Booking gigs may be the primary objective of some performing artists who attend the FARM Gathering, and many presenters and folk DJs do scout out new artists and those whom they have not previously heard and seen in perform live. However, the conference experience is much more than that; it’s really about forging connections, building community, and attending workshops and panel discussions to learn about options to further their careers, promote the music, and attract audiences and listeners

This year’s conference also includes a Presenter Summit for the first time. It will feature a full track of programming designed specifically for venues, festivals and other concert presenters to learn from experts in accounting, audience development, community engagement, marketing, and production.

Taking center stage during this year’s FARM Gathering will be 14 artists/acts selected by a panel of judges to each perform a short set of just shy of 20 minutes, with full sound Showcasing their talents on Friday night will be Mac and Cheese, Dennis Warner, Weary Ramblers, Andy Baker, Stone & Snow, Amy Speace, and Paula Boggs Band. Saturday’s official showcase lineup features Warren & Flick, The Twangtown Paramours, Sam Robbins, Maggie’s Wake, Dave Moore, Bruce Henry & Dean Magraw, and Abigail Stauffer and the Wisdom. Unplugged private showcases follow from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. each evening.

On the docket for Thursday night is a barn dance, followed by a folk DJ showcase featuring performances by Friction Farm, Gia Dagenhart, Chris Walz, Matt Watroba, The Springtails, Helene Cronin, Senior Infants, Bobbie Lancaster, Rees Shad, Mark Jewett, The Thorntons, and Dandelion Delivery Service. Following that showcase, attendees also will shuffle between a number of rooms to enjoy private showcases.

“In addition to the great performances and showcases we have lined up, I am very excited to welcome some special guests to this year’s conference who will speak to the issues affecting our country and our local music communities right now, including our keynote speaker Nicky Mehta.” said Ellen Stanley, the conference director. “Although best known for being a member of the Canadian folk band The Wailin’ Jennys, she is also an activist and will talk about how artists can stay true to their artistic vision and the causes they believe in.” She also mentioned Spencer LaJoye, a winner of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition, who will give a spotlight talk ahead of the keynote about telling their truth as a queer artist

Daytime programming includes a wide array of workshops and panel discussions and peer group conversations addressing timely topics. “”We’re going to talk about the issues that we’re all worried about, and we hope to provide a welcoming space for everyone to share their stories and learn from others as we do our best to navigate these challenging times, Stanley told AcousticMusicScene.com.

Song swapping and jamming, speed mentoring sessions, open mics, and FARM’s popular Performance Lane series of 10-minute mini-showcases that take place simultaneously in several rooms are also part of the daytime mix. Special events on Friday include a 30-minute Chicago Celtic Spotlight featuring Reverie Road and a folk DJ meet & greet. Marilyn Rea Beyer, who hosts the nationally syndicated weekly radio program “The Midnight Special” from the studios of Chicago’s WFMT, will host a Wisdom Across the Ages panel discussion featuring artists and activists from different generations: Amy Speace, Paula Boggs, Katie Dahl, and Sam Robbins. Also on the docket for Saturday afternoon is a Celtic jam, as well as the spotlight and keynote talks. FARM’s 2025 Lantern Bearer Awards will be presented following dinner that evening to two individuals who have made significant contributions to the folk community locally and/or regionally. This year’s recipients are Charlie Mosbrook (a musician, former FARM board president, and current vice president of Folk Alliance International) and Lilli Kuzma, a veteran folk DJ at WDCB Public Radio in Glen Ellyn, Illinois).

AcousticMusicScene.com Hosts Two Nights of Private Showcases

Although AcousticMusicScene.com has hosted primarily song swap-style private showcases at Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA), and Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) conferences, and its editor & publisher has also participated in Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West) conference, this year marks the first time that two nights of private showcases will be held under its banner at a FARM Gathering. The AcousticMusicScene.com Showcase lineup follows.

Thursday Overnight in Muddy Waters (Conference 3) Room

10:30  Ben Bedford & Vanessa Lively, Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus

11:00  Erin Eades, Rob Lytle

11:30  The Shandies, another artist TBA ?

12:00  Julie Grower, Lucy Isabel

12:30  Tony DiCorpo, Doug Harsch

1:00    Josh Harty, Josh Rose

1:30    Patty & Craig, The Raven & The Remedy

2:00    Beth Bombara

Friday Overnight in Childress/Saxton (Oak/Green) Room

10:30  Two from Texas: Lynn Crossett, Tipps & Obermiller

11:00  A Trio of Duos: Ruth & Max Bloomquist, Dan & Faith, Tom & Barb Webber

12:00  Mixed Bag: Sue Horowitz, Miles & Mafale, Mike Ward

1:00    Chris Farrell, Jim Gary

1:30    Gina Forsyth, Karen Mal & David Stoddard

2:00    Rick Vines, Joshua Vorvick

FARM is one of five North American regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International (folk.org), a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. Although folks from throughout North America attend its annual Gathering, FARM (farmfolk.org) serves Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nunavut, Ohio, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The 2026 FARM Gathering is set for October 22-25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. FAR-West and SWRFA held their annual conferences earlier this fall, while NERFA’s is slated for Nov. 6-9 in Albany, New York.

Editor’s Note: In addition to curating and hosting two nights of private showcases, I look forward to sharing information and insights gleaned from my many years as public relations and strategic communications professional, as well as a concert and former festival presenter with conference attendees. I will join Elexa Dawson and Joy Zimmerman as part of a Promoting Your Event panel discussion and will offer a series of one-on-one speed mentoring sessions. A past president of NERFA and former board member of Folk Alliance International, I am excited to be attending my first in-person FARM Gathering.

“Gathering in person after two years of making connections though our online events is going to be so lovely,” said Dalis Allen, SWRFA’s executive director and longtime conference coordinator. “Everyone is so excited! We have many new folks attending – joining our team of folks that have continued to make our SWRFA conference the welcoming event that it is.”

Prior to the official start of the conference on Thursday, folks will converge on Austin’s NeWorlDeli on Wednesday night for a party and meet & greet during which many registered artists will e afforded an opportunity to perform a song. Similarly, there will be an open mic during a pool party at the Holiday Inn-Midtown, the conference’s host hotel, on Thursday night, along with a meal courtesy of Berkalin Records. Prior to the pool party, there will be several panels during the mid-late afternoon.

Performing Artists Will Have Lots of Opportunities to Showcase Their Talents; Official Showcases are Open to the Public on Friday and Saturday Nights

A number of unplugged in-room showcases will follow the Official Showcases on Friday and Saturday overnight from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. AcousticMusicScene.com’s in-room showcase on Saturday overnight will feature a Midnight Hoot preceded by several song swaps. Although the online publication for the folk, roots and singer-songwriter communities has hosted showcases at Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) and Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) conferences for many years, this marks the first time it is doing so during a SWRFA conference. A popular annual event at NERFA conferences since 2007, the AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot at the SWRFA conference will feature two-dozen artists/acts — each performing one song between midnight and 2 a.m. A house band is available to accompany any artists on request.

Here’s the AcousticMusicScene.com showcase schedule:

10:30 Song Swap: Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale, Shanna in a Dress

11:00 Song Swap: George Ensle, Tim Grimm

11:30 Texas Troubadours: Brian Kalinec, Randy Palmer, Joel White

12:00 AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot – Part 1
(One song per artist/act; order subject to change.)

Taylor Pie, Nancy K. Dillon, Michael Henchman, Libby Koch, Ken Gaines, Karyn Oliver, Jake Farr, Grace Morrison, Sarah Pierce, Kacey & Jenna, Roxi Copland, Erin Ivey

House Band: Merel Bregante (percussion), John Inman and Brian Kalinec (guitars)

1:00 AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot – Part 2
(One song per artist/act; order subject to change.)

Ryan Biter, Deidre McCalla, Carl Solomon, Carla Ulbrich, Vanessa Lively & Ben Bedford, Claudia Gibson, Alicia Stockman, Natalie Price, Carolyn Shulman, Dan Weber, Lynn McCracken

House Band: Merel Bregante (percussion), John Inman and Brian Kalinec (guitars)

The conference wraps up with an extended Sunday brunch during which songwriters who drew a random song assignment/topic upon picking up their credentials at the outset of the conference, will share the songs that they wrote over the weekend. “Getting to listen to the songs written during the conference from a prompt is still one of my very favorite things I do all year,” said Allen. Many artists and other conference attendees share her sentiments and have made the song-sharing event a longtime conference highlight.

SWRFA (swfolkalliance.org) is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. SWRFA includes the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Editor’s Note: Besides hosting a late-night song swaps and a midnight hoot during the SWRFA conference, I will assist PuffBunny Records (an indie label for which I provide PR counsel and services) with its in-room showcase and Taylor Pie with a Q & A following the screening of Nobody Famous, an award-winning documentary about her and the 1960s folk-pop trio Pozo Seco Singers of which she was the lead singer and a founding member (along with Don Williams and Lofton Kline). I also will take part in a panel discussion on showcasing and offer some mentoring sessions on various PR, social media and strategic communications topics. I am a board member of Folk Alliance International and NERFA.

Six songwriters will be chosen as 2019 New Folk Award Winners after performing, along with the 26 other finalists, at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds. A Kerrville New Folk Award Winners concert is slated for Sunday, June 2.

Songwriters may submit two original songs (written after Jan. 1, 2017) online at www.tlok.org/kff/ or by following the link on the Kerrville Folk Festival website’s New Folk page, filling in the requested information and uploading two separate song files (any common audio format should work). Alternatively, home-burned CDs (mp3 format only) may be mailed to the Kerrville Folk Festival office along with a completed entry form. The entry fee is $25. Official guidelines, along with entry information and forms, are posted at www.kerrville-music.com/new-folk.

‘New Folk is our way of finding new, exciting, excellent songwriters from around the world,” said Dalis Allen, producer of the Kerrville Folk Festival. “Our line-up every year is full of artists who have remained a part of the festival long after their first introduction in the competition,” she continued. Among those she cited as first coming to the festival’s attention as New Folk Finalists are Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, James McMurtry, Lucinda Williams, Jimmy LaFave, John Gorka, David Wilcox, Tish Hinojosa, Dave Carter, Johnsmith, Tom Prasada-Rao, Tom Kimmel, and Michael Lille.

The six songwriters named as winners in the 2018 Kerrville New Folk Competition were Ben Bedford, John R. Butler, Helene Cronin, Rich Krueger, Mac Leaphart, and Sarah Morris.

Slated to perform in the hotel’s ballroom on Friday evening, Sept. 28, from 7:30-10 p.m., are Scott Cook, Byrd & Street, Mike P. Ryan, T Buckley, Dave Ray Cecil, Suzie Vinnick, The Cowboy Way, and The Flyin’ A’s.

Saturday night’s lineup features Nancy Beaudette, Andrew Delaney, Claudia Nygaard, Jaime Michaels, Ben Bedford, Helene Cronin, Clint Alphin, Jenny Reynolds, and Joana Howerton & Michael Cross.

Rich Warren, host of the nationally syndicated “The Midnight Special” radio show that emanates from Chicago’s WFMT-FM, and who celebrates 50 years of hosting folk music on the radio in 2018, emcees both nights. In addition to conference registrants, the official showcases will be open to the public for a $15 cover charge each night.

Following a popular pool party and open mic hosted by John Whipple (with a buffet sponsored by Berkalin Records) on Thursday night, Sept. 27, Charlie Stewart of Handshake Management will emcee the Official Alternates Showcase in the hotel’s Elm Room. Set to perform short sets beginning at 10:30 p.m. are Cari Ray & Shaky Legs, Flagship Romance, Kyle Donovan, Kora Feder, Susan Cattaneo Band, and Ronny Cox.

Besides the official showcases, the SWRFA Conference will feature open mics, in-room showcases extending into the early morning hours, and daytime panel discussions and seminars that address many facets of the music business, according to Dalis Allen, who produces the conference, as well as the annual Kerrville Folk Festival. “We eat meals together, form wonderful new relationships and renew old ones,” she notes. “And we are certain to have fun.”

Prior to the official start of the conference, Paul Barker will host a SWRFA meet and greet and open mic at Threadgill’s North on Wednesday night, Sep. 26, while John Whipple hosts another one by the hotel’s pool on Saturday afternoon. A two-hour, hands-on ‘SongCRAFT” workshop, led by singer-songwriters Nancy Beaudette and Laura Zucker, is set for Thursday afternoon.

Upon arriving at the conference, all registered artists will be given a random song topic/prompt. They are expected to write about these during the weekend and perform their songs following Sunday brunch. This song-sharing event has long been a conference highlight.

SWRFA is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community — traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional — through education, advocacy and performance. SWRFA includes the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its 19th annual conference is expected to draw performing artists, presenters, managers, agents and others engaged more than peripherally in the world of folk and acoustic music. For more information and to register to attend the conference, visit www.swfolkalliance.org.

Ben Bedford (Springfield, IL), John R. Butler (Matlacha, FL), Helene Cronin (Plano, TX), Rich Krueger (Evergreen Park, IL), Miller McKeown Leaphart Sr. (Nashville, TN), and Sarah Morris (St. Paul, MN) will each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday afternoon, June 3, and will receive cash honorariums and other prizes.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, 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. Being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

The 47th annual Kerrville Folk Festival extends through Sunday, June 10. Besides concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, late-night and afternoon song circles and jam sessions at various campsites, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe and kayak trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops. For more information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.

Editor’s Note: A listing of all of this year’s New Folk Finalists was included in a previously posted article: https://acousticmusicscene.com/2018/04/14/finalists-announced-in-2018-grassy-hill-kerrville-new-folk-competition/

Slated to perform (in order of performance) at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds on Saturday, May 26, from 1-4 p.m., are Scott Cook (Sherwood Park, Ontario), Ian Flanigan (Saugerties, NY), Izzy Heltai (Boston, MA), Hope Dunbar (Utica, NE), Michael Braunfeld (Villanova, PA), Sarah Morris (St. Paul, MN), Mac Leaphart (Nashville, TN), Helene Cronin (Plano, TX), T. Buckley (Calgary, Alberta), Cari Ray (Nashville, IN), Dave Ray Cecil (Greensboro, NC), Rich Krueger (Evergreen Park, IL), Kora Feder (Brooklyn, NY), Austin MacRae (Ithaca, NY), Clint Alphin (Nashville, TN), and Susan Cattaneo (Medford, MA).

New Folk Finalists slated to perform on Sunday afternoon, May 27, include Teghan Devon (Myersville, MD), Rupert Wates (New York, NY), Ira Wolf (Nashville, TN), Chad Elliott (Lamoni, IA), Ezra Vancil (Dallas, TX), Kelly Augustine (Centennial, CO), Aaron Nathans (Chester Heights, PA), Nikhil Dasgupta (Portland, ME), Andrew Dunn (Lebanon, NJ), Brittany Jean (Brewster, WA), Ben Bedford (Springfield, IL), Jerry Green (Phoenix, AZ), Frankie Zwick (Nashville, TN), John R. Butler (Matlacha, FL), Erinn Peet-Lukes (Boulder, CO). and Prateek Poddar (Weston, MA).

Named as alternates were Scott Fab (Royal Oaks, MI), Angela Easterling (Green, SC), Laura Zucker (Lafayette, CA), Kristen Ford (Nashville, TN), Heather Styka (Chicago, IL), Mike P. Ryan (Clifton, VA), Grant Peeples (Tallahassee, FL), and Amy Aiken (Norfolk, VA).

After performing, six songwriters will be selected as 2018 New Folk Winners by songwriters Pierce Pettis, Jaime Michaels and BettySoo, who are serving as judges. The six, to be announced during the evening concert on May 27, will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday, June 3.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, 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 cash awards and additional performance opportunities, being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

Besides concerts each evening, Kerrville (which extends for 18 straight days — Thursday, May 24-Sunday, June 10) features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe and kayak trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, yoga, beer and wine seminars, a Young Artists Performance Incubator, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops. For a complete schedule and additional information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.

Scheduled to perform (in order of performance) at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country on Saturday, May 27, from 1-4 p.m., are Hadley Kennary (Nashville, TN), ordinary elephant (Livingston, TX), Wendy Colonna (Buda, TX), John John Brown (Winter Garden, FL), Letitia VanSant (Baltimore, MD), Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale – The YaYas (Greenlawn, NY), Arlon Bennett (Tappan, NY), Heather Styka (Addison, IL), Lyndy Butler (Hurricane, UT), Chris Moyse (Nashville, TN), Chris Petersen (Cedar City, UT), Jefferson Clay (San Antonio, TX), Ingrid Graudins (Nashville, TN), Emily Barnes (Johnsonburg, NJ), Ben Shannon (Pittsburgh, PA), and Robin Bienemann (Oak Park, IL).

New Folk Finalists slated to perform on Sunday afternoon, May 28, include Shawn Byrne (Nashville, TN), Rachael Kilgour (Duluth, MN), Eleanor Kleiner & Elie Brangbour – The Whispering Tree (Beacon, NY), Teresa Eggerston Cooke (Park City, UT), Isaac Hoskins (Denton, TX), Mary Bragg (Nashville, TN), Rich Krueger (Evergreen Park, IL), Teghan Devon (Myersville, MD), Kelly Hoppenjans (Nashville, TN), Dana Sipos (Guelph, Ontario), Martin Kerr (Edmonton, Alberta), Angela Parrish (North Hollywood, CA), Brian Pounds (Austin, TX), Andy Baker (Gobles, MI), and Winona Wilde (Bridgenorth, Ontario).

Named as alternates were Mila Maring-Sims (Alto Pass, IL), Alicia Viani (Bend, OR), Ben Bedford (Springfield, IL), Eric Stucky (Montrose, CO), Randy Palmer (Amarillo, TX), Wyatt Easterling (Chapel Hill, NC), Kevin T. Hale (Westlake Village, CA), and Jenny Reynolds (Austin, TX).

After performing, six songwriters will be selected as 2017 New Folk Winners by noted songwriters Amy Speace, Dan Navarro and Jeff Black, who are serving as judges. The six, to be announced during the evening concert on May 28, will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday afternoon, June 4.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, 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. Being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

In addition to concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe and kayak trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a Young Artists Performance Incubator, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops. The festival runs for 18 straight days – Thursday, May 25– Sunday, June 11. For a complete schedule and additional information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.

The May 2016 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 14,497 airplays from 147 different DJs. Label and release date appear in brackets below, while the number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.

Top Albums of May 2016

1: Lift, Dave Gunning [Wee House, 7/15] (108)
2: Mud And Apples, Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche [Bunny, 5/16] (102)
3: The Pilot And The Flying Machine, Ben Bedford [Waterbug, 4/16] (80)
4: Weights And Wings, Brother Sun [brothersun.com, 4/16] (77)
5: Nine Pin, Kaia Kater [Kingswood, 5/16] (75)
6: Jump The Fire, Evie Ladin Band [Evil Diane, 5/16] (71)
7: Trail Of Tales, The Bills [Borealis, 3/16] (63)
8: Square Peg, Marci Geller [marcigeller.com, 12/15] (56)
9: Sometimes I Feel Too Much, Cosy Sheridan [cosysheridan.com, 3/16] (51)
10: Blue Skies, Mountain Heart [Compass, 5/16] (44)
11: Excellent Day, Lizanne Knott [Proper, 4/16] (41)
12: American Landscape, Dave Murphy [davemurphy.net, new] (39)
12: Flight, Coty Hogue [Perpetual Hoedown, new] (39)
14: Keepsake, Gathering Time [Treble-G, 3/16] (38)
15: Restless Moon, Meg Braun [megbraun.com, 4/15] (37)
16: Still The Birds, Darryl Purpose [Blue Rock, 5/16] (35)
17: The Deep Hollow, The Deep Hollow [thedeephollow.com, 4/16] (34)
17: Del And Woody, Del McCoury Band [delmccouryband.com, 4/16] (34)
19: Calla’s Waltz, Jed Marum [Boston Road, 3/16] (32)
19: This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark, Various Artists
[Icehouse, 2011] (32)
21: Grain By Grain, Mark Mandeville And Raianne Richards [Nobody’s
Favorite, 4/16] (31)
22: Sing Me Home, Yo-Yo Ma And The Silk Road Ensemble [Masterworks,
4/16] (30)
23: Keepers, Guy Clark [Sugar Hill, 1997] (29)
23: Old Songs For Modern Folk, Vincent Cross [Rescue Dog, 4/16] (29)
23: Rattle Your Bones, The Haunted Windchimes [Blank Tape, 5/16] (29)
26: All These Years, Solas [THL, 2/16] (28)
27: The Things That We Are Made Of, Mary Chapin Carpenter [Lambent
Light, new] (27)
28: Dark Horse Days, Donal Hinely [Atom, 2/16] (26)
28: Red Grass, Ilya Toshinskiy [Hadley, new] (26)
30: Ladies And Gentlemen, Infamous Stringdusters [Compass, 1/16] (25)
30: More Alive, Don White [donwhite.net, 11/15] (25)
30: My Favorite Picture Of You, Guy Clark [Dualtone, 2013] (25)
30: Songbirds And Fog, The Lark And The Loon [Self, 5/16] (25)
34: Empty Train, David Francey [Laker, 2/16] (24)
34: Family, Friends And Heroes, Frank Solivan [Compass, 3/16] (24)
34: Freedom Blues, Ken Whiteley [Borealis, 4/16] (24)
37: Charismo, Hackensaw Boys [Free Dirt, 4/16] (23)
37: For A Song, Mark Erelli [markerelli.com, 4/16] (23)
37: Pick It Up, Jim Stringer And The AM Band [Music Room, 4/16] (23)
37: Red Shoes, Roosevelt Dime [Self, new] (23)
37: Worth The Wait, Goodbye Blue [Wondermore, 3/16] (23)
42: The Hazel And Alice Sessions, Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands
[Spruce And Maple, 1/16] (22)
43: Cold Dog Soup, Guy Clark [Sugar Hill, 1999] (21)
43: Couchville Sessions, Darrell Scott [Full Light, new] (21)
43: Dublin Blues, Guy Clark [Elektra, 2012] (21)
46: Choreographic, Rachael Sage [Mpress, new] (20)
46: Echoes, Jason Wilber [Self, 4/16] (20)
46: Gathering, Maria Dunn [Distant Whisper, 4/16] (20)
46: I Was So Fond Of You, Matt Patershuk [Black Hen, 2/16] (20)
46: Songs About Lessons Learnt, Robin Bienemann [Self, 3/16] (20)
46: These Houses, C. Daniel Boling [Berkalin, new] (20)
52: The Both, Eli West [elidoes.bandcamp.com, 2/16] (19)
52: Detour, Cyndi Lauper [Sire, 5/16] (19)
52: I Love Hamburgers, Joe Giacoio [Romantic Devil, 10/15] (19)
52: Live At Maximal, Sonia Disappear Fear [Self, 4/16] (19)
52: Live From Blue Rock, Moors And McCumber
[moorsandmccumber.bandcamp.com, 2/16] (19)
52: My Lucky Stars, Arnie Naiman [Merriweather, new] (19)
52: Old No. 1, Guy Clark [Sugar Hill, 1975] (19)
52: Totally Average Woman, Carla Ulbrich [Romantic Devil, 8/15] (19)
52: Weight Of The World, Western Centuries [Free Dirt, new] (19)
61: Roses And Victory, Honor Finnegan [Frock, 2/16] (18)
61: Washashore Cowgirl, Monica Rizzio [monicarizzio.com, 2/16] (18)
63: Boats To Build, Guy Clark [Elektra, 1992] (17)
63: Paths That Wind, The Paul McKenna Band [paulmckennaband.com, 4/16] (17)
65: Didn’t We Waltz, Amy White with Al Petteway [Fairewood, 1/16] (16)
65: Foxhounds, Kathy Kallick Band [Live Oak, 11/15] (16)
65: Lovers And Leavers, Hayes Carll [Hwy 87, 4/16] (16)
65: These Are The Days, Burning Bridget Cleary
[burningbridgetcleary.com, 11/15] (16)
65: Wondrous Traveler, The Small Glories [Self, 2/16] (16)
70: The Dark, Guy Clark [Sugar Hill, 2002] (15)
70: Deep Waters, The Lonely Heartstring Band [Rounder, new] (15)
70: Electricity, Victor And Penny [Overtone, 3/16] (15)
70: The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1), Kate Campbell [Large River, 1/16] (15)
70: On The Ropes, The Honeycutters [Organic, new] (15)
70: One Of These Days, The Regulators [Self, 3/16] (15)
70: Stitch An Ocean, Wren [wrenmusic.net, 2/16] (15)
70: Ziggy Marley, Ziggy Marley [Tuff Gong, 2/16] (15)

Top Songs of May 2016

Here are links to an audio recording of Ben Bedford performing “Pilot and The Flying Machine, Part 1” and a video of Dave Gunning performing “Sing It Louder” — the month’s two most-played songs on folk radio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJnBuHKk904

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqa7myWevac

1. “Pilot And The Flying Machine, Part 1” (19)
by Ben Bedford
from The Pilot And The Flying Machine
1. “Sing It Louder” (19)
by Dave Gunning
from Lift
3. “Landslide” (17)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
4. “Homegrown Tomatoes” (16)
by Guy Clark
from Keepers
also Craftsman
4. “Letters From The Earth” (16)
by Ben Bedford
from The Pilot And The Flying Machine
4. “Save Me” (16)
by Marci Geller
from Square Peg
7. “Desperado” (15)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
8. “Ease On Down” (14)
by Evie Ladin Band
from Jump The Fire
8. “L. A. Freeway” (14)
by Guy Clark
from Keepers
also Old No. 1
8. “Wonders I’ve Seen” (14)
by The Bills
from Trail Of Tales
11. “Desperados Waiting For A Train” (13)
by Guy Clark
from Old No. 1
also Keepers
11. “Randall Knife” (13)
by Guy Clark
from Dublin Blues
also Craftsman
11. “Saint Elizabeth” (13)
by Kaia Kater
from Nine Pin
11. “They Don’t Do That No More” (13)
by Dave Gunning
from Lift
15. “Mary Don’t You Weep And Moan” (12)
by Brother Sun
from Weights And Wings
15. “Rhythm Of The Rain” (12)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
15. “This Changin’ Wind” (12)
by Dave Gunning
from Lift
18. “Bleecker Street” (11)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
18. “Cold October Day” (11)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
18. “Mud And Apples” (11)
by Lucy Wainwright Roche And Suzzy Roche
from Mud And Apples
18. “Paradise Fell” (11)
by Kaia Kater
from Nine Pin
18. “Trail Of Tales” (11)
by The Bills
from Trail Of Tales
18. “White” (11)
by Kaia Kater
from Nine Pin
24. “Long Blue Hills” (10)
by Ben Bedford
from The Pilot And The Flying Machine
24. “Tractor” (10)
by Dave Gunning
from Lift
24. “When I’m Gone” (10)
by Brother Sun
from Weights And Wings
24. “Where Are You Moses” (10)
by Brother Sun
from Weights And Wings
24. “Woody Guthrie Watch Over Me” (10)
by Cosy Sheridan
from Sometimes I Feel Too Much

More than 200 people have registered for the FARM Gathering that provides useful and enjoyable learning and networking opportunities, not to mention plenty of fine listening and performing opportunities for artists, presenters, agents and managers, folk DJs, and others engaged in the folk music field.

Booking gigs is a primary objective of some performers who attend these annual conferences, while many presenters and folk DJs come primarily to scout out new artists and those who they have not previously heard and seen in live performance. However, the FARM Gathering, like that of other Folk Alliance International regional conferences, is much more than that; it’s really about forging connections and building an acoustic community.

Official showcase artists, selected by a panel of judges to perform during this year’s Gathering, include Ben Bedford (Springfield, IL), Ruth & Max Bloomquist (Muskegon, MI), Jon Brooks (Toronto, Ontario), Chad Elliott (Coon Rapids, IA), Lac La Belle (Detroit, MI), Mike Mangione and the Union (Cedarburg, WI), Shelley Miller (Chicago, IL), Karyn Oliver (New York, NY), Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks (Portland, OR), Red Tail Ring (Kalamazoo, MI), SONiA of disappear fear (Baltimore, MD), Heather Styka (Chicago, IL), Sultans of String (Toronto, Ontario), and Jack Williams (West Fork, AR).

A Midwest Folk Radio Presents showcase, modeled after the popular Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase that takes place during the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, is slated for Thursday night. Participating artists, along with the names of the folk DJs who chose them, include: Laura Joy (Al Kniola, WVPE), Donna Herula (Sue Kessell, WNUR), Daniel Boling (Wayne Greene, radiowayne.com), Gloria Attoun (Steve Jerrett, KOPN), Lyal Strickland (Emily Higgins, KSMU), Amy Dixon-Kolar (Lilli Kuzma, WDCB), Greg Klyma (Rob Reinhart, WDET/“Acoustic Café”), and The True Falsettos (Jim Hall, WLNZ).

Friday and Saturday afternoons will feature an array of workshops and panel discussions, while the evenings’ official showcases will be followed by Performance Lane (an open mic of sorts featuring select artists who are not performing in juried showcases), private showcases hosted by conference attendees in their hotel rooms, jams, song circles and community singing that extend into the early morning hours.

In addition to Gorka’s songwriting master class, workshops will cover such topics as booking, publicity, social networking, lightening things up, and learning to play slide guitar. Singer-songwriter Jack Williams will conduct one on “Doing Almost Everything Yourself,” while a panel of folk DJs and other music industry professionals will offer their critiques of songs following quick listens during an “On the Griddle” session.

The FARM Gathering concludes on Sunday at noon, following a continental breakfast and a membership meeting.

A nonprofit organization for those engaged in traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, dance and related performing arts, FARM (www.farmfolk.org) is a regional arm of Folk Alliance International, which seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

As in years past, the NERFA conference will feature a diverse mix of folk and acoustic music presented by artists from throughout the U.S. and Canada, workshops and panel discussions, mentoring sessions, a large trade show-like exhibit hall, communal meals, and lots of opportunities for schmoozing and networking. If past conferences are an indication, sleep-deprived attendees should enjoy a wonderful spirit of community.

This marks the second year of record attendance for the conference that is produced by NERFA (www.nerfa.org), the northeast regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, an association that aims to foster and promote multicultural, traditional and contemporary folk music, while strengthening and advancing organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

Folk DJ Showcase and AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot Set for Thursday Night

A Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase on Thursday night, Nov. 11, starting at 8:30 p.m., marks the unofficial kick-off of the conference. Artists selected to perform this year by DJs who consider them worthy of more attention include Ben Bedford, Jim Bizer & Jan Krist, Ellen Bukstel, Chasing Jane, Confluence, Jane Fallon, Josh Joffen, Brian Ashley Jones, Chris Kokesh, David LaFleur, Rebecca Loebe, Madison Violet, Spuyten Duyvil, Twangtown Paramours and The Winterlings.

An AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot – a pre-arranged, round-robin song swap featuring several singing folk DJs and a host of performing artists — follows. Extending from 11:45 p.m. to 3 a.m., The Midnight Hoot is designed to be like a late-night campfire during a festival, only without a fire and in the cozier confines of a hotel room. It is intended to provide early-arriving folk DJs and presenters with an opportunity to get a small sampling of the music of a lot of artists in a short period of time. More than 700 performers, presenters, promoters, agents and managers, folk music societies and clubs, and others actively engaged in traditional and contemporary folk music will converge on the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York, Nov. 11-14, 2010, for the16th annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. AcousticMusicScene.com will have a major presence as it hosts afternoon and late-night song swaps, a CD release party and wine tasting, its popular Midnight Hoot and a new Midday Hoot.

The growing popularity of the midnight hoot and a desire to include more artists in it has prompted AcousticMusicScene to add a midday hoot on Friday that will be hosted by singer-songwriters Joe Iadanza and Karyn Oliver. A list of the artists performing in that appears in a showcase schedule at the end of this article.

Informative Workshops and Panel Discussions Abound

NERFA Conference programming begins with an array of workshops on Friday morning. A family music track also is slated for Friday, with performer showcases and special workshops geared for those engaged or interested in children’s and family music. Two of Kind (David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans) host a family music showcase that is co-sponsored by the Children’s Music Network. That will feature Kim & Reggie Harris, Mifflin Lowe, Jeremy Lyons, Miss Amy and Chris McKhool’s Fiddle Fire! performing before an audience of children and adults.

Twenty daytime workshops and panel discussions will be offered Friday through Sunday. AcousticMusicScene.com’s Michael Kornfeld moderates a panel discussion on Social Networking and Building Your Online Presence, featuring music journalist Tara Murtha and singer-songwriters Joe Iadanza and Sharon Goldman (who also publishes the blog, SongwritingScene.com). Siobhan Quinn will again lead a master class/vocal clinic, while there will be two On the Griddle sessions in which a number of songs are critiqued by a panel based on listening to the first 60 seconds of each song.

(Editor’s Note: Bikel has previously been profiled on AcousticMusicScene.com in honor of his 85th birthday. Brand will be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame later this month.)

Other workshops will cover such topics as Arranging the Song, Booking & Touring 101, Care & Feeding of Guitars, Getting the Most out of Your Home Studio, Festivals Moving Forward, Inspiring Change: Activist Artists and the Legacy of Phil Ochs and Niche Marketing.

Formal and Tricentric Showcases Feature a Diverse Array of Artists

Formal showcases take place on Friday and Saturday evenings in the resort’s theater, and no other activities are scheduled at the same time. Following those, folks will shuffle between three conference rooms to catch short sets by various artists during what are known as tricentric showcases.

Following the formal showcases, folks can catch 15-minute sets by various artists from throughout the U.S. and Canada during the tricentric showcases. Artists slated to perform tricentrics on Friday night include Beaucoup Blue, Datri Bean, Ben Bedford, Burning Bridget Cleary, Tim Grimm, Layah Jane, Madison Violet, Lynn Miles, Danielle Miraglia, Jory Nash, Joel Rafael, A.J. Roach, Peter Siegel, Ryan Tennis and Tripping Lilly. Saturday night’s tricentric lineup features Clint Alphin, Barnaby Bright, Brittany Ann, Chuck E. Costa, Gathering Time, Jim Gaudet & RR Boys, Chris Kokesh, Tom Pacheco, Jean Rohe Trio, RUNA, Kevin So, Frank Sollivan & Dirty Kitchen, Suzie Vinnick, We’re About 9 and The Winterlings.

Late-Night and Afternoon Guerilla Showcases Add to the Musical Mix

After the tricentric showcases each evening, AcousticMusicScene.com will join dozens of presenters, performers and others in hosting so-called “guerilla showcases” in their hotel rooms through the wee hours of the morning, while other musicians will stake out parts of the lobby for informal jam sessions that may last as late (or early, depending on your vantage point) as 6 a.m. Open mics, informal jam sessions, private showcases, thematic song circles and round-robin song swaps round out the mix.

A number of guerilla showcases also take place during the afternoons. In addition to The Midday Hoot on Friday, AcousticMusicScene.com will host a song swap entitled Songs of Hope, Freedom & Spirit and featuring folk harmony trio Gathering Time and Kim & Reggie Harris. On Saturday afternoon, a CD Release Party & Wine Tasting for two-time Kerrville New Folk winner Josh Joffen and The YaYas (whose new CD, Paper Boats, has already broken into the top 10 on the Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart) will take place in the AcousticMusicScene.com room. Following that will be Brews & Roots (For All that Ales You), featuring alt. roots band Spuyten Duyvil, along with Pesky J. Nixon and Putnam Smith.

A complete AcousticMusicScene.com showcase schedule for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 & 13, follows. A printable flyer appears below it.

Friday Afternoon:

AcousticMusicScene.com Midday Hoot
(Hosted by Joe Iadanza and Karyn Oliver)

2:15: Gillen and Turk & Tribes Hill Chorus
2:20: Carolann Solebello
2:25: Loretta Hagen
2:30: Phil Minissale
2:35: Brittany Ann
2:40: Jenee Halstead
2:45: Pesky J. Nixon
2:50: Lara Herscovitch
2:55 : Kayrn Oliver
3:00: Meg Braun
3:05: Robert Bruey
3:10: Bethel Steele
3:15: The Boxcar Lillies
3:20: Rob Lytle
3:25: Elaine Romanelli
3:30: Phil Henry
3:35: Joe Iadanza

3:40-4:20 p.m. Songs of Hope, Freedom and Spirit: Gathering Time, Kim & Reggie Harris

Friday Night :

AcousticMusicScene.com
(Hosted by Michael Kornfeld and Karen Finkenberg)

11:45-Midnight: Transatlantic Singer-Songwriter: Zoe Mulford

12:00-12:30: Harmonic Convergence: Gathering Time, Joe Jencks, Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo

12:30-1:00: An Americana Sampler: Loretta Hagen & Band, Brian Ashley Jones & Tisha Simeral, Greg Loftus

1:00-1:30: All Keyed Up: Anna Dagmar, Lucky 13, Allison Tartalia

1:30-2:00: Brooklyn in da House: Meg Braun, Jean Rohe, Carolann Solebello

2:00-3:00: Funny Folk: Mark Allen Berube, Lois Morton, Barry Rabin, Carla Ulbrich

Saturday Afternoon:

2:00-3:00: MichaelKornfeld.com presents …

A CD Release Party and Wine Tasting for Josh Joffen and The YaYas
(with special guests Gathering Time)
.
3:30-4:30: Brews & Roots (For All that Ales You): Spuyten Duyvil, Pesky J. Nixon, Putnam Smith

Saturday Night:

11:45-12:30: Kerrville New Folk Winners: Nels Andrews, RJ Cowdery, Robby Hecht, Josh Joffen

12:30-1:00: Blue Roots: Brendan Hogan, Spuyten Duyvil, Ken Whiteley

1:00-1:30: A Trio of Duos: Buskin & Batteau, Annie & Rod Capps, Friction Farm

1:30-2:00: Folk You Should Know: Marc Douglas Berardo, The Laws, Randall Williams

2:00-2:30: J Note: Joe Crookston, Joe Iadanza, Jeff Talmadge

2:30-3:00: An Irish Set: Burning Bridget Cleary, RUNA

Click on the image to the left to view and print a full-size program schedule.