CONTEST DETAILS

The 2024 Folk Hero Contest!

Folk Hero contestants wishing to compete in the finals, (October 18, 2024) on stage at the Delmarva Folk Festival, have two options this year for round one!

Contestants may submit a video by uploading to youtube and sending us a link to delfolk@gmail.com or in person at the Sept. 21st, Coffeehouse in Dover.

Online submissions must be submitted by September 1st, 2024 showcasing 3 songs that best represent the artist.

In Person contestants - Sept 21st, 2024-Sign up begins at 7p.m. (no fee for performers) Coffee House location -The Dover Art League 21 W. Loockerman St Dover, Delaware 19901

Bands may include up to 5 people that use traditional instruments and light percussion with no more than a 3 piece drum kit (bass drum, snare and symbols or something similar).


The final round is held Oct. 18, 2024 on the main stage of the Delmarva Folk Festival at G & R Campground, Houston, Del.
The Folk Hero winner will be selected by audience vote.
Voting must be done in person at each event.
Invite your friends and family to come out and support you!


Coffee House tickets- $5 for members and $7 for non members .
Admission for the 2024 Festival finals is $10. (No admission fee for artist & 1 guest)
Teens are half-price, 12 and under are admitted free.

2024 Folk Hero Winner will receive:
A paid festival set of $150.00 on the Main Stage the following day (Saturday).
A dedicated page on our website, www.delfolk.org, promoting the winning artist & their social media.
All finalists will receive 1 guest pass for the final round, a 1 year membership for Delaware Friends of Folk events.

$150 to host the following years Folk Hero Finals

RULES AND GUIDELINES

Coffee House Preliminary Rounds
Anyone is eligible to try out, with the exception of performers who have been paid to play for a Delaware Friends of Folk event.
Candidates should be solo through 5 performers.
Smaller drum kits, percussion and folk rhythm instruments are welcome.
Your performance time is 15 to 20 minutes, based on the number of competing acts. We suggest you have 4 or 5 pieces prepared
Your set-up time is included in your performance time.
Original music is encouraged but we ask you keep to genres such as Folk (traditional, new, or “singer songwriter”), Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Jazz, Indie, Americana, New Age, World, Old-Time, Roots, Story-telling.


If a candidate is selected as a finalist, NO additional performers may be added to the candidate’s act for the Folk Hero Finals at the Festival. In the event a selected performer(s) cannot participate, the act may still perform but with fewer members.
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.

***Please note that camping & Saturdays festival pass are not included unless you are selected to perform Saturday morning.


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.
Please contact delfolk@gmail.com with any questions or to sign up ahead of time.
Good Luck!

Photo credit: Carlos Holmes