Are you an artist wanting to play your music in front of the many industry reps at our annual conference? You’ve come to the right place!
Showcases are a way for artists to show off their talents to festival and venue bookers, agents, record labels, DJs, media, and more. While Official Showcases are exclusive to jury-selected musicians, anyone can perform a Private Showcase. Many artists book multiple Private Showcase slots, and we recommend all artists take advantage of the opportunity to perform in Private Showcases.
Official Showcases
Official Showcases feature 120 jury-selected, tour-ready musicians representing diverse cultures, languages, and sound. These 30-minute sets are performed on full production stages at the in person conference in addition to self-produced online showcases. In a commitment to more equitably represent the folk community, FAI has pledged to achieve a 50/50 gender balance in programming across all stages.
To play an Official Showcase, performers must apply before the deadline and await approval by a board of jurors. Official Showcases are not awarded more than two years in a row.
Official Showcases at the 2023 Conference
Official Showcases at the 2023 conference will be performed in-person at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, MO, USA.
Private Showcases
Private Showcases turn hotel rooms into listening rooms from 10:30 pm CT to 3 am CT on Wednesday – Saturday nights. These performances are more intimate, often without any amplification, and offer a unique opportunity for the artists. The rooms are very fluid, and some people cycle in and out of different performances. It is acceptable to stay for only a song or two, but please remember to be courteous to the performers!
Hosts are artists, record labels, publicists, agents, managers, state/provincial music offices, national export offices, collectives, and extraordinary fans of folk. Artists access these performances by connecting directly with presenters.
Private Showcases at the 2023
Private Showcases will take place in-person at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, MO.
Masks are required during all Private Showcases except for artists when they are performing.
NEW: artists are limited to six Private Showcases over the four nights. It’s the artist’s responsibility to manage this number.
Lobby Jams
Lobby jams are one of the most notable things about our conference! Music happens in all corners of the conference, and lobby jams offer a chance for artists to collaborate, explore music, and connect in authentic ways. Feel free to find other folkies, pull out an instrument, and embrace the spirit of folk together.
Postering Policy
Postering by attendees is not allowed at the host hotels. This includes any artist posters with showcase announcements. Instead, we provide digital advertising space on large TVs throughout the hotel and outside every showcase room. These digital ads can be purchased at a much lower rate than printed material and help reduce the amount of waste at our event. There is also ad space available in the program book and pocket guide. Purchase digital advertising for your showcase.
The one exception to this rule is postering by Private Showcase Hosts.View the rules for postering if you are a Private Showcase Host.