Belfast’s Your Roots Are Showing 2026 spotlighted Nashville-linked artists through showcases, panels, and cross-genre collaborations

A transatlantic music convening in Belfast

Your Roots Are Showing (YRAS) 2026, a five-day roots and folk music industry conference, took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with daytime programming centered at ICC Belfast and major performances staged at Waterfront Hall. The event ran from January 14 through January 18, 2026, and was preceded by a kickoff concert on January 13 billed around a “Nashville to Belfast” theme.

The conference format combined live performance with professional programming, including panel discussions, workshops, a trade-focused “Gig Fair,” and multiple official showcases. Organizers positioned the week as a meeting point for artists and industry representatives working across folk, Americana, bluegrass, country, and related acoustic traditions.

Lineup combined veteran headliners with emerging players

The opening concert, branded Folk in Fusion, featured a roster spanning U.S. and Irish performers. The Nashville-connected contingent included Amy Grant and Jim Lauderdale, along with other American artists such as Rissi Palmer, Dee White, Ron Block, Jessica Willis Fisher, and mandolin player Wyatt Ellis. Irish and UK-based artists on the bill included Wallis Bird, David Keenan, Clare Sands, Paddy Keenan, Gerry O’Connor, and Brendan McCreanor.

Across the broader conference schedule, the showcases and sessions emphasized a mix of established names and early-career artists, with programming designed to place developing performers in front of bookers, agents, labels, promoters, and media.

Crystal Gayle withdrew due to injury

Country singer Crystal Gayle had been announced in connection with the Belfast kickoff concert but ultimately did not travel after suffering a torn meniscus. The injury prompted medical concerns about long-distance flying and contributed to her withdrawal from scheduled appearances tied to the Belfast event.

Programming structure aimed at industry outcomes

YRAS positioned its daytime schedule around career-focused education and networking, with workshops and panels covering practical and business topics for artists, while evening programming emphasized official showcases and citywide performances. The conference pass was structured to include workshops, panels, official showcase sets, the trade fair, and a Belfast music trail component that expanded performances beyond the main venues.

• Dates: January 14–18, 2026 (conference), preceded by January 13 (kickoff concert)
• Primary venues: ICC Belfast (conference) and Waterfront Hall (major concert programming)
• Core elements: showcases, panels, workshops, trade-style meetings, and citywide live music programming

The 2026 edition emphasized transatlantic collaboration, pairing Nashville-linked Americana and country voices with Belfast’s folk ecosystem through curated bills and structured industry sessions.