Dear Reader –
What a week! My thoughts on a wonderful few days are below in the Where Else But Sligo section, but we’re hoping to keep the magic going this week at the latest Theme Night Unplugged gigs with Aileen, Dave, Sam and Seamie. Upstairs in Lillies on Wed and in Roscommon Arts Centre on Thurs. Tickets here.
And we got this recording of one of the big moments from the shows…
The Big Thing
First though - usually on this day we would be announcing details of the next show. It’s a bit different this time of course - the details are already out there - but just a reminder that the next Theme Night is in Vicar St on Thursday May 16th 2024.
Have had a few queries about the theme - Beginnings - so without giving too much away all I’ll say is that it’s a great umbrella term under which we can perform many of the standout songs from the last few shows - as well as keeping things fresh with some new offerings.
It’s shaping up to be another famous Sligo night in Dublin…get your tickets here (but not for long)…
Where else but Sligo?
I could write forever on last week’s shows.
Firstly I got a huge kick out of our visiting artists. I’ll always remember the surprise and joy on Mike Hanrahan’s face when he heard our choir singing the start of Beautiful Affair, and Niall McCabe lifted the roof with Roxanne on Friday. They both immediately got what the Theme Nights were all about, and contributed on and off stage to a great week.
But our Sligo crew brought the magic too. Niamh Farrell, Joe Hunt, Emily Meades, David Keane exposing my dark side (!) and of course Niamh Crowley on the tin whistle. Our choir have never sounded so good and I thought Sam Regan on alto sax on Englishman in New York played beyond his years. The infamous Graceland provided some interesting talking points too!
But the moment without a doubt happened on Friday and Saturday night - when 18-yr old Anna Rose McLoughlin (pictured below) sang Bridge Over Troubled Water. I met Anna Rose a couple of years ago as part of our Teenage Theme Nights and knew immediately that she was special.
However as I said on stage, despite her clear talent I did think long and hard about giving the big finale number to someone so young. But she is tough too - nothing seems to faze her - and she delivered on both nights. I loved how she was gone off stage almost before the song was over - and when we coaxed her back on she got an even bigger reception.
It’s back to the Leaving Cert books for Anna Rose this week, but thanks for giving us all that moment!
What’s New?
THEME NIGHT #33 IN BALLYSHANNON: We have been working behind the scenes on this one too - and will be releasing the names of the 15+ local artists involved tomorrow on social media.
YOUNG SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE: Takes place this Friday 16th in The Model. 18 new and original songs written and performed by various members of our Teenage Theme Night crew. Plus graduate Leah Davidson.
OUR ACTIONS MATTER. ALL OF THEM. In the midst of the Theme Night madness last week I was stopped in my tracks with some sad news, and brought back to an earlier version of myself. Reminded that no matter what you do in life, the most important thing is how you treat others.
Finally…
It wasn’t quite this version that Anna Rose sang - but it’s so good - especially the piano playing…
Till next time - Kieran.
