Folk Alliance online

Memphis, Tenn., home of rock’s King (a guy who made his home at Graceland) and generally regarded as THE place for blues, is gearing up for an onslaught of music from the folk world.

Besides folkies, the 21st annual International Folk Alliance Conference will include a fair amount of bluegrass, acoustic blues and traditional music and dance.

The event runs from Feb. 18 to 22 this week at Memphis’s Downtown Merriot and Cook Convention Center.

It has more artists scheduled to appear during the week than the lineup for a three-week-long bluegrass festival.

More than 1,700 attendees have already registered for 50 workshops, panel discussions and peer group meetings on promotions, preservation and traditions. Special events include the Folk Music & Business Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards, networking receptions, official Performance Alley and private showcase performances, feature shows, exhibit hall, block booking sessions, Memphis tours and community outreach concerts.

Performance Alley alone has booked 200 official juried performances and another 300-plus unofficial private showcases are on tap, courtesy of independent artists and labels.

This year’s conference will include a banjo summit on Friday, Feb. 20, led by Bob Carlin. Other participants include Bela Fleck, Greg Litsz, Leonard Podalak, Norris Bennett, Tony Ellis, Abigail Washburn and Randal Morton.

Fleck will also have a question-and-answer session about the new documentary film, “Throw Down Your Heart.” The movie is the result of Fleck’s search for the banjo’s origins. Produced by Fleck’s brother, Sascha Paladino, the documentary takes the viewer to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia and Mali.

Kathy Mattea will give a special presentation during the week on her Coal Songs CD, and John Sebastion, once of the Lovin’ Spoonful fame, will give a presentation on jug band music.

Among the lengthy list of artists on the performance schedule are Roger McGuinn, who will also be the conference’s keynote speaker; Rodney Crowell, Charlie Louvin and The Duhks.

Special tributes will be paid to Phil Ochs and Utah Phillips.

Information about the gathering is available at www.folk.org.