Starbelly Jam Music Festival | Crawford Bay, BC

Amanda Hulland is the Artistic Director of the Starbelly Jam Music Festival in Crawford Bay, BC, a community-rooted, family-focused festival known for its intimate atmosphere and strong sense of connection. Part of Starbelly since 1999, first as a performer and volunteer, she is passionate about curating lineups that feel both exciting and authentic. Drawing on her background in bookkeeping and administration,

Amanda keeps things running smoothly while staying grounded in what matters most: people and connection.

Earth Music Agency | UK

Angie is a Music Agent at Earth Agency (London, UK), working internationally to build, creatively strategise and grow the live careers of a diverse range of artists and musical projects.

Angie is a passionate advocate of honesty and fairness in the workplace, including speaking openly about the challenges of balancing mental health, neurodiversity and physical health within the working environment of the live music industry. She is also committed to greening the Music Industry and is a founding committee member of the charity EarthPercent.

Harrison Festival Society | Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Andy Hillhouse has been Artistic and Executive Director of the Harrison Festival Society since 2014. His background is as a touring musician, and is primarily a guitarist in the Celtic and fiddle worlds, playing with Alberta's The McDades, BC's Collage Trad, and as an accompanist for fiddlers such as Jocelyn Pettit, Pierre Schryer and Mark Sullivan.

He is also a choir director and currently leads two choirs in the Fraser Valley area. Andy has a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Toronto.

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society | Lunenburg, NS

Amy Russell is the newest volunteer member of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society’s Program Committee (a committee of 4 individuals). she has a lifelong connection to various music communities in Western and Atlantic Canada.

Amy is excited to bring her unique experiences and dedication to help foster the artistic direction of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society. The Society presents an annual festival in early August, as well as spring, summer, and fall concert series. In August of 2026, the Society will be presenting its 41st Festival. Further, the Society owns and operates the Lunenburg Opera House, a century-old theatre in the center of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg.

Cultural Center - Universidad Javeriana | Colombia

Director of the Cultural Management Center at the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá, responsible for the artistic programming offered by the university to its community and the general public through the Javeriana Cultural Agenda. Cultural manager and artistic programmer in international conferences and business rounds for music and performing arts. Curator of national and international artistic open calls and advisor for various projects related to the circulation and international mobility of the performing arts, cultural exchange, and social impact of the performing arts.

Goderich Celtic Roots Festival | Goderich, ON

Cheryl Prashker is Artistic Director of the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival and College. A classically trained percussionist who studied at McGill University, she spent years in New York City developing a career as an accompanist, touring with artists including Garnet Rogers, Eric Andersen, and Tracy Grammer.

Cheryl is a founding member of RUNA and serves as Board President of Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. Since 2018, she has led the Goderich festival, where

she first attended as an artist.

CCM Live &
Orkney Folk Festival | Scotland

Craig is founder and director of CCM Live, one of Scotland's leading folk-based booking agencies, established in 2010. He represents many of Scotland's best-known artists across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australasia, while also representing international acts touring the UK and Europe. In 2026, CCM Live was appointed producer of Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections.

Craig is festival producer of the award-winning Orkney Folk Festival, renowned for its warm community welcome and rich local folk scene.

Folk On The Rocks & Victory Pool | Yellowknife, NT

Carly McFadden is an Artistic Director and Artist Manager. She has worked with Folk On The Rocks since 2016 and currently serves as the festival’s Artistic Director, leading year-round programming, artist development initiatives, and one of Canada’s longest-running northern music festivals. Her work focuses on creating inclusive and community-driven arts experiences, with a strong emphasis on northern and emerging artists.

Since 2020, Carly has also worked as an Artist Manager with Victory Pool, supporting Canadian artists in touring, export development, and international industry opportunities across Europe and beyond.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival | Vancouver, BC

Corbin Murdoch is the Executive Director of The Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Corbin is an arts leader, cultural programmer and event producer who was born and raised in Vancouver, BC - the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

He has spent his career in the service of artists and arts organizations across the country, including as the Artistic Director of the Dawson City Music Festival (Yukon), Managing Director of The River Clyde Pageant (PEI), and Managing Producer of Theatre Replacement (BC).

Beyond Borders Creative Consultancy | UK

David has worked within heritage, cultural, arts and learning sector for over 20 years. his current role is Heritage Learning Manager at Lancashire County Council.

He created and developed the Folk in Schools programmes delivered across the UK. Teacher, lecture and consultant he explores the use of heritage, learning and the arts to enhance intangible cultural heritage, aspirations and cultural capital.

Baltimore Fiddle Fair | Ireland

Declan McCarthy has been working in the arts in Ireland and Scotland for over 35 years. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the Baltimore Fiddle Fair in west Cork Ireland, as well as being the Artistic Director of Skibbereen Arts Festival, also in west Cork.

For the past 20 years he has also been an integral part of the organizing team at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland. He currently divides his time between Ireland and Rauland in Norway, where is wife is studying for a PHD., and has presented several events there in the recent past.

Trout Forest Music Festival | Ear Falls, ON

Devin Latimer is artistic director of Trout Forest Music Festival in Ear falls, northwest Ontario where he books approximately 30 Canadian acts for the 3-stage annual festival taking place on the second full weekend of August.

He is a faculty member in chemistry at the University of Winnipeg, focusing on green organic chemistry and environmental communications and provides bass and driving duties for Winnipeg music collective Leaf Rapids.

Live from the Rock Folk Festival | Red Rock, ON

Elly Tose is Artistic Director of the Live From the Rock Folk Festival, in red rock, Ontario. A founding member of the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society, she has served as Administrative Coordinator for more than 20 years, overseeing programming, contracts, and organizational records. Long involved with the festival in multiple volunteer roles, she led alternative events during the pandemic to support its future. After mentoring under Jean-Paul De Roover, she became Acting Artistic Director in 2023 and was officially appointed later that year.

Beyond Borders Creative Consultancy | UK

Francesca Goodhart leads unique heritage education projects in and out of schools and museums. Working with musicians, dancers, artists, and other creatives to explore our intangible heritage, she introduces new ways of accessing old spaces, and breathes life into historical themes and artefacts. By connecting children and young people with artists and cultural venues, Francesca facilitates new ways of working, enriches experiences, and upskills project partners.

She also gets to dress as a Viking sometimes.

Gooikoorts Festival | Belgium

Hilde Brutin is a Belgian cultural organizer and co-organizer of the Gooikoorts Festival, where she has played a key role for the past four years.

Hilde contributes to shaping a welcoming, multi-dimensional festival experience that extends beyond concerts. Gooikoorts brings together folk dance, an instrument makers’ market, family-friendly programming, and a vibrant food and drink scene. With camping set in the greenery of Gooik, she helps create a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere rooted in tradition, creativity, and shared celebration.

Sedate Bookings | Netherlands

Jair Hoogland is the founder and agent of Sedate Bookings, a Netherlands-based independent booking agency and promoter specializing in touring, events, and artist representation. Focused primarily on roots, Americana, and alternative rock, Sedate Bookings brings compelling acts to European stages, organizing tours for artists across the continent.

With a passion for connecting musicians with new audiences, Jair has built Sedate Bookings into a trusted home for artists looking to grow their presence in Europe.

Port Fairy Folk Festival | Australia

Justin Rudge is an Australian music professional with 25 years of experience across the industry. Since 2020, he has served as Program Director of the Port Fairy Folk Festival in southwest Victoria. The four day event features 14 stages and more than 100 artists from around the world, drawing daily audiences exceeding 10,000.

Known for his thoughtful programming and global perspective, he curates a dynamic lineup that balances international excellence with strong representation of Australian folk and roots music.

Canmore Folk Festival | Canmore, AB

Jenna Klein-Waller is the Executive and Artistic Director of the Canmore Folk Music Festival, one of Canada's premier roots music gatherings, held annually in the Canadian Rockies.

She leads the festival's strategic and artistic direction, stewarding an organization devoted to connecting communities through music.

Northern Lights Festival Boreal & Lost Cat Artists | Sudbury, ON

Kerri Stephens has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian music industry, specializing in programming, artist development, and community outreach. She founded Lost Cat Artists in 2021, managing acts including Leaf Rapids, Supalung, Merrick Winter, Petunia and the Vipers, Hendrika and Kelly McMichael, and leads the Manitoba chapter of Women in Music Canada. She served on the Artistic team at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and spent nearly a decade at the West End Cultural Centre.

In 2025, she became Artistic Director of Northern Lights Festival Boréal in Sudbury, Ontario.

Calgary Folk Music Festival | Calgary, AB

Community radio was Kerry’s entry into the independent music world 38 years ago. She’s artistic and marketing director of the Calgary Folk Music Festival, the winter Block Heater festival and an off-season concert series.

She spent some time on the skins in an all-female lo-fi band decades ago, is on several non-profit arts boards, has served on many arts juries, is a proud part of WRAD (western roots artistic directors) and NApresenters, co-founded Rwanda’s KigaliUp festival,

and produces/hosts weekly CKUA and CJSW radio programs when she’s not traveling to conferences and festivals to see music from a vast range of genres.

Sonic Unyon / Supercrawl Productions | Hamilton, ON

Lisa La Rocca is Director of Operations at independent record label and events company Sonic Unyon Records in Hamilton. She founded the Fresh Up R&B Fest in 2022 and leads logistics on other Sonic Unyon produced festivals Supercrawl, Because Beer, Why Not Wine, as well as many other events. Lisa is currently chair of Hamilton’s Music Advisory Team, co-chair of Women in Music Hamilton/Halton, and serves as a board member of the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Regional Tourism Organization and the Downtown Hamilton BIA. She is a part-time PhD student in the Communication and Culture program at York University with a focus on Popular Music Studies, and holds an M.A. in Communication and New Media from McMaster University.

Tonder Festival | Denmark

Maria Theessink is the artistic director at Tønder Festival in Denmark. Tønder Festival is one of Europes most respected folk & roots festival.

Founded in 1974, the non-profit festival takes place every year during the last weekend of August in Tønder, Denmark, and has built an international reputation for artistic integrity and musical quality. This year’s confirmed artists include Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Ron Sexsmith, and The Felice Brothers, among many others. The 2026 festival will take place August 26-29.

SUNFEST | London, ON

Mercedes Caxaj is the Artistic Co-Director for Sunfest-London Committee for Cross Cultural Arts, which presents thoughtful, innovative global arts programming in London, Ontario, and works collectively with national and international organizations.

Mercedes has served as a jury member and panellist for both national and international music meetings, conferences and major granting agencies, where she discusses artistic programming, community program development, cultural advocacy and strategy, and prioritizing representation.

Popular Music & Variety, National Arts Centre | Ottawa, ON

Marilena Gaudio is the Associate Producer of Popular Music & Variety at the National Arts Centre.

In her current role, she oversees the emerging artists programming series as well as manages the Global Network for Women Music Producers: A network created by the NAC to support women and non-binary music producers and help right the gender imbalance in their field.

Ignite the Arts Festival | Penticton, BC

Paul Crawford is Co-Producer and Founder of the Ignite the Arts Festival in Penticton, British Columbia, an annual celebration uniting artists from across Canada. From 2003 to 2020, he co-produced ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art, widely recognized for its creativity and community spirit.

He has contributed to the BC Music Festival Collective and served in leadership roles with the Dream Café and other festivals. As former Associate Publisher and Editor of BC Musician Magazine, he has championed artists and community driven cultural development.

Gooikoorts Festival | Belgium

Rik Couchez is a Belgian presenter and programmer behind the Gooikoorts Festival in Gooik. With more than 20 years of experience organizing Celtic music concerts, he has built a reputation for thoughtful curation and community connection. He previously led two festivals over 17 years and continues to present concerts year round.

Each summer, he helps transform Gooikoorts into a vibrant international folk gathering, welcoming artists and audiences for a weekend rooted in tradition, exchange, and celebration across Belgium and beyond.

Mariposa Folk Festival &
Noisemaker Presents | Orillia, ON

For over two decades, Spencer Shewen has been bringing great music and unforgettable live experiences to audiences across Canada. As Artistic Director of the Mariposa Folk Festival and Programming Manager at Noisemaker Presents, he has a reputation for building lineups that blend legendary artists with exciting new voices.

Previously, he held leadership roles with Riverfest Elora, Hillside Festival, Guelph Jazz Fest, and others. His work is driven by a love of authentic music and the power of live performance.

Calgary Folk Club | Calgary, AB

Suze has served as Artistic Director of the Calgary Folk Club since 1986 and founded the community movement ElbowsLinked.ca. As International Folk Alliance Showcase Coordinator from 1994 to 2007, she helped shape the folk landscape across North America.

A champion of music that makes a difference, she received the CFMA Spirit of Folk Award in 2024. A successful entrepreneur and best-selling Hay House author, Suze is a passionate connector and dedicated mentor to musicians, agents, and promoters.

Sonic Unyon Records | Hamilton, ON

Tim Potocic is the owner and president of Sonic Unyon Records based in Hamilton, Ontario, that specialize in developing emerging talent through label and management. The Sonic Unyon team has also spent the 2 decades developing a live event business through their own music-based event spaces and festivals. In 2009, Sonic Unyon became the organizing force behind Hamilton's free music and arts festival Supercrawl where Potocic serves as director. A CIMA member for over 20 years and current board Chair, he currently sits on the boards of FACTOR, and his work has been recognized with a Hamilton Citizen of the Year award and a Hamilton Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Fish Creek Concerts | Calgary, AB

Vic Close is a Calgary-based presenter, agent, and lifelong folk music enthusiast who’s been happily down the rabbit hole of roots music for over 40 years. As Artistic Director of Fish Creek Concerts, he’s built a beloved series known for intimate, “listening room” shows where great songs and great audiences meet—featuring artists from across Canada and beyond. Vic has worn just about every hat in the business—presenter, agent, marketer, and occasional road warrior—building lasting relationships across the country’s folk and roots community. He recently wrapped up his term with the Canadian Folk Music Awards, going out with a bang as local host for the 2026 awards in Calgary. At heart, Vic is all about connection—bringing artists and audiences together, championing Canadian talent, and making sure the music (and the stories) keep rolling.