"In 2018 I found out one of my favorite bands, The Coronas, was playing Milwaukee Irish Fest. Since there aren't many opportunities for me to see them, I wanted to go to every show they were having that weekend. Some friends met me in Milwaukee, and we went to the Friday and Saturday shows, but by Sunday's show, I was on my own.
I was (of course) right down front waiting for the show to start, and there was another girl standing by herself. I thought that I had seen her there the night before too. I've made a few good friends at concerts previously, so I wasn't too shy to say hi and ask if she was a fan of the band. She said yes and had become a fan while she was working in Ireland as an au pair a few years prior.
We chatted for a few minutes and realized we'd tweeted each other a few weeks before the show. I had sent a tweet about hoping The Coronas and Seo Linn would team up for Heroes or Ghosts, and she had seen it and replied. So we followed each other.
We parted ways after that show to go see other shows. We ended up tweeting each other, then added each other on Facebook and became fast friends, messaging all day every day.
In February of 2019, she said she was coming to Milwaukee to see The High Kings. We ended up meeting up and going to the show. Being that I was from Wisconsin and she was from Indiana, this was our first time seeing each other since Irish Fest.
She became one of my best friends, and then one day I had gotten a text from her, and after I answered it and was setting down my phone, I thought to myself, "I love her." It was only probably a few weeks later, in the midst of a different conversation, that we both realized we were interested in being more than just friends. Our first date was a Picture This concert in Chicago. Our second was a Hozier show in Madison. In December we went to Ireland together for the first time and got to see The Coronas in Dublin.
Since then we've been to every Milwaukee Irish Fest, countless The Coronas and High Kings concerts, and various other shows. Music, especially Irish music, is an important part of our lives. We have traveled to Ireland four more times since that first December trip.
Our most recent trip was in April of this year, and we were incredibly lucky to have won a package at Milwaukee Irish Fest from Visit Clare, and we got to stay at the most amazing property called The Armada, eat phenomenal food there, and visit Loop Head Lighthouse, Bunratty Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher.
We are currently in the process of planning our wedding for October of 2026, which will be in Ireland, of course!" - Jessi L.
How many years have you been attending Irish Fest?
This year will be our sixth festival together. We had each attended prior to meeting, though.
What's your favorite festival spot?
If we're not in the front row at a stage catching a show, you can usually find us cooling off by the lake.
What do you consider a "hidden gem" at the festival?
The travel information area! Every time we check it out, we find another beautiful place we want to visit!
Who are some of the artists you've discovered at Irish Fest that you still listen to?
Seo Linn is one we discovered there, but we have our favorites that we don't ever miss, like The High Kings and The Finns.
Who's one of your favorite bands you've seen at Irish Fest?
The Coronas!
What tips would you give to a first-time attendee?
- Plan to be there for more than one day because you won't be able to see and do everything you want in one day.
- Use the free Irish Fest app and create your own schedule; it makes it so easy to plan your weekend!
- Wear sunscreen and stay hydrated.