Dear Reader –
Our hopes of a return to live music have been dashed many times in the last 18 months. Today will tell if our time is finally coming again.
*All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
I wrote last week about one particular stand-out moment for me when learning the piano by ear as a teenager. But playing the piano can be lonely, and so the other big moment for me as a young musician however was discovering the joy and fun the is possible when playing with others. There’s nothing like it, and it’s something we have all missed so much over the last 18 months.
So I’m delighted to announce the formation of a new music club starting this autumn. If you are an adult and sing, play piano or indeed any other instrument, and are looking for like-minded people and a forum in which to play regularly, well then this will be for you.
I don’t have all the details for now, I’m waiting to hear what might be possible in the coming weeks, but here’s what I do know.
We will meet in some capacity one evening each month.
We will learn together about music and look into what makes the songs you like so great.
We will make music together in various combinations and perform for each other.
If you think this might be for you, please let me know and express your interest by sending an email to me at kieran@kieranquinn.ie in order that I can get planning. I hope to have full details in next week’s letter.
Where else but Sligo?
Trying to ‘make it’ is one of the most difficult things you can do as a musician. There are lots of ways in which you can ‘make it’ of course, and everyone’s definition of success is different. However, sticking with your dream of making a career as a touring artist/band with your own music is not easy, and I always admire anyone who does so.
There have been many great examples of Sligo bands doing this in the past. Most notably (in my memory) Indian, Those Nervous Animals, Rackhouse Pilfer, Oddsocks, Old Hannah, to name a few. The standard-bearers locally in this regard at the moment however are Moxie - a Sligo/Limerick collaboration. Doggedly pursuing innovation and excellence, they have undergone changes in line-up and musical direction in pursuit of their vision - going beyond their traditional roots and letting their music be a reflection of the times we live in.
Their new album, The Dawn of Motion is out this Friday 3rd September. You can pre-save it here, or watch the video for the second single from it below.
What’s New?
GIG NEWS! We have been promised a roadmap on the return of live events today. Indeed by the time you read this letter it may already have been announced. If the news is positive I hope to put on a show in the Hawk’s Well Theatre on Saturday September 18th, as well as some Teenage Theme Nights on Sept 15th and 16th.
As a reader of this letter, you will get first news on tickets, and there may well be a special letter with this news before the end of the week, so keep an eye on your inbox.
I have a strange affection for a section of new road, and so yesterday evening I very much enjoyed my spin on the new N4 between Collooney and Castlebaldwin. Smooth and shiny!
Last week’s letter contained two puzzles. Click on the hyperlink and scroll down to the bottom of it if you want to attempt them before reading the answers (as promised) below. Thanks to all the readers of the letter who responded - you are a smart bunch!
So - the answer to Puzzle 1 is option 1. The second option is a subset of the first, so cannot be more likely. And the Answer to Puzzle 2 is that the coin is obviously a forgery. Nobody in 544 BC knew that it was 544 BC.
Finally…
A friend sent me this during the week and it’s great! Levon Helm in The Ryman with what looks like their equivalent of a theme night finale. We’re daring to hope once again…
Till next time - Kieran.
