Dear Reader –
It’s all things Freedom today, as the preparations for Theme Night #29 begin in earnest.
All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
Look at that page below. Full of possibility. Ready for ideas. I love the thought of it filling up and forming the basis of what we’re aiming to make our best show yet.
If you have any ideas - for songs, performers, anything at all, please hit reply to this email and send them on. Thanks!
Where else but Sligo?
Speaking of freedom, it’s been a while since I last spent ten consecutive days outside of Sligo, but I just did, and returned on Saturday.
And while I love opening my world up for a while, I count myself lucky that I always look forward to coming home too. There are always three big moments on that journey - crossing the county boundary at The Curlews, driving under Ballydrehid Bridge to enter our parish, and then the turn into our house. Home.
Those feelings of rejuvenation, of excitement, of comfort - it’s easy to take them for granted, but they form the basis of so much of how I live my life. And in today’s world where millions of people are being forced to abandon their homes, it’s worth taking a moment to be thankful.
What’s New?
FREEDOM QUOTES: Kris Kristofferson famously described it as ‘just another word for nothing left to lose’. Then I found this description in a book this morning - ‘freedom is the ability to suck at something without caring’. Any other examples? Again please reply to this email and send them on!
SANDY KELLY: This time last year we published our interview with Sandy Kelly on our podcast In The Lamplight. It remains one of my favourite episodes. What a story, what a storyteller.
FREEDOM SONGS: Here’s how this idea has been interpreted recently by Pharell Williams, Jon Batiste, and Beyonce. Will they make it onto the Theme Night #29 setlist - time will tell!
Finally…
It’s hard to beat this one however…because when I’m asked about my favourite piano player, I always find it hard to look beyond this man. Touch, technique, taste, he had it all. Skip to the solo at 2:05 and see what I mean. Or just watch the whole performance - the climax to a 1964 live show in Denmark.
It’s called Hymn to Freedom - Oscar Peterson’s sole original composition on his classic 1962 album Night Train.
Till next time - Kieran.
