Kicking off the 20th International Folk Alliance Conference on Wednesday, February 20th, The Folk Awards were presented to honor merit and achievement within our community. The award winners received their trophies amongst inspired performances as well as the presentations of The Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards to Mavis Staples, Tommy Jarrell and Rounder Records at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 2008 Folk Alliance Award recipients were:

Song of the Year: “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall” – Tom Russell
Album of the Year: Waterloo, Tennessee – Uncle Earl
Legacy Recording: The Live Wire – Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949
Traditional Artist: Levon Helm
Contemporary Artist: Susan Werner
World Music Recording: Loreena McKennitt
Emerging Artist: Carolina Chocolate Drops
Booking Agency: The Roots Agency
Broadcaster: Rich Warren, WFMT
Small Folk Venue: Café Lena and The Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse (tie)
Large Folk Venue: The Ark
Folk Festival: Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

The Folk Awards Show was hosted by Folk Alliance Board President Dan Navarro with appearances by Janet Reno, Kathy Mattea, Tom Russell, Eilen Jewell, Twilight Hotel, and Anthony DaCosta.

Following the FA Awards Show the amazing film, PBS MASTERS SERIES, Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song was screened.

For more information about The Folk Alliance please go to www.folk.org.