Dear Reader -
An incredible story about Sting (the actual Sting!) below, but first…
Here’s our last Theme Nights video of the current season. Our 36th (!) video since last October - and this one features Theme Nights producer Joy Feehily stepping out in front of the camera for once. Also featuring Beezies (Anna, Ellie and Nicole) who sang this gorgeous version of Linger on our channel earlier in the year.
A big thanks to Joy and the other members of the crew - James McManus, Luke Devaney and Rory Maitland - who worked so hard to get this project off the ground over the last 18 months or so.
You can check out all 36 videos here, and I’ll also be presenting some highlights below…
The Big Thing
Clare Island’s Niall McCabe was one of our visiting artists on Theme Night #33 in February. He sang Paul Simon’s Only Living Boy in New York and also Sting’s Roxanne.
So it was a lovely full circle moment when his manager, Sligo’s Colin Gillen, rang me last Wednesday morning to tell me that one of these legendary artists had asked Niall if he could meet him the previous night (see pic below).
It’s a great story - and an inspirational one for any artist involved in the Theme Nights or elsewhere. Sting had heard Niall doing a cover of one of his tunes and also some of his own songs, loved what he heard and invited himself and Colin to his gig in Cork last Tuesday.
I was delighted for Niall and Colin - two gentlemen - and man do they work hard so they deserve a moment like this. Niall is a fantastic musician and songwriter too. He and I recorded this version of The Island - one of our most popular videos and one of my favourite moments from the year.
And…Niall is back in the Hawk’s Well Theatre this November with a solo show. Still some tickets left here.
Where else but Sligo?
We recorded in many venues over the course of the year…and I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who helped us out in this regard.
Hawk’s Well Theatre, Rory’s shed, Castle Dargan, Sligo Folk Park, Robbie Fitzpatrick’s office, The Abbey Arts Centre Ballyshannon, our sitting room, Kilmacowen Hall, Glencar Lake, The Ox Mountains, Streedagh Beach, Lillies, Tapa Gym, The Model, and of course Vicar St.
We were also in McLynn’s a few times during the year - Darragh and the gang were great to us - and I love how well the place looks in this video…
What’s New?
OUR MOST WATCHED VIDEO: From Feb 2024.
WHEN WE TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT: From Nov 2023.
MY FAVOURITE NEW SONG: From May 2024.
Finally…
This is the first video we produced - released in October 2023 - and still one of my favourites.
Till next time - Kieran.
