Kerrville Folk Festival

What Kerrville Folk Festival does

Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that has operated a continuously running 18-day music festival at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrville, Texas since 1972. The Foundation's flagship product is the annual Kerrville Folk Festival, featuring 100+ performing songwriters across three stages and drawing more than 30,000 attendees each year — a population large enough to make the festival the second-largest community in Kerr County during the event. Supporting programs include the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters (established 1973, receiving ~1,000 entries annually and selecting 24 finalists and 6 winners), the Welcome Home Fest fall gathering (launched 2019), the Kerrville Music Camp for Teens (co-produced with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County), and Music at the Mansion (with Schreiner University).

The Foundation's underlying technology stack is conventional for the live-events sector: online ticketing and wristband systems, an iOS/Android mobile application, digital music distribution via Bandcamp and Spotify, and email/newsletter infrastructure serving 20,553+ subscribers at a 59% open rate. There is no proprietary platform or technology differentiation; the asset is the event itself and the community surrounding it. Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit mix: annual memberships at seven tiers ($100 to $10,000), ticket and camping sales, tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships ($500 to $8,000+), grants, merchandise, and vendor fees from a 50+ booth Crafts Village and food vendors. The organization is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors and relies on a small paid staff supplemented by a national volunteer network.

The Foundation's primary customer segments are festival attendees (music enthusiasts and folk music lovers), emerging songwriters seeking career development, teen musicians participating in the education program, Foundation members who participate in governance, and corporate sponsors seeking brand alignment with authentic cultural events. Marketing is conducted through a multi-channel community-led approach, including the website, email, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, the mobile app, and a Folk Alliance International partnership. The Foundation reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates as an independent Texas non-profit corporation.

Name

Kerrville Folk Festival

Legal name

Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation

Website

https://kerrvillefolkfestival.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation is a Texas 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an 18-day annual folk music festival and supporting programs, including a songwriting competition, teen music camp, and membership tiers serving attendees, emerging songwriters, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival and Folk Music Events

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local) (MPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Folk music festival
• Songwriter competition
• Music education programs
• Nonprofit festival organization
• Community music events

Headquarters

HQ city

Kerrville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual memberships at multiple tiers ($100-$10,000/year) providing voting rights, discounts, merchandise, and festival perks. Monthly payment options available with additional processing fees.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from festival admission including weekend passes, single-day passes, and VIP experiences. On sale dates and pricing tiers are published on the website.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, including tribute donations in memory of community members.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple levels ($500-$8,000+) providing brand visibility, event signage, social media mentions, and VIP access.
5. Festival Retail: Merchandise sales including t-shirts, bumper stickers, compilation CDs, and digital downloads through Bandcamp.
6. Craft and Food Vending: Revenue from vendor fees for the Crafts Village (50+ arts and crafts booths) and food vendor booths in the Kennedy Outdoor Theater area.
7. Grants: Funding from grants to support folk music education programs, community outreach, and festival operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation operates an 18-day annual folk music festival at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrville, Texas, featuring 100+ performing songwriters across multiple stages. The foundation also runs the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition (established 1973), Welcome Home Fest, a Music Camp for Teens, and a tiered Foundation Membership Program ($100–$10,000), all dedicated to promoting public appreciation of songwriters and folk music.

Product overview

The Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation operates the Kerrville Folk Festival as its flagship 18-day annual event featuring 100+ songwriters at Quiet Valley Ranch in Texas. Supporting programs include the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition (established 1973) which identifies emerging songwriting talent, Welcome Home Fest (smaller fall gathering), Kerrville Music Camp for Teens (co-produced with Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County), and a Membership Program with tiers from $100 to $10,000. The organization also maintains an official mobile app for iOS and Android. All programs focus on promoting public appreciation and support for songwriters, the songwriting craft, and folk music education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grassy Hill New Folk Competition: Annual competition for emerging songwriters, a career-builder that has introduced artists like Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, and others.
• Welcome Home Fest
• Kerrville Music Camp for Teens
• Music at the Mansion
• New Folk on the Road

Products and services

• Kerrville Folk Festival Flagship annual 18-day folk music festival featuring 100+ songwriters performing across multiple stages at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrville, Texas, focused on nurturing artistic expression and the craft of songwriting.
• Grassy Hill New Folk Competition Annual songwriting competition for emerging artists, inviting 24 finalists to perform at the festival with 6 winners selected each year, receiving cash prizes, festival wristbands, and participation in a Texas house concert tour.
• Welcome Home Fest Smaller, more intimate fall gathering held at Quiet Valley Ranch with capped ticket sales, offering a relaxed alternative to the main festival.
• Kerrville Music Camp for Teens State of Texas licensed youth music camp for 60 teens ages 13-18 at Quiet Valley Ranch offering courses in songwriting, creative writing, music foundation, and performance skills, co-produced with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County.
• KFF Foundation Membership Program Annual membership program with tiers from $100 (Folkie) to $10,000 (Kennedy Level), providing benefits including festival tickets, merchandise, discounts, and voting rights in Foundation governance.
• KFF Mobile App Official festival mobile application available for Apple iOS and Google Android platforms, providing festival information, schedules, venue maps, and artist details to attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54 festivals completed since 1972
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-production of the annual Music Camp for Teens, providing songwriting, creative writing, music foundation, and performance instruction for 60 teens ages 13-18 at Quiet Valley Ranch. The camp is a State of Texas licensed youth camp.
• Schreiner UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972Co-production partnership for 'Music at the Mansion' concert series, bringing folk music education and performances to the university community in Kerrville.
• Folk Alliance International (FAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit dedicated to supporting folk musicians and industry professionals. Kerrville's booking team and community attend FAI's annual conference and five regional affiliate conferences (SWRFA, SERFA, NERFA, FARM, FAR-West) for networking and talent discovery.
• Arcadia Live KerrvilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of 'Fourth on the River' community event in Louise Hays Park, standing together in community healing following devastating flood.
• Pint & Plow Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Kerrville brewery serving as venue for New Folk Winners Tour hometown stop and community engagement.
• Kerrville Convention & Visitors BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tourism organization providing support and promotion for festival and events in Kerrville.
• Zócalo DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite design and digital services partner for kerrvillefolkfestival.org.
• Sycamore Creek ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDripping Springs, TX house concert venue hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners on their tour. Suggested donation: $30/person.
• New Braunfels House ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Braunfels, TX house concert venue hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners on their tour. Suggested donation: $30/person.
• Milagro Springs House ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWimberley, TX hilltop house concert venue hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners on their tour. Suggested donation: $30/person.
• McGonigel's Mucky DuckminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHouston, TX premiere listening room venue hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners. Tickets approximately $60+ fees.
• The 04 CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustin, TX premier listening-room venue hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners. Tickets $20-$30.
• Cabin 10 / New Folk Old Folk FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFischer, TX festival hosting 2025 Grassy Hill New Folk Winners as part of their annual New Folk ~ Old Folk Festival at Fischer Hall. Full Weekend Pass: $175 advance.
• Bowman Backyard House ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Antonio, TX backyard venue hosting the grand finale of the 2025 New Folk Winners Tour.
• Bandera Electric (BEC Fiber)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal utility company providing sponsorship support.
• Trailhead Beer GardenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Kerrville venue providing sponsorship support.
• Whole Earth Provision Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTexas-based outdoor gear retailer providing sponsorship support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Falcon Ridge Folk Festival: Annual four-day folk festival in the Northeast featuring an emerging-artist showcase (the Falcon Ridge 'Most Wanted' and dance tent). Closely comparable to Kerrville in scale, format, and focus on developing songwriters.
• Newport Folk Festival: Iconic US folk festival founded in 1959 with a similar nonprofit, community-driven model and tradition of artist discovery (e.g., Bob Dylan). Directly comparable in mission, format, and audience to the Kerrville Folk Festival.
• MerleFest: North Carolina-based roots and Americana festival founded in honor of Doc Watson's son Merle, with a similar nonprofit structure, multi-stage format, and emphasis on songwriting heritage. Direct peer in genre focus and community mission.
• Philadelphia Folk Festival: One of the oldest continuously running folk music festivals in the US, operating on a similar nonprofit, community-based model with multi-generational attendance. Comparable in mission, attendee base, and focus on traditional and contemporary folk music.
• Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Premier acoustic/roots music festival held in a mountain setting with camping and a multi-day format. Comparable to Kerrville in production scale, audience profile, and emphasis on songwriting and acoustic performance.
• Woody Guthrie Folk Festival: Annual folk festival in Okemah, Oklahoma celebrating Woody Guthrie's legacy with songwriter showcases. Comparable in nonprofit, community-based structure, songwriter focus, and modest production scale.

Broad incumbents

• SXSW: Large Austin-based music, film, and technology festival and conference with broader genre and audience scope. Comparable as a Texas-based music festival operator but operates at vastly greater scale and commercial scope than Kerrville.

Others

• Folk Alliance International: Industry membership organization for folk music with annual and regional conferences that Kerrville's booking team actively attends. Comparable as a sector convener and infrastructure peer, and listed as an active partnership for Kerrville.
• Americana Music Association: Trade and advocacy body for the Americana/folk genre, hosting the AmericanaFest conference and Honors & Awards. A sector peer for genre positioning and industry networking relevant to KFF's artist development mission.

Regional players

• Old Settler's Music Festival: Texas-based roots, Americana, and folk festival held near Austin. Comparable to Kerrville in genre focus, camping format, and emerging-artist programming, and serves as a regional competitor for Texas folk audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbzRiZQEDllPNJkaNDa8wJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/kerrvillefolkfestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/kerrfolkfest
• Xx.com/kerrfolkfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerrville-music-festivals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kerrville Folk Festival