This year’s Kerrville New Folk Finalists are AJAYE (Nashville, TN), Caitlin Cannon (Nashville, TN), Cheyloe (Birmingham, AL), Robert Deitch (Polk City, IA), Bill DiLuigi (Nashville, TN), Sarah Golden (Houston, TX), Melody Guy (Nashville, TN), Helena Hallberg (Zurich, Switzerland & Nashville, TN), Sammie Hershock (Marshall, MI), Taylor Lansdale (Lexington, KY), Charlotte Morris (Philadelphia, PA) Hudson Mueller (Houston, TX), Matthew Payne (Dripping Springs, TX), Rebekkah Powell (Boulder, CO), Michelle Raybourn (Nashville, TN), Natalie Royal (Nashville, TN), Monty Russell (Ruston, LA), Stephanie Sammons (Dallas, TX), Liam Slater (Nashville, TN), Casli Stephan (Tulsa, OK), Allison Strong (Union City, NJ), Cat Terrones (San Pedro, CA), Robert Thomas (Monncton, NB, Canada), and Logan Vath (Norfolk, VA). They will showcase their talents and songwriting skills at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT. The New Folk Concerts will also be livestreamed on the Kerrville Folk Festival’s website,https:// kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

After performing the two songs that they submitted during the New Folk Concerts, six songwriters will be selected as 2026 New Folk Winners by a panel of judges. As in the first round, the finalists’ songs will be evaluated based on originality, lyrics, melody, harmonic structure, and other elements of song-craft. Each of the six performing songwriters chosen as 2026 New Folk Award Winners, to be announced during the evening concert on May 24, will be invited to perform a 20-minute set as part of a New Folk Award Winners Concert on Saturday, May 30 that will also be livestreamed.

Established in 1972 at the urging of the late Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary fame, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to receiving $750 cash awards and two wristbands each for Kerrville’s 2026 fall “Welcome Home” Fest, being named as a New Folk Award Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor. Kerrville New Folk winners also are invited to participate in a New Folk Winners House Concert Tour in Texas.

Extending for 18 days, the Kerrville Folk Festival is set for May 21 to June 7 and will feature more than 100 artists and acts. Besides concerts each evening, it features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, as well as songwriting and instrumental workshops, a canoe trip on the Guadelupe River, and wine tasting excursions for additional fees.

Finalists Named in Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest

Ten finalists also have been named in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest and have been invited to showcase their talents during the 2026 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival that takes place May 15-17 at the Galatyn Park Urban Center in Richardson, Texas — located just a few minutes north of Dallas. The finalists are Bud Bierhaus (Katy, TX), Paul Demer (Dallas, TX), Jerome Goosman (Nashville, TN), Jeff Hewitt (Garland, TX), Michelle Raybourn (Nashville, TN), Ben Reneer (Phoenix, AZ), Stephanie Sammons (Dallas, TX), Branlin Shockey (Rockwall, TX), Alicia Stockman (Heber City, UT), and Reed Waddle (Phoenix, AZ). As noted earlier, Raybourn and Sammons are also Kerrville New Folk Finalists.

Using a blind-screening process, a panel of judges chose the finalists who will perform two songs each on the Singer-Songwriter Stage inside the Eisemann Center during the annual event that is billed as North Texas’ largest music festival. The 10 finalists will compete for cash prizes and be judged based equally on the quality and presentation of their songs – with originality, lyricism, melody, harmonic structure, and overall songwriting craft among the criteria. Each of the finalists will also be afforded an opportunity to perform a set of songs on another stage as well during the festival. Visit https://www.wildflowerfestival.com for more information.

South Florida Folk Festival Features a Singer-Songwriter Competition

Since its inception 20 years ago, the festival has been a combination of music fest, family reunion, community gathering, and weekend musical retreat. In addition to the festival’s headliners, a number of Florida-based musicians and other national touring acts are slated to perform. These include Ellen Bukstel, Kate Callahan (Connecticut State Troubadour), Caroline Cotter & Michael Thomas Howard, Jerry DeMeo, Jacob Johnson, Tom Lyman (all the way from Budapest, Hungary), Rod MacDonald, Laurie McClain, Danielle Miraglia, New Middle Class, Angela Parrish, Bill & Eli Perras, Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield, Doug Spears, Twangtown Paramours, Mare Wakefield & Nomad, and Laura Zucker, among others. Some of the performing artists also will lead workshops, while there also will be a jam area for those who enjoy playing traditional folk and other acoustic styles of music.

Kicking-off the weekend’s musical festivities on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be the 12 finalists in the festival’s singer-songwriter competition, each of whom will perform two songs. They are Bear & Robert (Jacksonville, FL), Randy Brown (Mineola, TX), Nigel Egg (Minneapolis, MN), Lauren Heintz (Winter Park, FL), Sonya Heller (Calicoon Center, NY), Judy Kass (Tarrytown, NY), Leah Kaufman (Raleigh, NC), Claudia Nygaard (Nashville, TN), Cecilia St. King (Delray Beach, FL), Kray Van Kirk (Arcata, CA), Joe Virga (Cape Coral, FL), and Joel Zoss (West Palm Beach, FL).

Three winners selected by a panel of judges will each receive the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award – a $200 cash prize and an invitation to perform at the 2019 festival – as will 2017 winners Jane Fallon (Brookline, NH), Amber Ikeman (Bozeman, MT) and Austin MacRae (Ithaca, NY) at this event. In addition, all winners and finalists may be afforded the opportunity to perform ‘in-the-round’ during the festival’s second day, on Sunday, Jan. 14.

The annual songwriting competition is co-presented by Reba Heyman. Along with her late husband, Vic, Reba has been an integral part of the folk community in South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple has been known for decades for their generous financial backing of folk festivals and artists. They formerly ran a concert series in Rockville, Maryland known as Vic’s Music Corner, have established a scholarship fund for artists, and served on the boards of several music festivals.

For more information on the festival, which is co-sponsored by Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP), and to order tickets in advance, visit www.southfloridafolkfest.com.

30A Songwriters Festival Features More Than 175 Performing Artists

Now in its ninth year, the 30A Songwriters Festival is set for Friday-Monday, Jan. 12-15. More than 175 artists are slated to perform at two-dozen venues and locations along the Florida Gulf Coast’s scenic Highway 30A in Walton County.

These artists and more will perform at amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios — with capacities ranging from intimate indoor venues that can seat 75 people to outdoor settings that can accommodate a few thousand.

“The 30A Songwriters Festival is one of the most diverse songwriters festivals I’ve ever been to,” says Shawn Mullins, who also will showcase his talents. “The wide range of songwriters performing, the great crowds, the unique venues, and the beautiful location all make for an incredible experience.”

Festival weekend passes, beginning at $280, can be purchased online at www.30asongwritersfestival.com, where you’ll also find more information on the festival, its performers and venues – including a complete schedule when it’s available. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Cultural Arts Alliance’s office in Santa Rosa Beach, The Foster Gallery in Grand Boulevard, and at Central Square Records in Seaside.

NPR’s Folk Alley, a multimedia music service produced by WKSU in Ohio, will be on site throughout the weekend, interviewing artists and filming and recording performances. The Sessions from the 30A Songwriters Festival will later air on the syndicated Folk Alley radio show and also will be archived at www.folkalley.com.

This year’s finalists, chosen from among more than 300 entries, are Joel Ansett (Denver, CO), Amanda Cevallos (Austin, TX), Brad Cunningham (Kansas City, MO), Hadley Kennary (Nashville, TN), Tom Meny (Austin, TX), Jean Rohe (Brooklyn, NY), Talia Segal (Brighton, MA), Nikki Talley (Asheville, NC), Anna Tivel (Portland, OR) and Emily White (Chicago, IL). Ray Smith (Rollinsville, CO) and Lydia Luce (Los Angeles, CA) were named as alternates.

Each of the ten finalists – who were judged on the basis of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery, and the overall presentation — will perform two original songs in the preliminary round at the Elks Park Stage in downtown Telluride, while the top five finalists will perform two different original songs in the final round the following afternoon. In addition to a complimentary four-day festival pass, each finalist also receives an “’in-the-round” performance slot in Elks Park, a live radio spot, a performance coaching session, and an opportunity to perform a “tweener” song on the festival’s main stage. The Troubadour winner performs a 15-minute set on Saturday evening.

Previous winners in the competition include Larry Good (1991), Cosy Sheridan (1992), Dan Sheridan (1993), Catie Curtis (1994), LJ Booth (1995), Michael Lille (1996), Jonathan Kingham (1997), Eugene Ruffolo (1998), Libby Kirkpatrick (1999), Mary Coppin (2000), Kris Delmhorst (2001), Deb Talan (2002), Rachel Davis (2003), Brian Joseph (2004), Keith Greeninger (2005), Nels Andrews (2006), Gregory Alan Isakov (2007), Nathan Moore (2008), Mitch Barrett (2009), Robby Hecht (2010), Matt Harlan (2011), Reed Waddle (2012), Reed Turner (2013), Michael Kirkpatrick (2014), and Caitlin Canty (2015).

More information on the Telluride Troubadour Competition and on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival can be found online at www.bluegrass.com/telluride.

Entrants in the competition, which is open to anyone who writes and performs original music and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal, will be judged on the basis of the quality of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery, and the overall performance.

Songwriters may submit up to two songs either via U.S. Mail to Planet Bluegrass, P.O. Box 769, Lyons, CO 80540 (Attn: Telluride Troubadour Contest) or electronically via SonicBids. There is a $10 entrance fee per song. If applying via mail, entrants must submit a CD with the songs/tracks for consideration clearly specified, along with a check payable to Planet Bluegrass. Songwriters are asked not to send any lead sheets, lyrics, bios or other PR materials. All CDs must be postmarked or submitted by April 8, 2016. Ten finalists will be selected for the preliminary round in Telluride and will be notified by April 29.

Each of the 10 finalists will perform two original songs in the preliminary round at the Elks Park Stage in downtown Telluride, while the top five finalists will perform two different original songs in the final round the following afternoon during the festival — for which they will receive a complimentary four-day pass. Each finalist also receives an “’in-the-round” performance slot in Elks Park, a live radio spot, a performance coaching session, and an opportunity to perform a “tweener” song on the festival’s main stage. The Troubadour winner performs a 15-minute set on Saturday evening.

More than 300 entries were received for the 2015 competition. Caitlin Canty (Pittsford, VT) was named the Troubadour winner, while the next four finalists, as chosen by the judges, were Hadley Kennary (Nashville, TN), Maria Brosgol (Albany, NY), Carter Sampson (Oklahoma City, OK) and Rachael Kilgour (Duluth, MN).

Previous winners in the competition that has been held in conjunction with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival since 1991 include Larry Good (1991), Cosy Sheridan (1992), Dan Sheridan (1993), Catie Curtis (1994), LJ Booth (1995), Michael Lille (1996), Jonathan Kingham (1997), Eugene Ruffolo (1998), Libby Kirkpatrick (1999), Mary Coppin (2000), Kris Delmhorst (2001), Deb Talan (2002), Rachel Davis (2003), Brian Joseph (2004), Keith Greeninger (2005), Nels Andrews (2006), Gregory Alan Isakov (2007), Nathan Moore (2008), Mitch Barrett (2009), Robby Hecht (2010), Matt Harlan (2011), Reed Waddle (2012), Reed Turner (2013), and Michael Kirkpatrick (2014).

More information on the Telluride Troubadour Competition can be found online at www.bluegrass.com/telluride/contests.html.

Each of the finalists will perform two original songs during a preliminary round at the free Elks Park Stage in downtown Telluride on Thursday, June 17, beginning at noon. Then the top five finalists will each perform two different original songs during a final round the following afternoon. The Troubadour winner performs a 15-minute set on the festival’s main stage on Saturday evening, June 20.

The finalists — recognized on the basis of the quality of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery and the overall performance — are Clint Alphin (Spring Hill, TN), Mary Bragg (Nashville, TN), Maria Brosgol (Albany, NY), Caitlin Canty (Pittsford, VT), Rob Drabkin (Denver, CO), Rachael Kilgour (Duluth, MN), Brennan Mackey (Denver, CO), Ryan Pickop (Fayetteville, AR), Carter Sampson (Oklahoma, OK) and Hadley Kennary (Nashville, TN). Connor Garvey (Portland, ME) and Wyatt Espalin (Hiawassee, GA) were named as first and second alternates, respectively, from among the more than 300 entries received.

Other artists slated to perform during this year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival include Sam Bush Band, John Butler Trio, Cooder – White – Skaggs, Brett Dennen, Jerry Douglas Band, Robert Ellis, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Rhiannon Giddens, Greensky Bluegrass, Hot Rize, Robert Earl Keen, Lake Street Drive, Leftover Salmon, Kacey Musgroves, Noam Pikelny & Stuart Duncan, Punch Brothers, Peter Rowan’s Twang an’ Groove, Steep Canyon Rangers, Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer, Trampled By Turtles, Trout Steak Revival, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and Yonder Mountain String Band, among others. A Telluride Band Contest is also slated. The roots-oriented music festival takes place amid Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains and coincides with the Summer Solstice.

Fort Collins, CO-based folk-rock singer-songwriter Michael Kirkpatrick was the winner of the 2014 Telluride Troubadour competition. Previous winners of the competitions, which has been held in conjunction with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival since 1991, include Larry Good (1991), Cosy Sheridan (1992), Dan Sheridan (1993), Catie Curtis (1994), LJ Booth (1995), Michael Lille (1996), Jonathan Kingham (1997), Eugene Ruffolo (1998), Libby Kirkpatrick (1999), Mary Coppin (2000), Kris Delmhorst (2001), Deb Talan (2002), Rachel Davis (2003), Brian Joseph (2004), Keith Greeninger (2005), Nels Andrews (2006), Gregory Alan Isakov (2007), Nathan Moore (2008), Mitch Barrett (2009), Robby Hecht (2010), Matt Harlan (2011), Reed Waddle (2012), and Reed Turner (2013).

More information on the festival and the Telluride Troubadour Competition can be found at www.bluegrass.com/telluride.

The nationally recognized performing songwriter competition is open to anyone who writes and performs original music and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal.

Kirkpatrick was one of ten finalists chosen from among hundreds of entrants on the basis of the quality of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery and the overall performance. After performing in two finalist rounds during the festival, Kirkpatrick was named the winner and awarded cash and other prizes and performed a short set on the main stage following Yonder Mountain String Band on June 21.

Being named as 2014’s Telluride Troubadour is just the latest honor for Kirkpatrick, a modern-day minstrel who sings about nature, dreams and sensuality while generally accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and mandolin. He was named Best Male Singer-Songwriter for two successive years by the Fort Collins Musicians Association, while The Colorado Sound named his latest release, Key to My Cage, “Best Folk Rock/Singer-Songwriter Record of 2013. When not performing as a solo artist, Kirkpatrick can often be found gigging with The Holler!, his folkadelic rock band. A multi-instrumentalist, Kirkpatrick also plays electric and lap-slide guitars, sitar and hammered dulcimer.

Second to fifth-place winners in this year’s Telluride Troubadour Competition were Allie Farris (Nashville, TN), Emily Mure New York, NY), David McMillin (Chicago, IL) and David White (Franklin, TN).

Previous winners of the Telluride Troubadour competition, which has been held in conjunction with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival since 1991, include Larry Good (1991), Cosy Sheridan (1992), Dan Sheridan (1993), Catie Curtis (1994), LJ Booth (1995), Michael Lille (1996), Jonathan Kingham (1997), Eugene Ruffolo (1998), Libby Kirkpatrick (1999), Mary Coppin (2000), Kris Delmhorst (2001), Deb Talan (2002), Rachel Davis (2003), Brian Joseph (2004), Keith Greeninger (2005), Nels Andrews (2006), Gregory Alan Isakov (2007), Nathan Moore (2008), Mitch Barrett (2009), Robby Hecht (2010), Matt Harlan (2011, Reed Waddle (2012), and Reed Turner (2013).

The nationally recognized performing songwriter competition is open to anyone who writes and performs original music and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal.

Reed Turner was one of ten finalists chosen from among nearly 500 entrants on the basis of the quality of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery and the overall performance. After performing in two finalist rounds during the festival, Turner was named the winner and awarded a Shanti acoustic guitar and $300 in cash, in addition to the mainstage set before some 10,000 festival goers. He also did a live performance on Telluride public radio station KOTO-FM, during which he was backed by Elephant Revival’s Bridget Law. Among the songs that Reed performed was “Room for Doubt” from his February 2013 release, Ghosts in the Attic. A video of Turner performing that song live in the studio is posted on YouTube, while additional videos and information about him may be found at www.reedturner.com.

Second to fifth-place winners in the 2013 Telluride Troubadour Competition were Pete Katsounes (Boulder, CO), Chris Alvarado (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), Michaela Anne (Brooklyn, NY), and Korby Lenker (Twin Falls, ID).

Previous winners of the Telluride Troubadour Competition, which has been held in conjunction with the festival since 1991, include Larry Good (1991), Cosy Sheridan (1992), Dan Sheridan (1993), Catie Curtis (1994), LJ Booth (1995), Michael Lille (1996), Jonathan Kingham (1997), Eugene Ruffolo (1998), Libby Kirkpatrick (1999), Mary Coppin (2000), Kris Delmhorst (2001), Deb Talan (2002), Rachel Davis (2003), Brian Joseph (2004), Keith Greeninger (2005), Nels Andrews (2006), Gregory Alan Isakov (2007), Nathan Moore (2008), Mitch Barrett (2009), Robby Hecht (2010), Matt Harlan (2011, and Reed Waddle (2012).

Produced by the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County and now in its second year, the 30A Songwriters Festival takes places at various venues on Scenic Highway 30A along Northwest Florida’s Panhandle Gulf Coast over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Jan. 14-16.

A mix of established touring artists, talented local songwriters and emerging talents are included in the festival’s line-up. Among the dozens of artists slated to perform are such notable singer-songwriters as Randall Bramblett, Susan Cowsill, Rodney Crowell, Ashleigh Flynn, Jen Foster, Mary Gauthier, Madison Violet, Michelle Malone, Laurie McClain (who was among my favorite new discoveries during the 2010 NERFA Conference), Carmel Mikol, Louise Mosrie, Shawn Mullins, David Olney, Gretchen Peters, Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, Suzi Ragsdale, Kim Richardson, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls, Vienna Teng, Reed Waddle and Dar Williams. Tickets, priced at $75, can be purchased online at wwww.30aSongwritersFestival.com or at Central Square Records in Seaside, FL.

The Broward Folk Club, a nonprofit organization created more than 20 years ago to promote folk and acoustic music and provide a community for people who share a love for it, hosts the South Florida Folk Fest on Jan. 22. It is slated to run from noon to 6 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Sunrise Civic Center on West Oakland Park Blvd. in Sunrise, FL. A two-hour open mic will precede the fest.

A variety of factors, ranging from weather to finances, prompted organizers two years ago to scale back what had been a multi-stage festival to a one-day “Round-Up” featuring a number of singer-songwriters who had not previously played South Florida. For 2011, the club is seeking to bring back much of the tradition and essence of the old festival by featuring artists who have been either headliners or singer-songwriter contest winners from 1999 forward. Featured artists, each of whom will perform 40-minute sets, are Nick Annis, Ellen Bukstel, Greg Greenway, Rod MacDonald, Dave Nachmanoff, Carla Ulbrich and Bill Ward. Admission is $35 at the door; $25 for club members, and $5 less in advance. Children 16 and under will be admitted free. More information appears online at www.southfloridafolkfest.net.

Joining Mattea in the Saturday evening program, starting at 5 p.m., will be witty and versatile singer-songwriter Susan Werner, Irish balladeers The Kerry Boys, Connecticut State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch, and the rousing Hudson Valley-based roots-jam band Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams.

The festival and expo kicks off on Friday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with the Grassy Hill Song Circle featuring four indie-Americana artists — Trina Hamlin, Reed Waddle, Seth Glier, and Mark Von Em. They will perform their own songs and accompany each other in a jam-session. Vance Gilbert, a consummate entertainer and one of the funniest men on the folk circuit, emcees.

On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., CT Folk’s fifth annual Green Expo will feature 75 exhibitors, demonstrations, workshops and activities to promote sustainable lifestyles, as well as a free family concert and activities for children (including a solar cell workshop and a recycling-oriented magic show). The female roots- Americana trio Red Molly, whose newest member is New Haven native Molly Venter, will present a free family concert during the afternoon. Also slated to perform are The Professors of Bluegrass, local favorite Rob Messore, and the five top finalists in CT Folk’s 2010 songwriting contest (Brian Dolzani, Sam Chase, Rebecca Pronsky, Walter Rodriguez and Allison Tartalia) – one of whom will be selected to perform his/her winning song on the Main Stage later in the evening.

Former Connecticut State Troubadour Pierce Campbell hosts the Dava Hoot, an informal community sing-along, that closes out the festival on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13

The Connecticut Folk Festival & Green Expo is now in its second decade and is run under the auspices of CT Folk, a nonprofit organization dedicated to traditional and contemporary roots music and to caring for the earth. Grassy Hill Entertainment and Southern Connecticut State University (whose Lyman Hall serves as the rain location) also are co-sponsors. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ctfolk.com.

“It’s truly an honor to be associated with the songwriters circle, let alone [to be} the winner of such a prestigious competition,” said Waddle, who won over the judges with a soulful rendition of his song, “Piece by Piece.” Calling the honor “a dream come true,” Waddle said: “It’s amazing to be acknowledged among so many talented songwriters. I am thankful for the opportunity that the circle has offered to all of us, especially in such a difficult economic climate.”

Tina Shafer, The New York Songwriters Circle’s artistic director and host of the contest, described Waddle’s performance and the way he presented his song as “clean and of a very high professional caliber.” Said Shafer, “He completely impressed everyone with his smooth voice and is definitely ready to breakout into the mainstream.”

Waddle, who has been building a fan base through an exhaustive touring schedule that had him playing more than 300 shows annually for the past three years, also was a co-winner in the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and was among 20 finalists in the inaugural American Idol Songwriter competition in 2007.

As The New York Songwriters Circle grand prize winner, he will receive $10, 000 in cash, a performance spot with Grammy Award winner John Oates (also won of the contest’s judges) in Aspen, Colorado, a Gibson acoustic guitar, an opportunity to record with Grammy Award-winning producer Glenn Barrett, and a guest spot on Jonathan Clarke’s radio show on New York’s Q104.3. Previous grand prize-winners include Kate Voegele, Company of Thieves and Mieka Pauley.

Using the renowned “Writers in the Round” nights at Nashville’s Bluebird Café as its model, The New York Songwriters Circle has been producing and directing bimonthly shows in New York City for nearly 20 years and recently began hosting live music showcases in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia as well.

More information on the organization can be found at www.songwriters-circle.com, while more on Waddle can be found at www.reedwaddle.com.

Editor’s Note: I was pleased to include Reed in the popular AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot during the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY earlier this month.