Blue is the Eye

Dear Reader -

The Big Thing

Many of you will recognise Anna Rose McLoughlin - who came through our Theme Night Academy programme and brought the Hawk’s Well crowd to its feet notably on Theme Nights #33 and #37 recently.

She and Monty Walsh got the boat out to join us on Coney Island a few weeks ago. We recorded a video indoors with Anna Rose first (we’ll show you this one next month) as we knew that there was due to be a break in the weather at 7pm or so.

It materialised, so we dashed to Carty’s Strand and set up the gear in record time in order to catch the pair singing this gorgeous Ye Vagabonds song as the sun set behind them.

This video captures a wonderful performance by Anna Rose and Monty as well as the less glamorous behind the scenes antics! Go on have a look…

Where else but Sligo?

What a way to finish out this season of Theme Night Academy masterclasses!

Last Thursday our members heard from Pop-Up Theatre founder Karen Gordon on topics ranging from building something from the ground up, committing to a project and finding like-minded people to join you along the way.

With our big show coming up next weekend and the theme being musicals (!) Karen also passed on some tips on how to deliver a performance and make the audience feel something.

As always it was inspirational to be in the same room as Karen. Her passion and energy is contagious and if the teenagers got half as much out of the chat as I did then the night was a success.

Teenage Theme Night #38
Musicals
May 9&10
Hawk's Well Theatre

What’s New?

Don’t forget Niall McCabe takes to the Hawk’s Well stage this Thursday May 8th!

Finally…

Who remembers the big screen version of Evita from the mid-nineties?
We’re featuring this song on our set this weekend…

Till next time - Kieran.

Midas Touch

Dear Reader - so lovely to see so many of you in Ballymote and Sligo last weekend!

The Big Thing

But first - the second of our Coney Island videos…featuring fellow islander Niall McCabe (who is coming to the Hawk’s Well on May 7).

Where else but Sligo?

Thanks to everyone who came to the Art Deco and the Hawk’s Well last weekend.
It honestly felt like the vision we had for these Theme Night Social gigs was realised - and for this to happen on just our second attempt felt fantastic.

Great as always to play with the Theme Night band, and special guests Steve Wickham, Aileen Concannon, James McDonagh, Rhona Kerlin, Sinéad Conway and Tish Mattimoe brought a golden touch to proceedings.

We take a break for the summer now but will be back with lots more Theme Night Social shows in the autumn. We will start planning soon though - and with this in mind, I would love to hear what you guys thought of the gigs last weekend - what you liked, what you would like to see more of, how you think we could improve them for you.

Email kieran@kieranquinn.ie - I always enjoy hearing your feedback!

What’s New?

This set design!
So many people commenting on Rory Maitland’s work for our weekend gigs - and I’d like to add my compliments!

Finally…

A fun tune of Steve’s that we played last weekend…

Till next time - Kieran.

Coney Island

Dear Reader - I’m just back from Coney Island - where a gang of of us spent a wonderful few days arranging and recording a bunch of songs and videos.

The Big Thing

It was just lovely. Rain and wind yes but also some amazing scenery and sunsets.
Lots of new music and some fun interpretations - plenty of new artists too!

I can’t wait to show you all what we got up to - for now though if you wish you can scroll down to the bottom of this letter to see the first finished video - a campfire jam featuring Sean Callaghan and the Cabbage Collective…

Where else but Sligo?

But first - last shout for our Theme night Social shows this week!

Fri 17th April in the Art Deco Ballymote.
Sat 18th in the Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo.

We have two BIG shows lined up - both featuring special guests Steve Wickham, Tish Mattimoe, Aileen Concannon, Sinéad Conway and the Theme Night Band.

Friday’s Ballymote show also features renowned local flautist Fr. James McDonagh - and no - rumours that I will be playing tin whistle are not true!

Get the last tickets now!

What’s New?

A new piano term starts today - and it was lovely for me to meet some of the teachers over the Easter break and hear their thoughts on the curriculum and how the lessons are going.

Sarah and Annette (below) had some great ideas for me, as did Conor and Odhran the previous week - plus we got into some Richard Tee technique!

Finally…

As promised…the first of our Coney Island videos…

Till next time - Kieran.

Playing with a rock-star!

Dear Reader - Two big special guest announcements for our upcoming Theme Night Social shows today…

The Big Thing

Firstly - I could list the many world-class artists and bands with whom this man has played and recorded, but I’d prefer to let you all know how he makes me feel.

• He brings his all to every performance and subtly asks the same of you.

• He tells stories that make you want to hear more.

• His playing is the definition of making your instrument sing.

• His commitment to music and art is inspirational.

• Finally, an audience member said to me after the last gig we did together “he’s a rock-star isn’t he”? And there are many ways in which you could interpret that statement, but if you look at it in terms of being able to command an audience, he certainly is!

The picture below is from his last Theme Night appearance over three years ago - so it’s about time we had him back, and this time we are getting to know him properly!
Ladies and gentlemen………Mr. Steve Wickham!

Theme Night Social:
Fri 17th April in the Art Deco Ballymote.
Sat 18th in the Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo.

Where else but Sligo?

Going by the many references to discos and slow sets in the dance halls of Ballaghadereen and Charlestown, Tish Mattimoe definitely has Mayo connections!
But we’re claiming her as a Sligo woman for now - and she was a huge part of the success of Theme Night #37 last February.
Her storytelling, humour and matter-of-fact way of presenting anecdotes of life in the 80s resonated with you all and gave a context for much of the music we showcased.

And so as our second big guest announcement today - I'm delighted to let you know that Tish will also be a very special guest on our upcoming shows.

We have created a special segment for her called 'Storytime with Tish' - I heard a few snippets today as the below photo was being taken and I can't wait to hear for you all to hear she has to share with us this time.

More guests to be announced next week - but the clever ones amongst you will get your tickets now before they disappear!

What’s New?

Sean ‘Cabbage’ Callaghan was a guest on our last Theme Night Social show - and he really is going from strength to strength as a musician - and making things happen!

I know he has some exciting announcements coming soon, but firstly - he’s doing a 24-hr gig in Strandhill on May 2. Follow @cabbagecollective on Instagram for more.

Finally…

This is interesting. A piano sonata version of Billy Joel’s the Longest Time, created and performed by his musical director David Rosenthal. Complete with context and explanation if you’re interested (music starts at 2:05).
Audio not great but you’ll get the idea!

Till next time - Kieran.

The Heart Remembers

Dear Reader - there are some memories that live in our minds, others in our hearts.

The Big Thing

And this one belongs in the second category.
One of my favourite live Theme Night memories was playing Roxanne with Niall McCabe on our Simon and Sting show back in February 2024.
And equally as special was recording the below version of The Island with him. One of those moments where everything clicks. 5 mins work and you know it’s in the bag!

Later that year Niall’s manager Colin Gillen rang me to inform me of a beautiful full circle moment. Sting (yes that Sting) reached out to Niall because he loved his music. They met in Cork and you can read the full story here.

And then last week Niall released a brand new song - The Heart Remembers - with a star-studded line-up, including Jerry Douglas, John McCusker plus Foy Vance and yes Sting on harmonies.

Scroll to the bottom of this letter to hear it.

Where else but Sligo?

Shoutout to Hugh, Grover and all involved with Moran’s in Ballintogher today - an unlikely but wonderful spot for a Monday night session.

Led by the one and only Gerry Grennan - understated, generous and full of mischief.

What’s New?

It’s like the proverbial buses - I hadn’t heard this song for years - and then three times last week one day after the next it came into my orbit.
A student wanted it written out so he could learn it, I played it at a wedding on Friday and then on Saturday two members of our Theme Night Academy picked it to sing for our upcoming end-of-year show. Funny how these things happen!

But it’s so pretty. And I’m sure the lyrics make sense if you’re watching it in the context of the show, but melodically and chordally it’s so well put together.

So Level 7 students - For Good is now on your hitlist. (And Joni’s Both Sides Now - also added to our curriculum last week)!

Finally…

This is the recorded version with the star-studded cast mentioned above, but for me the live version from the Tommy Tiernan show last weekend is every bit as good.

Till next time - Kieran.

You Might Forget The Words...

Dear Reader - So what happens then?!

The Big Thing

But first, I just LOVE this picture of Seamie strutting across the Hawk’s Well stage last November during our debut Theme Night Social show. I know many of you were there - it was so nice to have a full house for our first such gig.

The next such show takes place in less than a month - Fri 17th April in the Art Deco Theatre and Sat 18th in the Hawk’s Well.
We have been doing a lot of thinking about it in the meantime - trying to get this show to where we want it to be - which is to say to be as entertaining and fun as a Theme Night but with a more regular schedule.

And it would be great to see lots more of you this time and hear what you all think!
I’ll be telling you more about what we have planned for it in the coming weeks - but for now you can get your tickets here (Art Deco) and here (Hawk’s Well).

Where else but Sligo?

There is no doubt that musically we are spoilt in Sligo. And sometimes when people have been doing a wonderful job for a long time, it’s easy to forget how good what they do actually is.

Niamh Crowley and her Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta have been enriching the cultural life of our town now for over 25 years. My daughter plays flute with them and enjoys the many benefits of what playing with an orchestra can bring.
We in the Theme Night Academy collaborated with them last May for an extravaganza of Film Music (see pic below) - and indeed we look forward to doing so again in less than two months time.

But first they have their annual Gala concert - next Friday March 27th - featuring the many ensembles and soloists with whom Sligo’s children and teenagers get the benefit of working. As Niamh herself says - from O Fortuna to Rolling In The Deep, it’s going to be a night of stunning vocals and orchestral magic.
I hope to see lots of you there!

What’s New?

Courtesy of my favourite music blogger - Gabe The Bass Player…
You Might Forget The Words…

Finally…

Fun, creative - but also so impressive!

Till next time - Kieran.

Don’t Dream It’s Over

Dear Reader - we had a moment on Friday night!

The Big Thing

You may know that on each Teenage Theme Night we feature a graduate - someone who has been part of the shows previously but is still involved somehow in music.

So last weekend we welcomed back David Walsh, Ollie White and first up on Friday night were Beezies (cousins Anna, Ellie and Nicole Filan).

Last Tuesday, Nicole came out to rehearse the song she had chosen and I sent it round to the band on Wednesday morning.
Eddie Lee came back within an hour to say that his friend would love to play bass on it. I said oh great - but who is your friend?

So on Friday night Nicole sang Don’t Dream Its Over alongside current Academy members - her brother Patrick and his friend Lugh. And joining them also was Eddie Lee’s friend - founding bass guitarist and mainstay of the band who wrote the song - Crowded House!

Nick had a great time - smiling and grooving throughout and making sure all the younger performers felt at home on stage with him. He gets it - his daughter Lola is also a current member of the Academy - and so this was a real moment to cherish for all of us.

Where else but Sligo?

But Nick’s involvement wasn’t even the biggest story of the weekend - or even this song! What it was really about was Patrick and Lugh - two teenagers who made their Teenage Theme Night debuts on this song - and likewise for the other dozen or so teenagers who joined us for the first time this weekend.

We see this time after time with the teenagers - the hardest part is getting up the first time. After that what usually happens is that they are mad keen to get up again and wish they had got involved earlier. So well done to all the performers - it takes courage to do what you did and you all brought so much to our weekend.

A big thanks to the two people (pictured below) who put so much in behind the scenes to make it all happen - Éania McGarry and Mícheál Kearney!

What’s New?

And in case anyone is dreaming that it’s over (!) - it’s not - not yet anyway - preparations start this week for the big extravaganza in May in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. Teenage Theme Night #38 - with the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta.

Finally…

Listen for the bass fill at 0:21…Such a buzz to hear it live last Friday night!

Till next time - Kieran.

Stay on the scene!

Dear Reader - Inspired this week by Thelonious Monk and Steve Wickham…

The Big Thing

Back in 2017 Imelda May performed her new song Black Tears with the Jools Holland rhythm ‘n’ blues orchestra big band on his New Year’s Eve Hootenanny show. The video went viral and so when it came to picking a song for Emily Meades for the end-of-year Teenage Showcase the following May I knew we had a winner.
Emily did such a good job on it that we asked her to perform it again in Vicar St in 2019 and despite it being only the 5th song in the set that night, the Vicar St crowd stood to applaud her performance.

And since then it has never been far from the surface when it came to our Teenage Theme Nights. A few years ago Imelda herself shared a video of Cara Carleton singing the song at one of our shows in The Model.

And then last Monday Imelda was in the Hawk’s Well and asked for a volunteer to come up and sing a song. Up shot the hand of current Academy member Rhona Kerlin and what did she have the courage to sing - with Imelda a matter of feet away watching her? You guessed it - Black Tears - and here’s a snippet below.

Rhona and over 100 more of our Academy members will take to the stage in The Model this Friday, Saturday and Sunday - the theme is The Power of Love and it will be a fantastic weekend as always.
You can get your tickets here.

Where else but Liverpool?

A trip to Merseyside last week got me in a Beatles mood - and it lasted all week!

When it came to Sunday evening after a busy weekend I found myself wanting to sit down and play something simple yet beautiful.

And of course the Beatles had something to fit the bill…

What’s New?

I met Steve Wickham last Wednesday at the legendary No Crows weekly session in Shoots. Eddie and Felip were there with him and the music was great as always.
I spoke to Steve afterwards and he pointed me towards Thelonious Monk’s 25 tips for musicians from 1960.

Steve said that one of the reasons he plays the Wednesday gig each week is to ‘stay on the scene’. Or in Monk’s words “Don’t sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene”. He wrote some real gems though - read them all here.

Finally…

The original of the species! That performance by Emily in Vicar St…

Till next time - Kieran.