Karan Casey has long been a heart-on-her-sleeve type of person, whether she’s singing or speaking, and this past year has seen her do plenty of both.

One of Ireland’s most high-profile female singers of the past two decades, a co-founder of groundbreaking Irish-American band Solas, and now a well-established solo artist, Casey released her new album, “Hieroglyphs That Tell the Tale,” last fall as she prepared to tour as lead singer with Boston-based fiddle ensemble Childsplay. She also appears on its new CD.

Kevin Burke, “An Evening with Kevin Burke” • Burke surely needs no introduction, but his introductions might. Fortunately, for those who have never experienced him in a live setting, this album spotlights both his musical and public speaking talents.

There’s something about the phrase “between the earth and sky” that really works for the Dublin quartet Lankum – which will make its Boston-area debut Jan. 11 at Club Passim in Harvard Square – and not just because that’s the name of their most recent album.

Most artists spend a lifetime perfecting their craft. But whether someone is an actor, singer, dancer, writer, designer, or painter, he or she may not be completely comfortable in maneuvering the business side of the arts.

Longtime arts administrator Julie Hennrikus decided to do something about that. She recently launched YourLadders.com, a broad-reaching online arts administration school built especially for artists.