KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The international folk music showcase, Folk Alliance International, kicks off this week in Kansas City, Mo. The showcase moved from Memphis to Kansas City and will be in the metro for the next five years.
The move couldn’t come at a better time for Kansas City. Folk music is the hottest thing in the music industry right now — and bands wanting to make it big are hoping to be discovered this week in Kansas City. Thousands of artists — from Grammy winners to beginners looking for their big break — will perform.
“They have a place at the table next to the rappers and the metal guys and the pop guys and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Marcus Mumford-Beyonce go bill at some point in time,” Louis Meyer, executive director Folk Alliance International, said.
Kansas City’s own Irish band, The Elders, played Wednesday night at the opening concert. Like the Elders, folk artists are putting a modern edge on their music and finding a worldwide audience.
“Nowadays we have younger and younger players playing folk music because of the sheer success of acts like Mumford and Sons and Avett Brothers and Iron & Wine and Bon Iver and the Lumineers and on and on. That’s all folk music,” Meyer said.
The music showcase is happening now through Sunday at the Sheraton Crown Center.
For a complete list of performing acts, click here. For more information, visit folk.org.
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