Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea at Midwest Arts Xpo

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
8:30 PM - 8:45 PM CST
Location: 106 B 1st Floor
Venue: Baird Center North | Venue Address: 405 W Kilbourn Ave | Booth Number: Connection Lounge

Showcase Info: https://max2026.eventscribe.net/agenda.asp?BCFO=SC&pfp=Showcases&fa=&fb=&fc=&fd=&all=1

Gaelynn Lea got her big break when she won NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Since then, she has captivated audiences around the world with her haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Gaelynn has collaborated with Michael Stipe, The Decemberists, and Wilco. In 2022, Gaelynn composed an original score for Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. She released the album version — Music From Macbeth — in May of 2025. Gaelynn Lea is also a sought-after public speaker about disability culture and accessibility in the arts. In 2021, she co-founded RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) with fellow artist-activist Lachi. She released her first book, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect, in April 2026. It is a love-letter to every body — a warm, funny and deeply-felt memoir about disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life.