2009 NERFA FORMAL SHOWCASE SELECTIONS

I am VERY pleased to announce the lineup for the Formal Showcase for the 2009 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA)!!

NERFA will take place November 12 - 15th at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY.

The selected artists who will be appearing in the Formal Showcase at NERFA
in 2009 are:

Acoustic Eidolon
Andrew McKnight and Beyond Borders
Beaucoup Blue
Buskin & Batteau
Craig Bickhardt
Danielle Miraglia
Iona
James Lee Stanley
Joe Crookston
Joel Mabus
Jon Vezner
Kelleigh McKenzie
Treasa Levasseur
Zoe Mulford

Alternates - K.C. Clifford and Tripping Lily

Once again, we had an incredible selection of artists who applied and being restricted to selecting only 14 was a difficult task.   I wish we had room for so many more - but I'm looking forward to the opportunity to hear all of these artists and more at the Tricentrics, private and guerilla showcases. We have such a diverse and creative community - this is an exciting time to be part of it!

This year's panel of judges included Mary Sue Twohy, Music Director and on-air host of XM Satellite Radio's "The Village" folk channel; Scott Sheldon, the booker and concert chair of Sanctuary Concerts; Sonny Ochs,radio host on WRPI, concert producer, and an emcee/stage manager/volunteer/you-name-it at practically every folk festival in the country; Richard Cuccaro, writer and publisher of "Acoustic Live" ; and myself, host of radio shows on WFDU-FM and the president/booker of the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club.    I should also mention that Mary Sue and Scott have "singer-songwriter" listed on their resume as well.

It was an honor to be able to listen to all the submissions.  EVERYONE who submitted had their music heard by the panel - and there are now a number of new artists who will be heard on the radio, be considered for bookings at venues, and are simply now on our radar - there is no such thing as a  "losing" submission to these showcases.

IF you have been procrastinating, I urge you to sign up for the conference A.S.A.P.    The Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY is a wonderful resort that has been refurbished in recent years and provides NERFA with a great setting and accommodations for the conference.  To sign up, and to find out more about NERFA, visit the website at www.nerfa.org.  You can register online today!!!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the conference, and be sure to get to the formal showcase early on Friday and Saturday night!  You do not want to miss a note!

Ron Olesko
Chairperson, the Formal Showcase Committee for NERFA