Iowa Irish Fest has been running for 20 years, and the wild part is how it started: a small gathering behind an Irish bar in Waterloo that added a band, moved to a park, and then kept growing until it spilled into downtown streets. I’m joined by Greg Tagtow, one of the people helping guide that growth, and he tells the story with the kind of pride you only get from building something the hard way.
Greg also shares a detail a lot of listeners will relate to: he didn’t “inherit” Irish music, he discovered it. A long stretch of computer-based work led to Irish playlists, and that sound turned into a mission. We get into what makes a modern Irish festival work for everyone, from die-hard trad fans to people who only know a chorus or two. Expect specifics on the Iowa Irish Fest setup, including six stages, around 32 entertainment acts, and a mix that stretches from traditional sets to Celtic rock and beyond.
We also run through what you can do when you’re not parked at a stage: rugby, a 5K, bike ride, workshops, dance, vendors, whiskey tasting, and a family fun area where kids 15 and under get in free. Greg and Jolene are also launching a new show on My Irish Radio to spotlight festival artists, share interviews, and keep Irish culture going year-round through projects like their winter concert series. If you like discovering bands before the crowd does and you want a festival weekend that feels big but still walkable, this one’s for you.
Subscribe so you don’t miss the new show, share this with a friend who needs a summer trip, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Ready to go to the festival, and who are you most excited to see?
Your source for Irish music and culture news! Tune in for the latest in Irish and Celtic music, festivals, and heritage. Listen 24/7 at MyIrishRadio.com — and host your own show! Email myirishradio@gmail.com
From trad to rock — Ireland’s soundtrack lives here.
Listen worldwide at MyIrishRadio.com
Script compiled and read with voices from NotebookLM
