Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the 2019 Official Showcase artists* representing 23 countries (*confirmed to date and subject to change) for the 31st annual conference taking place February 13-17, 2019, at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
This was an exceptional applicant year with over 1000 artists (a 30% increase over the previous year) from 28 countries applying for 180 Official Showcase slots.
A 21-member international jury made up of festival directors and music industry professionals from the U.S., Canada, and abroad spent one month reviewing and scoring the applications. FAI places a priority on reflecting the full diversity of international folk music, and while scoring applications jurors are asked to consider how well the applicant helps broaden the view and offering of folk music for presenters, industry, and audience.
For the most up-to-date list of 2019 Official Showcase artists* visit folkconference.org/OSA. See also below. Apply for press credentials at folkconference.org/media-room.
A platform for luminaries and rising stars, FAI’s Official Showcases are 30 minutes in length and are held concurrently on ten full-production stages throughout the host hotel over four nights. Artists 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, Francophone, Global Roots, Indie-Folk, Indigenous, Latin, Old-Time, Traditional, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, and every imaginable fusion.
High profile artists from previous conferences include John Oates, Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers, Lake Street Dive, Rhiannon Giddens with The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lhasa de Sela, AHI, Béla Fleck , Sarah Jarosz, The Milk Carton Kids, The War and Treaty, Darlingside, The Stray Birds, Valerie June, John Fullbright, The Wailin’ Jennys, Kaia Kater, The Waifs, and Nickel Creek. Past performances have also included guest appearances by Judy Collins, Billy Bragg, Rita Coolidge, Ron Sexsmith, Ani DiFranco, Archie Fisher, Sara Watkins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Peggy Seeger and many more.
FAI is committed to diversity, inclusion, equitable representation in all programming. In compliment to ongoing efforts to prioritize this commitment, FAI has formally signed on to the PRS Foundation’s international Keychange initiative, a pioneering effort which empowers women to transform the future of music and encourages festivals to achieve a 50:50 gender balance by 2022. FAI achieved this goal of gender equity with the 2018 Official Showcases and aims to achieve it across all stages and programs in 2019.
Returning to Canada in 2019, the FAI conference theme, The Spirit of Creativity, is an exploration of the artistic process from inspiration to vocation and a collective conversation about innovation, collaboration, and spirituality in art. The 31st annual conference will be held February 13-17, 2019, in Montréal, Québec, Canada which is known for its vibrant music scene and public celebration of the arts. Additionally, the historic host hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-in at the hotel where they wrote: “Give Peace a Chance.”
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. Guided by a mission “to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion,” FAI serves over international 3,000 members and five regional affiliate organizations in North America. www.folk.org
About the annual FAI Conference
The FAI conference draws 2800 registrants from 35 countries. The annual event includes a 4-day conference with daytime panels, hundreds of Official Showcases, thousands of private showcase performances, the Louis Jay Meyers Music Camp, the International Folk Music Awards, Folk in the Schools and Artist in Residence programs. The 31th edition will be held February 13-17, 2019, at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montréal, Québec, Canada. www.folkconference.org
(see below for the full list of 2019 Official Showcase artists)
2019 Official Showcase Artists*
*confirmed to date, subject to change
Alash Ensemble
Alex Cuba
Ana Silvera
Andrew Finn Magill
Annie Oakley
April Verch Band
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
BEYRIES
Birds of Chicago
Blair Dunlop
Brock Zeman
Buckman Coe
California Guitar Trio & Montreal Guitar Trio
Caravana Banda
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Chris Kasper
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
Colm Mac Con Iomaire
Connie Kaldor
Coralie Herard
Cris Derksen Trio
DABY TOURÉ
Dan Parsons
Dave Gunning
David Bromberg Quintet
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys
David Keenan
David Myles
David Wax Museum
Dawn Landes
De Temps Antan
Dimpker Brothers
Dione Taylor & The Backsliderz
Diyet & The Love Soldiers
Doolin’
Duncan Chisholm
Durham County Poets
Eliza Gilkyson
Ellis Paul
Emily Mure
Emily Wurramara
Eric Andersen Band
Fabrizio Cammarata
Fanie Fayar
Farah Siraj
Findlay Napier
Flor de Toloache
Frazey Ford
Freddy & Francine
Gabrielle Papillon
Gangstagrass
Glen Phillips
Good Lovelies
Grace Petrie
Graeme James
Hafdis Huld
Harrison Kennedy
Hawksley Workman
Hayley Reardon
Ilaria Graziano & Francesco Forni
Inni-K
Jackie Venson
Jay Gilday
Jenn Grant
Jim Lauderdale
Joe Bel
Joe Crookston
John Kay
John Smith
Jordan Officer
Jordie Lane
Josh Halverson
Kabantu
Kaia Kater
Kalàscima
Katie Pruitt
Kiran Ahluwalia
Kongero
Le Vent du Nord
Leela Gilday Band
Lennie Gallant
Les Poules à Colin
Lisa Canny
Livingston Taylor
Lonely Heartstring Band
Low Lily
Lydia Persaud
Maddie Storvold
Madeleine Roger
Madison Violet
Maija Kauhanen
Malojian
Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikua
Mànran
Matt Andersen and the Bona Fide
Matt Mays
Meaghan Blanchard
Mehdi Cayenne
Mel Parsons
Melanie
Melisande [electrotrad]
Mike Biggar
Mipso
Mission Songs Project
Mo Kenney
Moonfruits
Moxie
Nava
Nick Sherman
Niyaz featuring Azam Ali
Nomadic Massive
Oh Susanna
Oshima Brothers
Parsonsfield
Patty Griffin
Peppino D’Agostino
Pérsides
Peter Mulvey
Pierre Kwenders
Pipo Romero
Polky Village Band
Poor Nameless Boy
Ramy Essam
Raye Zaragoza
Rebecca Loebe
Red Moon Road
Reuben and the Dark
Rising Appalachia
Robbie Fulks
Roberto Cassani
Rory Block
Rosie & the Riveters
Royal Jelly Jive
Saint Sister
Sam Lynch
Sara Ajnnak
Sarah Jane Scouten
Sawyer Fredericks
Seamus Egan Project
Sean McConnell
Shakura S’Aida
Shari Ulrich
Shellie Morris
Shreem x Celtic Remixing
Sofia Rei
STAV.
Stephen Fearing
Tanya Davis
The Alternate Routes
The Bombadils
The Brother Brothers
The Dardanelles
The East Pointers
The Fretless
The Ghost of Paul Revere
The Jellyman’s Daughter
The Lost Brothers
The Lumber Jills
The Maes
The McDades
The O’Pears
The Revelers
The Small Glories
The Suitcase Junket
The Sweet Remains
The Turbans
The Way Down Wanderers
The Young’uns
Trad.Attack!
TRI-CONTINENTAL
Twin Flames
Twisted Pine
Vance GIlbert
Vishtèn
Vivalda Dula
Vox Sambou
William Fitzsimmons
Willie Nile
Yves Lambert TRIO
Zachary Lucky
