Perform at the Conference
Apply to Perform in an Official Showcase
OFFICIAL SHOWCASE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
Official showcases will feature eight artist on Friday and Saturday nights. Each act will have 15 minutes to perform on a stage with professional sound. No backline gear will be provided. There are no other events held during the official showcase. Application fee is $30, there will be no production fees. Selection committee includes professionals from across our industry.
Applicants will be notified of their status in late February/early March 2026. Artists who performed in the 2025 and/or 2024 SERFA official showcase are not eligible this year.
All applicants will be eligible for the Early Bird Conference Registration Rate up until the date of the conference regardless of whether they are selected as showcasing artists. A registration code will be sent out with the selection results, or you can register for the conference during the regular Early Bird period.
OFFICIAL SHOWCASE TIMELINE
December 12th, 2025 - February 1st, 2026: Official Showcase application open
February 2nd - 20th: Judging period
February 23rd - March 4th: selected artists notified and confirmed
March 13th: Official Showcase Artist announcement
April 1st: all selected artists and accompanying musicians must be registered for the conference or face forfeiture of their official showcase
Request to Perform in a Private Showcase Room
NEW LOCATION - HOLIDAY INN OWENSBORO RIVERFRONT
Private showcases are booked and hosted by individuals or organizations. Private showcases begin after official events on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and end by 2:00 am. These showcases are held in a limited number of hotel rooms. The rooms will be used exclusively for music performance - hosts will not be expected to host in their personal hotel rooms.
Hosts and artists MUST be registered for the conference. Performances must be acoustic. Exceptions will be made for keyboard and bass at reasonable volumes.
Private showcase hosts decide who they will schedule in their rooms. Once we have confirmed the list of hosts, contact information will be made available to attendees. We will only provide the contact information for hosts who consent. Some hosts prefer to book their rooms without accepting unsolicited submissions.
There is no deadline for artists to apply to perform in private showcases, but it is in your best interest to contact hosts as early as possible. Private showcase hosts may start booking their rooms as soon as we notify them that they are confirmed to host. You may also introduce yourself in the Google Group and let people know that you are interested in private showcases, but please wait until after we announce that showcase hosts have been notified.
