Post-Conference Report:
37th Annual Folk Alliance International Conference
February 19 -23, 2025
Thank you for an incredible year in Montréal. This year's conference was full of professional opportunities and networking. Over the week, our team consistently heard feedback and commentary that the time felt communal and energetic. FAI is grateful for the space to host an event that creates career trajectories and community simultaneously.
2,245 Attendees
46 Countries
Le Vent Du Nord
An International Community
This year featured artists and industry representation from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Catalonia, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sverige, Sweden, Taiwan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, and Wales.
Sauljaljui (Taiwan)
Marta Pereira da Costa (Portugal)
David Howley (Ireland)
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Illuminate
A Renewed Sense of Wonder and Awe
This year's theme was Illuminate. For centuries, the mesmerizing spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, has ignited awe across the globe. Witnessing this celestial phenomenon serves as a powerful reset, reminding us of our place in the vastness of the universe. The Northern Lights serve as a powerful symbol of the interconnectedness between humans, the natural world, and the spiritual realm within Indigenous cultures across Northern Canada.
Drawing inspiration from this tradition, we invite our folk community to approach their work with a renewed sense of wonder and awe. By reigniting these fundamental emotions, we can find the passion and purpose to fuel artistic expression and positive social change.
Keynote:
Allison Russell
Allison Russell took the stage to chat with Ann Powers about the importance of community and the power of folk to bring people together and transform the world.
Watch on youtube183 Official Showcases
David Myles
We were encouraged by the diverse talent of the Official Showcase lineup, featuring 183 artists from 46 countries showcasing the music of various genres including bluegrass, blues, Americana, Celtic, global roots, and more...
..like David Myles!
Hear it all on our Official Showcase Artist Playlist!
Listen to the official FAI playlist from Spotify to hear all the Official Showcase Artists from 2025:
Mar Pujol
Adrian Sutherland
Blessing Tangban
2,532 Private Showcases
Alexis Normand
Navigating the labyrinth of hotel rooms that hosts the private Showcases is always a joyous way for attendees to discover new talents from around the globe. This year continued this time honored portion of conference programming with 80 private showcases hosts, 715 private showcase artists, and 2,532 private showcases.
400
Agent/Presenter Networking Meetings
379
Scholarships Awarded to First-Time Attendees
(includes Artist, Industry, and Indigenous Scholarships)
45
Panels and Premiere Presentations
Attendee Breakdown
Artists
49%
Industry
26%
Associate
11%
Presenter
9%
Media
6%
Presenter Breakdown
Festival
40%
Concert Series
27%
Venue
17%
House Concert
16%
This year’s International Folk Music Awards highlighted the achievements of our international folk music community ranging from recognition for folk legends, emerging stars, and industry leaders. Some of the numerous list of special guest performances included Julian Taylor, Le Vent du Nord, Mary Bragg, and the FAI House Band.
Watch on youtube.png)
Song of the Year
“$20 Bill (for George Floyd)” written by Tom Prasada-Rao, performed by Dan Navarro & Janiva Magness
Album of the Year
Halfway to Houston
Susan Werner
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Black American Music Summit
The third annual Black American Music Summit – which connects FAI 2025 attendees who identified as black, mixed, or of African ancestry – held space for intentional conversation and community building, featuring four days of discussion. Each session featured an hour-long expert panel, followed by an hour-long open conversation around challenging narratives, emphasizing inclusion, breaking out of narrow definitions, and sharing best practices for growth and success.
Affinity Groups
Marking their eighth year, our Affinity Groups program continue to be an essential community-building aspect of the conference. Folks with shared identities came together to support each other and meet new people in the community. This year, groups included activists, folks with disabilities or chronic illness, caregivers, parents, folks coping with loss, 55+, pan-asian folks, Latine' and hispanic folks, women, and LGBTQ2IA+.
House Concerts Unlocked
sponsored by Side Door
House Concerts Unlocked have become one of the most popular activities of the conference. Participants are given two minutes each to get on stage and pitch as to why they are either the perfect artist for a house concert audience, or the perfect house concert for a performer to play. This year as anticipated was two days of standing room only.
Bimiwizch: International Indigenous Music Summit
The International Indigenous Music Summit (IIMS) returned this year with a myriad of activities. The IIMS hosted an annual community gathering for indigenous friends and relatives attending the conference, presented a powerful panel on 'art as an act of survival', and produced an energetic private showcase Friday evening.
visit iims
Michelle Chawla Interview with David Browne
An insightful conversation between Rolling Stone writer David Browne and Michelle Chawla, CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. They shared their unique perspectives on the power of music to connect communities, the importance of supporting artistic endeavors, and more.
Coming soon to youtube
Legal Summit
FAI partnered with the American Bar Association to present our first legal summit. The full day of panels covered topics such as ethics, equitable contracts, visas, AI & the law and more. It was available to attorneys seeking CLE credits as well as all conference registrants.
Peer Sessions
Peer Sessions are highly anticipated breakout sessions of specific industry roles. Attendees connect over specific topics and sharing resources and ideas with one another. This years session were available to managers, house concerts, agents, festivals, folk radio djs and programmers, media, publicity, large venues, pacs, theatres, small venues, concert series, record labels, radio promoters, and artists.
Learn More
Mike Seeger Fellowship Masterclass with Gilles Losier
Folk Alliance International awarded this year’s Mike Seeger Traditional Fellowship to fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Gilles Losier, one of the world’s great carriers of French Canadian Fiddle traditions. Acadian by birth, Gilles Losier grew up immersed in the traditional music of the region. In this special masterclass, Gilles (now 88 years old) performed some of his original songs and those taught to him by their carriers, and he reflected on the people, songs, and stories that bring traditional music to life.
FAI 2026 is in New Orleans...
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