Speakers 2026

Gerry O’Connor, a renowned fiddler from Dundalk, Co. Louth, comes from a long line of fiddle players and is celebrated for his focus on the music of Oriel. A founding member of Lá Lugh, Skylark, and Oirialla, he has recorded 14 albums, including the landmark solo album Journeyman.

He has performed with legends like The Chieftains and Planxty, and is also a respected violin-maker, teacher, and producer. Gerry recently published a tunebook of Oriel dance music and a book of Cathal McConnell’s songs.

Ian Saint is an arts and culture correspondent for NPR/PBS affiliate WOUB and a contributor to outlets like Buddy Magazine. He has interviewed major artists from The Police to The Judds, covered red carpets for CBS and PBS, and emceed stages at the 2024 State Fair of Texas.

Also an event producer, Ian has organized concerts and debates in Dallas and served as a programmer and panel curator for the Women Texas Film Festival. Of Irish descent, he has championed Irish-American stories—helping advocate for Aer Lingus’s Cleveland–Dublin route and interviewing acts like Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.

David Dee Moore is a Mayo-based singer-songwriter, producer, broadcaster, PR consultant, and festival organiser with over 40 years in the music industry. He hosts the popular David Dee Moore Radio Show on Canada’s Blues and Roots Radio, promoting independent Irish artists worldwide.

He founded Two Swan Designs to offer PR, design, and mentoring for musicians, and launched the Acoustic Yard sessions and festival—nominated three times by IMRO. As a performer, David’s diverse career spans punk, blues, folk, and original solo work, including his recent Lemonade Marinade project.

Colin specialises in Artist Management, with over 25 years of experience in many areas of the Music Industry, from venue owner, promoter, booker, musician, tour manager, photographer, videographer and consultant.

Combining that experience with a Diploma in Music Business from BIMM Dublin, Colin provides a bespoke management service, Roots Room Music.
A member of IMRO Ireland and AIM Ireland Colin has represented artists and bands internationally at music industry conferences such as Folk Alliance International, WOMEX, Celtic Connections, English Folk Expo, Ireland Music Week, Music Cork and Your Roots Are Showing - Ireland's Folk Conference.

Maria Theessink is the Artistic Director at Tønder Festival, Denmark. The festival proudly celebrated its 50th edition in 2024.

Tønder presents a wide range of music – traditional, Americana, Country, Cajun, Zydeco, Singer-Songwriters, Blues – we can do anything as long as its GOOD.

​The festival takes place on the last weekend of August. The non profit Tønder Festival is considered one of Europe's most respected Folk & Roots festivals.

At an early age and largely encouraged by the musical atmosphere in his family, Lluís Gómez started teaching himself the acoustic guitar and the electric bass. He studied two years of flute and went on to study classical guitar at the age of 18 with Pere Payes at the Music School of Premià de Mar, and subsequently took up the electric guitar with Josep Traver. He also studied modern harmony with Ramón Montoliu at Badalona’s Municipal School of Music. At the age of 30 he started learning fiddle, first self-teaching and then he studied with Raúl Munizaga.

The discovery of bluegrass through the Banjo Paris Session album was a watershed in his career. He was so taken by this style that he immediately picked up the five string banjo and took lessons from Sedo Garcia and Ricky Araiza in Barcelona. He then travelled to France, Ireland, the UK and the US to take lessons from Jean Marie Redon, Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Peter Wernick, Noam Pikelny, Béla Fleck, Adam Larrabee, and Jayme Stone among others.

John Cooke is Co Founder and President of Raglan Road Orlando located at Walt Disney World, Orlando Florida.

Since its opening in 2005 Raglan Road has presented accomplished and newcomer musicians at this authentic Irish Pub Restaurant and Entertainment Venue located on the world famous resort. The venue recruits the majority of its entertainment artists from Ireland, presenting Live Music and Irish Dance 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Raglan Road is constantly on the search for professionally minded artists, acts and dancers to fill its extensive annual calendar.

Caroline is a founding partner of TOURBOmusic GmbH, a Swiss music agency and label supporting folk, traditional, world, and experimental artists through booking, consultancy, and label services. She also co-founded Beatmap.com, a digital marketing platform for the music industry.

A specialist in Celtic music, she launched the Celtic Carrousel concert series in 2018, bringing top Irish and Scottish acts across Switzerland. Caroline is also a music and entertainment lawyer, advising artists, managers, producers, and publishers on rights and contracts.

She serves on the boards of Indiesuisse and Music Declares Emergency Switzerland, advocating for independent music and climate action.

Brent Cassidy has championed traditional Irish music, storytelling, and culture in Finland since 2000. Based in Oulu, he is the founder and Artistic Director of The Irish Festival of Oulu, the world’s northernmost Irish cultural festival, recognized in the Irish Government’s 2025 Nordic Strategy and praised by Finland’s leading newspaper as “The Irish Culture Mecca of Finland.”

He also leads Gaelic Culture Productions, specialising in event production and music curation, and was awarded the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Service Award in 2010 for his contributions to Irish culture abroad.

Brent has performed widely across Finland and the US, including with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra in Riverdance: A Symphonic Suite and at the Divulge Dancers' Film Festival in Hollywood. His 2023 debut storytelling album The Port Seal received acclaim for its blend of sean nós singing and original tales.

In 2026, he curates Cultural Kaleidoscopes, part of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture programme.

Pete Fisher is a Grammy-nominated producer and visionary music executive with over 30 years of experience across music publishing, A&R, artist management, and television. As former VP/GM of the Grand Ole Opry, he revitalized the institution with landmark inductions of stars like Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton. He also served as CEO of the Academy of Country Music, executive producing three ACM Awards broadcasts on CBS. Now based in Nashville, Pete leads Fisher Entertainment Consulting, guiding top-tier entertainment projects with deep industry insight.

Matthew Morgan is Partner and Co-Head of UTA’s Nashville office, representing GRAMMY-winning artists like Lizzo, Cam, and Rodrigo y Gabriela. A strategic powerhouse in artist development, he was instrumental in launching Lizzo’s global rise—from securing her producer and label to building a multimillion-dollar arena tour. With prior roles at CAA, WME, and CMT, Matthew brings over two decades of industry expertise. He’s a Leadership Music alum and an active member of the CMA, ACM, and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter.

Cheryl Prashker-Drummer studied classical percussion at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she is from. She has toured Canada, U.S. Europe and Russia. She spent many years in NY City where she accompanied solo artists.
Cheryl is a founding member of the Celtic Roots band Runa. Cheryl spent 15 years helping to run the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA). She now lives in Ontario, Canada and is the Artistic Director and General Manager of the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival and College in Goderich, Ontario where she first attended as an artist in 2011. Cheryl is also the newly elected President of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA)

Mary Burdette is Executive Director of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and President of FestiveWorks, LLC, a production company focused on building inclusive music communities. Grey Fox, now in its 40th year, is a leading US roots music festival known for its performances and artist development programs.

An active IBMA member, Mary has co-produced the IBMA Awards and led key initiatives. She has recorded for Rounder Records, appeared on Ken Burns' soundtracks, and toured internationally with artists including Bill Keith and Level Best.

CEO of Music City Irish Fest - Nashville’s largest St Patrick’s Day celebrations, Brenda is a determined, hardworking, creative force and supporter for everything Irish in Nashville and beyond.
As manager of the 12-member The Willis Clan, Brenda handled booking, marketing, promotions, production, tour managing and guitar playing!

Bradshaw Lambert is a veteran music executive, label founder, artist manager, broadcaster, and concert producer. He began at San Diego’s 91X FM and later worked as an engineer at A&M Studios for Jimmy Iovine. He co-founded Bong Load Custom Records, known for launching Beck’s breakout single “Loser”, and releasing acts like Elliott Smith, L7, and Richard Thompson. The label relaunches in 2025.

Bradshaw has managed Grammy-winning songwriter Jack Tempchin (Eagles, Glenn Frey), securing major record deals and supporting his 2019 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Today, he manages a diverse roster including Under the Rug, Nathan Graham, and David Luning, and recently launched the Under A Mountain Sky concert series and radio show in New Mexico.

Kenny Sharp is a singer, songwriter, and producer behind “Brown Liquor Music”—a genre-blending sound rooted in the rich musical traditions of Nashville, Memphis, and Muscle Shoals. His style draws fans across Americana, Soul, Blues, Funk, Country, and Rock.

A natural storyteller, Sharp began as a rapper and was signed by LunchMoney Lewis to Prescription Songs. He’s now a sought-after writer for sync, producers, and artists across pop, hip-hop, and country scenes in Nashville, Miami, and LA.

Known for his soul-cutting vocals and high-energy live shows reminiscent of Muddy Waters and James Brown, Sharp recently won Nashville’s Music City Mayhem competition. This summer, he plays Bonnaroo, co-headlines with Tabitha Meeks, and continues his “Family Affair” concert series.

Keith Johnson is Director of Marketing and Membership at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO).

IMRO Ireland administers the performing right in copyright music on behalf of its members (songwriters, composers and music publishers) and on behalf of members of the international overseas societies that are affiliated to it. IMRO´s function is to collect and distribute royalties arising from the public performance of copyright works, i.e. live performances, radio, TV and online.

IMRO is also prominently involved in the sponsorship and promotion of music in Ireland. Every year it sponsors a large number of song contests, music festivals, seminars, workshops, research projects and showcase performances. IMRO is now synonymous with helping to showcase emerging talent in Ireland.

Brett is a veteran music producer with over 20 years of experience, known for his work with artists like Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, and DJ Khaled. He runs The Pinkhouse, a top Miami studio that has hosted The Weeknd, Cardi B, Meek Mill, and many others.

During the pandemic, he co-founded Brown Liquor Music with Kenny Sharp, shifting into artist management. Their work has led to over 2 million streams and sync placements in hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, and And Just Like That.

Bavo VandenBroeck is the general and artistic director at Dranoeter VZW. Dranoeter is a non-profit organisation in a small rural community that runs a festival with a heart for trad and folk for over 50 years now. They also have a small folk club in the town (with a bar and a residence location. They are co-founders of Flanders Folk Network and organise Flanders Folk Awards for several years.

Recently they started a small booking and management agency (named BeRoots) to promote local Flemish Trad acts in Belgium and abroad.

Ron Block is a 14-time Grammy-winning banjo and guitar player best known as a longtime member of Alison Krauss and Union Station. Renowned for blending bluegrass roots with a wide range of musical influences, he’s also a solo artist whose latest album, Hogan’s House of Music, showcases his adventurous, all-instrumental style. A seasoned session player and storyteller through music, Block has performed on iconic soundtracks like O Brother, Where Art Thou and toured with legends including Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks.

Jackie Marushka is a trailblazing creative entrepreneur and founder of Marushka Media, the first and only Hispanic woman-owned PR agency in Americana music. With 30 years’ experience in brand building, public relations, and story development—including senior roles at Sony Music and Shore Fire Media—she’s led campaigns for major artists and organizations. A dedicated mentor and community advocate, Jackie serves on multiple boards, including the Americana Music Association and The Recording Academy. She’s also a certified yoga instructor, nonprofit founder, and cultural curator, passionate about elevating underrepresented voices and stories.

Jessica Willis Fisher is a singer-songwriter and fiddler whose music blends folk, Americana, and old-time traditions with powerful storytelling. A former member of her family band, she’s performed on the Grand Ole Opry and America’s Got Talent. Her solo albums Brand New Day and Blooming showcase her journey of healing through vibrant, acoustic-driven songs. Jessica is also the author of Unspeakable, a memoir about overcoming childhood trauma, and is an active advocate for survivors. She lives in Nashville with her husband Sean and their dog, Bucky.

Ronnie Norton launched his photography career in 1974, quickly becoming a key figure in Ireland’s music and arts scene. From shooting album covers for EMI to capturing legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Dolly Parton, his work spans decades of iconic moments.

A co-founder of Lonesome Highway, Europe’s leading Americana website, Ronnie has interviewed greats like Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, and produced tour content for Kris Kristofferson. He’s also a longtime radio host with CMRNashville, and resident photographer at major festivals including Omagh, Johnny Keenan, and Bunratty.

Fiona Bloom is a multi-hyphenate, serial entrepreneur and music industry veteran. She runs an agency representing talent across the globe called The Bloom Effect. With her finger on the pulse for discovering raw talent, she also advises and develops careers for some of the most recognized figures in music and entertainment.

In Bloom’s 30+ year career, she has developed an expertise across most major segments within the industry; promotions, publicity, management, radio, event planning/venue booking, marketing, host, curator, lecturer, and tastemaker. She also sits on the advisory board of a membership-driven organization called CoMuse, runs sponsorships/partnerships for a music biz conf/festival in NYC called Mondo and active within the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter and Women in Music.

Some of her clients past and present are Simple Minds, The Zombies, Tower of Power, Us3, Stephane Wrembel, Talisk, Mali Hâf, Five Eight, Raul Midón, Water Seed, Nation Beat, Masta Ace and many others.

Prior to running The Bloom Effect, she ran two successful hip-hop labels, a live production agency, and talent buying for a well-established venue in NYC. Her rolodex and contacts are the most valuable asset she has. She’s a Global Connector with a knack for turning introductions into lucrative deals!

Lisa Schwartz is the President and Founder of Alchemy Arts Consulting, offering strategic marketing, management and mentoring for artists and industry professionals. She specializes in program design and curation of festivals and conferences. Lisa is also a sought-after mentor who uses her strategic marketing and branding skills to consult with artists around the globe to position them for career growth.

Head of Artist Relations at SoundboxPlays, Anna Fahey has worked in the music industry for over 15 years, helping artists with their royalties, performing as an artist herself in renowned concert halls and stadiums throughout Europe – The Royal Albert Hall, Teatro de Verona, Lugano Arts Centre and Teatro La Scala di Milano.
She has been an avid follower of the development of Web3 and regularly hosts events in London, with a focus on making it more inclusive for women.
Anna speaks numerous languages. She is passionate about justice for artists and the importance of them being credited properly for their work. She is a founding member of the UK Web3 Rights group and advocates for ensuring artists are credited for their work in the Web3 space.

Áine Tyrrell is a boundary-breaking Irish artist whose music blends traditional roots with spoken word, hip hop, and folk. A fierce advocate for justice, her work calls the Irish diaspora to reckon with history and rise in solidarity with Indigenous movements.

Described as “a force” by The Irish Times, Áine’s electric live shows and genre-defying sound have made her a festival favourite across Australia, Ireland, the UK, and the US. Her voice is both intimate and incendiary—an unforgettable call to action through music.

Barry Stapleton has been involved in booking entertainment for Milwaukee Irish Fest for 30 years. Milwaukee Irish Fest hires 100 artists who perform over a 4 day weekend in August. Along with an entertainment committee, he oversees all the legal aspects, production, scheduling and logistics at the festival.

Jo has worked in the music industry for over 20 years. Jo began her career as a session brass player and recording/live sound engineer. She graduated from Queen’s University in 2004 with a BSc in Music Technology, which paved the way for her transition into artist management, development, and consultancy. Over the years, Jo has worked with various artists and bands, including managing Junior Johnson, Katie Richardson, Grainne Hunt and Taste (formerly Rory Gallagher’s Taste). While still in artist management in recent years she has gone back to her technology roots exploring music in the immersive space. She is board member of Ulster Touring Opera and Non Executive Director of Holo Edge Digital, Vice Chair of Safe in Sound and Co Chair of Innovate UK’s Immersive Tech Network ED&I Committee.

Katherine DePaul, Manager at ArtistVision, leads our independent artist management company with a laser focus on empowering artists who control their own masters and publishing. With a distinguished track record in the music industry, Katherine has cultivated a boutique roster of exceptional talent, from Grammy winners to emerging artists. Her strategic approach to artist development combines industry expertise with innovative digital strategies, helping artists build sustainable careers while maintaining their creative independence. Current roster includes Judy Collins, Elles Bailey, Paula Cole, Sophie B Hawkins, Malin Pettersen and Tuvaband.

Wyatt Ellis is a 16-year-old mandolinist, singer, and songwriter from East Tennessee, hailed as one of the most exciting young talents in bluegrass and country music. A Grand Ole Opry performer by age 13, his debut album Happy Valley topped the Billboard Bluegrass chart. Known for his raw, single-mic performances and deep Appalachian roots, Wyatt is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit and serves as a musical ambassador for the Great Smokies Region.

Brian Hill is a veteran talent agent with a career spanning over three decades, representing some of the most influential names in music. From his start in the mailroom at CAA to launching the Progressive Global Agency and working with Monterey Peninsula Artists, Paradigm, and UTA, Brian has built a reputation for integrity, insight, and a love of music that started in childhood. Currently at United Talent Agency, his roster includes Carin Leon, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Lewis, and Eli Young Band. When not booking tours, he’s a proud dad, avid gardener, and hobby farmer just outside Nashville.

Joan is the Director of Hartlepool Folk Festival, which she founded in 2015. She has worked in the cultural sector for over 20 years, including at De Montfort Hall, Leicester Comedy Festival, Loughborough Town Hall and as a lecturer in Arts and Festivals Management at De Montfort University.