Memphis, Tenn. — Supporting the classic folk traditions from live performances, guitars, banjos, songs and dances to the new world of podcasts, blogs, Youtube, and VideoRanch, over 2,000 people, both young and old, will gather in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate the 20th year of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (The Folk Alliance) at the International Folk Alliance Conference February 18 - 22, 2009. Catch up on what’s the best - best performances, best events, best technology, best advice. Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) will be the keynote speaker for the opening session of the conference which is held at the Memphis Marriott Downtown and Cook Convention Center. All showcase entries, early registrations, sales, sponsorships, private showcases, and hotel bookings, begin July 1. Details at www.Folk.org.

The Folk Alliance provides a vital network of activity for the performing folk-arts world on an international and regional level. The regional conferences are ideal for artists, presenters, business people, journalists & bloggers, folk societies, folklorists, and DJ’s to help build a stronger music community in focused geographic areas.

2008 FOLK ALLIANCE CONFERENCES

October 2-5 SWRFA - Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, www.swrfa.com
Location: TBA (Region: TX, OK, NM, CO)
Showcase deadline: August 15 - Registration open

October 10 - 12 FARM - Folk Alliance Region Midwest, www.farmfolk.org
Location: Techny Towers Conference & Retreat Center in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. (Region: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI)
Showcase deadline: Passed - Registration open

October 17-19 SERFA - Southeast Regional Folk Alliance, www.serfa.org
Location: Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
(Region: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
Showcase deadline: TBA

October 24-26 FAR-West - Folk Alliance Region West, www.far-west.org
Location: Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel & Convention Center, Ariz.,
(Region: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, MT, WY)
Showcase deadline is July 31, 2008 - Registration open

November 13-16 NERFA - Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, www.nerfa.org
Location: Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
(Region: CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)
Showcase deadline: July 25 - Registration open

February 18 - 22, 2009 International Folk Alliance Conference www.folk.org
Location: Memphis Marriott Downtown, Memphis, TN
Showcase deadline: November 20, 2008 - Registration open

Above and beyond the conferences the Folk Alliance offers wonderful programs through their year-round services including arts advocacy, health and instrument insurance, an online music business directory, newsletters, and workshops. Contact www.Folk.org for information on membership and all conferences or call 901/522-1170.

Folk Alliance Mission: The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music, dance, and related performing arts in North America. The Folk Alliance seeks to strengthen organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

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Memphis, Tenn. — The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (The Folk Alliance) will celebrate its Twentieth Anniversary with an evening of music at the Kerrville Folk Festival, Quiet Valley Ranch, Texas, Sunday, May 25, 2008. The KF Festival salutes the Folk Alliance with a show featuring Anthony da Costa, Sara Hickman, Eliza Gilkyson, Kevin Welch and Tom Russell. “We appreciate Kerrville’s salute to our 20th anniversary and their support,” says Louis Meyers, Executive Director, Folk Alliance. For information and tickets: www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com.

XM’s live broadcast will enlarge the rare atmosphere of the outdoor event to reach across North America. “The XM15 – The Village channel is growing in listenership. We want to go and be a presence, so to share this special festival with our USA and Canada community.” Robert Aubrey Davis - Program Director XM 15 The Village

Dalis Allen, Producer of Kerrville Folk Festival, Mary Sue Twohy, XM15 Music Director, and Louis Meyers, Executive Director of the Folk Alliance will be on hand to help raise awareness of the many benefits folk music has to offer.

The Folk Alliance recently hosted an evening at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and has two shows at the Orphem in Memphis: Judy Collins, Oct. 25, 2008 and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, January 24, 2009. Along with the online directory, interactive website (folk.org), insurance and other membership benefits the Folk Alliance works with its regions to help their internal events.

The regional conferences are interesting and helpful in developing intelligent and worthwhile fans and friends who support American contemporary and traditional music and dance. Including workshops, panels and showcases, the 2008 conferences will be:

• Oct. 2-5 - SWRFA - Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (www.swrfa.com) Location: TBA
• Oct 10 - 12 - FARM GATHERING - Folk Alliance Region Midwest, (www.farmfolk.org) Techny Towers Conference & Retreat Center, Northbrook, Ill.
• Oct. 17 - 19 - SERFA – Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (www.serfa.org) Murfreesboro, TN
• Oct. 24 - 26 - The 5th Annual FAR-West Regional Conference, (www.far-west.org) Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel & Convention Center, Ariz.
• Nov 13-16 – NERFA - Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (www.nerfa.org) Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
• FACanada – no event.

The 21st International Folk Alliance Conference will be held in Memphis, Tenn., February 17-22, 2009. Roger McGuinn will be the keynote speaker.

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