John Kelly

About Me

John Kelly is a warm, funny, passionate musician with over 30 years’ live experience. He is a lover and a (non-violent) fighter for equality, inclusion and human rights.

His songwriting sits alongside that of his heroes and peers; containing all the compassion and conviction of Woody Guthrie, the fiery passion of Billy Bragg and the imaginative storytelling of Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

John has fired up crowds at venues ranging from protests and South London pubs to the Paralympic opening ceremony, where he played alongside Orbital and Sir Ian McKellen.

He has also starred onstage and on screen in the likes of Graeae Theatre Company’s ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ and this year’s BBC drama ‘Then Barbara Met Alan’.

John Kelly released his debut album Better Late Than Never in September 2022.

Sessions

  • Interactive Panel: Accessible Audio Technology
    14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Monday 9th November 2026 | Empire
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    In-Person Only

    ** full agenda to be announced ** The session will include: - UK premiere of BREAKING BARRIERS (short film about accessible music technology by the MIDI Association) - Designing inclusively: the Social Model of Disability - Co-design in practice: the Kellycaster  - Drake Music’s DMLab and Accessible Music Instrument Collection initiatives - Spotlight session: Making hardware talk - MIDI Assistive Text - Spotlight session: Open-sourcing accessibility for REAPER - Spotlight session: How Oeksound got started developing accessibility in Soothe3 and Bloom  - Additional content from leading manufacturers Lots of time for Q&A, discussion and interaction. More info to follow