I am VERY pleased to announce the lineup for the Formal Showcase for the
2010 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA)!!

NERFA will take place November 11 – 14th at the Hudson Valley Resort in
Kerhonkson, NY. The selected artists who will be appearing in the Formal
Showcase at NERFA in 2010 are:

Angel Band
Nick Annis
Carsie Blanton
Coyote Run
Tret Fure
The Good Lovelies
Joe Jencks
Sharon Katz & The Peace Train
Les Chauffeurs À Pieds
Magpie
The Sally Spring and Ted Lyons Experience
Sultans of String
Washboard Slim and the Bluelights
Amy Carol Webb

Alternates – Lynn Miles and We're About 9

The showcase committee had to choose from a large pool of outstanding
artists who applied this year, one of the highest number of submissions in
recent years.  Being limited to selecting only 14 was a difficult task, but
in the end I think you will agree that this year's showcase reflects some of
the finest talent that our folk community has to offer.   It is a diverse
lineup that we feel will appeal to the varied presenters that attend NERFA.

This year's panel of judges included Sarah Craig, the Director of Caffé Lena
in Saratoga Springs, New York; Sonny Ochs, radio host on WRPI in Troy, NY,
concert producer and an emcee/stage manager/volunteer at various folk
festivals;  Mary Sue Twohy, Music Director and on-air host of XM Satellite
Radio's "The Village" folk channel; Dianne Tankle & Dr. Robert Cohen (two
people – one vote) who have been guiding forces on the Philadelphia folk
scene for decades- producing concerts, festivals, the Spring Thing and as
most of you know – Dianne with Bob as her partner has organized our annual
conferences since the beginning and were an integral part of the original
steering committee that founded the Folk Alliance; and myself, host of radio
shows on WFDU-FM in Teaneck, New Jersey and the president/booker of the
Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club.    

It was an honor for all of us to have the opportunity 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