More than 40 artists/acts have been selected for juried formal and semi-formal showcases during the 25th annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, slated for Nov. 7-10, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT.
With only 14 artists/acts chosen for 15-minute slots on Friday and Saturday nights, the Formal Showcase is the premiere and most coveted performance opportunity at the conference. Featured in these showcases will be (listed in alphabetical order by last name or group name) Alisa Amador, Megan Burtt, Sophie Buskin, Meghan Cary, Damn Tall Buildings, Roger Street Friedman, Corey Laitman Trio, Alastair Moock, Matt Nakoa Trio, The New Students, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Les Royal Pickles, Annie Sumi, and Tui. Named as alternates were Diana Alvarez, Susan Cattaneo and Kipyn Martin.
Immediately following the Formal Showcases on Friday and Saturday nights, conference attendees will shuffle between three rooms in close proximity to one another to enjoy juried 15-minute Semi-Formal Showcases (formerly known as tricentrics and quadcentrics). Artists selected for these showcases include Jeremy Aaron, Marc Berger, The Bombadils, Blue Plate Special, Cricket Blue, Katie Dahl, Kala Farnham, Kora Feder, Marion Halliday, Lynne Hanson & The Good Intentions, Matt Harlan, Lily Henley, JANTURAN, Diana Jones, Mara Levine, James Maddock, Jeffrey Martin, Mosa, Peter Mulvey, David Newland with Siqniup Qilauta/Sunsdrum, Ordinary Elephant, Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints, Kalyna Rakel, Jessica Rhaye & the Ramshackle Parade, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Katherine Rondeau, Martin Swinger, Ken Tizzard, Tragedy Ann, and Rupert Wates. Named as alternates were Eliza Edens, The Levins and Piper & Carson. Like the Formal Showcases that precede them, nothing else is allowed to compete with the Semi-Formal Showcases during the conference.
Judges for this year’s official juried showcases were Sarah Craig (Caffe Lena), Dan Gottfried (Voices in the Heights), Joe Mercadante (Steeple Coffeehouse), Ron Olesko (Folk Music Notebook), Jess Razzi (Razzi Entertainment), Kimberly Sinclair (SpinCount), and Matt Smith (Passim).
After the juried showcases each evening, AcousticMusicScene.com will join dozens of presenters, performers and others in hosting guerilla showcases in their hotel rooms that extend through the early morning hours. The Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase, informal jam sessions, thematic song circles, round-robin song swaps, and open mics round out the musical mix.
[Here’s a link to a short song video by Neale Eckstein featuring images and scenes from the 2017 NERFA Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt-A_DnX1OY.]
As in years past, besides several jam-packed days and nights of music, the NERFA conference also will feature informative panel discussions and workshops, one-on-one mentoring and peer group sessions, communal meals, a large trade show-like exhibit hall, a welcoming party, and lots of opportunities for schmoozing and networking. Courtney Rodland, NERFA’s interim conference director, also is working with the programming committee to develop special features in recognition of the conference’s silver anniversary.
NERFA is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International — a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. Serving FAI members from the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC to the provinces of eastern Canada, NERFA attracts more than 700 performing artists, presenters, promoters, agents, managers, folk DJs, and others engaged more than peripherally in contemporary and traditional folk music to its annual conference. The event is designed to help them forge connections, build community, and learn things that can help enhance and enrich their professional and personal lives.
The conference early-bird registration rate extends through Aug. 15, after which registration prices rise by $50 each month. More information on the conference and on NERFA itself can be found online at www.nerfa.org.
Editor’s Note: I am president of the NERFA board of directors and also serve on the Folk Alliance International board. In addition to hosting late-night showcases under the banner of AcousticMusicScene.com, I plan to offer mentoring sessions on strategic communications, PR, social media and other topics during the conference.
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