Dear Reader –
It’s great to be writing to you. This is the first official edition of ‘The Piano Has Been Thinking’, my weekly letter to you which will arrive in your inbox every Tuesday at lunchtime.
It will use the same format each week. I’ll start with the ‘big thing’ I’d like to share with you, follow that with an idea, a story, or maybe a character from my hometown of Sligo, and finish with a brief description of three new things I feel might brighten your week.
I’ll always share a piece of music with you at the end too, and piece this all together into what is hopefully a coherent and valuable letter for you.
Oh and hyperlinks will be in bold.
So let’s get stuck in…
The Big Thing
OK this really is a big thing. I’ve been saving it for this first letter. Because I’m really excited to let you know, before anyone else does, that our debut Theme Night album will be released later this year.
AND – I’d like you to be a part of it. That’s right – you right there reading this. Let me explain.
Any of you who have been to a theme night over the years will know that it’s always a tradition on each show to feature someone who has never been part of a theme night before. And this album will be no different.
So – if you are from or have a strong connection with Sligo, have never been involved in a theme night, and would like to sing or play on this album, get in touch. Pick a song that has been performed at any theme night since 2011 (list at the bottom of this page), come up with an idea for how you’ll interpret it (*important), and get in touch. Go on, what’s the worst that can happen?! Email kieran@kieranquinn.ie before June 7.
For some inspiration, here’s the fearless performance of Mabel Chah, a first-timer on the last live theme night back in February 2020.
Where else but Sligo?
In 1998, a month after I finished my Leaving Cert, I headed to Australia for a year. I initially wanted to head to college with all my friends, but my parents thankfully convinced me I would be crazy to pass this opportunity up, and it was one of the most fun and most important years of my life.
I’ll probably talk about it again at some stage in a future letter, but the reason I bring it up today is that it has indirectly led to the title of this section of the letter.
There was a TV advertising campaign run by the Queensland state tourist board, complete with a jingle at the end with the slogan ‘Where Else But Queensland’? You can hear it at the end of one such ad here if you’re interested.
But my love for my home place must have shone through even at that young age. One man who shared the year with me and remains a great friend to this day (Shane, pictured below with 18 yr-old me on the top of Ayers Rock), replaced the word ‘Queensland’ with ‘Sligo’ and we spent the year with this jingle stuck in our heads, so much so that I remember it more than 20 years later.
So in this spirit, I’ll be showing you exactly what makes Sligo so special in the coming weeks.
What’s New?
(Another) new date for our return to Vicar St - really hoping we get to fulfil this one! Thursday Feb 17th 2022. More here.
Cathy Jordan was our guest on In The Lamplight last week. She was entertaining as always, and especially interesting on the subject of how she connects with a live audience.
Congrats to Sligo ladies Corcra on the release of their debut single. It was one of those projects you didn’t want to end, so thanks to Rory at TemperHound for asking me to come on board.
Finally…
Going back to that year in Australia, we spent a lot of time on buses. Especially that trip to Ayers Rock and beyond. 72 hours on a Greyhound bus to get back from Darwin to Sydney. A lot of time to think.
I had my walkman and cassette collection on the trip with me, and I listened to one song over and over again. It summed the whole thing up for me. Paul Simon’s America. The country may have been different, but the vastness of the land, the bus company (!) and the things you’d do to pass the time were the same.
“Laughing on the bus, playing games with the faces”. Counting kangaroos.
Because there was wonder to be found everywhere. If you looked for it.
Which was easy as a wide-eyed 18 year-old a long way from home. Not so easy when you get a bit older and a pandemic means you haven’t seen much new for over a year. But it’s still there, and hopefully we can help each other see it over the coming weeks and months.
Thanks for reading today.
And go on, contact me about the theme night album!
Kieran.
