Folk Alliance International Kicks Off 29th Annual Conference With The International Folk Music Awards
Inaugural People’s Voice Award Presented to Bruce Cockburn By Kris Kristofferson
The Clearwater Festival Receives Inaugural Eponymous Award for Environmental Stewardship Presented by Eliza Gilkyson
‘Best of 2016’ Awards For Album, Song, And Artist of The Year Presented by Megan Mullally
Recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards and The Spirit Of Folk Awards Honored
Performances By Andres Ramirez, Amado Espinoza, Arelis Flores, Kris Kristofferson, Jean Rhoe, and Eliza Gilkyson
Kansas City, MO (February 15, 2017) – Folk Alliance International (FAI) kicked off its 29th Annual Conference tonight with the International Folk Music Awards Show held in the Century Ballroom at the Westin Crown Center.
The awards show presented six Spirit of Folk Awards, three Lifetime Achievement Awards and the ‘Best of 2016’ awards including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year. A list of award winners is below.
In a permanent commitment to honor the socially conscious roots of folk music, Folk Alliance International launched two new awards this year—The People’s Voice Award and The Clearwater Award.
To be presented annually to an individual who has committed to social and political commentary in their creative work and folk music career, the inaugural People’s Voice Award was presented to multi-platinum selling recording artist Bruce Cockburn.
The second new award will be presented annually to a festival that prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates public leadership in sustainable event production. Presented to its namesake organization, the inaugural Clearwater Award was bestowed to the Clearwater Festival.
Emceed by Grammy Award-winner Paula Cole, and featured guest appearances by Kris Kristofferson, Megan Mullally, and Eliza Gilkyson.
The awards show also featured performances by Andres Ramirez, Amado Espinoza, Arelis Flores, Kris Kristofferson, Jean Rhoe, and Eliza Gilkyson.
International Folk Music Award 2017 Winners:
Album of the Year: Undercurrent, Sarah Jarosz
Song of the Year: “Black Man in a White World,” Michael Kiwanuka & Inflo
Artist of the Year: Parker Millsap
Spirit of Folk Awards: Barbara Dane, Chloe Goodyear, Michelle Conceison, Ramy Essam, Si Kahn, and SONiA disappear fear
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Iconic composer David Amram (Living), activist songwriter Malvin Reynolds (Legacy), and prolific Canadian folklorist Helen Creighton (Business/Academic)