Folk Alliance International has unveiled the first wave of Official Showcase artists for its 39th annual conference, taking place January 27–31, 2027 in Chicago, IL.
More than 140 artists from 31 countries, 32 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces have joined a lineup expected to grow beyond 160 performers.
The initial slate includes: Alela Diane, Emily Scott Robinson, Erin McKeown, American Patchwork Quartet, Julian Taylor, Raye Zaragoza, Nat Myers, Susan Werner, Amy Speace, Sammy Brue, Flamy Grant, and Carrie Newcomer.
The announcement also reflects Folk Alliance International’s expansive definition of folk music.
Tuvan throat-singing group Alash, Latvian folk-pop ensemble Tautumeitas, Georgian polyphonic singers Trio Mandili and Korean-American blues poet Nat Myers will perform alongside Colombian salsa sextet Las Guaracheras, Japanese taiko group Nagata Shachu and Yemeni psychedelic band El Khat.
Other highlights include Latin Grammy-nominated Making Movies, Chicago’s Sones de México Ensemble, Grammy-winning vocalist and violinist Mireya Ramos, blues guitarist Buddy Red and Texas guitarist Mathias Lattin.
More Than a Folk Festival
The annual Folk Alliance International conference is both a showcase event and an industry gathering, bringing artists together with booking agents, venue operators, record labels, DJs, media companies, and other music professionals.
Its five-day program includes panels, workshops, presentations, networking sessions and professional development opportunities. Jury-selected performers appear in Official Showcases, while the conference’s late-night Private Showcases turn hotel rooms into intimate performance spaces open to a much wider range of attendees.
FAI Executive Director Jennifer Roe notes:
"During a time when connection matters more than ever, we are thrilled at the worldwide response to join us for the 39th annual conference. There is so much musical richness for an attendee to discover."
The theme of the 2027 conference will be “Hands In Solidarity,” inviting attendees to consider how musical communities can become systems of mutual support and collective action.
The range of artists selected also makes a broader point about what folk music can include. FAI’s programming stretches across Americana, blues, bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, global roots, hip-hop, spoken word, traditional music and numerous cross-cultural hybrids.
A keynote speaker and additional Official Showcase artists will be announced at a later date.
