Good afternoon. I am over the moon thrilled to share a stellar interview with Peterborough's talented superstar, Irish Millie and to announce she is included in the list of 2025 talented Ontario Folk Music Awards as a nominee!
Helping to kick off the Folk Music Ontario conference on Wednesday, October 15, the 31st annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will be held at Ottawa's National Arts Centre and will include performances from some of Canada's brightest talent, including Peterborough's own, Irish Millie.
"Good afternoon, Dee! Thank you so much for having me," Irish Millie
Deb: It is a pleasure as much as it is an honor to meet you, Irish Millie! Kudos on all of your accolades thus far, inside your incredible music career in such a short span of time!
Q1.
Your career began at a young age and you possess such in-depth experience. At what age did you begin to perform music? What was your first instrument? And when would you say you knew that music would be your pathway?
A:
" I first became fascinated by music when I was three years old, after hearing Natalie MacMaster play for the very first time. I was completely mesmerized by the fiddle! My parents say I wouldn’t stop talking about it, and by the time I was six, they signed me up for lessons. The fiddle was my very first instrument, and it still feels like an extension of who I am."
"I started performing locally not long after, and when I was around 11 or 12, I realized that music wasn’t just something I loved — it was my calling. That feeling only deepened during the pandemic when my dad and I recorded my debut album, Thirteen. That experience really confirmed for me that this was the path I wanted to take for the rest of my life."
Q2.
Choosing your music as a career in this day and age, how difficult is it to stay focused and driven in your industry with so many distractions?
A:
"It’s definitely challenging at times. The music industry moves so fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others or feeling overwhelmed by social media. I try to stay grounded by focusing on why I started making music in the first place — to connect with people and tell stories."
"Studying Music Industry and Technology at the University of Toronto has also helped me stay focused, because I’m learning not just about the creative side, but about the business side too. It’s taught me how to set boundaries, plan ahead, and stay true to my own artistic vision amidst all the noise."
Q3.
What was the initial feeling when you heard such compliments from iconic fiddlers, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy?
A:
"Honestly, I was completely blown away. Natalie has been my biggest inspiration since I was three years old, so to hear her and Donnell — who are both absolute legends — speak so kindly about my album was surreal."
"Their words gave me a huge boost of confidence. It’s one thing to believe in your own music, but to have that belief echoed by artists you’ve admired your whole life… that’s incredibly humbling and motivating. It felt like a full-circle moment."
Q4.
This summer, you performed at Peterborough Musicfest. How was that magical hometown experience for you?
A:
"It was one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. Looking out and seeing tens of thousands of people — including so many familiar hometown faces — was overwhelming in the best way possible."
"I felt this huge wave of gratitude for my community, who have supported me since I was that little girl playing fiddle tunes at the farmers’ market. It felt like a celebration of not just my journey, but the entire Peterborough music scene."
Q5.
When you look back, did you ever dream that your music would reach such a wide audience?
A:
"When I first picked up the fiddle, I couldn’t have imagined any of this. My dream was pretty simple back then — just to play music that made people feel something."
"As my career has grown, I’ve been blown away by how far the music has traveled, both literally and emotionally. Touring internationally and connecting with audiences across the world has been incredible. It’s a reminder that music truly is a universal language."
Q6.
What’s the most valuable advice you’ve been given about the music industry, and what advice would you share with young artists just starting out?
A:
"One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is: “Know your worth and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.” It’s easy to undervalue your work when you’re young, but it’s so important to set boundaries and make sure you’re being treated fairly."
"For young artists, I’d also say: stay curious and never stop learning. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, and don’t be afraid to take risks creatively. It’s a challenging industry, but if you stay authentic and resilient, it’s also incredibly rewarding."
Q7.
Will you be performing at the 2025 Ontario Folk Music Awards, or attending as a nominee?
A:
"I’m beyond excited to share that I’ll actually be doing both!
I’ll be walking the red carpet on October 15 as a nominee, and then performing later that week at the Folk Music Ontario showcase. It’s going to be such a special week surrounded by so many talented artists and friends."
Q8.
Lastly, what’s coming up next for you?
A:
"I’m currently working on writing new music, which I’m really excited to share in the near future. I also have a busy performance schedule coming up — including some shows in Ontario and beyond — so I’m looking forward to connecting with audiences in lots of different places."
"Most of all, I’m just focused on continuing to grow as an artist and a person. There’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next."
"Thank you so much for having me! I’m so grateful for the chance to share my story and to have the ongoing support of my community, family, and fans," Irish Millie
Check our Irish Millie's current album
GRACE continues to make waves. With a style that’s both captivating and vibrant, Irish Millie will set the stage on fire, making it a performance you won’t want to miss!
Stay in tune with our Peterborough superstar, Irish Millie, inside her social platforms below!
https://www.facebook.com/irishmilliemusic
https://www.instagram.com/irishmilliefiddle
https://www.youtube.com/c/irishmilliefiddletunes
Folk Canada Announces 2025
Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees
The 31st annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and will help kick off the Folk Music Ontario Conference
Ottawa, ON - September 3, 2025 - Folk Canada is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2025 Ontario Folk Music Awards, in recognition of the outstanding work and contributions of Folk artists and musicians from across the province of Ontario. Presented in partnership with the National Arts Centre, the 31st annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at the National Arts Centre and will formally launch the Folk Music Ontario Conference. The event will feature performances by a select number of nominated artists and special guests, and for the first time in 2025 will include two brand new categories, Music Video of the Year and the Culture in Climate Award, which recognizes an individual, organization, or company in Canada's Folk music sector that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to climate action and environmental responsibility. Still to be announced are the Estelle Klein Award recipients, the first ever Culture in Climate recipient, the laureate for the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award and the Taylor Mitchell Bursary recipient.
The 2025 nominated artists come from all across Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto Mississauga, Guelph, Windsor, Peterborough and more.
Established in 1987 and now in its 38th year, the 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference will take place October 15-19 in Ottawa, Ontario at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre and welcomes attendees from across the country to the event. To learn more, Folk Canada invites interested parties to visit their https://www.folkcanada.com/about and sign up for their newsletter. You can also register for the 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference https://www.folkcanada.com/events-1/folk-music-ontario-conference-2
Folk Canada’s Executive Director, Rosalyn Dennett, is available for interviews, and select artists are available for performances in advance of the event.
The 2025 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees are:
Song of the Year
“Weighing Down” by Julian Taylor (Julian Dean Taylor, Tyler James Ellis)
“There is a Power” by Larry Folk (Lawrence J Folk)
“Just A Little Bit” by Lynne Hanson (Lynne Hanson, Blair Michael Hogan)
“Only the Strong Survive” by Sam Drysdale (Sam Drysdale, Ally Sou, Tal Vaisman)
“Best Remembered” by Savannah Shea (Savannah Shea)
“Train Coming” by The Angelique Francis Band (Angelique Francis, Kiran Francis)
Album of the Year
“Anniversary” by Abigail Lapell
“Precious Diamonds” by Adrian Sutherland
“Kanzafula” by Ahmed Moneka
“Ghoyoum” by Kazdoura
“Slice of Life” by Larnell Lewis
“Azadi” by Tamar Ilana
Recording Artist of the Year
Abigail Lapell
Jessica Pearson and the East Wind
Julian Taylor
Steven Taetz
The Angelique Francis Band
Tragedy Ann
Performing Artist of the Year
Bruno Capinan
Gal George Gjurin
Irish Millie
Jessica Pearson and the East Wind
Sultans of String
Tennyson King
Music Video of the Year
“Precious” by Adrian Sutherland
“Khayal” by Kazdoura
“Only the Strong Survive” by Sam Drysdale
“Every Morning” by Tragedy Ann
“Waltz of the Birds and the Bees” by Willowbrook
About Folk Canada:
Folk Canada is a national music industry association that combines the previously existing organizations Folk Music Ontario and Folk Music Canada. This evolution is the result of years of sector and member consultation, collaboration, and a vision to work together, share knowledge, and pool resources to support a sustainable folk music industry across Canada.
About the Folk Music Ontario Conference:
The 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference will take place October 15-19 in Ottawa, Ontario at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre. Be sure to check out the rest of the Folk Music Ontario programming and Showcase lineup https://www.folkcanada.com/2025-showcase-artists and get your conference pass and tickets. Established in 1987, the Folk Music Ontario Conference has been the largest gathering of the professional Folk Music community in Canada. Since the inaugural gathering as the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, FMO has connected artists and presenters through showcasing, one-on-one meetings, networking, peer sessions, panels, mentorship, and other career development opportunities.
