In December of 1983, the World Folk Music Association, in order to provide opportunities for up-and-coming folk artists to perform for folk-friendly audiences, began a series of monthly Music Americana Showcases. As a result, the Washington, DC area has become one of the best areas in the country for folk performers and listeners alike. The next 15 years saw the formation of dozens of new folk music venues, including restaurants, coffee houses, churches, and house concerts. As a result, in 1998, the World Folk Music Association decided to bring this 15 year long concert series to a close and devote its resources to promoting folk music in other ways.
In January of 2013, WFMA once again began hosting monthly showcases in the DC area, at a fine Latin American restaurant in Silver Spring, El Golfo. After 3 very sucessful years at this excellent venue, we decided to move our showcase series (beginning with our February, 2016 showcase) to a new location, Positano Ristorante Italiano in downtown Bethesda. In March, 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to put our showcase series on hold. Then in May, 2021, for reasons unrelated to the pandemic, Positano ceased operation. We are actively looking for a new location and hope to resume our showcase series soon.