Stuck for words...

Dear Reader –

I had a moment this morning on the phone to my mother where we both realised that it doesn’t get much better than this. What a few weeks we have just had. Playing great music with great musicians for great people. Working with young musicians to help them on their way. All the time surrounded by an amazing team and huge generosity of spirit.

And so today I’d like to say a heartfelt thankyou to you all for the part you play in making that happen.
Long may it last!

The Big Thing

I don’t really have too much to say today apart from that.

And a few words about last Friday - the Theme Night spaceship landed in Ballyshannon for the last show of the run. It was a lovely way to wrap it up. One of the Ballyshannon musicians wrote to me afterwards to thank me for a great night of friendship and music. And that sums it all up really.

Where else but Sligo?

OK one more thing (!) - I LOVED this. Niall was one of our visiting artists at the Sligo shows a few weeks ago and he is a class act..

Interestingly I nearly didn’t play on this recording with him. The piano track on the original Paul Brady version is so iconic and so embedded in my head that it was difficult to come with a piano track that wasn’t that.

With a bit of encouragement from Niall I found something however…and I’m so glad I did. A great experience. Massive thanks to Niall and to our Theme Nights crew for capturing it so well.

What’s New?

1. KENDY/RAYBO: I was at my first live show with the lads last Thursday - a great night out. Congrats to all, especially to Brendan Tierney for another hugely successful Sligo Comedy Festival. What this man is doing is nothing short of amazing.

2. 1-20: Not a bad score to put up! Big third win in a row for Sligo GAA on a lovely spring day in Markievicz Park last Sunday…great to see things continuing to move in the right direction.

3. A TIME FOR DOING AND A TIME FOR THINKING: It’s hard to do both. Am looking forward to switching gears for a while. I’ll keep you in the loop!

Finally…

Hard to pick one favourite from all the fantastic Sting and Paul Simon music we played over the last few weeks. This was so much fun to play each night though…great version too!

Till next time - Kieran.

17 new songs!

Dear Reader –

On the week when we heard 17 new songs written by our teenage crew, here are two young men performing a song about being 17. Written by a man called Sam and performed by two more Sams…here’s Seventeen Going under - the latest release on our Theme Nights YouTube channel.

The Big Thing

Two great Theme Nights Unplugged gigs last week - in Lillies on Wednesday and in Roscommon Arts Centre on Thursday. I just love these nights - they bring me such joy - playing great music with a wonderful crew of musicians - this time it was Aileen, Dave, Seamie and Sam (plus Bianca, Hayden, Saibhe and Alicia in Roscommon). It was such fun playing all that great Paul Simon and Sting music again.

Back to a big show this Friday though for the last gig of the Theme Night #33 run - in Ballyshannon with a huge crew of both Sligo and Donegal musicians involved - still some tickets here.

Where else but Sligo?

Last Friday saw my favourite night of the Teenage Theme Night calendar - the Young Songwriters’ Showcase.

17 original songs from our teenage crew - almost twice last year’s total - and huge variety throughout the night. In particular I enjoyed the initiative shown by each ensemble to not only compose but arrange and rehearse the pieces themselves. And bring in the gear. And emcee the show. And provide huge support to each other. This is something we try and foster through the programme and so it was great to see real life concrete examples of it.

There is a different energy in the room when original songs are involved. More honesty, vulnerability, openness and hence nerves. But the atmosphere was so supportive. A huge thanks to all who came along for filling the theatre and getting into the spirit of it.

There were of course highlights, and we will discuss these in the coming weeks as we choose which song we will record this year. A special word regarding Pro Murray and his band though. We recorded Pro’s White Foyer after last year’s event and it was lovely to see Pro back this year out of the love of playing his own music.

And what a song he showcased. Pro has grown so much over the past year as a songwriter and performer - and it was great to see him with a band who match his musicianship - Michael Clancy on guitar is a great player and a TTN regular (and told me recently that I was in school with his brother!). Pro’s own brother Sean was on bass and I had never met Morgan McNamee before but my he is a tasty drummer!

Pro and the lads will also feature on this Friday’s Ballyshannon Theme Night…

What’s New?

1. NIAMH FARRELL: Her Fields of Gold video from Theme Night #33 is getting huge feedback. Watch it here if you haven’t already.

2. THEME NIGHT #33 PICS: Some fantastic photos of the Sligo run taken by Kris Manulak. See them here…

3. SO FUNNY SLIGO COMEDY FESTIVAL: Started this Sunday - and the reports are already fantastic. One of the big events is this coming Friday in the Clayton Hotel - and all money raised is going to the Irish Lung Cancer Community.

Finally…

On the subject of comedy - here’s a classic song of the genre.

Till next time - Kieran.

One of the great Theme Night moments...

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?

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Some big questions to be answered...

Dear Reader –

So why Sting and Paul Simon anyway??

PS the shows are not quite sold out so you can get the last few tickets now…

The Big Thing

That’s the big question we are looking forward to answering for you all this week!
But there are some others too…

• There has been great feedback regarding the last few shows and the variety of performances in them. So can we maintain variety in this show while being limited to the music of two artists?

• What similarities are there between the two men? And what differences?

• What new performer is going to make their mark on the Theme Nights?

• How do Willy Wonka and Mo Salah fit in to the music of these two gentlemen?

• And how can we fit ALL the amazing songs they have written into one show?!

Finally, I really can’t wait to welcome Niall McCabe and Mike Hanrahan to Sligo and to share the Theme Nights stage with them.

Niall is from Clare Island and is just back from a series of USA, UK and Irish tours with the likes of Sharon Shannon, Mary Black and Ed Sheeran.
Mike hails from Co. Clare and still performs with Stockton’s Wing as well as currently writing, recording, and touring with Eleanor Shanley. Oh and he has played alongside Michael Jackson - must ask him about that one!

Where else but Sligo?

Sligo - we have your Valentine’s day sorted!

The latest in our Theme Nights unplugged series…love this line-up too!

Tickets (only a tenner) on sale Friday morning at 10 here.

What’s New?

1. BRIGID OF THE FLAME: New release from one of our Music Club members!
   Fantastic achievement and a powerful song from Helen Cantrell. Watch it here.
   Helen and over a dozen members of our Music Club will be joining us on stage this Wed and Thurs too…

2. TRACY CHAPMAN AND LUKE COMBS AT THE GRAMMYS: This version of Fast Car - great to see Tracy looking so happy too!

3. FIRST MORRISSEY, NOW IMELDA MAY: Our Teenage Theme Nights are catching the attention of some big-name artists. Last November Morrissey shared Keelan Murphy’s performance of his song Jack The Ripper. And then last week Imelda May shared Cara Carleton’s performance of Black Tears - loving Cara’s vocal and the horn section that accompanied her. Well done to all.

Finally…

One of this week’s visiting artists - Mike Hanrahan - with Stockton’s Wing singing Beautiful Affair.

Till next time - Kieran.