Facilitators: Emily Blankenship-Tucker, Gina and Jason Dilg.
Bring your favorite folk influence who hails or once hailed from the Southeastern region of the United States to this live interactive event on Zoom. To kick off SERFA In Session – A Virtual Gathering, we’ll come together for a brief introduction hosted by Emily Blankenship-Tucker, then break into smaller groups to share about who the folk artist is you have chosen to share and why they inspire you. We encourage you to dress like them if you desire, bring a memento, or share a chorus from a song to highlight your chosen folk honoree. We’ll then come back together for the second part of the hour, a dance session hosted by Gina and Jason Dilg who will lead us in a mini flatfooting class with music. Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary.

Wisdom of the Elders, our oral history segment, has become one of the most popular components of the SERFA conference. 1990 Folk Alliance International president Art Menius will lead a lively and often surprising conversation among a panel of septuagenarians consisting of songwriter and pioneer female bluegrass musician Louisa Branscomb; folklorist, filmmaker, and National Endowment for the Humanities chair William Ferris; Sugar Hill Records founder Barry Poss; and songwriter and presenter Eddie Lynn Snodderly.

Join our beloved Grady Ormsby as he emcees our open mic. Preference is given to SERFA first-time conference attendees. Not a performer? Come to listen and hear new and familiar voices!

A time reserved for engaging in a current conversation to see what the folk community and music business professionals are thinking and planning for moving forward post-Covid.

Friday 5:30 - 6:45pm: Venues Are Re-Opening--Will You Go? Let’s share and gain insights that can potentially help presenters tackle how to safely re-open venues, or performers and spectators to engage in live music events.

Saturday 8:15 - 9:30pm: Post - Covid, What Do You Want Back in Your Life? What Are The New Options? Adapting is part of human nature, as is freedom of choice. Think on the two questions we’ve presented and use this time to engage in conscious communication with knowledgeable peers about choices and options we’re now facing.

The annual SERFA Awards, established by founding president Kari Estrin, recognize those people, organizations, and businesses that made extraordinary contributions to folk music and its community in the southeast region of Folk Alliance International. SERFA president Abby Parks will host the program at which the award will be presented to folklorist, filmmaker, and National Endowment for the Humanities chair William Ferris; musician and Public Television show host David Holt; women's music pioneer Deidre McCalla, Sugar Hill Records founder Barry Poss; and songwriter and presenter Eddie Lynn Snodderly.

SERFA President Abby Parks will lead our annual general business meeting, then turn the mic over to Keynote Speaker Mary Gauthier, who will share her unique experiences connecting with front line doctors and nurses who have worked in Covid units this past year. She’ll also talk about the upcoming release of her new book, Saved By a Song. Q&A to follow.