NOLA MusiCon 2026: Investing in the People Behind the Music

Oct 6

4 min read

By Brittany “Britt” Mondrinos, Founder of Lunascend

In New Orleans, music is part of how we gather, celebrate, and tell our stories. Behind every performance is someone making decisions about their livelihood: what to charge, where to play, who to trust, and how to keep creating.

Those questions deserve room in the conversation. This October, NOLA MusiCon brings artists and music professionals together for three days of learning and connection, October 28–30, 2026, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center.

For us at Lunascend, the appeal is the opportunity to step back from the next gig and consider what makes a creative career sustainable.

The team who created NOLA MusiCon

NOLA MusiCon also reflects the experience and commitment of the couple who started it: Melissa O’Brien and her husband, Kirk O’Brien. Both serve as executive producers and bring complementary perspectives to a conference centered on helping artists connect, learn, and move their careers forward.

Melissa spent more than two decades at South by Southwest, including serving as Head of the SXSW Music Conference from 2012 to 2017. Her work in the New Orleans area has also included producing NOLA MusicTech, and she has supported Folk Alliance International as Programming Coordinator.

Kirk brings more than three decades of media and event production experience, along with his own perspective as a musician and the owner of “The Shop” recording studio. Together, they co-own Five 24 Productions.

That combination of industry experience and working musicianship gives their mission particular meaning. Creating a place where artists can access knowledge, exchange ideas, and build relationships is an investment in the people who keep the music moving.

A conversation that reaches beyond the stage

A look through the 2026 schedule reveals a program that connects the creative and business sides of music. Sessions include “Sync Strategy,” “Copyright and Contract Fundamentals for Artists, Writers, and Producers,” “Music PR 101,” and “From Club to Stadium.”

Each points toward a question artists encounter in real life. How can a song reach an audience beyond a live room? What should a creator understand before signing an agreement? When does publicity serve a larger strategy? What needs to change as an artist’s live career grows?

The program also makes space for health and longevity through sessions such as “Built for the Long Haul” and “How to Keep Going Without Running Yourself Into the Ground.” That belongs in a career conversation. The ability to keep working, recovering, and creating matters as much as the next opportunity.

For artists, managers, and creative entrepreneurs, my suggestion is to arrive with a specific question. Choose sessions around the challenge you are facing, meet people whose work interests you, and leave with something you can put into practice.

Built to Rise: Giving your next chapter a clearer direction

I’m excited to contribute to that conversation with Built to Rise: Building a Sustainable Career as an Independent Artist.

Independent artists carry a remarkable number of responsibilities. Alongside writing, rehearsing, and performing, there are bookings to manage, relationships to maintain, and business decisions to make. When everything feels urgent, choosing where to focus can become a challenge of its own.

This workshop offers space to take stock. Through a guided career assessment and practical planning exercises, we’ll identify priorities and develop a personalized 90-day action plan.

My work through Lunascend brings me into conversations with artists and the people booking them. I see how much clarity matters: understanding what you offer, what support you need, and which opportunities serve the career you want to build.

Whether you are establishing your foundation or rethinking your next chapter, I want you to leave with a clearer direction and a manageable place to begin.

Built to Rise: Building a Sustainable Career as an Independent Artist

Presenter: Brittany Mondrinos, Founder of Lunascend
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 10:15–11:15 a.m.
Room: Upstairs Guitar

Give the Drummer Some: A spotlight on the people shaping the groove

Later that Wednesday, Give the Drummer Some brings together a compelling group of musicians, with Judy Tint moderating a panel featuring Lou Hill, Derrick Freeman, Taku Hirano, and Joe Gelini.

We’re especially proud to see Derrick “Smoker” Freeman in this conversation. A drummer, vocalist, producer, and bandleader, Derrick leads SOUL Brass Band and Low End Theory Players, among other projects. His work connects New Orleans rhythm with funk, hip-hop, and a deep commitment to live musicianship.

The panel’s range is another reason to pay attention. Hill brings his work with Water Seed; Hirano brings a career in percussion, composition, and education; Gelini is the founding bandleader of Cha Wa. Tint contributes a perspective spanning music, law, and teaching.

In a city where rhythm carries so much history and identity, making room for these voices feels especially fitting.

Give the Drummer Some

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 2:15–3:00 p.m.
Location: Main Stage

A good drummer keeps the beat. A great drummer can change the whole band. So what makes the difference? From feel, pocket, chemistry, and instinct, the drummer is the backbone that holds it all together. It's about time, literally. This session of world class players breaks down the breakdown.

A community investing in music’s future

The conference also benefits from a network of sponsors supporting its focus on connection, education, and opportunity. The 2026 sponsor lineup includes The Recording Academy, Loyola University, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC), SoundExchange, and New Orleans & Company, alongside other music, cultural, and community organizations.

For Lunascend, that support is worth recognizing. A thriving music community needs places where artists can learn, build relationships, and consider their future. Supporting those spaces is one way to invest in the careers behind the performances.

Make room for the work behind the music

At Lunascend, our work connects exceptional talent with thoughtfully curated live experiences. Artist development is part of that commitment. The strength of an event begins with the people creating it, and their careers deserve attention beyond the performance itself.

NOLA MusiCon offers a reason to pause, learn, and build relationships around that work. If you are an artist considering your next move, a manager supporting creative growth, or an industry professional interested in the future of New Orleans music, we hope to see you there.