FARM Gathering 2009
Folk Alliance Region Midwest Annual Conference
Please join the Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) at its 2009 Gathering from Thursday, October 8th, through Sunday, October 11th (Columbus Day weekend), at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bolingbrook, just minutes away from Chicago, convenient to expressways, shopping, and alternative dining and lodging.
| HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE (BACK TO TOP) | |
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Print out the Registration Form (PDF), fill it in, and mail it with your check or money order to the address specified. This is for the Gathering only, not room reservations. Early registration deadline is September 21 (post-mark date) FARM is part of the Folk Alliance. If you're a member of Folk Alliance, you are automatically a FARM member, and enjoy a registration discount. However, you do not need to be a member to attend the Gathering. We appreciate early registrations, so please make yours as soon as possible. |
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IMPORTANT LODGING INFORMATION: FARM 2009 will be held this year at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, IL (on IL-53 just n. of I-55). Meals and lodging will be a la carte (but lodging will be directly bookable through the hotel, including the option to use credit cards). Rooms (2 queens or 1 king, some limited suites with add'l sleeper sofa) will be $99, but can sleep anywhere from 1-5 people (extra charge only if a rollaway is needed). Restaurant on-site and abundant dining options within walking distance or a free hotel shuttle ride. Plenty of free parking. Shuttle service from Midway Airport/CTA Orange Line will be available.
Our Holiday Inn room reservations bulk rate expires on September 24, 2009. Reservations can be made either one of two ways: 1) Using the online form. It will allow you to make reservations between October 8, 2009, (check in) and October 11, 2009, (check out) and automatically receive the FARM Conference bulk rate. If you need/want reservations outside of that time period (arriving early and/or leaving later), you will have to make them separately. 2) Calling 630-679-1600 (direct) or toll-free 800-972-2494 (central). Before specifying the dates, tell the central operator that you're making reservations at the Holiday Inn in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and for either operator that you want to use the FARM Conference bulk rate The hotel has a full service restaurant and bar that opens at 6:30 a.m. open all day through dinner, with the bar open later and there is a full-size heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, coin laundry, and an outdoor patio for relaxing and jamming (weather permitting). Once again, sleeping and function rooms will be under one roof and jamming will take place in the meeting rooms as late as people feel able. |
| 2009 FARM Gathering Showcases (BACK TO TOP) | |
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We are proud to announce the artists who make up our twelve juried Showcases and four alternatives. The Showcase performances do not compete with any other Gathering activity so that all who come may enjoy. We trust you'll find a favorite performer or two on this list that'll you'll want to come out for and support, and hopefully discover new favorites that you'll make a note to see in the future. We'd like to thank our Juried Showcase Selection Committee for their hard work. |
| PERFORMANCE LANE & Other opportunities to showcase (BACK TO TOP) | |
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We learned from previous FARM surveys and attendee comments that our members want to keep Performance Lane, our "one song per act" showcase, as a part of the Gathering. This year, however, we will offer pre-scheduled 10- minute time slots to be held simultaneously in 3 smaller conference rooms. Performance Lane will take place immediately following the official showcases on Friday and Saturday evening. HOW TO SIGN UP FOR PERFORMANCE LANE: It's easy. Just register for the conference and select the box on the form indicating you would like to a Performance Lane slot. Requests for these slots are filled on a first come, first served basis up to the maximum number of participants we can accommodate, so REGISTER AS EARLY AS YOU CAN if you want a Performance Lane spot. |
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CIYH INVITATIONAL SHOWCASE
CIYH (http://concertsinyourhome.com
Congratulations to the following artists for being chosen to perform in the CIYH Invitational Showcase:
The showcase will begin at 8 o'clock following the welcome reception. See the conference schedule-at-a-glance for details. |
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JAMMING, SONG CIRCLES
After the formal showcases and Performance Lane on both nights, jamming and song circles among the musicians are, as always encouraged. However, due to the nature of our meeting facility, the tight schedule of events and the wishes of the overwhelming majority of attendees, NO private showcasing of any kind will be permitted. We are proud of FARM' s convivial and cooperative nature, and that our showcase artists enjoy the undivided attention of attendees—no other activities are scheduled during the showcases and Performance Lane. |
| WORKSHOPS and PANELS (BACK TO TOP) | |
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There will be a number of exciting panels and workshops at FARM this year. We present discussion and instructional panels addressing a broad variety of topics of interest to all our attendees—performers, presenters, service providers, and media alike. Click here for our preliminary list of 2009 Workshops.
We are still in need a few more workshops, so if you would like to share your expertise on a particular topic please contact our Gathering Panel Coordinator: Annie Capps |
| A TASTE OF FARM (BACK TO TOP) | |
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Curious about the entertainment options available at a FARM Gathering, but never had the time to commit to traveling long distances for an entire weekend, or the inclination or ability to pay for lodging and meals? Once again, we'd like to invite the public to come and observe the Juried Showcase and Performance Lane and even participate in the jams and song circles—the heart of our friendly, cooperative and non-competitive Gathering. The charge to attend the showcases and Performance Lane is only $10 per night. We're hoping you can drop by and discover the huge umbrella that is folk and acoustic music in the Midwest—all ages and many subgenres. Bring an instrument (or just your ears and voices) and see for yourself that folk music in the Midwest is alive and vital—and that you can keep it that way. We're hoping that once you see what we're all about, you'll be back to join us for the ENTIRE weekend next year! |
| BECOME A FARM BOARD MEMBER OR VOLUNTEER (BACK TO TOP) | |
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If you are interested in the future of FARM and acoustic music in the Midwest, this is a great year to come to the Gathering. FARM is a member-driven organization, so this is your chance to have a hand in the shape of things to come. Also, if you want to take a more active role in FARM, consider applying to serve on the FARM board or otherwise volunteering. No time, you say? Well, being on the board is not as time-consuming as you might think. There are weeks and even months with nothing to do, followed by a few weeks of intense activity several times a year. Each office has different times when it's busy. If you are interested, e-mail Sandy Andina. |