On the weekend of May 18th through 22nd Rachel flew to Kansas City to attend the Folk Alliance International Conference, a gathering of the tribes of singer/songwriters, folk musicians, archivists and activists. Having spent most of the last twenty years in the world of jazz and Latin music it was a real homecoming for Rachel to be returning to her roots as an Americana folk/pop artist. The theme of the conference was "Living Traditions" and in that spirit Rachel had put together a panel entitled "Que Viva La Musica: Living Traditions In Latin Music", with panelists such as Felix Contreras (NPR), Aurora Flores (Puerto Rico/Nuyorico), Magdelys Savigne (from the Cuban group OKAN) and Eugene Rodriguez (Mexico/S. California). An energetic and spirited discussion of how various musical traditions were experienced in the home, the neighborhood and on special occasions occurred with Rachel moderating the conversation. Additionally Rachel co-produced a Private Showcase room with Greg Kastelman from Unbound Artists. Private Showcases at Folk Alliance are like a series of house concerts in hotel rooms with performances in the most intimate of circumstances, without amplification or loud drums. The Rachel Faro/UnBound room was among the most poetic, with many electric candles, white Christmas lights, Tibetan prayer flags and a Persian rug. Rachel had the opportunity to sing six showcases over three days -- so wonderful to share her own songs again -- and to share the room with other great artists such as Reggie Harris, Lilli Lewis, Max from House of Waters, Treya Lam and Barnaby Bright.