Taking lessons again…

Dear Reader -

Today’s letter is full of possibility and anticipation…

The Big Thing

I’m taking piano lessons. For the first time in 20 years. It’s very exciting!
I had to answer six questions this morning in preparation. These were the hardest.

• What would you like another musician to think/say about you?

• Is there anything in your musicianship that makes you feel insecure?

I’m really looking forward to this. I’ll keep you in the loop…

Where else but Sligo?

Hands up if you’re looking forward to Sligo Live?!
Jargon were so good on our last Theme Night. Catch them again on Oct 30.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT #36: Last Theme Night mention for a while, but I wanted to say thanks to the huge number of you who have already bought tickets for February’s show.

2. JACOB COLLIER: In The Olympia! Can’t believe it. I’m going next week.

3. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY MASTERCLASS #2: This will be great.
   Steve Kohlmann and Joe Gorman focusing on different aspects of preparation. Available to members of our Theme Night Academy this Wednesday evening.

Finally…

Uisce in Shoots had a fantastic Tom Waits playlist on the other night - was reminded of many great songs - including this…

Till next time - Kieran.

“Running out of superlatives”

Dear Reader -

A huge thanks to everyone who came to the shows last week. A truly memorable week for all of us involved. Tickets for our next show go on sale this morning with early access for letter readers (details below) - or why not relive some of the magic of Theme Night #35 with a select crew of musicians tomorrow night (Wednesday) upstairs in Lillies from 8pm.

Still some tickets here.

The Big Thing

Tickets for Theme Night #36 go on sale this morning.

February 6-8 2025 in the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo.

Get them today at hawkswell.com

Where else but Sligo?

A few words from others on what happened last week…

• Seamie O’Dowd eloquent as always - read his thoughts here.

• “I am running out of superlatives” - anonymous letter reader.

• Not specific to last week but so relevant - The miracle of music by Gabe Anderson.

• “Another epic Theme Night, possibly the best ever” - Neil Gaynor on Facebook.

• “A big part of the reason I go to the shows is to see you so happy for two hours” - anonymous family member of mine!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHTS THIS FRIDAY: Unplugged in Roscommon.

2. THEME NIGHTS THIS SATURDAY: Big show in Ballyshannon.

3. CATHY JORDAN’S CRANKIE ISLAND PROJECT: What an initiative! A project with 32 songs, 32 original illustrations and featuring over 70 musicians, artists and technicians. Big gig in Sligo this Thursday. Read more here.

Finally…

Here’s the Sligo song from Cathy’s project…

Till next time - Kieran.

One year on…

Dear Reader -

There’s only one show in town this week! As always we have tried to keep it fresh and entertaining for you guys…can’t wait to see lots of you there! Still a small number of tickets for tomorrow and Thursday if you haven’t snapped them up yet.
Can’t wait to see lots of you there…

The Big Thing

Our Theme Nights YouTube channel is one year old this week.
We’ll be recording lots of new videos this week, but it’s also nice to look back!
Here’s our first ever release…

Where else but Sligo?

There have been times over the last year where I have had to take stock.
Getting to play and record regularly with lots of fantastic musicians, with a brilliant team of technicians making sure everything looks and sounds just right.

Thanks especially to the core members of our crew who have made this happen.
James McManus, Joy Feehily, Luke Devaney, Mícheál Kearney and Rory Maitland.

Also to Conor Greene, Joe Gorman and Naoise Devaney, who helped at various stages of the project.

To the many artists who got involved on both sides of the camera - you guys make the magic happen - please keep doing what you do.

This is one of my favourite things we did in Year 1. We miss you Georgie!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHTS LIVE: One from our last show in Vicar St.

2. THEME NIGHTS FAVOURITE: Emily has appeared in three of our videos.

3. THEME NIGHTS ORIGINAL MUSIC: Our commitment to producing and recording new and original music in the Theme Nights remains consistent. Here’s one from the pen of Pro Murray - who will be joining us on our Ballyshannon show next Saturday the 19th.

Finally…

Our most viewed video…and Niamh is back with us this Thursday and Friday…

Till next time - Kieran.

Russell Crowe’s singer

Dear Reader -

No messing today - the info you need at the top of today’s letter.
Friday and Saturday of next week’s Theme Night run are SOLD OUT.
Don’t miss out - Wed and Thurs tickets still available here.

The Big Thing

I have so much I want to tell you all about what we have lined up for next week, but I suppose I should keep some of it as a surprise…
Today however I am delighted to announce our visiting artists.

• Wednesday - Máirtín O’Connor

• Thursday - Lorraine O’Reilly (also appearing on Wednesday)

• Friday - Jargon (also appearing on Thursday)

• Saturday - Stephanie Rainey

  More info on each of these fantastic artists below…

Where else but Sligo?

The first time I met Máirtín O’Connor was on The Lungy - when I said a fleeting hello to himself and Seamie O’Dowd as they ran down the town at 7:50 one evening to get some biscuits for their tea before an 8pm gig in the Hawk’s Well. I saw their gig that night too - and was blown away. So excited that ‘Máirt’ will be joining us on Wednesday.

I played a gig with Lorraine O’Reilly last Christmas and loved every minute. She is from a talented family - her brother Sean has joined us for many’s the Theme NIght and is currently touring as Nathan Carter’s drummer. Lorraine herself tours the world as the singer in Russell Crowe’s band and we are delighted that she can take some time off to be with us next Wednesday and Thursday.

I know Brian, Charlie, Gerry and Liam well as individuals and it was great to hear last year that they were reforming as Jargon. Regular readers of this letter will know that they have recently released an album and are currently touring it. It is a real coup for the Theme Nights to have them in our line-up for Thursday and Friday.

Stephanie Rainey is travelling all the way from her native Cork to be with us on the Saturday night. She is a radio DJ and musician and has written some genuine hit songs - one with over 2.4M views on YouTube. She is just back from a successful few months performing on America’s Got Talent and we are thrilled that she will join us.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY: We’re firmly up and running! Our first ever masterclass was a huge success last Wednesday and we’re straight into preparations for this Thursday’s second (and sold out) Open Mic of the year. First big show coming in November.

2. NO LOVE AT ALL: 18 yr-old Sam Regan wrote this song himself and performed it on our Young Songwriter’s Showcase last February. There really is something about it - some fantastic lyrics and I love the piano playing.

3. THEME NIGHTS ON OCEAN FM: Live music with Seamie Mac and various Theme Nighters all week at 6.20 this week and into next Monday.

Finally…

Our Saturday night visiting artist - Stephanie Rainey - is just back from the USA - where she reached the quarter-finals of America’s Got Talent.

Till next time - Kieran.

"You're welcome to Cloonacool"

Dear Reader -

Theme Night Season is up and running! Here’s what’s coming next…

The Big Thing

Sarah Crummy is flying in from Iceland.

• Possibly the best teenage pianist I have ever seen.

• Sinéad Conway singing THE song she has always wanted to sing.

• A Theme Night newbie from North Sligo who will blow you away.

• And Seamie O’Dowd will be put to the pin of his collar like never before.

• Plus LOTS more…

Theme Night #35. Hawk’s Well Theatre. 9-12 Oct.

Get your tickets now before it’s too late.

Where else but Sligo?

“You’re welcome to Cloonacool” (accompanied by a warm handshake).

These words must have been said to me a dozen times upon arrival at the Cloonacool Community Centre last Thursday night. And they weren’t just words - from start to finish we were looked after like royalty by Pat McCarrick and his crew. Chairman of the committee Ado definitely has a future in comedy - it was certainly the funniest welcome speech I ever heard.

Seamie O’Dowd and I had done a gig with Pat before - a wonderfully intimate house concert, so I knew what to expect here - a warm welcome and respect for the musicians.

And that’s exactly what we got.
It was a fitting way to kick off the Theme Night season - and Aileen, Dave, Luke and Steve were on top form playing a setlist derived from Theme Nights over the years - complete with some original songs and our own arrangements.
Joy joined us for a song too and had the while room singing with her on Caledonia.

Finally I was struck by the lyrics written on the wall in the Mill Cafe (where we were treated to scones, tea and Heroes!) - from a song written by Terry Clarke.

“I fell in love with your name - when we were walking to school,
But I fell in love with your face - last summer out in Cloonacool”.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY MASTERCLASSES: First one takes place this Wednesday evening. Dave Flynn and Sinéad Conway will be passing on tips on performance. We hope to open these to the public eventually but for now it’s the lucky teenagers (and me) who get to hear what they have to say!

2. TN #35 VISITING ARTISTS: Really can’t wait to announce these for you next week.

3. FIONN McMORROW: Fionn is a fantastic dancer and always moves me when I watch him. He’s now studying dance full time in Dublin but I’m delighted to say that he will join us on the Thursday and Friday nights of our upcoming Let’s Dance show for a special brand new and hard-hitting dance choreographed by his talented teacher Lisa Cooper.

Finally…

Is there room in the Let’s Dance set for this?!

Till next time - Kieran.

‘Music is boring’

Dear Reader -

So said one of our new students this week…but then he opened the book!

The Big Thing

Micky Downs makes the best omelette I know.
And Rory Maitland has been the only man to cut my hair for as long as I can remember.

We worked out this week that Micky has made approximately 2000 omelettes in the last eight years. And Rory has completed almost 45,000 haircuts since he began training to be a barber in 2013. No wonder they are great.

What would you like to be great at?
There is no substitute for putting in time. Get your numbers up. Off you go…

Where else but Sligo?

Sept 16th has been THE date in my head for quite a while.

The start of term. The date by which we need to have books printed, timetables sorted, premises secured and furnished, teachers prepared.

And we made it! We hit the ground running yesterday with lessons taking place simultaneously in Strandhill, Rathcormac and Clontarf.
And then the stories start to come in - and there’s the payoff!

• The 7 yr old who after 5 minutes of being put to work on her own came back and played Love Story.

• Annette Hayden showing up unprompted and giving her time to help the new teachers because she remembers what it was like to teach her first lesson.

• The boy who told his teacher in no uncertain terms that music was boring and that he wouldn’t be practising but then spotted The Rattlin’ Bog in the book and now wants to move on already to Old Town Road.

• The two girls who asked me was their new teacher a ‘chatter like their old one’ and vowed to turn her into one if she wasn’t!

• And - hearing The Irish Rover last night on the piano at home -my son playing it 3 decades after his uncle used to sing it as a party piece at the same age!

What’s New?

1. JAMES NELSON: Back by popular demand after a successful solo show last year. This Sunday.

2. SWEENEY TODD: Karen Gordon and Pop-Up Theatre are planning something big for next Spring! Auditions coming soon. Follow them here for more info.

3. FIRST OPEN MIC: We had a fantastic night in Kilmacowen Hall last Thursday at the first Theme Night Academy Open Mic. My favourite moment happened before the show when I asked for any guitarists to come down and soundcheck their instruments - and a dozen or more appeared out of the darkness. So good to see!

Finally…

Our first Theme Nights Unplugged gig of the year takes place this Thursday 19th in Cloonacool. I came across this song recently - and we may just have to do it!

Till next time - Kieran.

I hope you dance…

Dear Reader -

Sure it’s a great country when the sun shines…

The Big Thing

It’s full steam ahead for Theme Night #35 - Let’s Dance!

The setlist is taking shape - we have some Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie and The Pogues. We will have new music from Seamie and Stephen O’Dowd, some exciting Visiting Artists (announced shortly) and of course we have dancers!

The one thing we are missing is a song for Sinéad Conway - there was great feedback from this Facebook post on Sunday, including the below comment from her husband! But some of you learned letter readers may not have seen it, so if you have any suggestions as to what you’d like Sinéad to sing let me know…

9-12 October.
Still some tickets left for Wednesday Thursday Friday here…

Where else but Sligo?

Friday evening in Collooney was just glorious. A final with the Coolera-Strandhill U-14 girls and one of those evenings that will live long in the memory for more than just the weather. The girls doing themselves justice on the field followed by a trip to Mammy Johnston’s to finish off the season. Ice-creams and smiles all around.

Then Saturday morning Micky Downs took me out in his van to put up some roadsigns advertising October’s show around the place. The town and county looking great - and sure doesn’t it bring out the best in everyone when the sun shines?!

Then the mist rolled in that afternoon and our brief summer was over…ah no - surely we’re due some more sun this month. Aren’t we?!?!?!

What’s New?

1. PANTO AUDITIONS: If anyone would like to audition be in the chorus of this year’s Coolera Dramatic pantomime (Jack and the Beanstalk) please contact producer Susan Harte on 086-8280576.

2. MORE AUDITIONS: The Hawk’s Well are looking for someone 16+ to play the lead role in their family Hallowe’en production (paid gig). More here.

3. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY: There weren’t enough chairs in the room for all the teenagers who came to our information evening in the Hawk’s Well last Thursday. The first event of our brand new Theme Night Academy calendar takes place in Kilmacowen Hall this Thursday.
   Tickets are free but you will need one to attend!

Finally…

Thanks to Pauline Kilfeather and Susan Cox for suggesting this song for Sinéad. A lovely uplifting message for you all today..

Till next time - Kieran.

A noble aspiration for any band...

Dear Reader -

Our YouTube channel is back with a bang…this week featuring Mark O’Donnell from Glenties - as well as a guitarist with ‘some calves’ according to YouTube…

The Big Thing

Last shout for the 2024-25 Music Club!

New host Sarah Casserley will be sending out our initial groupings early next week, so if you would like to play and/or sing in an informal environment with like-minded people, now is the time to let us know.

More info here, or email musicclubsligo@gmail.com

Where else but Sligo?

Gerry Grennan and I would have had many conversations over the years about recording an album. Some general in nature, some more particular and some that may yet bear fruit.

We discussed the many reasons not to do so, the risks involved, how the music industry has changed and the relative values of playing music vs recording it.
But at the end of it all we agreed that it was a somewhat noble aspiration for a musician or band. A legacy as such. This is me and this is what I do (or what I did at this particular period in time at least)!

So it was fantastic to see Jargon (of which Gerry is a member) release their album Midnight Moonlight last week. It’s one of those albums that deserves a quiet room and a proper start-to-finish listen and I am looking forward to doing so.

Jargon are playing the Hawk’s Well Theatre as part of Sligo Live and are strongly rumoured to be making a special appearance on the Thursday and Friday of next month’s Theme Night run!

Tour info here.

What’s New?

1. SAM PURCELL ON RIVERDANCE! Recent Theme Night Academy graduate Sam Purcell was in the drum chair for Riverdance in The Gaiety Theatre last weekend. No surprise there - this man is top class.

2. THEME NIGHTS IN CLOONACOOL: First gig of the new season - Theme Nights Unplugged in a brand new venue on 19th Sept. More here.

3. INTRODUCTION EVENING: Producer Joy Feehily and I will answer any questions you may have regarding the brand new Theme Night Academy this Thursday from 6-7pm in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. All teenagers welcome.

Finally…

Here are the lads from 1981!!

Till next time - Kieran.