Milwaukee Irish Fest joined forces in 2018 with the world renowned TradFest Temple Bar (Dublin, Ireland) to start an initiative aimed for supporting emerging Irish & Folk artists.
Together, they have turned TradFest's annual 'TradHub' showcase (formerly called Live at the Hub) into a competition, where the act with the most stand-out performance wins the opportunity to perform at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2019 and TradFest 2020.
The showcase offers a platform for artists to propel themselves to the next level of their career. All acts selected to perform as part of the showcase have a unique sound and talent, and most importantly, a passion and love for the music.
This year, seven showcase artists performed at the historic Old Storehouse Bar in Dublin during TradFest Temple Bar. The showcase artists were:
- Elkin
- Susan O'Neill
- Drops of Green
- The Conifers
- Lisa Loughrey
- Mules & Men
- Hoodman Blind
The 2019 TradHub winner is Susan O'Neill! Originally from Ennis, Susan is a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album 'Found Myself Lost' debuted in 2017. HotPress describes her solo album as a "bluesy debut...showcasing her truly phenomenal husky voice, often reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin or ballsier Adele."
Save the date for August 15-18; come on out and support a TradFest artists and celebrate all things Irish and Celtic!