Los Angeles, June 3, 2004...Folk Alliance Region West,
known as FAR-WEST, the western regional chapter of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance has announced The 1st Annual FAR-WEST Regional Conference to be held October 29-31, 2004 at the Warner Center Marriot in Woodland Hills, CA.
As a satellite organization of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, Far-West's goals are to bring together active members of the folk music community for the purpose of networking, professional development, education and advocacy.

The Far-West region is vast, encompassing California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, "and indeed folks from elsewhere who do business in the West,” according to Steve Dulson, President of Far-West. " It is exciting and daunting to have a regional organization on the west coast because of the huge geographic area involved. The first Conference is meant to bring all these people together to communicate and set the pattern for reaching our goals." The conference is open to performers, agents, mangers, venue owners and bookers, DJs, other media people and all others in the folk music business.

FAR-WEST's mission mirrors that of the parent organization, The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, which fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, dance and related performing arts in North America. Folk Alliance, formed in 1989 seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

Several satellite organizations around the country including NERFA (North East Regional Folk Alliance) and SWERFA (South West Regional Folk Alliance) have been created with success. "The smaller regional conventions allow for a great deal of focused communication as opposed to the international meetings," said Dulson in reference to the annual Folk Alliance meetings which are traditionally attended by more than 2,000 people from all over the world.

The First Annual Far WEst meeting will offer opportunities for artist and companies to exhibit as well as proving a multitude showcase opportunities for performers.
For more information, refer to the web site www.far-west.org or contact Steve Dulson at tinkersown@aol.com or (949) 646-1964.