Northern Ireland Music at WOMEX 2025
16th October, 2025
Three Northern Ireland-based musicians will be travelling to Finland for WOMEX, the biggest and most culturally diverse annual global music conference, thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the National Lottery.
A world of music from Northern Ireland
22nd – 26th October 2025
Tampere, Finland
WOMEX
WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) is the biggest and most culturally diverse annual global music conference, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts.
Over 2600 professionals (including 260 performing artists) from 90 countries come together every October, making WOMEX the leading networking platform for the world music industry.
Horizons at WOMEX
Managed by British Underground, Horizons is a partnership between the arts councils of England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland/Alba and Cymru/Wales to help talented musical artists gain recognition on the world stage.
Horizons hosts a stand at WOMEX to showcase artists selected by the participating arts councils. It also provides advice, networking, funding and showcasing support.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland – Horizons at WOMEX 2025
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to be supporting three artists based in NI to attend WOMEX this year. The 2025 artists are Fusionarium, Vicki Kyles and Utropiks.
Our Northern Ireland artists will be in attendance at the Horizons Stand (1.12-1.15) at 4pm each day during WOMEX 2025:
- Wednesday - Horizons Opening
- Thursday - Delegate Welcome
- Friday - Meet UK & Ireland Artists
- Saturday - Nordic Networking
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Delegates
Israh Castro – Utropiks
Filtering Brazilian rhythms, spiritual jazz, Jamaican dub and African polyrhythm grooves, Isra Castro (aka Utropiks) has swiftly proven himself to be a masterful multi-instrumentalist marching to the beat of his own drums.
With a fearless approach to experimentation, Israh’s compositions blend elements of Bossa Nova and Afro-sambas, Progressive music, Funk, Afrobeat and Contemporary Electronic Sounds, crafting rich, polyrhythmic textures that are both innovative and deeply rooted in cultural traditions.
Luigi Cirillo – Fusionarium
Fusionarium is an indie-alternative collective merging world music and electronic sounds. Led by Luigi Cirillo, Fusionarium explores themes of migration, identity, and the environment.
Creating a space where global influences, acoustic instruments, and electronic soundscapes come together, Fusionarium has represented the UK at the Cultural Olympiad in Paris 2024 and collaborated with renowned artists, including jazz musician Linley Hamilton.
With live concerts planned across Europe, Fusionarium continues to invite audiences to discover, connect, and celebrate the beauty of “One-World Music.”
“[Fusionarium] is a fresh and distinctive voice on the Irish music scene.”
— Mark McCambridge, Performer/Composer, Independent
Email - [email protected]
Vicki Kyles
Vicki Kyles is an accomplished musician, workshop facilitator, and independent music consultant and tutor with a Masters in Creative Musicianship.
A champion accordionist, she has won numerous Northern Ireland and British solo titles and has appeared in concerts and parades across the UK and Europe.
A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Vicki plays piano, violin, classical singing, flute, clarinet, and ukulele, alongside her accordion specialism. She has previously directed choirs, led community ensembles, and conducted and trained marching accordion bands, achieving award-winning results. These experiences highlight both her musical versatility and her commitment to nurturing talent at every level.
Email - [email protected]