Volunteers from Wyandotte County help make Folk Alliance International conference a success

Members of the 3 Trails West Cowboy Band from Wyandotte County played in the lobby of a Kansas City, Mo., hotel during the Folk Alliance International conference this week. (Photo by William Crum)
Members of the 3 Trails West Cowboy Band from Wyandotte County played in the lobby of a Kansas City, Mo., hotel during the Folk Alliance International conference this week. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

It is estimated that roughly 100 people volunteer for the Folk Alliance International conference held at the Westin Crown Center and the Sheraton at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The international Folk Alliance brings an estimated more than $50,000 to $75,000 to both Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., however these figures are not completely in as of yet, according to the officials. The figures will be available later.

On Saturday, the third day at the event at the Sheraton, the music festival has performances from all over the world scheduled, including the legendary Victor and Penny, the Howlin’ Brothers from Nashville, Tenn., and Alferd Packer Memorial String Band from Lawrence, Kan. The cost for this event is $25 a session. There’s no better way to spend a cold winter Saturday evening than listening to great folk music.

Volunteers come from the area, including Wyandotte County, to assist in the festival. This is the third year of the conference and next year should be bigger.

For more information, including a schedule of events, go to the website www.folk.org.

Members of the 3 Trails West Cowboy Band from Wyandotte County played in the lobby of a Kansas City, Mo., hotel during the Folk Alliance International conference this week. (Photo by William Crum)
Members of the 3 Trails West Cowboy Band from Wyandotte County played in the lobby of a Kansas City, Mo., hotel during the Folk Alliance International conference this week. (Photo by William Crum)