Marita May & The Lads of County Linn

Iowa

Marita May & The Lads of County Linn are a dynamic Irish folk trio bringing high-energy tunes and rich musicality to Eastern Iowa.

At the heart of the group is Marita May O’Connell, a classically trained violinist and vocalist with a passion for Irish and Country music. Marita studied Violin Performance at the Eastman School of Music before continuing her studies at Luther College, where she served as Concertmaster of the Luther College Symphony Orchestra. Her career has taken her from Nashville, TN — where she performed and toured with Country and Christian artists — to national stages across the country. She was cast as the first lead fiddler in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Celtic Fyre and later toured as a lead fiddler in the first U.S. national tour of Rockin’ Road to Dublin. Marita has also been featured in multiple musical theatre performances including Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jenna in the Midwest Regional premiere of Waitress and most recently fiddled for “Come from Away”.

Greg Kanz (drums) brings decades of experience across a wide range of genres, including musical theatre, jazz, funk, rock, blues—and now Irish. Zach Gignac (guitar, vocals) adds depth and musical versatility, with a background spanning Irish, jazz, big band, Christian worship, classical, country, and more, enriching the group’s sound with both personality and skill.

Together, Marita & The Lads are passionate about creating an engaging and authentic Irish music experience — one that builds community, sparks joy, and honors the rich traditions of Irish culture while bringing a fresh, vibrant energy to every performance.