Café & Amphitheater. Featured performing artists at the event, for which admission is $10, include Brian Batch of Alpha Rev, Will Taylor & Strings Attached, The Belle Sounds, Albert & Gage, Danny Britt & Marvin Kykhuis, and Austin singer-songwriters Charlie Faye, Michael Fracasso, David Halley, Tommy Elskes, and Doster & Cheevers.

Although focused on the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, the SWRFA Conference draws people from throughout the U.S. and Canada. SWRFA (www.swfolkalliance.org) is part of the larger Folk Alliance International, an association that seeks to foster and promote multicultural, traditional and contemporary folk music, while strengthening and advancing organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.