The second Your Roots are Showing music conference takes place this week from 17 to 21 January in the Gateway Hotel, Dundalk. The annual event, which focuses on traditional, folk and roots music, will present a programme of talks, panel discussions, concerts, workshops, a trade and gig fair, and a music trail taking place across the town. 

The five-day conference and showcase will feature over 60 industry professionals from organisations such as Glastonbury, AIM Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, WOMEX, IMRO, Milwaukee Irish Festival, English Folk Expo, Grand Ole Opry and Cambridge Folk Festival. 

Speakers include banjo player Enda Scahill; publicist and artist manager Mags Blackburn; Charles Hendy of the Mary Wallopers; dancer and producer Edwina Guckian; fiddle player Gerry O’Connor; Paul Flynn, Head of Traditional Arts with the Arts Council; and renowned singer Peggy Seeger, who will give the keynote address and will be interviewed by singer Niamh Parsons on her life and work in folk music. 

There will be over 100 artists and bands performing throughout the event including Jiggy, rap artist Strange Boy, country blues singer Muireann Bradley, Dundalk band Orwells ‘84, and Americana four-piece No Oil Paintings. 

There will also be a series of workshops on topics including music creation, promotion and trends within the industry. 

For further information and tickets, visit www.showingroots.com

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