As part of The Future of Irish Music 2026 with Hennessy, we’re hosting a series of essential panels with industry professionals, artists, and musicians, all about how to navigate the creative world. Taking place on 28 April and 5 May, these back-to-back panels will cover getting your music out there, building your aesthetic, the future of music in Ireland, and the nitty-gritty of the music business. It’s a rare chance to gain invaluable insight, and you can grab tickets here.

What Is the Future of Irish Music?

28 April
18:00–19:30

What we have seen in the past few years of Irish music is almost unprecedented. Irish music has made the jump to becoming some of the most sought-after sonic art in the world. It feels like the global music ecosystem has finally discovered the goldmine of talent we’re harbouring here. However, what now? How can we, as consumers and artists, foster the prime that Ireland finds itself in? How can you, as a creative, make the most of an opportunity that has been so hard to come by for Irish artists previously?
Joining us on this panel to delve into the future of Irish music is Séan Price. Séan is an artist manager and founder of Brook Records, who have worked with the likes of Curtisy, Katie Phelan, and Ahmed, with Love. Joining him is one of our favourite music content creators, Joe Donnelly. Joe’s roots are in radio; however, his expansion into casual chats about his passion for music online has given him a platform reaching millions monthly.

Grab your tickets here.

How to Get Your Music Heard

28 April
19:30–21:00

How do we sift through the slop to find the gems? Oversaturation is a major problem in the music world. We’re at the mercy of algorithms, and it can be disheartening for some. This panel is all about navigating the channels of communication between you and your audience. We’re talking about how to own the feed without feeling like you’re too chronically online.
On this panel, we’re joined by radio DJ Claire Beck. Claire’s pedigree lies in her background in national Irish media. Her experience with Today FM and 98FM is combined with her firsthand experience as a music producer and a nightlife selector. Joining her is Rebecca Breene, creator of one of our favourite social media series right now — Art to Art.

Grab your tickets here.


Building Your Creative World

5 May
18:00–19:30

Sometimes you can get so lost in the sauce that you forget to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of your creative endeavours. Who am I as an artist? What are my creative values? What do I want to convey to an audience? Carving out a creative identity is almost as important as the art itself, and that’s what this panel will help guide.
On this panel, we’re joined by Rory Sweeney. His projects Old Earth and Irish Hash Mafia are perfect examples of world-building and the inherent collaborative nature of Ireland’s music scene. Joining him is esteemed photographer Arann McCormack, who has been featured in the National Gallery and worked with some of our favourite artists in Dublin. Finally, we are joined by former Future of Irish Music member F3miii. F3miii is experiencing some of the biggest numbers of any Irish artist this year so far — his recent track NOBLE sits at over 24 million streams and entered the UK charts.

Grab your tickets here.


Building Your Network

5 May
19:30–21:00

What happens around the artistry is just as crucial as the art itself. Having people around you who are invested in your work, trustworthy, and knowledgeable is invaluable — but finding those people is the hard part. This panel is all about how to connect with the people who can fill the gaps in your expertise. How do I navigate music labels? How do I find a manager?
Hoping to answer these questions, we have Ceri Dixon, Head of Digital Partnerships at Red Light Management. Her work with the largest independent management company in the world offers unique insight into staying independent while navigating a minefield of creative business. Joining her is Ryan Dwyer. A fantastic artist in his own right, Ryan is part of the collective Lips2Ears, which has played a major role in platforming artists such as Madra Salach, Curtisy, and Lil Skag.

Grab your tickets here.

Please enjoy Hennessy responsibly. Visit www.drinkaware.ie for more information.