18 February 2016

Folk Alliance International (FAI) kicked off its 28th Annual Conference tonight with the International Folk Music Awards Gala held in the Century Ballroom at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. The awards show presented six Spirit of Folk Awards, three Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the introduction of three new awards categories, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year. A list of award winners is below. Hosted by Steve Poltz and sponsored by Prohibition Hall, the awards show featured performances by Spirit of Folk Award recipient 99-year-old Arkansas fiddler Violet Hensley, Anishaabe drummer, dancer and singer Mimkii Osawamick, Derbyshire, UK-based singer/songwriter and Album of Year nominee Bella Hardy, and Massachusetts-based quartet Darlingside. International Folk Music Award 2016 Winners: Album of the Year: Rhiannon Giddens, Tomorrow Is My Turn Song of the Year: The Stray Birds, “Best Medicine” Artist of the Year: Darlingside Spirit of Folk Awards: Troy Campbell, Violet Hensley, Sam Lee, Dave Siglin, Phyllis Stenson, and Tony Turner Lifetime Achievement Awards: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Living), Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (Legacy), English Folk Dance Society (Business/Organization) About Folk Alliance International Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a registered 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri. With five regional affiliates throughout the United States that provide conferences and services in their respective markets, the mission of FAI is to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community—traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional – through education, advocacy and performance. Since 1989, and with over 3,000 members worldwide, Folk Alliance International has served as an organization promoting, advocating and supporting folk music with an annual conference that is one of the five largest music conferences in North America. Folk Alliance continues to grow while providing a unique range of member services to the community, which includes artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, manufacturers, and music support services. (www.folk.org)