FAI 2027: Chicago, Illinois, United States
January 27-31, 2026
FoLk+
Online Music Conference
April 29 - 30, 2026
Folk+ is an online music conference featuring expert panels, networking, showcases, workshops, and more!
sponsored by
What's happening at FOLK+?
Networking
Connect with artists and industry
from around the globe during networking sessions
Panels and Workshops
Collect insights from music industry experts during live panels and recorded content – rewatch anytime!
Performances
Share your music with the industry at exclusive song circles, or post your music to the Chorus platform for all to see!
Folk+ Takes Place on Zoom
Find Zoom links for each session in the Schedule below. Share your music and make valuable connections with a huge directory of folkies in our online community.
Folk+ Schedule
Individual events are accessible at the Zoom link buttons below! Return to this page before each session and click the link to join the next session. Recordings will be available to watch at any time after the event on our YouTube page.
DONATE now!Wednesday, April 29
11:00am CT
Welcome and Elevator Rides
Going up? Anyone who has attended a FAI or Regions' in-person conference before knows that riding the elevators can lead to unexpected bouts of laughter, provide hot tips on what events to check out, and facilitate chance encounters between strangers just waiting to become fast folk friends. April 29 at 11am CST, catch a virtual lift and find yourself in a six person randomly selected ‘Elevator Ride’ on Zoom, where you can share stories, run into friends you haven’t seen in awhile, and embrace the element of surprise.
11:30am CT
Inside the Ticketing Ecosystem: Why Prices Are Rising and What It Means for Venues, Promoters, and Fans
For independent venues, promoters, and presenters, today’s live event ticketing landscape is increasingly difficult to navigate. From resale-driven price distortion to speculative listings and platform dynamics, the current system is reshaping how live events are priced and experienced. Join us for a conversation unpacking the ticketing ecosystem from the venue, fan, and artist perspectives. We’ll break down what’s happening behind the scenes across primary and secondary markets and how these pressures impact operations, artist relationships, and long-term sustainability. We’ll also explore who benefits from the current system and what emerging policy reforms could mean for the industry moving forward.
12:35 pm CT
Meet SERFA
Join us for an engaging virtual session where you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional leadership team, explore upcoming conference opportunities, and learn about year-round programming and ways to get involved through volunteering. This is a great chance to connect directly with the leaders driving the mission forward, ask questions, and discover how the organization can support your professional and creative goals. Whether you're new or looking to deepen your involvement, this session is designed to inform and inspire. SERFA serves Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
1:10 pm CT
Meet FARM
Join us for an engaging virtual session where you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional leadership team, explore upcoming conference opportunities, and learn about year-round programming and ways to get involved through volunteering. This is a great chance to connect directly with the leaders driving the mission forward, ask questions, and discover how the organization can support your professional and creative goals. Whether you're new or looking to deepen your involvement, this session is designed to inform and inspire. FARM serves Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nunavut, Ohio, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
1:45 pm CT
Songwriting to Meet the Moment, Hosted by Nerfa
NERFA is proud to present: “Songwriting to Meet the Moment,” with Katie Dahl, Jillian Matundan, and Peter Mulvey. Songs have a unique way of connecting us to our own humanity, or that of others, as we look to capture moments of experience, reflect current events, or tell stories. This panel will offer thoughts on how each songwriter can tap into what motivates that neat turn of phrase, lyrical mirror, and intimate reveal so listeners can connect with concepts that are both personal and universal.
2:50 pm CT
All About Podcasts (including a ‘live’ example), hosted by Swrfa
Starting off with “how to” podcast with musician and Middle Class Rock Star host, Andy Sydow, then moving into a ‘live’ podcast with Skyla Lowery, singer/songwriter and production and venue manager for the 04 Center in Austin.
3:55 pm CT
Meet FAR-West
Join us for an engaging virtual session where you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional leadership team, explore upcoming conference opportunities, and learn about year-round programming and ways to get involved through volunteering. This is a great chance to connect directly with the leaders driving the mission forward, ask questions, and discover how the organization can support your professional and creative goals. Whether you're new or looking to deepen your involvement, this session is designed to inform and inspire. FAR-West serves Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northwest Territory, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Yukon Territory.
4:30 pm CT
Polishing Your Act: A Live Performance Master Class
Form a deeper connection with your artistry and your material, and use that connection to
become a more dynamic and intentional performer. Several acts will be selected in class to play a song and receive supportive and practical coaching from Vicki Green, Performing Artist Coach. Vicki brings her unique expertise and kindness-based approach to this popular class she has
taught for decades. Come to play, or to witness the discoveries and transformations – either way, you’ll leave with tools for your own artistic endeavors. All experience levels/act configurations welcome.
6:00 pm CT
Campfire Circle Song Share, Hosted by FAR-West
Folk is Everyone! FAR-WEST is hosting a special Campfire Song Circle at Folk+! The Campfire is our twice-monthly song circle, where artists and audiences from the FAR-West region and beyond are welcome to enjoy original songs, favorite covers, and tunes inspired by that week's theme. The theme is suggested only, all songs are welcome, but it’s fun to see what comes up around each theme.
It’s a safe space with a family feel and many first-time performers have started here.
Sign up in advance to perform or be in the audience.
Thursday, April 30
11:00 am CT
YouTube for Artists: Foundations for Success
Description coming soon!
12:05 pm CT
Meet SWRFA
Join us for an engaging virtual session where you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional leadership team, explore upcoming conference opportunities, and learn about year-round programming and ways to get involved through volunteering. This is a great chance to connect directly with the leaders driving the mission forward, ask questions, and discover how the organization can support your professional and creative goals. Whether you're new or looking to deepen your involvement, this session is designed to inform and inspire. SWRFA serves Arizona, Colorado, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
12:40 pm CT
It Takes a Village: Raising a Family in the Music Business
The importance of community is at the forefront of our minds, now more than ever. Equal parts experience sharing and practical planning, this panel will dive into the realities of raising a family alongside a career in the music business. Artists and industry professionals come together to discuss what does and does not work within the system and how we can work together to move forward in a more inclusive and supportive way. Join us if you’re a parent, considering parenthood, or willing to be a caring part of the ecosystem!
1:45 pm CT
Beyond “Woke”: Rethinking Lead Belly in the Era of Cowboy Carter
Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly, 1889–1949) gained renewed fame recently for his 1937 statement to “stay woke,” a warning to others about the injustices faced by Black people in the US South. While his music is recognized as foundational in the worlds of folk and rock, his personal story deserves reexamination as it also influences the present. Both his life and repertoire embody the nation’s cowboy past, its inherent cultural diversity, and its history not only of racial oppression but also of resistance, innovation, and reclamation. Join Terika Dean, Sheila Curran Bernard, and Caroline Randall Williams for a conversation that moves beyond slogans to examine how Lead Belly’s story challenges us to rethink authorship, authenticity, and the cultural politics of the American cowboy.
2:50 pm CT
Back Catalog Listening Party: Live Podcast Taping and Q+A Hosted by FARM
Join FARM's Mother Banjo & Anthony Ihrig (The High 48s) as they host a live taping of their interactive Back Catalog Listening Party podcast with a guest artist, who will revisit one of their old records and answer your questions live!
3:55 pm CT
DIY Media Panel
Description coming soon!
5:00 pm CT
Meet NERFA
Join us for an engaging virtual session where you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional leadership team, explore upcoming conference opportunities, and learn about year-round programming and ways to get involved through volunteering. This is a great chance to connect directly with the leaders driving the mission forward, ask questions, and discover how the organization can support your professional and creative goals. Whether you're new or looking to deepen your involvement, this session is designed to inform and inspire. NERFA serves Connecticut, D.C. (and its metro area including the Virginia counties of Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William), Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, and Vermont
5:35 pm CT
Patter Matters!
Once you're on stage, everything that happens is part of the show, including the patter. In this webinar, we'll explore ways to level up your performance with patter. Learn how to "book-end" your songs, how to create connective tissue, and where to find source material.
7:00 pm CT
Virtual Performance Lane
FARM’s Virtual Performance Lane offers a limited number of pre-scheduled 10-minute performance showcases that take place on Zoom.The public is welcome to join the Zoom event and join in the chatting and fun. No charge to watch or play.Sign-up to perform opens 2 weeks in advance of the event and typically fills up within 30 minutes. We send an announcement through the FARM newsletter email list to notify our community that Performance Lane Sign Up is open. If you don’t get our email newsletters, you’ll miss out. You can register to get our newsletters here. If you sign up to perform, or if you want to join us for a really fun evening of great music, you must complete the Zoom registration. Do that here.
FOLK+ is powered by donations! Free or pay-what-you-can!
All donations go directly to supporting our FAI Regions who provide resources and host events for folk music artists and industry!
Join for free or make a donation to support Folk+ as small as $5!
Appalachian Americana Blues Bluegrass Celtic Cajun Fusions Global Roots Hip-Hop Old-Time Singer-Songwriter Spoken Word Traditional Zydeco
Appalachian Americana Blues Bluegrass Celtic Cajun Fusions Global Roots Hip-Hop Old-Time Singer-Songwriter Spoken Word Traditional Zydeco
Presented by the FAI Regions
The Folk+ Online Music Conference is a collaboration of the FAI Regions who support and connect the music industry in specific parts of the world.
Strengthen your regional connections – go to their conferences and events!
