More than 500 performing artists, presenters, promoters, agents and managers, folk DJs, and others actively engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music are expected to converge on The Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York, Nov. 6-9, 2025 for the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. {Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
Nearly 400 people will converge on Lisle, Illinois (near Chicago) October 23-26, 2025 for the annual FARM Gathering & Presenter Summit presented by Folk Alliance Region Midwest, one of five North American regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International. The extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, learning opportunities, and networking features 14 official juried showcases, along with a number of late-night private showcases hosted by AcousticMusicScene.com and others. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
More than 100 acts, from solo artists to full bands, will be selected to showcase their talents during the 2026 Singer-Songwriter of Cape May music conference that is set for Friday-Saturday, March 27-28, in the historic Victorian-lined New Jersey seaside community. All artists who submit showcase applications online and pay the $20 submission fee by the November 30 deadline will receive complimentary registration credentials for the conference whether or not they are slotted. [Click on the headline to continue reading this short article.]
The maddening crowds of summer won’t be there yet, but several hundred performing artists and others engaged in the music business are expected to converge on the historic Victorian-lined New Jersey seaside resort community of Cape May, March 28-29, 2025 when the Singer-Songwriter Cape May conference resumes following a five-year hiatus. The conference had previously taken place annually from 2018-2019. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article previewing the conference which features evening artist showcases that are free and open to the public.]
The 2025 International Folk Music Awards were presented on the opening night of the 37th annual Folk Alliance International Conference at Le Sheraton Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada last month. These included member-voted Best Album, Song and Artist of the Year (2024), as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards, Spirit of Folk Awards, the Clearwater Award, the People’s Voice Award, and the Rising Tide Award, in addition to inductions into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article, which also includes information about the conference, and to view a couple of videos.]
Some 130 acts -- ranging from solo artists to full bands -- will be selected to showcase at various venues over two nights when the Singer-Songwriter Cape May music business conference resumes after a five-year hiatus. Set for Friday-Saturday, March 28-29, 2025 in the historic Victorian-lined New Jersey seaside resort community, the conference had previously taken place annually from 2008-2019.
Folk Alliance International and its regional affiliates jointly present a free online music conference, June 5-6, 2024. Entitled Folk+ and sponsored by Grassy Hill Entertainment, the two-day event will feature panel discussions, networking, an artist Q & A series, regional breakout sessions, artist performances, and more.
More than 300 people will converge on Black Mountain, North Carolina, May 9-12, 2024 for the annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference. An extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, networking and learning opportunities, the conference will be keynoted by Rachael Sage and features 16 juried official showcases, along with a number of late-night private showcases hosted by AcousticMusicScene.com and others.
More than 250 people will converge on Black Mountain, North Carolina, May 4-7, 2023 for the annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference. An extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, networking and learning opportunities, the conference will be keynoted by Jeff Place and features 16 juried official showcases, along with a number of late-night private showcases.
More than 2,700 performing arts professionals from throughout North America and beyond converged on New York City, Jan. 13-17, 2023 for the annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) – its first in-person gathering in several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As in years past, dozens of performers from the folk, roots and singer-songwriter communities were featured among the more than 1,000 showcases during the global multidisciplinary performing arts marketplace and conference.
More than 400 performing artists, presenters, promoters, managers, agents, and others actively engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music will converge on Asbury Park, New Jersey, November 10-13, 2022 for the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, while more will enjoy the event virtually. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article previewing the conference.]
For the first time in three years, Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) will hold an in-person annual conference in Austin, Texas. Set for Wednesday, September 21-Sunday, September 25, 2022, its 23rd annual conference will feature official and in-room showcases; communal meals; panel discussions, seminars and workshops addressing many facets of the music business; a film screening; Wisdom of the Elders; mentoring sessions; a DJ reception; an exhibit area, and lots of networking opportunities. AcousticMusicScene.com will host song swaps and a Midnight Hoot on Saturday overnight.
