If the idea of a hootenanny was that a diverse group of folk musicians would get together for a joint performance, each doing his/her/their own music, but learning from one another, and perhaps backing each other up vocally or instrumentally, then hootenannies still do exist, but not necessarily by that name. Today hootenannies take the form of workshops, folk music weekends, a song circles, folk jams, or round robin concerts. Many of the events at participatory festivals such as NEFFA can be considered hootenannies, especially when several performers who may never have known each other are scheduled to do an event together.

--- Steve