Your Roots Are Showing – Ireland's newest annual conference dedicated to the folk, roots and traditional music community – is set to take place in Four Seasons Hotel and Leisure Club, Coolshannagh in Co. Monaghan from January 22-26. In the run-up to the event, organisers are inviting musicians to apply for their showcase programme –which provides a special opportunity to perform for members of the folk music industry from all over Ireland and the world.

Those in attendance at the conference will include festival directors, folk DJs, managers, agents, labels,  performers' rights organisations, funders, music supervisors and more, offering plenty of opportunities for discovery and networking.

The conference includes programming for people at various stages of their career, from emerging to export-ready. Your Roots Are Showing will also host discussion panels, highlighting the impact of the Irish language, folklore, and storytelling on music and songwriting.

Confirmed speakers at the event include singer-songwriter John Spillane; musician Liam Ó Maonlaí; Tom Besford, CEO of English Folk Expo; musician Clare Sands; singer-songwriter Emma Langford; Paul Flynn of the Arts Council of Ireland; Aidan Butler of RTÉ and Tradfest Temple Bar; and more.

The showcase artists who are selected will be required to become paid registrants of the conference – which gives them access to all programming, panels, gig fair, showcasing, trade fair and the Gala event over the five days of the conference. The registration price for a solo artist is €80, or €300 per band. There is no charge to apply for the showcase programme.

To apply, and to find out further information, head over to Your Roots Are Showing's website.

Applications are open now – and close at 5pm on Monday, November 14