The Top Folk Music Associations in the U.S.

There are plenty of great folk music associations out there in the United States, but which ones are the best? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the top folk music associations in the country, based on factors like membership benefits, community involvement, and more.

National Folk Alliance

The National Folk Alliance (NFA) is one of the top folk music associations in the United States. NFA was founded in 1980 with the goal of promoting and preserving folk music and folk culture. NFA is a membership organization that provides resources and support to folk musicians, folk music lovers, and folk music organizations. NFA also hosts an annual conference that features performances, workshops, and other events.

Location

The National Folk Alliance is based in the United States, but there are many other great folk music associations around the world. Here is a list of some of the top folk music associations in the United States:

-The American Folklore Society
-Folk Alliance International
-The National Storytelling Network
-The New England Folk Festival Association
-Old Time Music Northwest

History

The National Folk Alliance was founded in 1980 by a group of dedicated folk musicians, promoters, and supporters. Their goal was to create an organization that would advocate for folk music and its many subgenres, including bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, Cajun/zydeco, Americana, and world music.

Folk Alliance International (FAI) is the largest member-based international organization dedicated to celebrating and supporting traditional music and dance. With over 4,000 members in more than 60 countries, we represent a global community of artists, presenters, educators, students, activists, parents & more who believe in the power of cultural traditions to enrich lives & build strong communities.

What they do

The National Folk Alliance is a volunteer organization that promotes the traditional arts by providing support to folk musicians and artists, encouraging public engagement with traditional music, and advocating for the accessibility of folk arts education. The organization was founded in 1972 and has since grown to include more than 3,000 members.

The National Folk Alliance hosts an annual conference that brings together folk musicians, artists, educators, and fans from all over the United States. The conference features performances, workshops, jams sessions, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. The organization also offers grants and scholarships to support folk musicians and artists, as well as educational resources for those who want to learn more about the genre.

American Folklore Society

The American Folklore Society (AFS) was founded in 1888 and is the oldest and largest professional organization for folklorists in the United States. The AFS promotes the study and appreciation of folklore for the benefit of communities and the general public.

Location

The American Folklore Society (AFS) is the primary professional organization for folklorists in the United States. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest scholarly society dedicated to the study of folklore in the world. The AFS has more than 2,500 members from across the United States and around the globe, representing a wide variety of countries, regions, ethnic groups, occupations, and levels of experience. The society also publishes two highly respected journals: Journal of American Folklore and Western Folklore.

History

The American Folklore Society (AFS) was founded in 1888 by a small group of forward-thinking academics and amateurs who were interested in studying and preserving the rapidly vanishing folklore of rural America. In the centuries since its founding, the AFS has grown to become one of the largest and most influential professional associations for folklorists in the world, with a membership comprising scholars, artists, teachers, librarians, museum curators, folklorists working in cultural heritage institutions, and members of the general public who are interested in folklore.

The AFS is committed to supporting excellence in the field of folklore studies and to promoting public appreciation of the vital role that folklore plays in our lives. The Society accomplishes these goals through a variety of programs and services, including an annual meeting (the largest international gathering of folklorists), publications (including the Journal of American Folklore), grants and fellowships (awarded to support research, teaching, and public programming), awards (given to recognize achievement in folklore), and advocacy (for folklore protection and recognition at local, state, national, and international levels).

What they do

The American Folklore Society (AFS) is the primary professional organization for folklorists in the United States. Founded in 1888, AFS is the oldest folklore society in the world and boasts a membership of over 2,000 folklorists from all over the country. AFS members work in a variety of settings, including colleges and universities, museums, historical societies, arts councils, folklife programs, and state and local governments.

The mission of the American Folklore Society is to encourage communication among persons who are interested in any aspect of folklore. To this end, the Society sponsors an annual meeting; publishes journals and books; awards prizes and fellowships; provides financial support for research and publication; promotes public folkloric programming; and serves as an information clearinghouse on folklore developments.

Folk Alliance International

Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a membership organization that works to strengthen and support the international folk music community. Their focus is on artists, presenters, and individuals who work within the field of folk music and dance. FAI provides resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy on behalf of the folk music community.

Location

Folk Alliance International is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, and has a regional office in New York, NY.

History

Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a membership organization that promotes, supports and documents traditional, contemporary and global folk music and dance. With over 5,000 members worldwide, FAI is the largest gathering of the folk music industry and community.

FAI was founded in 1989 by a group of five music lovers who wanted to create an organization to support folk music and its creators. Today, FAI has grown into a diverse community of musicians, presenter, agents, managers, educators, students and enthusiasts. FAI members come from all 50 states and more than 30 countries.

FAI offers its members numerous benefits, including networking opportunities, educational resources, discounts on supplies and services, advocacy support and exposure to the international folk music community.

What they do

Folk Alliance International is a membership organization that works to support and promote folk music around the world. They offer resources and networking opportunities for folk musicians, presenters, promoters, agents, and other music industry professionals.

The Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest gathering of the global folk music community. The conference features performances, workshops, panels, and more. Conference attendees can also browse the exhibits of folk music instruments and products.

The organization also offers educational programs like the Folk Alliance Academy and the International Folk Music Awards. The Academy offers courses on topics like touring, songwriting, and business strategies for musicians. The International Folk Music Awards are given out annually to honor excellence infolk music.

Northeast Folk Alliance

The Northeast Folk Alliance is a regional membership organization that works to promote and preserve folk, bluegrass, and old-time music in the Northeast region of the United States. They have an annual conference and offer grants and other opportunities for musicians in the region.

Location

The Northeast Folk Alliance (NEFA) is a regional membership organization dedicated to the support and growth of traditional and contemporary folk music and dance in the northeastern United States. NEFA was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Saratoga Springs, NY. NEFA’s membership includes musicians, presenters, promoters, agents, managers, publishers, publicists, recording engineers & producers, radio programmers, educators, luthiers & instrument makers, visual artists, and other professionals & volunteers working in or with the folk music & dance community.

History

Northeast Folk Alliance, Inc. (NEFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of traditional, contemporary and multicultural music and dance. NEFA produces the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA), one of the largest gathering of the folk music industry in North America.

NEFA was founded in 1987 by a group of musicians and promoters who saw the need for a regional folk music association in the Northeast US. In its early years, NEFA was primarily a network for concert presenters, with an annual membership meeting and showcases at NERFA. In recent years, NEFA has expanded its focus to include all aspects of the folk music industry, with members including but not limited to: performers, agents, managers, promoters, publicists, publishers, record labels, distributors, festivals, campgrounds/retreat centers, venues, college and community radio stations, luthiers/instrument makers, house concert hosts and more.

What they do

The mission of the Northeast Folk Alliance is to nurture, engage and empower the folk music community through education, performance, outreach and advocacy.

They are a regional chapter of the Folk Alliance International, and they represent the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Northeast Folk Alliance organizes an annual conference where folk musicians can network and share their music with each other and industry professionals. They also offer educational programs for emerging artists, including a mentorship program and an artist-in-residence program.

Northwest Folklife

Northwest Folklife is a non-profit arts organization based in Seattle, Washington that is “dedicated to the living cultural traditions of the Northwest.” They offer a wide range of programs and events that celebrate the folk traditions of the region.

Location

The Northwest Folklife is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1969 in the wake of theempty nester Baby Boomer generation and the urban folk music revival, Folklife is dedicated to hard work, social justice, preservation and presentation of traditional and contemporary cultural expressions. The organization’s mission is to foster diverse artistic expression and creativity through research, education and presentation.

Each year on Memorial Day weekend, Folklife boasts one of the largest free music festivals in the United States. The four-day event takes place on the grounds of the Seattle Center, a 74-acre campus that was originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair. The festival features over 8,000 musicians from around the world playing over 100 stages, making it one of the most diverse music events in North America.

In addition to the annual festival, Folklife also offers a year-round calendar of events and educational programs. These include an Artist-in-Residence program that allows emerging artists to develop their skills by working with more experienced professionals; workshops and classes on topics such as songwriting, instrument making and dance; and performances at venues around Seattle.

History

Folk music has been an integral part of American culture since the earliest days of the country. In the 18th and 19th centuries, folk music was primarily oral tradition, passed down from generation to generation. Songs were sung in fields and at family gatherings, and they often told stories of love, loss, and daily life.

As the United States began to grow and develop, different regions developed their own unique styles of folk music. In the Northeast, for example, maritime songs were popular, while in the South Appalachian ballads were common. In the late 19th century, as immigration increased and people from all over the world came to America, folk music became even more diverse.

Today, there are dozens of different folk music associations scattered across the United States. These organizations work to promote traditional music and dance, and to preserve cultural heritage. They also host festivals and events where people can enjoy Folk music from all over the world.

If you’re interested in learning more about Folk Music or finding a Folk Music association near you, check out our list of the top Folk Music associations in the United States.

What they do

The Northwest Folklife Festival is an annual American cultural festival that takes place in Seattle, Washington. It is the largest community-based cultural event in the United States, with over 400,000 people attending each year.

The festival features over 8,000 performers representing a wide range of cultures and traditions from all over the world. Performance venues include stages, workshops, dance floors, and impromptu street corners. There is also a wide variety of food and craft vendors.

The Northwest Folklife Festival is produced by Northwest Folklife, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Founded in 1972, Northwest Folklife’s mission is to “celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest and to foster intergenerational understanding and respect through arts education and presentation.”