{"id":7582,"date":"2026-04-02T18:19:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ondrakozak.com\/?p=7582"},"modified":"2026-04-03T18:26:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:26:35","slug":"your-roots-are-showing-folkova-konference-v-severnim-irsku-reportaz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ondrakozak.com\/en\/2026\/04\/your-roots-are-showing-folk-conference-in-northern-ireland-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Roots Are Showing \u2013 Folk Conference in Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reprinted from Bluegrass Letters<\/a> 26\/1<\/em><\/p>\n

In January 2026, I attended the major music conference Your Roots Are Showing<\/a> in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I first heard about it from my friend, banjoist, and organizer Llu\u00eds G\u00f3mez. He had already participated last year as a speaker and organizer of a music event (the Al Ras Bluegrass & Old Time Festival in Barcelona). Over 100 bands from more than 20 countries around the world vied for the attention of programmers, publishers, managers, and, of course, fans at YRAS this year. It\u2019s worth noting that the term \u201cfolk\u201d has a much broader meaning outside our region and includes genres such as bluegrass. That is why I performed at the conference with two groups (Radim Zenkl & Ondra Koz\u00e1k and Llu\u00eds G\u00f3mez FlamenGrass 4tet). As a programmer for Banjo Jamboree, however, I was also \u201con the hunt,\u201d and in that regard, I would like to thank the Czech Bluegrass Association for contributing to my airfare.<\/p>\n