Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the Official Showcase artists for the 30th annual conference taking place February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
A platform for luminaries and rising stars, the annual conference is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community. FAI’s Official Showcases are jury-selected nightly concerts featuring emerging artists and touring legends from around the world. The performances are 30 minutes in length and are held concurrently on ten full-production stages throughout the host hotel over three nights.
For the most up-to-date list of 2018 Official Showcase artists (confirmed to date and subject to change), visit folkconference.org/OSA.
Over 800 artists apply for the opportunity to perform for hundreds of festivals and venue bookers, agents, managers, labels, media, and music industry representatives. The curated showcases feature touring and export-ready artists representing a diverse array of folk genres including Appalachian, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Global Roots, Indie-Folk, Indigenous, Latin, Old Time, Traditional, Singer-songwriter, Spoken Word, and every imaginable fusion.
Breakthrough artists from previous conferences include Lake Street Dive, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Milk Carton Kids, Darlingside, The Stray Birds, Valerie June, John Fullbright, David Francey, The Wailin’ Jennys, Kaia Kater, The Waifs, and Nickel Creek. Past showcase performances have also included guest appearances by Judy Collins, Béla Fleck, Rita Coolidge, Ron Sexsmith, Archie Fisher, Peggy Seeger, and more.
Bringing together musicians, educators, and music industry professionals from throughout the world, FAI’s annual conference is known for its community atmosphere, business and networking opportunities, and as a hotspot for discovering new talent.
The 30th annual Folk Alliance International Conference will be held February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri and features presentations from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Richard Thompson, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards, and the 3rd annual Kansas City Folk Festival. The 2018 conference celebrates 30 YEARS OF COMMUNITY AND SONG, honoring the past 3 decades of the organization’s growth and activity, as well as the broader story of folk music during that time.
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About Folk Alliance International
Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a registered nonprofit based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1989, FAI is an advocacy, professional development, and networking organization that produces the world’s largest conference of the folk music community and industry. FAI serves over international 3,000 members and five regional affiliate organizations in North America. www.folk.org
About the annual FAI Conference
The Folk Alliance International Conference is one of the five largest music conferences in North America and draws 2700 registrants from 27 countries. The annual event includes a 3-day conference with daytime panels and evening showcases, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards, Folk in the Schools and Artist in Residence program, and the Kansas City Folk Festival. The 30th edition will be held February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Hotel Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. www.folkconference.org
The Folk Alliance International Conference is one of the five largest music conferences in North America and draws 2700 registrants from 27 countries. The annual event includes a 3-day conference with daytime panels and evening showcases, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards, Folk in the Schools and Artist in Residence program, and the Kansas City Folk Festival. The 30th edition will be held February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Hotel Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. www.folkconference.org
2018 Official Showcase Artists*
*confirmed to date, subject to change
AHI (Canada)
Abbie Gardner (United States)
The Accidentals (United States)
Aerialists (Canada)
Alex Meixner Band (United States)
Amanda Rheaume (Canada)
Ambre McLean (Canada)
Ana Egge (United States)
Anais Mitchell (United States)
Anika Moa (New Zealand)
Anna & Elizabeth (United States)
Anne McCue (United States)
Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire (Canada)
Baile An Salsa (Ireland)
Beppe Gambetta (Italy)
Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe)
Bon Débarras (Canada)
Boogát (Canada)
Breabach (Scotland)
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (United States)
Celeigh Cardinal (Canada)
Charlie Mars (United States)
Chastity Brown (United States)
Choir! Choir! Choir! (Canada)
Christie Lenée (United States)
Colter Wall (Canada)
Connie Kaldor (Canada)
Cosmo Sheldrake (England)
Courtney Hartman (United States)
The Crane Wives (United States)
Crys Matthews (United States)
Cubanisms (United States)
DIGGING ROOTS (Canada)
Daniel Champagne (Australia)
Danni Nicholls (England)
Danny Burns (United States)
Daoirí Farrell (Ireland)
Dar Williams (United States)
Darling West (Norway)
Dayna Kurtz (United States)
Delhi 2 Dublin (United States)
Devarrow (Canada)
Dizraeli (England)
Dylan Menzie (Canada)
Elephant Sessions (Scotland)
Eljuri (United States)
Elsten Torres (United States)
EmiSunshine & The Rain (United States)
Erin Costelo (Canada)
Evie Ladin Band (United States)
Fara (Scotland)
Findlay Napier (Scotland)
Fiver Fines (Canada)
Fortunate Ones (Canada)
The Fugitives (Canada)
Giri & Uma Peters (United States)
Grant-Lee Phillips (United States)
Gretchen Peters (United States)
Guy Davis (United States)
Hackensaw Boys (United States)
Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage (England)
Hans Theessink (Austria)
Hat Fitz and Cara (Australia)
Heather Maloney (United States)
Henry Nam (United States)
in/PLANES (United States)
In The Willows (Ireland)
Jack Semple (Canada)
Jaimee Harris (United States)
Jake Morley (England)
James Maddock (United States)
Jarlath Henderson (Northern Ireland)
Jayme Stone (United States)
Jeremy Dutcher (Canada)
Jeremy Kittel Trio (United States)
Joe Purdy & Amber Rubarth (United States)
John Blek (Ireland)
John Flynn (United States)
John Gorka (United States)
John Oates (United States)
John Smith (England)
Jorma Kaukonen (United States)
Julian Taylor (Canada)
Kim Taylor (United States)
Kolonien (Sweden)
Kuinka (United States)
Larissa Tandy (Canada)
Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards (United States)
Leaf Rapids (Canada)
Les Grands Hurleurs (Canada)
Les Poules à Colin (Canada)
Lisa LeBlanc (Canada)
The LYNNeS (Canada)
Making Movies (United States)
The Mammals (United States)
Martha Redbone Roots Project (United States)
Martyn Joseph (Wales)
Mary Gauthier (United States)
The Mastersons (United States)
Matthew Byrne (Canada)
Maybe April (United States)
Megan Bonnell (Canada)
Mick Flannery (Ireland)
Mile Twelve (United States)
Molly Tuttle (United States)
Monique Clare (Australia)
Mountain Heart (United States)
Natalia Zukerman (United States)
Nathalie Pires with Ensemble Iberica (United States)
NewTown (United States)
Newpoli (United States)
The Next Generation Leahy (Canada)
Old Hannah (Ireland)
Oliver Swain (Canada)
Ouroboros (Canada)
Over the Rhine (United States)
Rachel Baiman (United States)
Rachel Laven (United States)
Radio Free Honduras (United States)
Rafiki Jazz (England)
Raine Hamilton String Trio (Canada)
Roanoke (United States)
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley (United States)
Rose Cousins (Canada)
Rosie & the Riveters (Canada)
Royal Wood (Canada)
Ruby Boots (United States)
Rura (Scotland)
Ruthie Foster (United States)
Ryan McNally (Canada)
Sally & George (United States)
Sam Baker (United States)
Sam Reider and The Human Hands (United States)
Sarah Jane Scouten (Canada)
SaulPaul (United States)
The Sea The Sea (United States)
Sergio Beercock (Italy)
Session Americana (United States)
Shelley Segal (Australia)
Shreem x Celtic Remixing (Canada)
Skerryvore (Scotland)
The Small Glories (Canada)
Southern Avenue (United States)
Steve Poltz (United States)
The Stray Birds (United States)
Suzie Vinnick (Canada)
Svjata Vatra (Estonia)
Talisk (Scotland)
Tom Chapin (United States)
Tom Prasada Rao (United States)
Tommy Sands (Ireland)
Trout Steak Revival (United States)
Victor & Penny (United States)
Villalobos Brothers (United States)
Vox Sambou (Canada)
Wallis Bird (Ireland)
The War and Treaty (United States)
The Western Flyers (United States)
Wild Ponies (United States)
Wild Rivers (Canada)
William Crighton (Australia)
Ye Vagabonds (Ireland)
Yirrmal (Australia)
