The Top Folk Music Conferences of the Year

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for a great folk music conference to attend this year? Check out our list of the top conferences happening around the country!

The Top Folk Music Conferences of the Year

In the United States, music conferences are usually organized by a national or state music organization. The conferences focus on different aspects of music, such as performance, composition, history, or theory. Many of these organizations also have festivals and competitions that are open to the public.

The following is a list of the top ten folk music conferences in the United States:

1. Folk Alliance International Conference
2. American Folklore Society Annual Meeting
3. Drew University’s Cipriano Center for Creative and Interdisciplinary Studies Annual Conference
4. Appalachian Studies Association Annual Conference
5. Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting
6. Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference
7. Mid-Atlantic Regional Folk Alliance Conference
8. Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference
9. Rocky Mountain Regional Folk Alliance Conference
10. California Traditional Music Society Conference

The Best Folk Music Conferences of the Year

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting out, attending a folk music conference is a great way to further your career and meet like-minded people. These events are also a great opportunity to see some of your favorite artists perform and learn about the latest industry trends.

Here are some of the top folk music conferences taking place around the world in 2020:

-The American Traditions Competition: This annual event takes place in Savannah, Georgia, USA, and features some of the best traditional singers from around the world.

-Folk Alliance International: This is one of the largest folk music conferences in the world, taking place annually in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

– Celtic Colours: This traditional music festival takes place every October on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada.

-Tønder Festival: This is one of Denmark’s biggest and most popular annual music festivals, featuring a wide range of genres including folk, jazz, and world music.

– Winnipeg Folk Festival: One of Canada’s largest and most popular summer music festivals, featuring over 80 acts from around the world performing on 10 different stages.

The Top Music Conferences for Folk Music Lovers

No matter what your favorite genre of music is, there’s a music conference out there for you. But if you’re a fan of folk music, you might be wondering which conferences are the best ones to attend. Here are some of the top folk music conferences happening around the world in 2019:

-The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island (July 26-28): One of the most iconic folk music festivals in the world, Newport Folk Festival is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The lineup includes lots of big names in folk and Americana, such as Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, and Ani DiFranco.

-The Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas (May 23-June 9): This festival is one of the longest-running Folk festivals in the US, and it takes place over three weekends in May and June. This year’s lineup includes several Grammy-winning artists, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Hiatt.

– Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (October 5-13): If you’re a fan of Celtic music, this is the festival for you. Celtic Colours showcases traditional and contemporary Celtic music from all over the world, and this year’s lineup includes artists from Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and more.

– The Philadelphia Folk Festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (August 15-18): This festival has been happening since 1962 and it just keeps getting better every year. This year’s lineup includes lots of well-known names in folk and Americana, such as Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Indigo Girls, and more.

The Best Music Conferences for Folk Music Fans

Folk music fans looking for a great conference to attend will want to check out some of the best options below. These events offer a great opportunity to learn about the genre, meet other fans, and enjoy some great music.

-The Newport Folk Festival is one of the most iconic folk music events in the world. It takes place every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, and features a wide range of folk musicians from around the world.

-The Philadelphia Folk Festival is another well-known event that takes place annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This conference features a mix of traditional and contemporary folk musicians from across the United States.

-The Midpoint Music Festival is a newer event that takes place every September in Cincinnati, Ohio. This festival focuses on up-and-coming folk musicians, and has featured some great talent in recent years.

-The Savannah Stopover Music Festival is an annual event that takes place in Savannah, Georgia during the March stopover of migrating songbirds. This festival features a mix of folk, bluegrass, and Americana musicians from across the United States.

The Top Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Musicians

Whether you’re a bluegrass aficionado or a lover of all things folk, there’s sure to be a music conference out there for you. Here are some of the top folk music conferences taking place around the world in the coming year:

-The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York: Taking place from July 18-21, this annual festival offers four days of bluegrass music and camping.

-The Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island: One of the most iconic and longest-running folk festivals in the world, Newport takes place from July 26-28.

-The Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania: Taking place from September 12-15, this annual festival offers over 100 different performances on 13 different stages.

-The Midwood Guitar Studio Summer Folk Festivals in Charlotte, North Carolina: A newer festival on the scene, Midwood takes place from June 21-23 and features a wide range of folk musicians.

The Best Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Music Lovers

The annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference is the largest gathering of the contemporary folk music community in North America. Drawing over 1,500 attendees from all over the U.S. and Canada, NERFA is a veritable who’s who of the scene, with performers, agents, managers, record label representatives, venue bookers, festival programmers and music lovers from all walks of life coming together to share their love of music.

The conference features over 100 showcase performances, industry panels and workshops, a film festival, an exhibit hall full of musical instruments and products, and plenty of opportunities for informal networking. NERFA is also one of the best folk music conferences for up-and-coming artists looking to make a name for themselves in the business, with a dedicated Emerging Artist Showcase series featuring some of the best new talent in the genre.

The Winter Folk Festivals Forum takes place every January in New York City and is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the planning orPresentation of folk festivals around the world. The forum brings together promoters, booking agents, festival directors and others to discuss issues facing the folk festival community and to share ideas and best practices.

With its emphasis on Canadian talent and its eclectic mix of musical styles, the Mariposa Folk Festival is one of the most influential events on the North American folk music calendar.Now in its 61st year, Mariposa has been instrumental in promoting Canadian artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and Leonard Cohen while also showcasing international acts like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Judy Collins. The four-day event features more than 100 performers on 10 stages spread out across downtown Orillia, Ontario; past headliners have included Crowell & Nash (2019), Feist (2018), Sarah McLachlan (2017) and Bruce Cockburn (2016).

The Top Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Music Fans

As a music fan, you might be wondering what the top folk music conferences of the year are. Here is a list of some of the most popular ones:

-The Americana Music Festival and Conference: This festival takes place in Nashville, Tennessee and features a wide range of Americana music.
-The Newport Folk Festival: This festival takes place in Newport, Rhode Island and is one of the most iconic folk festivals in the United States.
-The Mariposa Folk Festival: This Canadian folk festival takes place in Orillia, Ontario and features a wide range of folk musicians from across Canada.
-The Edmonton Folk Music Festival: This Canadian festival takes place in Edmonton, Alberta and features a wide range of folk musicians from across Canada.
-The New Bedford Folk Festival: This Massachusetts festival features a wide range of traditional and contemporary folk musicians.

The Best Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Music Enthusiasts

Are you a folk music enthusiast looking for conferences to attend this year? Look no further! Here are some of the top folk music conferences of the year:

-The Kate Wolf Music Festival is held every year in Northern California. The festival features a variety of folk musicians, as well as other genres such as rock, jazz, and blues.
-The Cold Frosty Morning Folk Music Convention is held annually in Vermont. The convention features many different folk musicians from all over the Northeast.
-The Owsley County Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival is held every year in Kentucky. The festival features a variety of bluegrass and folk musicians from all over the United States.

The Top Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Music Professionals

The music industry is always changing, and folk music is no exception. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to attend conferences and events that focus on folk music. Here are some of the top folk music conferences of the year for music professionals.

– The Folk Alliance International Conference is one of the biggest and most important events for folk musicians and industry professionals. It takes place every February in Montreal, Canada, and features hundreds of musical performances, panel discussions, and workshops.

– The Northwest Folklife Festival is an annual event that takes place in Seattle, WA. It showcases the diversity of folk music from the Pacific Northwest region with over 5,000 performers and 400 hours of programming.

– The Newport Folk Festival is one of the most iconic and long-running folk festivals in the United States. It takes place every summer in Newport, RI, and features a mix of well-known and up-and-coming artists.

– The Philadelphia Folksong Society Conference is a annual event that focuses on traditional and contemporary folk music from around the world. It takes place in Philadelphia, PA, and features concerts, dances, workshops, lectures, and more.

The Best Folk Music Conferences of the Year for Music Students

There are many great folk music conferences around the world each year, but there are a few that stand out as being particularly great for music students. Here are four of the best folk music conferences of the year:

The Old-Time Tiki Parlour Music Conference (OTTP) is held every year in Asheville, North Carolina, and it is a must-attend event for any student of old-time music. The conference features workshops on a wide variety of topics, including songwriting, instrumentation, band dynamics, and more. In addition to the workshops, there are also performances by some of the best old-time bands in the world.

The New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) is held annually in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and it is one of the largest and most respected folk festivals in the United States. The festival features hundreds of musical acts from all over the world, as well as workshops and other events. NEFFA is a great place to learn about new folk styles and to meet other folk musicians from all over the world.

The Celtic Colours International Festival (CCIF) is held every October in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. The festival celebrates Celtic culture through music, dance, and other art forms. Celtic Colours is a great place to hear traditional Celtic music as well as contemporary takes on the genre. In addition to being a great place to learn about Celtic music, CCIF is also an excellent opportunity to network with other musicians from all over the world.

The International Folk Alliance Conference (FAC) is held annually in Kansas City, Missouri. FAC is one of the largest gatherings of folk musicians in the world, and it features hundreds of musical acts from all over the globe. In addition to musical performances, there are also workshops on a variety of topics related to folk music. FAC is an excellent place to meet other folk musicians and to learn about different traditions from all over the world.

Similar Posts