Dear Reader - The only Theme Night of 2025 starts tomorrow…
The Big Thing
And we’re at the stage of preparations where I find it difficult to get any perspective on the show. In show week you must trust in the vision that you and your team have crafted, and move from job to job in rehearsals in the effort to realise it.
Usually l emerge from this at around 7pm on Wednesday and switch from rehearsal mode to show mode and we present to you the results of our work.
And then you guys get to decide how you feel about it.
So here we are - for the 36th time. And once again I’m hopeful. And nervous.
Trusting. And excited!
Looking forward to seeing lots of you there.
Last few tickets (for Wednesday only) here.
Where else but Sligo?
Last Wednesday we launched the Theme Night Academy.
We had a lovely gathering in the GlassHouse Hotel. The room was full of people who have been a part of the Teenage Theme Nights over the last 10 years and it was nice to celebrate how far we have come in the company of our friends and supporters.
Our special guests for the evening were Shane and Gillian Filan, and it was also great to see some graduates back doing their thing.
Joe Gorman hosted the event for us, Paddy Keyes sang one of his recent releases, and producer of the Academy’s programme Joy Feehily told the room of the thought and intention behind it all.
The evening was packed with music and conversation - one highlight being a new version of Swear It Again from three current members of the Academy - Amber, Sarah and Zach.
It was so nice to have the opportunity to tell everyone of our plans for the future - and indeed we are looking forward to it as we continue to nurture the development of teenagers through music performance and education.
What’s New?
NEW SLIGO ROVERS ANTHEM: We recorded this the other day - and we are very much looking forward to launching it for the upcoming season in the Showgrounds. It will be exclusively premiered on Theme Night #36 this week.
STAKEKNIFE: Once again Mark Horgan has told a dark story from past days in Ireland through the lens of those most affected by it. I listened to the final episode yesterday, and it gripped me from start to finish. Find it here.
BENSON BOONE AT THE GRAMMYS: Costume (ahem!) changes, acrobatics, light show - this performance has it all!
Finally…
Michael Rooney is one of our special guests on Theme Night #36.
This is his tune, but we didn’t get to play it together on this occasion - am so excited about doing so this week.
Till next time - Kieran.
