37th Annual Folk Alliance Conferance

The thirty-seventh annual  Folk Alliance International Conference will be taking place at the Sheraton Hotel in Montreal from February nineteenth through the twenty-third. With over one hundred and seventy-five artists representing twenty-six countries, nineteen U.S. states, and all thirteen of our Canadian provinces. This stands to be one of the biggest showcases of folk music in the conference’s history. 

   "We are thrilled to present an incredible lineup of artists from around the world, each bringing their unique voice to our vibrant folk music community," said Jennifer Roe, Executive Director of Folk Alliance International. "Our 37th annual conference, themed 'Illuminate' and inspired by the Northern Lights, will be a celebration of diverse musical traditions, artistic expression, and the shared experience that connects us all. It will be great to come back to Montreal, site of the 2019 conference; returning to Quebec highlights our continued commitment to artists in Canada and elsewhere outside of the United States."

  The Annual Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest gathering of folk musicians and music industry professionals in the world. An international crowd of artists, venues, labels, DJs, agents, and organizations come together for five days of professional development, networking, and music. Official Showcases highlight the best folk music in the world across a vast variety of genres. Over 175 jury-selected artists perform on the largest stages of our conference to an audience of venue bookers, agents, record labels, DJs, media companies, and more.

  The crowd-favourite of every FAI Conference, Private Showcases give everyone an opportunity to perform. Late at night, hotel guest rooms transform into small stages with hundreds of performances hosted by different organizations.

   Among the many artists scheduled at the conference are Canadian Folk Music Award winner Abigail Lapell, and Roots-rocker Adrian Sutherland from Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay. His unique melding of rock, roots, folk and blues draws inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree language and culture. Expanding the definition of folk, Bella’s Bartok is a band known for raucous theatrical performances with influences ranging from Punk to Folk and Pop to Americana. Representing the deep south Dusky Waters's soulful lyricism meets high-powered harmonies that ebb and flow like the Mississippi River. From Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Mama's Broke are a folk music duo consisting of Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria. Two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin. David Howley, founding member of We Banjo 3,  has been at the forefront of Irish folk music for over a decade. His new solo album has been called “ a thing of rare beauty” by the Irish Times. 

  Founded in 1989, and governed by a 21-member board of directors, Folk Alliance International (FAI) is the world’s largest membership organization for the folk music industry and community. Its mission is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion. For more information, visit the Folk Alliance website at: http://www.folk.org