The Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) is bringing its annual conference to Owensboro for the first time, with events scheduled from May 15-18, 2025. With registration, attendees will gain access to a wide array of workshops, panels, and song circles, as well as two nights of official showcases and after-hours private performances.
The conference will be held at the Owensboro Convention Center and Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame, with the Hampton Inn serving as the hosting hotel.
An open mic night will kick off the event on Thursday, and admission to the Bluegrass Museum, including a new Jerry Garcia exhibit, is included with registration.
SERFA President Jill Kettles said the conference will bring together a diverse mix of musicians and industry professionals from across the Southeast and beyond.
“It’s a bunch of like-minded musicians coming to network and hang and be a community,” Kettles said. “Our main goal is to have a really good conference that’s community-oriented and carries on the traditions of folk music – which isn’t just Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie. It’s an expandable thing, from Rhiannon Giddens to Sierra Ferrell and beyond.”
Kettles said the conference will feature juried showcases on Friday and Saturday nights at the Bluegrass Museum, with 16 varied solo artists, duos, and groups performing for attendees and the public.
“We’re going to invite the public for sure, and maybe charge around $10,” she said. “Everyone’s going to have a nice evening of three or four songs, about 15 minutes each.”
Workshops and panels will cover topics ranging from building a successful label team and navigating social media to mental health and financial management on the road. The “Wisdom of the Elders” session will feature seasoned musicians sharing stories and insights from their careers, with a complimentary lunch provided by Visit Owensboro.
Kettles said the decision to bring the conference to Owensboro was influenced by the city’s hospitality and the proximity of key venues.
“We chose Owensboro because of the great walking distance to everything and the resources and hospitality,” she said. “The Bluegrass Museum being right there is a huge bonus. Owensboro really reached out to us with open arms.”
The conference is expected to draw around 250 attendees, with a mix of ages, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. In addition to official events, private showcases will allow musicians to perform in intimate, curated settings within hotel rooms, mimicking similar setups at other folk conferences.
“You’ll see people walking around with guitars and other instruments, just hanging out,” Kettles said. “We’ll be invading, but we’ll be a good invasion.”
Registration, lodging, and performance applications are now open, with additional opportunities to suggest workshops, volunteer, or become a sponsor. More information is available at SERFA.org.
