Music as the vehicle…

Dear Reader - It’s Theme Night Social week!

The Big Thing

So happy to be bringing this brand new show to the Hawk’s Well Theatre this Friday. Thanks to everyone who bought a ticket - any new show always brings an element of nerves but we are also very excited to show you what we have in store.

And although the graphic says Sold Out, I have literally just got off the phone to the good folk in the Hawk’s Well Box Office and a small number of seats have become available. Get on it now! Last few tickets here.

More next week…

Where else but Sligo?

It’s all happening at the moment though - we had a fantastic weekend of Teenage Theme Nights last Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Model.

And as always - while the music is the vehicle, the real stories are about the friendships formed and personal development that is so crucial at this formative age.

I first met Alicia (TY) two years ago when she guested with us on a Theme Night gig in Roscommon. She joined our Academy this year and made the trip up to play drums on two songs on Sunday night. It was her first time and she gave the impression of being someone who was exactly where she wanted to be.

It was the first time for Conor (5th Yr) too. But he stood tall and introduced his song like a pro, didn’t let the temporary lack of sound from his guitar faze him, and by Sunday night was leading a sing-song backstage.

Ruth is also 5th Yr but was with us last year and has great stage presence. She brought incredible emotion and power to her performance of Radiohead’s Creep.

Our 6 new MCs brought an element of fun to proceedings throughout and kindly encouraged all the newbies as they got ready to perform.

And it’s always so nice to reconnect with returning graduates. Katelyn (2021) picked great songs and showed wonderful stagecraft, Conor (2019) brought smiles to the faces of Eddie and Tonto in the band as they tried to keep up with him on Chick Corea’s Spain, and on Sunday Anna Rose (2024) reminded us all of what a class act she is.

And for our Academy members it’s straight onto the next event this Thursday - where Kian Egan will lead a masterclass and share stories about his 25-year career in the music business.

What’s New?

Another Theme Night Academy Graduate - Naoise Devaney (2017) is looking for actors for a short film she is shooting early next year…

Finally…

Niamh and Seamie will be at the centre of everything we do this Friday - here they are letting loose with Steve Wickham and the band a few years ago…

Till next time - Kieran.

Proper songs!

Dear Reader - New music and news of a new Sligo venue today…

The Big Thing

But first - this weekend our Theme Night Academy season goes BIG.

We have had some fantastic Open Mic events and masterclasses so far but the highlight of the year for the teens is always the showcase events - and this weekend in The Model the first one of the year - Teenage Theme Night #36 (The Best of British) takes place over three nights.

One of our performers this weekend is Zara Alexander, who recently collaborated with us on recording an original song of hers. The video was released last night, and Zara will perform this song live for the first time since its release on the Saturday night show this weekend.

Where else but Sligo?

I met a gentleman last week who told me that the last time I played the Art Deco theatre in Ballymote (at least ten years ago now), his daughter sang with me.

So it was lovely to be able to tell him that I’m returning there (twice!) in early 2026.

This is one of the best Sligo good news stories of the last few months - that the Hawk’s Well are taking over the running of this beautiful theatre. It felt wrong that this fantastic facility was lying unused - but not for long!

Kieran Griffiths and his team are breathing new life into the place - starting with a family Christmas experience this December and then launching a new programme of events there in 2026.

And I’m delighted to be a part of it - our new intimate Theme Night Social show which debuts in the Hawk’s Well Theatre next week (so excited for this by the way!) will also play at the Art Deco Theatre on Saturday Feb 14 and Friday April 17 next year.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday) from hawkswell.com - don’t miss out!

What’s New?

OK Adele being a huge favourite among all age groups is not a new thing at all obviously. But right up there with her (in terms of popularity with our teens’ song choices this weekend) is a British singer called Olivia Dean.

And I’m really enjoying her music I must say - proper songs with great melodies, lyrics and chords. Songs that you can get your teeth into as a musician but also songs that make you feel something.
Here’s one that’s being performed a couple of times this weekend…

Finally…

We first heard Zara’s song (above) at last January’s Young Songwriters’ Showcase.
We also decided to record Zach McLoughlin’s song (below) after hearing it that same night.

And - there is more release of new original music from our Theme Night Academy to come before 2025 is out…as always you guys will hear first.

Till next time - Kieran.

Nostalgia and Serotonin

Dear Reader - a reminder first of all that Theme Night #37 (The 80s) takes place next February and tickets are on sale now.

The Big Thing

November sees an exciting month for the members of our Theme Night Academy.

Rehearsals have already begun for our first flagship event of the year - Teenage Theme Night #36 in The Model next weekend.

Some of the participants will try out their songs during tomorrow’s Open Mic session - the third of the year.

And then on Nov 20 the gentleman on the right of the below picture will follow in the footsteps of the gentleman on the left and present a masterclass on the music business and tell us some of his stories from the last 25 years.

Thanks to Kian’s Instagram for this nostalgic photo!

Where else but Sligo?

Rosses Point’s Paddy Keyes is looking after all our piano lessons in Dublin this year.

In his spare time (!) he writes songs and sells out real music venues in Dublin and more recently London.

This year we decided to include one of his songs - Serotonin - in the new edition of our Learning Piano by Ear book. Below is a sneak preview of the first line - or you can listen to the real thing here.

Go on - it will lift your spirits!

What’s New?

On Paddy’s last Teenage Theme Night performance in 2019 he was accompanied by up-and-coming pianist Nils Kavanagh. I always remember Paddy asking for a last minute key change from G (easy) to Gb (not so easy!) and Nils being unruffled.

Regular readers of this letter will know that Nils won Young Irish Jazz Musician of the year in 2022 - and returns to the Hawk’s Well Theatre on Tuesday 18th November with his trio to celebrate the launch of his first album.

Get your tickets here.

Finally…

The lads may not thank me for this (!) - but it’s brilliant to see them both forging successful careers in the music industry for themselves almost 7 years on from this performance…

Till next time - Kieran.

Announcing Theme Night #37

Dear Reader -
So we have announced the brand new Theme Night Social, told you about Theme Nights Unplugged at Christmas, but this morning it’s finally time to bring on the big one…

The Big Thing

Theme Night #37 - The 80s!
Hawk’s Well Theatre, Feb 4-7 2026.

Tickets on sale especially for you dear letter readers from 10am TODAY (Wed 29 October) from hawkswell.com

Where else but Sligo?

Speaking of October, it would usually bring around a Theme Night, and so it was nice to be reminded of the joy they can bring at a recent wedding at which I had the honour of playing at the Sligo Park Hotel.

The couple had some great song choices and asked for Dave Flynn to sing alongside me. And Dave was in great form and couldn’t resist his choirmaster instincts - it’s certainly the only wedding ceremony I’ve been at where the guests filled the room with harmonies!

And as usual you never know who you’ll bump into at these events - lovely to see Theme Night Regular Paul Maitland in top form - cheers for the pic Paul!

What’s New?

Bread, Butter, Bacon and Cabbage - this fantastic showcase of new and local original music is on again this Friday.

It was fun to revisit this blog I wrote about it in 2019 - and even better to see it returning, especially featuring three bands led by Theme Night Academy graduates - Sean Callaghan, Callum Wall and Stephen O’Dowd.
A small number of tickets left here.

Finally…

So much fun to learn this recently for the above wedding - thanks to Colin and Catriona for the nudge! What a beautiful piece of music.

Till next time - Kieran.

Incoming Christmas Tour!

Dear Reader - there’s always something exciting about announcing a series of gigs…

The Big Thing

So - would anyone fancy some uplifting Christmas music in really cool venues delivered by top class musicians?!?!

Book it now and have a treat in the bank to which you can look forward later in the year...

Tickets for all gigs on sale NOW - all details here.

**Except the 21 Dec date in the brand new Hawk’s Well Theatre Studio - that gig goes on sale tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am.

Where else but Sligo?

We’re into Week 6 of our piano tuition term already.

And even since we started in mid-September so much has happened.
- 3 new songs added to the curriculum
- Round 1 of our series of group workshops with adults, teenagers and children
- 3 new teachers trained up and spreading the magic of music to many happy students

But the best part of it all for me was sitting in with each of our teachers for a few lessons at a time. Each of us teaching and also observing so we could learn from each other.

Personally I learned so much, but it also was so nice to see not only the connection between the teachers and their students, but the care each teacher put into their lesson (even if some were nervous with me watching)!

A well-deserved break for all next week and then for many it’s straight into Christmas songs!

What’s New?

A big week for members of our Theme Night Academy as on Thursday they will attend a masterclass delivered by the one and only Scruffy Duffy!

Scruffy is a master entertainer and knows how to work a room and connect with an audience like no-one I have ever seen.
I can’t wait to see how he passes on some of this knowledge to our teenagers as part of our Theme Night Academy programme this Thursday,

Finally…

One of the new songs we added to our curriculum - here’s a lesser-known version.

Till next time - Kieran.

A draw!

Dear Reader - It was an emotional day on Sunday! Until it wasn’t…

The Big Thing

First though I’ll let this beautiful Rory Maitland picture do the talking.

Apart from to say that we have two songs from January’s Young Songwriters’ Showcase ready for release soon - from talented young musicians Sam Regan and Zara Alexander (pictured below).

Where else but Sligo?

A feckin’ draw.

Yes - it’s county final time of year again and we are lucky at the moment in Coolera-Strandhill to have mens and ladies teams who have contested county finals in each of the last three years.

And while I’ve written in these pages before about winning and losing these finals, I’ve never touched on the strangeness of a draw.
Which is what happened on Sunday.

People talk about an anti-climax. But there’s more to it than that.

One minute you’re caught up in an event that stirs emotions like nothing else. You’re pacing. Eyes either on your watch or you’re trying to follow even half of the madness of what’s happening on the pitch and the sideline.
You’re not fully in control of your body or your mind. But you’re living.

The next it’s over and all of a sudden the emotions die. You don’t know how to feel.
All week you have been thinking about what it would be like to win. Or lose. And now it’s neither. Just a big nothing.
You’re facing into two more weeks of waiting. Speculating. Imagining.
And this is just the supporters.

The players will have taken days off work in the hope of extended celebrations.
Days in which now they would like nothing more than to be at work. To pass the time between training sessions. When they can actually do something about the next result.

Because this one is over. Done. Written into history. As a feckin’ draw.
At least if you lost you’d have some closure.

But then the days pass by and the excitement returns. At least we didn’t lose!
Great to have another crack at it.

And the draw? Just something else that was.

What’s New?

Last month Sligo Jazz won the prestigious JAZZ FORWARD award from the renowned All About Jazz website.

In their words, it honours Innovation, Discovery & Impact In Jazz globally.
It’s given to awardees who exemplify key trends in jazz today: global collaboration, digital innovation, educational inclusion, and community-rooted sustainability.
They are setting new standards for how jazz is taught, shared, streamed, and experienced.

Another feather in the cap of this amazing project!

Finally…

Here’s Pro Murray’s White Foyer - our featured song from the 2023 Young Songwriters’ Showcase.

Till next time - Kieran.

The wooliest céilí around…

Dear Reader - you know where we’re going today!

The Big Thing

Yes - we returned to the Cloonacool Sheep Festival a few weeks ago, armed this time with Seamie O’Dowd’s song written especially for it!

I’m sure some of you were there - Theme Night #35 a year ago this week actually - when we sent Seamie off-stage for a while armed with nothing but his guitar and a few prompts from the audience. He came back an hour later with a fully complete hilarious waltz and it was so much fun to perform it for the first time since then on our return to Cloonacool last month.

Once again - hats off to everyone involved in this festival.
It’s one of my favourite gigs of the last few years - we always leave with a warm feeling of time well spent.

Where else but Sligo?

I think I was first in The CRIB in 2012 conducting auditions for West Side Story with Karen Gordon and Áine Gilmore.

Various projects have brought me back there over the years but in 2025 we must have run a dozen events in there by now with the Theme Night Academy.
And it is a wonderful facility.

In May 2023 Noah Cavaliero, the tallest bass player I have ever met, played his last Teenage Theme Night show. So when I was introduced to an equally tall Jack Cavaliero earlier this year, I figured the lads must be brothers.

And Jack runs a great show in there. You get the feeling that the place is in really good hands and the wonderful plans they have for the venue and their youth-led programmes will actually happen.

And no matter whether we are running open mics, gigs or masterclasses, the CRIB has been a home away from home for us this year, so long may it last!

What’s New?

Sam Purcell and Clada have had some year!

It was our pleasure to feature them as Visiting Artists last February on Theme Night #36. Since they have toured extensively in the US and UK, gigged all around Ireland and most recently played in front of 74,000 people as part of the in-game entertainment during the recent NFL match in Croke Park.

And - they’re back in the Hawk’s Well this Thursday with their own show!
Hope to see lots of you there.

Finally…

A reminder of what we got up to with Clada when they were with us in Feb…

Till next time - Kieran.

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.