WHAT IS THE FOLK HERO COMPETITION?

Six finalists will be selected from two preliminary rounds of Coffee House Open Mics (3 Finalists per round). These Finalists will then be asked to perform on the Main Stage of the Delmarva Folk Festival on Friday evening, October 1, 2021. The preliminaries begin at 7:00 p.m.

At that Friday evening Festival performance, ballots will be distributed to the audience (get those fans and friends to come out and vote for you!). The winner of the vote will be dubbed the 2021 Delmarva Folk Hero and will be awarded a prize package which will include:

• $100 cash
• a longer performance slot on the Main Stage on Saturday (the following day)
• $50 music store gift card
• $100 to host next year’s Folk Hero Finals

RULES AND GUIDELINES

Coffee House Preliminary Rounds

• Candidates should present a genre similar to the ones typically presented by the Delaware Friends of Folk – Folk (traditional, new, or “singer songwriter”), Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Jazz, New Age, World, Old-Time, Roots, Story-telling.

• Candidates should be solo through 5 performers, with a strong preference toward fewer performers
  in any act, to simplify changeovers. No drum kits, please - although percussionists are welcome
  to play a variety of folk rhythm instruments, like cajon, congas, bongo, bodhrans, djembe, tambourines, maracas, etc.

• At the conclusion of each coffee house, ballots will be distributed for the audience to vote for
  their favorite performer. No proxy, delayed, or internet voting will be allowed –
  you must be present to vote.

• The Board will review the ballots  cast at each coffee house, and will use them to determine the six finalists and to help make programming decisions at the finals. The Board does not anticipate overruling the audience vote, but reserves the right to do so.

• If a candidate is selected as a Finalist, NO additional performers may be added to the candidate’s act for the performance at the Festival. In the event a performer(s) in a group selected as a Finalist cannot participate, the act may still perform but with fewer members. 

• A $25 deposit is required from all Finalists to hold a slot at the Friday night competition. Upon playing in the finals, each Finalist will be reimbursed the $25. 

• If a candidate is not selected as a Finalist at the July Coffee House round, that candidate is free to sign up and perform at the August Coffee House round.
  

FESTIVAL FINALISTS

• The Finalists will each get a performance slot on the Friday night of the Festival. Each slot is anticipated to be 25 minutes long, but this may change depending on the number of Finalists chosen.

• As with the Coffee House preliminary rounds, ballots will be distributed for the audience to vote for their favorite performer. No proxy, delayed, or internet voting will be allowed –
  you must be present to vote.

• The winner of the Friday night competition (The 2021 Folk Hero) must be available to perform at the designated time on Saturday, or will forfeit the entire prize package. (Thus, if you’re selected as a Finalist, reserve the evening of October 1 and if you’re the winner arrive no later than by 11 AM
  on of Saturday, October 2)

• The Finalists will be announced here on the website, Facebook, and in the press following the Festival.

• Any finalists or other participants from previous years are eligible with the exception of past WINNERS of the contest. Being a participant puts you on our radar as possible acts to book throughout the year of Delaware Friends of Folk Coffee Houses or possibly the Old State House Concert Series we do with First State Heritage Park.

Folk Hero Lineup

7:00—Mike Weyrauch, host

7:20—Lenny Smoot

7:40—Jamie Tindle

8:00—Chris Gitcho

8:20—Bob Barto

8:40—Isabel Angela

9:00—Simon & Garfisher

9:20—Mike Weyrauch, host