Category Archives: FAI 2016

FAI 2016: Conversations at Folk Alliance

KC Cafe Radio's booth at the 2016 Folk Alliance International ConferenceThe 2016 Folk Alliance International Conference and Music Fair was held for the third year in a row in Kansas City, Missouri February 17-21.  KC Cafe Radio was there once again, providing live coverage of the conference from our booth at the exhibit hall.

This year turned out to be a significantly rewarding year for us.  Not only did we have the opportunity to catch up with several old friends, we made several new ones as well.  Stay tuned to KC Cafe Radio, over the next several weeks and months you will begin hearing new music and voices, a direct result of these new friendships.

Louis MeyersSince the conference, we were saddened to learn of the passing of a very good friend to KC Cafe Radio and Folk Alliance International, Louis Meyers.  Louis had served as Executive Director of Folk Alliance International for several years, and had co-founded the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival.  Louis died on Friday, March 11, the first day of the 2016 SXSW festival.

Louis is also responsible for connecting us at KC Cafe radio with Folk Alliance International.  He had personally invited us to one of the regional conferences.  The following year we returned to the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference with our live microphones.  Since then, we have attended and covered two regional and two international conferences.  Our involvement with this outstanding organization may not have happened without his invitation.

Here are archived recordings of the conversations we had during the conference:

International Folk music conference brings music professionals together

fai_2016_banner_450x75The 2016 Folk Alliance International Conference returns to the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri for the third year in a row, February 17-21.  Folk music musicians, industry professionals, presenters, media and fans of the genre gather at this 28th annual event.

Keynote speaker at this year’s conference is folk legend Judy Collins, who will speak and perform on Friday February 19th.  Other events include nightly music showcases, late night private showcases, mentoring sessions and workshops.

KC Cafe Radio will be set up in the Exhibit Hall at the conference, located in the Century Ballroom, booth 204, 10AM to 1PM Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  If you are attending the conference, please drop by and say “hello.”  We are looking forward to catching up with many KC Cafe Radio Performing Artists at the conference, as well as meeting new friends that would like to share their musical talents on The Cafe. Listen for conversations from the conference daily here on KC Cafe Radio!