17th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference

The 17th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference will be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from February 24-27, 2005. Our theme for 2005 is "Strictly Mundial", as we are meeting together with our colleagues at the Euorpean Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals. As an integral part of the Folk Alliance Conference, the showcases allow presenters, promoters, agents, record companies, and media people to be able to see a sampling of artists who are working in the folk and world music and dance field. The emphasis is on emerging artists, or those who may be regionally well-known, or well known within their genre, who are looking to expand their opportunities. In 2005, we will be presenting concurrent shows each night of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with artist selections based curated to specific venues in the city of Montreal. There are 40 showcase slots available. Artist selection will be based on multiple genre of music categories, with juries selected for their specific expertise. These showcases will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and are planned to run from approximately 8 pm to 11 pm, leaving the late night hours open for our usual array of privately sponsored showcases. Showcase performers will have one appearance, and showcase sets will vary depending on the genre and the venue. Selected artists will be notified in September.

Genres accepted include: folk and world music submissions, traditional and contemporary. Under our umbrella of folk, these genre are included: singer/songwriter, blues, bluegrass, gospel, cajun, celtic, traditional, old time, and other cultural specific roots music.