Dundalk Institute of Technology and Droichead Arts Centre present Music Matters, part of Cruinniú na nÓg Louth , funded by Creative Ireland, a day of celebrating creativity for children and teenagers. From artists, to producers, venue managers and sound engineers, you will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of industry experts as they discuss the road that leads to these exciting careers! During this Q&A you will also have the chance to put your own burning questions to our experts!

Hosted by lecturers Jonathan Duggan and Niall Coghlan from DKIT the event brings together singer/songwriter Farah Elle, Derek Turner Manager of Spirit Store Dundalk, Stephanie Caffrey singer/producer, artist manager Joel Safo and singer Gráinne Duffy, as they chat about their journeys and experience through the music industry. This free event is for teenagers aged 14 – 18 who are interested in making a career of music or who are curious about how this enigmatic industry works!

Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people. The inaugural Cruinniú na nÓg took place on 23rd June 2018 with over 500 events taking place in cities, towns and villages across the country and is now in its 4th year.

Stephanie Caffrey is a musician and songwriter from Co. Louth with a portfolio of recorded works ranging from rock, electronic, folk, and Irish traditional music. Her passion for the artistry of music production and music performance facilitates her role in the Irish music industry as a music producer and sound engineer, working with the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, Na Píobairí Uilleann and Fair Plé amongst others. Stephanie has also worked in audio-visual contexts as a location sound engineer and sound designer for promotional videos and short films. She is a graduate of Dundalk Institute of Technology’s BA (Hons) Music and Audio Production and will graduate in November 2021 with a Masters Degree in Music Research.

Gráinne Duffy is a touring, original artist from Co.Monaghan. From Glastonbury to Woodford Folk Festival, Australia, she has toured international blues and rock stages as well as featured as a headline artist at home and abroad on many theatre and festival stages! She has also recorded 4 studio and one live albums. Her latest release ‘Voodoo Blues’ has earned her international acclaim featuring in a number of European indie broadcast lists and a top 10 position on iTunes Blues chart in Canada. She is also a DKIT research and performance based PhD student and is currently a BBC host with her new series Gráinne Duffy Rocks premiering in May.

Farah Elle is a singer-songwriter whose distinctive music reveals something of the beauty in the ephemeral everyday. Farah has eclectic influences, including North African echoes from her Libyan background. Raised in Ireland, she moved to Dublin with her family as a newborn child. Her ethos as an artist is to spread awareness & positivity through her music. Farah also holds wellness workshops to empower people creatively through self-expression & sound. While performing shows regularly, Farah is currently preparing to release her debut album 'FATIMA', named after her mother; due to be released in 2021.

Joel Safo was born in the Netherlands and came to Ireland at the age of four. Founder of JSM management and the head A&R (Artist & Repertoire) at Trust It Entertainment, he is heavily involved in the Irish urban music scene and is also the founder and manager of the Irish rap collective 'A92'. Joel is one of Droichead’s 2021 Seed Bursary recipients and is using the assistance to develop a music and multimedia studio in Drogheda, which will support the work of professional musicians, but will also be open for young people interested in music from all backgrounds and cultures.

Derek Turner is an event manager, booker and sound engineer at the Spirit Store since the venue opened in 1999. Currently steering committee member of the newly formed Live Venue Collective which was formed in August 2020 to engage with the Department Of Culture. The Collective was established in order to strengthen the case for funding of independent music venues during Covid-19, to create artistic content during the pandemic.

Prior to entering academia, Niall Coghlan has worked in many areas of the Irish music industry, from grotty gig venues to corporate AV, from recording studios to sound design for games. These days he is as likely to be found at a conference as at a gig with his research published internationally. He also DJs and produces electronic music as 2BiT and has far more vinyl records and synthesisers than is entirely healthy.

Starting out as a recording engineer at Verden Studios in Edinburgh in 2004, Jonathan Duggan worked extensively producing emerging bands on the Scottish music scene. He went on to manage Verden Studios and then established his own recording studio in 2014. Jonathan now lectures Audio & Music Production at DkIT and continues to work with emergent artists in Ireland.

Funded by Creative Ireland, with support from DKIT and Droichead Arts Centre