Beginning Wednesday, May 18, the Folk Alliance’s first in-person conference since January 2020 kicks off in Kansas City. Whether tuning in from the comfort of your home via the virtual option, or connecting in person in the hallways of the Kansas City Westin, one thing is certain: it sure feels good to be back with all our folk friends.
SPOTLIGHTS
Spotlight Week is a virtual presentation of talented acts from around the world in one-hour pre-recorded showcases as part of the virtual programming for the 2022 Folk Alliance International Conference.
From May 9-11, eight partners from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Canada, and the USA presented 52 acts total from a wide range of genres. Artist highlights include Aoife O’Donovan, Peggy Seeger, John McCutcheon, and Michaela Anne. All performances are available for repeat viewing within the conference platform for the rest of May. Discover the full Spotlight schedule here.
OFFICIAL SHOWCASES One of the biggest highlights of every Folk Alliance conference is the promise of discovering something you’ve never heard before.
We’re particularly looking forward to The Bluegrass Situation’s official showcase night on Friday, May 20, from 4:15-9pm CT in the Century C Ballroom, featuring Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, JigJam, Dan Navarro, and Ensemble Iberica.
Stop by and say hello to our editor Craig Shelburne as he emcees the stage for the evening!
PANELS & PROGRAMMING FAI is always a meeting point for some of the most prominent names in the roots music industry to connect and share updates on the state of the folk and folk-adjacent music world.
This year brings us remarks from keynote speakers Shirley Collins and Madeleine Peyroux, plus the International Folk Music Awards, Peer Sessions for artists, agents, labels, and festivals, artist mentorship meetings, and even Affinity Group sessions for communities like BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Women, Folks 55+, and Folks with Disabilities. Plus the world premiere of a new work from Saskia Tompkins, FAI’s 2022 Artist in Residence.
You can discover a guide to all the daytime programming and panels here.
Even if you can’t be at this year’s conference in person, it’s not too late to register for the virtual conference. Virtual access is available via a pay-what-you’re-able model allowing you to access official showcase performances within 24 hours of their live set, plus exclusive online-only content like the daily Black Opry Hour. You can discover more
here, and the full program for the week’s events is available
here.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Folk Alliance International conference? What are some of your favorite memories and discoveries from past conferences? Let us know in the comments!
Photo: Raye Zaragoza via Folk Alliance International
