Folk Alliance Band of the Day: Willi Carlisle
Willi Carlisle. // photo courtesy the artist
The Folk Alliance International Conference, presented by Folk Alliance International, has its 2024 iteration this February 21-25 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel. With well over 100 artists performing over the course of five days, “crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions,” it can be intimidating to figure out where to start.
We’ve selected a few artists for whom we think you should make time to see, and we’ll be featuring one a day leading up until the conference kicks off on Wednesday, February 21.
Last month, Willi Carlisle released his newest album, Critterland, on Signature Sounds. The album sees the musician’s big tent revival style going deeper, and it takes on “human suffering through stories about forbidden love, loss, generational trauma, addiction, and suicide.” Carlisle believes that by processing inherited traits and trauma, he “can reach a deeper understanding of what it means to succeed and to exist.” It’s an emotional catharsis through singing, and never has getting sad felt like such a release.
Bonus: On Saturday, February 17, Willi Carlisle plays a show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence with Ken Pomeroy. Details on that show here.
“Willi Carlisle is a poet and a folk singer for the people. Like his hero Utah Phillips, Carlisle’s extraordinary gift for turning a phrase isn’t about high falutin’ pontificatin’; it’s about looking out for one another and connecting through our shared human condition.”
Willi Carlisle plays Thursday, February 22, at 6:45pm in Benton’s 20th Floor.
New this year to the conference is that the public can get tickets to the official showcases. You don’t have to register for the conference to go for just one night. Individual evening tickets available here.
You can find out more information on the 2023 Folk Alliance International Conference at Folk Alliance International’s website.
