Let’s gooooo!

Dear Reader - lots of good news this week…

The Big Thing

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.

The Big Thing

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.

Announcing Theme Night Social

Dear Reader - it’s exciting to announce a brand new Hawk’s Well Theme Night show this week!

The Big Thing

Yes folks - Theme Nights are back!
Theme Night Social - our brand new show - for one night only this November.

Join myself and the Theme Night Band for a more intimate and informal show - a social event between band and audience and still containing the usual feast of great music, surprise performers and live entertainment.

Friday November 21 - Hawk’s Well Theatre.
Tickets on sale at this link tomorrow (Wednesday) morning from 11am.
As always letter readers get first dibs on tickets so get in there early!

Where else but Sligo?

Sligo resident - actor and Tony award winner Brían F. O’Byrne was interviewed on RTE Radio 1 by Eoin McDevitt and Ciaran Murphy of Second Captains on Saturday last.

He told the remarkable story of the below photograph, taken as he was being arrested by the NYPD in the aftermath of the famous World Cup game between Ireland and Italy in 1994.

It was either in this interview or the previous week’s interview with Joseph O’Connor that I heard this quote for the first time - “sport was invented so that men could have emotions”.

A small reach perhaps (!), but I was reminded many times last weekend of the power of sport to bring people together. Music does it too.
And hence their importance lasts beyond the moment.

You can listen here - I would thoroughly recommend it.

What’s New?

It’s new to write this letter outside - but on this beautiful Monday evening it’s one of those rare but wonderful occasions where it’s warmer outside than inside.

Decided to go for a walk later too…

Finally…

The Theme Night Band (well most of us anyway) in top form with Steve Wickham a few years ago…
Looking forward to seeing lots of you in the Hawk’s Well on November 21!

Till next time - Kieran.

New world in the morning!

Dear Reader - it’s the start of August and so there’s not much going on.
There will be some big announcements in the next week or two but for today I thought I’d share a few pieces of music I have come across recently…

And they’re all upbeat and feel-good - so if you needs a lift today stick them on nice and loud!

The Big Thing

Firstly - have been loving this live Sting concert - some great arrangements including this!

Where else but Sligo?

The craic continues at Micky Downs’ gym each week. It’s a unique crew there and every morning brings a new surprise. One morning recently Micky himself was away and so none other than Scruffy Duffy took over the DJ duties.

And so after only a few minutes the nature of the exercise done in the gym had completely changed - he put on some country favourites of his and had the whole place jiving!
Here’s one from that famous day!

What’s New?

A new world in the morning - that’s what’s new!

So good from Roger Whittaker…enjoy.

Finally…

Finally - this is fun - and a new favourite! Music starts 1 minute in…

Till next time - Kieran.

Goodbyes, Grammys and Guts

Dear Reader - a huge congratulations to Eddie Lee and the Sligo Jazz team on 20 fantastic years. Another inspiring instalment last week…

The Big Thing

But first - this week we say goodbye to event producer and company manager Joy Feehily.

Joy worked with us for almost two years in Sligo Music Development and for a number of years before that in the Theme Nights and especially the Teenage Theme Nights. She had a huge impact in her time with us.

Joy was the driving force behind the formation and spirit of the new Theme Night Academy. She produced 4 of our most ambitious Theme Nights yet including our trip to Vicar St in 2024.

Outside of this work, her vision and instinct for structures and systems in education has helped continuously improve our learning piano by ear curriculum and service over the past few years.

And so on behalf of the board of directors of Sligo Music Development, the Theme Night crew and the many students on whom she had such a positive impact, I’d like to thank Joy for her dedication and commitment to music education and entertainment in Sligo and to wish her all the very best on her future adventures in Australia and beyond.

Where else but Sligo?

Speaking of music education, the satisfied smile on Eddie’s face here is well deserved! Many students left on Sunday evening full of passion and inspiration.

Also pictured is his daughter Mimi - who wasn’t even born when this started but now basically runs the show! Plus Grammy winners, Sligo Jazz favourites and former students who now teach on the course. Sums it up really…

PS I’m pretty sure there was some amazing music being played on this stage as this picture was being taken! I guess when you have 33 tutors on stage it’s nice for a few to take a break while the rest jam it out…

PPS It was another incredible week!

What’s New?

I love this insight - written by Gabe Anderson and titled “George Had The Guts.”

You’ve just written what will become one of the most famous ballads of all time. It’s called Something, and you’re George Harrison.
It’s an acoustic song with a beautiful melody so you’re thinking strings, bgvs, maybe some brass, probably no drums.
And then Paul comes in and wants to put this super busy bass line over it.
—
There had to have been fights.
George was already shy about his songs and now Paul wants to step all over it.
It took a lot of guts to have that bass line in there (which would also require a fuller drum groove to blend the rhythm track).
I don’t think most of us could handle Paul playing on our track. Most of us would be too precious to have a lead bass line on our sweet ballad.

Glad George had the guts.

Finally…

More Beatles for you today - this is from Dromore West sings - featuring Theme Night Academy graduate Jean Van Aswegen on lead vocals.

Till next time - Kieran.

Standing Ovation!

Dear Reader - no gigs for ages…and then two BIG ones this week!

The Big Thing

Firstly last night - recent Theme Night Academy graduate Zach McLoughlin performed his new release with us at our Boyle Arts Festival Theme Night and got a standing ovation. What a moment!

Top class original music from this year's Young Songwriters' Showcase.
Check it out here...

Where else but Sligo?

And secondly this coming Saturday - Eddie Lee wants a mixture between a Theme Night and a jam session - and so that’s what he’s going to get!

It’s Sligo Jazz week everyone - starting today - and as always there is an amazing week of gigs and masterclasses lined up - see image below.

The big one though is in Lillies on Saturday afternoon!
From 4.30-6.30pm I’ll be hosting a specially curated set featuring 15+ local artists young and old. Admission is free so come along and say hello!

What’s New?

Don’t forget this amazing workshop series for 12-18 year olds starts tomorrow (Wednesday) and runs for 5 weeks. Curated by us in the Theme NIght Academy.

Admission is free but you do need to be in possession of a ticket. Get them here.
Some sold out already so don’t delay!

Finally…

This was our response to the Heartbreak Story read out on Sunday night in Boyle…

Till next time - Kieran.