Announcing Theme Night #37

Dear Reader -
So we have announced the brand new Theme Night Social, told you about Theme Nights Unplugged at Christmas, but this morning it’s finally time to bring on the big one…

The Big Thing

Theme Night #37 - The 80s!
Hawk’s Well Theatre, Feb 4-7 2026.

Tickets on sale especially for you dear letter readers from 10am TODAY (Wed 29 October) from hawkswell.com

Where else but Sligo?

Speaking of October, it would usually bring around a Theme Night, and so it was nice to be reminded of the joy they can bring at a recent wedding at which I had the honour of playing at the Sligo Park Hotel.

The couple had some great song choices and asked for Dave Flynn to sing alongside me. And Dave was in great form and couldn’t resist his choirmaster instincts - it’s certainly the only wedding ceremony I’ve been at where the guests filled the room with harmonies!

And as usual you never know who you’ll bump into at these events - lovely to see Theme Night Regular Paul Maitland in top form - cheers for the pic Paul!

What’s New?

Bread, Butter, Bacon and Cabbage - this fantastic showcase of new and local original music is on again this Friday.

It was fun to revisit this blog I wrote about it in 2019 - and even better to see it returning, especially featuring three bands led by Theme Night Academy graduates - Sean Callaghan, Callum Wall and Stephen O’Dowd.
A small number of tickets left here.

Finally…

So much fun to learn this recently for the above wedding - thanks to Colin and Catriona for the nudge! What a beautiful piece of music.

Till next time - Kieran.

Incoming Christmas Tour!

Dear Reader - there’s always something exciting about announcing a series of gigs…

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So - would anyone fancy some uplifting Christmas music in really cool venues delivered by top class musicians?!?!

Book it now and have a treat in the bank to which you can look forward later in the year...

Tickets for all gigs on sale NOW - all details here.

**Except the 21 Dec date in the brand new Hawk’s Well Theatre Studio - that gig goes on sale tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am.

Where else but Sligo?

We’re into Week 6 of our piano tuition term already.

And even since we started in mid-September so much has happened.
- 3 new songs added to the curriculum
- Round 1 of our series of group workshops with adults, teenagers and children
- 3 new teachers trained up and spreading the magic of music to many happy students

But the best part of it all for me was sitting in with each of our teachers for a few lessons at a time. Each of us teaching and also observing so we could learn from each other.

Personally I learned so much, but it also was so nice to see not only the connection between the teachers and their students, but the care each teacher put into their lesson (even if some were nervous with me watching)!

A well-deserved break for all next week and then for many it’s straight into Christmas songs!

What’s New?

A big week for members of our Theme Night Academy as on Thursday they will attend a masterclass delivered by the one and only Scruffy Duffy!

Scruffy is a master entertainer and knows how to work a room and connect with an audience like no-one I have ever seen.
I can’t wait to see how he passes on some of this knowledge to our teenagers as part of our Theme Night Academy programme this Thursday,

Finally…

One of the new songs we added to our curriculum - here’s a lesser-known version.

Till next time - Kieran.

A draw!

Dear Reader - It was an emotional day on Sunday! Until it wasn’t…

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First though I’ll let this beautiful Rory Maitland picture do the talking.

Apart from to say that we have two songs from January’s Young Songwriters’ Showcase ready for release soon - from talented young musicians Sam Regan and Zara Alexander (pictured below).

Where else but Sligo?

A feckin’ draw.

Yes - it’s county final time of year again and we are lucky at the moment in Coolera-Strandhill to have mens and ladies teams who have contested county finals in each of the last three years.

And while I’ve written in these pages before about winning and losing these finals, I’ve never touched on the strangeness of a draw.
Which is what happened on Sunday.

People talk about an anti-climax. But there’s more to it than that.

One minute you’re caught up in an event that stirs emotions like nothing else. You’re pacing. Eyes either on your watch or you’re trying to follow even half of the madness of what’s happening on the pitch and the sideline.
You’re not fully in control of your body or your mind. But you’re living.

The next it’s over and all of a sudden the emotions die. You don’t know how to feel.
All week you have been thinking about what it would be like to win. Or lose. And now it’s neither. Just a big nothing.
You’re facing into two more weeks of waiting. Speculating. Imagining.
And this is just the supporters.

The players will have taken days off work in the hope of extended celebrations.
Days in which now they would like nothing more than to be at work. To pass the time between training sessions. When they can actually do something about the next result.

Because this one is over. Done. Written into history. As a feckin’ draw.
At least if you lost you’d have some closure.

But then the days pass by and the excitement returns. At least we didn’t lose!
Great to have another crack at it.

And the draw? Just something else that was.

What’s New?

Last month Sligo Jazz won the prestigious JAZZ FORWARD award from the renowned All About Jazz website.

In their words, it honours Innovation, Discovery & Impact In Jazz globally.
It’s given to awardees who exemplify key trends in jazz today: global collaboration, digital innovation, educational inclusion, and community-rooted sustainability.
They are setting new standards for how jazz is taught, shared, streamed, and experienced.

Another feather in the cap of this amazing project!

Finally…

Here’s Pro Murray’s White Foyer - our featured song from the 2023 Young Songwriters’ Showcase.

Till next time - Kieran.

The wooliest céilí around…

Dear Reader - you know where we’re going today!

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Yes - we returned to the Cloonacool Sheep Festival a few weeks ago, armed this time with Seamie O’Dowd’s song written especially for it!

I’m sure some of you were there - Theme Night #35 a year ago this week actually - when we sent Seamie off-stage for a while armed with nothing but his guitar and a few prompts from the audience. He came back an hour later with a fully complete hilarious waltz and it was so much fun to perform it for the first time since then on our return to Cloonacool last month.

Once again - hats off to everyone involved in this festival.
It’s one of my favourite gigs of the last few years - we always leave with a warm feeling of time well spent.

Where else but Sligo?

I think I was first in The CRIB in 2012 conducting auditions for West Side Story with Karen Gordon and Áine Gilmore.

Various projects have brought me back there over the years but in 2025 we must have run a dozen events in there by now with the Theme Night Academy.
And it is a wonderful facility.

In May 2023 Noah Cavaliero, the tallest bass player I have ever met, played his last Teenage Theme Night show. So when I was introduced to an equally tall Jack Cavaliero earlier this year, I figured the lads must be brothers.

And Jack runs a great show in there. You get the feeling that the place is in really good hands and the wonderful plans they have for the venue and their youth-led programmes will actually happen.

And no matter whether we are running open mics, gigs or masterclasses, the CRIB has been a home away from home for us this year, so long may it last!

What’s New?

Sam Purcell and Clada have had some year!

It was our pleasure to feature them as Visiting Artists last February on Theme Night #36. Since they have toured extensively in the US and UK, gigged all around Ireland and most recently played in front of 74,000 people as part of the in-game entertainment during the recent NFL match in Croke Park.

And - they’re back in the Hawk’s Well this Thursday with their own show!
Hope to see lots of you there.

Finally…

A reminder of what we got up to with Clada when they were with us in Feb…

Till next time - Kieran.

Let’s gooooo!

Dear Reader - lots of good news this week…

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Books are here, teachers are briefed, the car is packed with all the gear for Dublin and Boyle - we’re all ready to go for the new term.

Great to welcome Sarah Crummy, Conor Bastible and Nixie Quinn on board as new teachers this year - they join Annette, Bethany, Bridget, Katelyn, Luke, Odhrán, Paddy, Scarlett, Shauna, Thomas and myself in a star-studded teaching line-up!

Still a (very) small number of slots available - term starts next Monday though so don’t delay!

Where else but Sligo?

Sarah Casserley has done an amazing job since taking over the Music Club this time last year. Even grizzled veterans of previous incarnations of the club have been nothing but fulsome in their praise of her!

The new season starts in a couple of weeks and we have space to take on new members.
Dates and more information available here.

Email musicclubsligo@gmail.com to register your interest!

What’s New?

Amazing to hear of the Hawk’s Well Theatre moving into the Fáilte Ireland building next door to it. Congrats to director Kieran Griffiths, all the team in the Hawk’s Well and to everyone who has worked hard over many years to make this happen.

Finally…

One of the more tricky songs added to our curriculum this year. One of my favourites though!

Till next time - Kieran.

World tour of Sligo!

Dear Reader - it’s enrolment time - time to do those things you’ve been thinking about for a while!!!

The Big Thing

And firstly - it’s certainly time to get stuck into the new season of the Theme Night Academy!

Open Mics, masterclasses, workshops and our four flagship theatre shows will come around thick and fast from September 19.
You can read more about our philosophy and programme for events here.

So if you know someone in TY, 5th or 6th Yr who may be interested then ask them to get in touch ASAP!

Where else but Sligo?

It’s GAA season - and in recent weeks I have been to Geevagh, Ballymote, Tourlestrane and Easkey. A great way to see our beautiful county, especially when it’s looking like this!

What’s New?

We’re just putting the finishing touches to the new piano term in Strandhill, Rathcormac, Boyle and Dublin.
The last few slots are still available…

Finally…

These Theme Night Academy graduates were rocking Electric Picnic last weekend!

Till next time - Kieran.

When the stars align…

Dear Reader - phrase of the week is…’back at it’!

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But let’s not forget about summer just yet…

I love the Warriors Run!
Always a great day out, and such a well-organised event.
Fantastic support on the route too for all the runners, and the atmosphere in the village is so positive all day long.

And yes it’s getting harder to get around every year but I’ll keep going until I can’t do it any more!

I could have used you some of the pics of me smiling and waving I received from some of you kind folk who were at various points on the route. But a few people sent this to me on Monday morning - and it captures honestly the feeling at the finish!

Thanks to Jordan Cummins and the Warriors Run Festival for the pic.

Where else but Sligo?

And then Sunday was another special Sligo day.
Hundreds of you guys showed up at Cleveragh Park to watch our showcase of some of Sligo’s best young musicians.

And it was unforgettable.
Children ran and played while their grandparents sang along to Kris Kristofferson songs. Some kicked football, others sat and listened to current and former Theme Night Academy members do their thing.

But we all agreed that the venue worked, the concept worked, the music was fantastic, and Sligo County Council and Creative Ireland deserve great credit for firstly having the vision regarding this venue and secondly supporting our idea for this gig.
Oh and the sun shone!

Hopefully lots more events to come here…thanks to everyone who came along!

What’s New?

Autumn’s Theme Night schedule is coming together nicely!

- Firstly, we’re at the Cloonacool Sheep Festival on Sept 18. Tickets available here.
- There are the grand total of 7 tickets left for November’s Theme Night Social show in the HWT.
- AND - we will be announcing some Christmas shows soon - stay tuned here.

Finally…

Ruadhan Sheerin performed this with us on Sunday in Cleveragh.
It reminded me of this beautiful version from Seamie back in 2016.

Till next time - Kieran.

Outdoor gig this Sunday!

Dear Reader - thank you firstly for the huge response to last week’s announcement of our Theme Night Social gig in November.
There are literally a handful of tickets left - you can get them here before they go.

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It’s always a great feeling to get the latest editions of my Learning By Ear piano book off to print in time for the start of the new term.

A lots of work has gone in to the 6th edition of Book 1 and the 5th edition of Book 2 - and it’s reassuring now to know that they are in the safe hands of Eamon in Tiger Print who will have them looking all sparkling and new in time for lessons returning in September.

As per last year we are running lessons in Strandhill, Rathcormac, Boyle and 2 locations in Dublin (Clontarf and Wesley House).
Please get in touch ASAP if you or anyone you know would like to try learning with us.

Where else but Sligo?

We’re putting on a FREE gig outside this coming Sunday 24th.

It’s called Our Voice - and is a showcase of Sligo’s young musical talent.
Featuring current and past members of the Theme Night Academy all backed by a professional band.

We’re all really looking forward to using the fabulous facilities outside in Cleveragh Park for the first time! It all kicks off at 5pm this Sunday.

A huge thanks to Creative Ireland and to Sligo County Council for their help in making this special event happen.

What’s (not) New?

This thread is 20 years old. And it gives both sides of the argument regarding Noel Gallagher ‘borrowing’ riffs and melodies over the years.
I’m not here to get into the rights and wrongs of that - but the level of detail and knowledge of similarities between songs in the writing is fascinating.

Finally…

Lots of talk of people’s favourite Oasis track last weekend.
This is right up there for me.

Till next time - Kieran.