Festival Performers Selection Criteria
The mission of the Festival is to provide the general public with the opportunity to experience and participate in the traditional folk-arts of music, dance, storytelling, and crafts using workshops, performance, demonstrations, and jam sessions.
The Albuquerque Folk Festival Inc. is an all-volunteer not-for-profit public charity. Its focus is on teaching and on the traditional folk-arts of the southwest.
The vast majority of Festival performers are volunteers drawn primarily from the local folk-arts community. They perform, provide workshops and demonstrations, and lead jam sessions. The Festival does, however, book 6-10 acts each year to perform on the Main Stage, for which it pays nominal fees.
If you would like to participate in our festival, please read through the following criteria and decide which stage(s) are a good fit. Then email for Main Stage or or all other venues. Let us know which stage(s) you are interested in and why you see your performance as a good fit. All music acts must be acoustic-folk and appropriate to our venue. Please apply by January for the June Festival.
Main stage Criteria:
Main stage acts are selected from a mix of the following criteria:
- Deep roots in the traditional folk-arts of the southwest. Between one third and two thirds of Main Stage acts will be selected on this basis.
- Drawing power and publicity hooks that will attract local media attention, and a recognized high level of performance in traditional, southwest folk-arts. One or more acts will be selected primarily on this basis.
- Ability to draw Festival first-time attendees from a broad demographic within and beyond the local folk arts community.
- Ability to present one or another of the various folk-arts traditions and reach various ethnic, economic, and age groups found in contemporary New Mexico and the southwest.
- Willingness to participate in workshops and performances in the festivalŐs core offerings. All artists booked by the festival for the Main Stage will be expected to participate in these offerings as well as performing on the Main Stage.
Second (Local Band) Stage Criteria:
The Second Stage showcases local performers. Selection criteria generally follow Main Stage policy items 1, 4 & 5. Audiences range from 50-100 people.
Demo (Demonstration) Stage Criteria:
The Demonstration Stage features culturally diverse music and dance. This stage also follows Main Stage policy items 1, 4 & 5. Audiences range from 35-60 people.
Singer/songwriter Stage Criteria:
The Singer/songwriter Stage features high-quality singer/songwriters. Bands are not usually accepted. Audiences range from 25-50
Jam with the Band Criteria:
Jam with the Band is lead by high-quality bands that jam with Festival goers. Main Stage bands may lead some of these sessions. Audiences range from 30-50
Erika Gerety, AFF co-director; Gary Libman, AFF co-director