It's been my fortune to know truly great men and hear the music of the spheres." That's a selection from the last words of Jim Dickinson as quoted by his son Luther in the song "Ain't No Grave." It was also my first impression of the 24th Annual Folk Alliance International Conference, and I couldn't imagine a more perfect benediction as Jimmy Crosthwait scratched a spare rhythm on his washboard. Luther, in unadorned tribute to his father, played a lean country blues and moaned into the microphone: "If I had my way he'd be here today to sit down at the piano and play."

After a fantastic six-year run, FAI is leaving Memphis. It's off to Canada for the 2013 conference then on to a new home base in Kansas City. It's an estimated $2.5 million annual loss for Memphis. But the beat goes on.

Personal conference favorites from last weekend's Memphis finale

Saturday ; • Melanie didn't play "Brand New Key," but she did make fun of it a little. And she had the quote of the conference: "Let's face it, this is an audition. And it's a little weird to be auditioning for a part you've already got." She was funny, open, warm and weird, and "Look What They've Done to My Song" never sounded better.