The Folk Alliance and Its Regionals: The Best Folk Music Conferences Worldwide

Ever heard of the Folk Alliance? If you are a folk music buff, dig a little bluegrass, can flatfoot dance as if your life depended on it, or rip up an Irish tune on your fiddle like there’s no tomorrow, you’ve been missing out. Missing out on what? As some of us members of the Folk Alliance would say, you’re missing out on your tribe.

The Folk Alliance is an organization that fosters the folk music community worldwide. The Folk Alliance International is the parent to five regional organizations that cover the entire United States, Canada, and Mexico, and through this collective effort, its mission is to preserve, promote, develop, and celebrate the diverse heritage of roots and Indigenous music, dance, storytelling, and related arts.

The Folk Alliance International, along with its regional branches — Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA), Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), Folk Alliance Midwest (FARM), and Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West) — produce annual conferences to allow its members to gather to celebrate its community. These annual events allow attendees to connect with others in their own or related fields, make friends, jam, and perform musically together, and celebrate their diversity. Read on to learn more about the Folk Alliance International and its regionals, as they have worked hard to be at the top of their class when it comes to producing the best folk music conferences worldwide.

What Is Folk Music?

I was once on a panel of SERFA members who were meeting with local musicians and music pros in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We were moving our annual conference to the city, and on a mission to foster interest. One person in the crowd asked, “What exactly is folk music?” One of our panelists replied, “Well, it’s music by folks.” I was inspired to laugh, accidentally causing me to spit out my coffee! But it’s often described that way. It’s music by folks for folks.

Folk music can be traditional music from the past that is passed down aurally or in written form, having endured for decades or even centuries. What separates it from, for example, classical music (which is also a long-enduring musical form), is that it is music, art, or dance that was fostered by common folks. Every day people who worked on farms, in coal mines, or other settings, enjoyed making music as a way to unwind, celebrate, or just have fun. Different European groups of people had their own colorful music that they brought with them to America, and these different styles endured as separate musical styles or blended together.

Folk music can include different genres like bluegrass, traditional music, Appalachian Old Time music, Celtic, Zydeco, Cajun, roots music, blues, Native American music, and beyond.

What Can You Expect at a Folk Alliance Conference?

If you attend a Folk Alliance conference, whether it be the international one or a smaller regional one, these conferences all operate similarly. Here’s a short list of activities that are common to most all of them:

• Daytime workshops and panels that cover topics of interest to musicians and music industry professionals
• A special Keynote Address by a successful musician or other pro that inspires attendees
• Other planned events to help musicians network with industry professionals
• Official Showcases — music performances by solo and group acts that perform folk music or related genres
• Private Showcases — various attendees can host showcases in their hotel rooms or other common rooms and book music acts to perform during the day or late into the evening
• Open Mics, Songwriter Circles, or Music Jams
• Mentoring Sessions with prominent performers or other music industry professionals
• An Exhibit Hall where artists and professionals can advertise their businesses or products for sale

Depending on the conference, there are other activities to be enjoyed such as communal meals, opening or concluding parties, awards ceremonies, or other creative activities. One can also expect the conference to take place in a specific hotel or conference center where lodging can be booked on-site. Depending on when you register, you may have to find alternative lodging if the main hotel fills up, or you may choose to stay elsewhere purposely.

Becoming a Member of the Folk Alliance

Becoming a member of the Folk Alliance has its perks. When you join the main organization, you gain access to a global network of folk music professionals who provide valuable connections and support for artists, festival directors, and industry members alike. Members benefit from exclusive perks such as conference discounts, work visa support, access to specialized online content, and the ability to vote in the International Folk Music Awards or serve on the board of directors. It’s a great way to further your career and become part of the extended folk community.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Folk Alliance, click here.

Upcoming Folk Alliance and Regional Conferences for 2024-2025

There are six different conferences to choose from in North America if you’d like to dive into the world of the Folk Alliance. I’ve outlined them for you in order according to upcoming dates. The first four take place from late September through late November, while Folk Alliance International occurs the first week of February, and SERFA takes place in early May. These conferences are annual, so if you’ve missed the one you’re interested in, the next will roll along at about the same weekend the following year.

Note: This article does not cover Folk Alliance Australia, however, it serves residents of Australia and beyond, and if you’re interested to know more about it, click here.

25th Annual Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference 2024

The SWRFA Conference convenes from September 25 through 29, 2024 at the Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin, Texas, for four days that include Panels, Open Mics, Showcases, after-hours Guerilla Showcases, Mentoring Sessions, a Folk DJ Meet & Greet and Happy Hour, and much more. This conference highlights the best that the Southwestern region of the U.S. has to offer, including a mix of traditional folk, Americana, bluegrass, and singer-songwriter acts sprinkled with that unique Southwest flavor that makes the region stand out.

One’s registration will include 2 lunches and dinners, a Sunday brunch, and access to a list of attendees to create and continue connections. Another feature of SWRFA’s conference is the “song assignment” event, where songwriters create original tunes inspired by a prompt, all of which are shared during the final Sunday brunch.

Folk Alliance Region – West 2024 Conference

Those inhabiting the western region of the U.S., as well as Canada, will be happy to know that the Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West) has you covered with their annual conference taking place in mid-fall. This year they’ll meet at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California from October 17 through the 20, 2024. Their conference aims to connect folk societies, listening rooms, festival promoters, radio DJs, managers, publicists, and performing acts over the course of the 4-day event. 

Ripe on its agenda will be multiple Educational Workshops, Community Panels, Industry Mixers, an Exhibit Hall, daily and nightly Official and Private Showcases, a Best of the West Awards Luncheon, and more. Their conference aims to cover multiple music genres including Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic Roots, Blues, Country, Outlaw, Global Roots, Old-Time, Spoken Word, Traditional, and Americana.

The Gathering 2024 (Folk Alliance Region Midwest)

The Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) will hold its conference in late October 24 through 27, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel in Lisle, Illinois. Their Keynote Speaker this year will be Susan Werner, and other music events unfolding during the conference will include Official and Private Music Showcases, an Open Mic and Jam & Song Circles, a Folk DJ Showcase, and FARM’s original Performance Lane — a series of 10-minute long showcases that take place Friday and Saturday afternoons, available by sign-up on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Another cool feature of the FARM conference is their Dropzone, where music artists and bands can drop their CDs or One Sheets in boxes assigned to specific Venues or Radio DJs. In addition to the custom Panels, Exhibits, Mentor Sessions, and other activities, a complimentary Friday night community meal is included in the attendee’s registration, while additional meals can be purchased for a package price. In 2024, a few of the diverse workshops they’ll be offering include:  Negotiating a Fair Deal; Songwriting, Band-Fighting & Spotlighting; Keeping Festivals Sustainable; and Touring & Releasing an Album Overseas.

NERFA Music Conference 2024

The Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) is in the midst of a 30 year anniversary, so their relocation to Portland, Maine will be an exciting change that will hopefully inspire those in the far northern corners of the U.S. to experience all it has to offer for the first time. Held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay November 21 through 24, this conference’s mission is to connect music professionals of all levels through their Peer Group Sessions, Educational Panels, Official and Private Showcases, and their nightly Keynote Addresses featuring Melissa Ferrick on Friday night and Garnet Rogers on Saturday night.

Since the pandemic, many of these conferences went online to keep the communities fed and thriving. NERFA has continued to uphold that new practice, offering an online option to attend parts of the conference, along with opportunities for virtual music showcases. If you’re looking to escape the heat of the South (which seems to endure well into late November these days), then pack a coat and guitar and head up to Portland! 

Folk Alliance International Illuminate 37th Annual Conference

The “mother” from which these folk children sprung is the impressive, Folk Alliance International Conference, a whirlwind event that celebrates the best in folk music, dance, and art, and all its tributary genres: Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Appalachian, Zydeco, Old Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Celtic, Cajun, Fusions, Hip-Hop, Traditional, and Global Roots.

The annual conference is a shift-shaper of sorts in terms of location, having spent many years in Memphis, Tennessee, then moving to Kansas City, Kansas. The last couple of years saw it take over a chunk of New Orleans, Louisiana. In its zeal to be all-inclusive, FAI made the decision a decade or more ago to hold their conference in Canada every few years. If you are interested in attending this year and have had Canada as a travel destination on your bucket list, this year is the time to go. The Folk Alliance International 2025 Illuminate Conference will take place in Montréal, Québec, Canada from February 19 to 23.

While being the biggest (and they would probably argue the best) of these conferences, they are also the priciest. It’s highly advisable to get registered as soon as possible. Here’s what the registration cut-offs look like at a glance: 

• Advanced Registration: Aug. 16 – Oct. 31; 
• Regular: Nov. 1 – Jan. 31; 
• Final: Feb. 1 – Feb. 22

One nice perk, if you’re willing to work for it, is that if you apply and are accepted to volunteer for 16 hours of the conference, your registration will be comped.

While their 2025 Keynote Speaker is yet to be revealed, former speakers have included Margaret Atwood, Mavis Staples, Noel Paul Stookey, and Rhiannon Giddens, just to name a few. During the day, attend Panels, Workshops, Networking Events, and more. The first evening of the conference kicks off with the Folk Music Awards (IFMAs), paying homage to important folk music industry leaders, legends, heroes, and prominent up-and-comers. After that, the nights come alive with the sounds of music being performed in Official and Private Showcases until the wee hours of the morning.

Boasting over 2,000 attendees annually representing 447 countries, with showcases that number over 2,500, this conference is a must-attend opportunity for folk music enthusiasts.

Southeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference 2025

The Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) holds a place near and dear to my heart, given that I was an attendee at the very first conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee nearly 20 years ago. Founded by folk radio promoter and manager Kari Estrin, the conference grew to a gathering of friendly, like-minded folks who have nurtured folk and other genre-specific musicians and industry professionals in the Southeast region of the United States.

Since its first year in Tennessee, the conference spent a couple of years at the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas, then settled for many years at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. After a move to Chattanooga, Tennessee pre-pandemic, SERFA relocated back to North Carolina by popular demand, settling in nearby Black Mountain at the Blue Ridge Assembly, where it’s slated to convene from May 8 through 11 of 2025.

SERFA’s conference is the only spring gathering of the bunch, and its tranquil, idyllic mountain atmosphere, coupled with smaller numbers and a slower pace, make this conference very inviting for folks who are looking for a more peaceful mountain get-away experience, while still enjoying all the perks that a regional Folk Alliance conference has to offer.

From their annual Keynote Address to the Wisdom of the Elders Panel, which allows attendees the opportunity to soak up the wisdom of older generation musicians and industry pros, this conference is both enjoyable and enlightening. They host a variety of Panels and Workshops during the day on topics varying from touring overseas to working on a recording project to learning the history of the banjo to hosting a House Concert.

The SERFA Conference has always made communal meals a priority, offering the attendees the option to purchase a meal plan in order to visit and connect with others. Other activities include an opening evening Open Mic, planned Music Jams and Song Circles, and of course, the highly anticipated nightly Official Showcases and after-hours Guerilla Showcases. While this conference is a ways off (and details for the upcoming one have not been ironed out), it’s well worth a visit if you’ve never experienced a Folk Alliance regional conference before. You’ll make friends, have ample opportunities to be heard (if you’re a performing artist or band), and make connections that can enhance you in your music profession.

Make Plans to Attend

Whether you’re a performing singer-songwriter, a member of a folk/Celtic/bluegrass/roots/old time/world/acoustic band, a music industry professional, a festival or venue presenter, a folk or acoustic music DJ, or you just love traditional music, we invite you to learn more about the Folk Alliance. This organization, coupled with its regional branches, opens up a world rich in folk-related music, dance, and art that is unrivaled.