Iris Music Festival curator Taylor Kelly spotlights her inaugural lineup on WXPN Local

In winter of 2024, Philly’s Taylor Kelly embarked on a new project: a femme-centered, vocalist-forward open jam called the Iris Music Showcase. The singer-songwriter and educator said she embarked on the project as a way to provide a platform to the city’s talented array of vocalists, who don’t always feel at home in the instrumental-forward jazz jams around the city. A year and a half and a handful of venues later, and Iris is taking the next step in its creative evolution: a day-long festival at Wonderland Fishtown starring an array of alums from its year and a half in Philly.

Recently, Kelly dropped by the WXPN Local show for a guest DJ set spotlighting each artist on her lineup and chatting about the story behind Iris’ founding, unpacking the open jam versus open mic distinction, and sharing her vision for the future.

Iris Music Festival takes place Saturday, July 19th (Kelly’s birthday!) at Wonderland Fishtown. Tickets and more information can be found at WXPN’s Concert Calendar.