Holidays!

Dear Reader –

I’ve hardly been home since I wrote last week’s letter to you. My wife was determined that we would get away for a few days as soon as it was possible again, so we’re just back from a long weekend in Cork.

And she was dead right. it was great. That wonderful feeling of being on holidays again. And since that was pretty much the only, and hence the big thing for me this week, I’ll get stuck into it straight away.

*All hyperlinks, as always, in bold.

The Big Thing

Specifically 5 of my favourite things about holidays.

1. Relaxing. When I was younger, I used to try and cram as much as possible into a holiday, and hence always come back from that holiday thinking I needed another holiday to recover from it. Now it’s different. If I don’t come back in better shape than when I left, it’s not worth it.

2. When you get the balance between plans and no plans just right.

3. The realisation that everyone doesn’t always do things like we do them. Meeting new people. Opening your mind.

4. The calming effect of water. A holiday is pretty much always better if it’s near water.

5. Getting home.

Where else but Sligo?

But Sligo followed us on the trip. In a lovely way I must say.

I remember enjoying a story told to me a few years ago by ex-Teenage Theme Nighter Micheál Kearney. He filled me in about an audition he had in the drama society in Maynooth University. The minute he walked into the room, the director recognised Micheál and told him so immediately. “Hey - aren’t you the guy who sang ‘Never Had a Friend Like Me’ on the Teenage Theme Night a couple of months ago”?

And so when the young man serving us breakfast this weekend told me that he had heard all about the Teenage Theme Nights from another ex-participant he had met at college in Dublin this year, I was once again very pleasantly surprised and he went straight to the top of the list for a tip!

Cork people have a (sometimes bad) name for not being shy about telling you how proud they are of where they’re from. But is that a bad thing?

I’m not sure - I always love the feeling of hearing Sligo being spoken about well by non-Sligonians, and I look forward to continuing to bring you all things I love about this place in this section of the letter, while always being mindful of point 3 above…

What’s New?

1. Firstly an update on the theme night album. Thanks to everyone who contacted me regarding it. The response was overwhelming and I will get back to everyone this week with a plan for what happens next. But there’s lots more to do too. We’re recording the majority of the album before the end of June, so this week I’ll be deciding on a track listing, who I will ask to sing what, what arrangements to use etc. I’ll keep you in the loop as we go.

2. It’s easier than ever to get distracted these days. By emails, social media, notifications on your phone. And it can prevent us from being able to concentrate on the task at hand in any meaningful way. I enjoy researching how the mind works in this way, specifically in regard to being able to focus more sharply and for longer, and so I finished this book on holidays and got a lot from it. This is another good one on a similar topic I read recently.

3. Season 2 of our In The Lamplight podcast ended with a bang last week. Featured guests were Johnny Gallagher and The Boxty Band and it’s been a while since I experienced intensity like it on a stage. See for yourself below (21:55 for some good craic between Johnny and I), and while you’re at it why not have a listen back to any of our 28 episodes so far here - or wherever you get your podcasts.

Finally…

A holiday wouldn’t be a holiday without a soundtrack. Here’s one we played over and over again on the long journey home yesterday.

Till next time,

Kieran.

Promise, potential, possibilities...

Dear Reader –

‘I can’t believe I’m typing this email’.

Not me, but thus went the opening line of one reply I got in relation to the open call I made in last week’s letter. One of many, it must be said, and each one was very much appreciated.

More below, but first I wanted to say thanks for opening my letter this week.

Hyperlinks, as always, will be in bold.

The Big Thing

But that was the big thing this week. The replies I got from many of you.

I loved the courage shown by some in taking this step, and the fearlessness of others. Many of you told me you haven’t sung properly for years, but would love the opportunity to get back into it. The common thread was the recognition of the importance singing plays in our lives, and how much we all have missed out by not being able to do so for the last year and more.

The closing date for applications is next Monday June 7. More in the What’s New section below for anyone still thinking about it.

And the thing to remember is that it’s not all about getting to sing on the album. There just isn’t room for everyone to do that. But so much more can happen. I always get a thrill when I sit at the piano and someone new walks into the room. The not knowing what’s going to happen next. The joy of making music again with someone else. The promise, the potential, the possibility. Who knows where this will lead?

Where else but Sligo?

Luckily for me, I got to feel all those things yesterday. I had received a phone call from a young man I had never met, who wanted me to accompany him on some Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin/Michael Bublé type stuff. He was recording a gig for some US Navy July 4th celebrations and needed a pianist.

So I met him in a large room with high ceilings, an old dog, and a baby grand. And the hour flew by, the music and his charisma and energy filling the room. The dog wagged his tail every so often as if to give his approval, which was nice compared to than the whines my fella lets out whenever I play something at home.

But it wasn’t just the dog. The two of us had such fun putting the arrangements together. I was so impressed with the professionalism of this young man and his ability to articulate what he wanted from an accompanist. And I loved his drive and determination to do it right, and to improve.

I left on a high, marvelling once again at Sligo, and its ability to keep surprising us with new talent, in the most unexpected of places.

What’s New?

1. So, as mentioned above, June 7th is the closing date for anyone who would like to be considered as a featured guest on our debut Theme Night album. Send an email to kieran@kieranquinn.ie if you’re interested. You’ll have to put your own twist on a song that has been sung at a theme night before. I don’t have a list of every song, but you’ll get an idea from the list of themes at the bottom of this page. I’ll help you along the way. For now, all I need is an expression of interest. I’ll be in touch after the closing date about the rest.

2. Summer in Dublin was a favourite on pianowithkieran.com this year. If you missed it, here’s a video teaching you how to play the melody. And here are 6 questions on the same song which will test your musical ear. Go on - it’s the time of year to learn it!

3. You have read above about the buzz I often get from working with singers. The opening scene of this new video captures that brilliantly. From TemperHound Productions and Corcra.

Finally…

It’s Jamie Callaghan’s birthday today. I had the same reaction as I described in the Where Else But Sligo section when I first heard Jamie sing. You don’t forget these things.

Like when Kelan Walsh walked onto the Hawk’s Well stage and played the iconic Sam Butera sax solo on Just a Gigolo note for note. Or when Jane Tansey and Maev Gallagher came to rehearsals for Theme Night #12 and showed us all how backing vocals should be sung. Or when Eddie Fitzpatrick exploded onto the Teenage Theme Night stage in a blaze of showmanship and attention to detail.

And none of these moments would have happened if these people didn’t say yes to an opportunity.

So go on, get in touch.

In the meantime put yourself in a good mood with some more Sam Butera on this incredible Louis Prima recording. One of the songs we enjoyed rehearsing yesterday.

Till next time,

Kieran.

Counting Kangaroos

Dear Reader –

It’s great to be writing to you. This is the first official edition of ‘The Piano Has Been Thinking’, my weekly letter to you which will arrive in your inbox every Tuesday at lunchtime.

It will use the same format each week. I’ll start with the ‘big thing’ I’d like to share with you, follow that with an idea, a story, or maybe a character from my hometown of Sligo, and finish with a brief description of three new things I feel might brighten your week.

I’ll always share a piece of music with you at the end too, and piece this all together into what is hopefully a coherent and valuable letter for you.

Oh and hyperlinks will be in bold.

So let’s get stuck in…

The Big Thing

OK this really is a big thing. I’ve been saving it for this first letter. Because I’m really excited to let you know, before anyone else does, that our debut Theme Night album will be released later this year.

AND – I’d like you to be a part of it. That’s right – you right there reading this. Let me explain.

Any of you who have been to a theme night over the years will know that it’s always a tradition on each show to feature someone who has never been part of a theme night before. And this album will be no different.

So – if you are from or have a strong connection with Sligo, have never been involved in a theme night, and would like to sing or play on this album, get in touch. Pick a song that has been performed at any theme night since 2011 (list at the bottom of this page), come up with an idea for how you’ll interpret it (*important), and get in touch. Go on, what’s the worst that can happen?! Email kieran@kieranquinn.ie before June 7.

For some inspiration, here’s the fearless performance of Mabel Chah, a first-timer on the last live theme night back in February 2020.

Where else but Sligo?

In 1998, a month after I finished my Leaving Cert, I headed to Australia for a year. I initially wanted to head to college with all my friends, but my parents thankfully convinced me I would be crazy to pass this opportunity up, and it was one of the most fun and most important years of my life.

I’ll probably talk about it again at some stage in a future letter, but the reason I bring it up today is that it has indirectly led to the title of this section of the letter.

There was a TV advertising campaign run by the Queensland state tourist board, complete with a jingle at the end with the slogan ‘Where Else But Queensland’? You can hear it at the end of one such ad here if you’re interested.

But my love for my home place must have shone through even at that young age. One man who shared the year with me and remains a great friend to this day (Shane, pictured below with 18 yr-old me on the top of Ayers Rock), replaced the word ‘Queensland’ with ‘Sligo’ and we spent the year with this jingle stuck in our heads, so much so that I remember it more than 20 years later.

So in this spirit, I’ll be showing you exactly what makes Sligo so special in the coming weeks.

What’s New?

1. (Another) new date for our return to Vicar St - really hoping we get to fulfil this one! Thursday Feb 17th 2022. More here.

2. Cathy Jordan was our guest on In The Lamplight last week. She was entertaining as always, and especially interesting on the subject of how she connects with a live audience.

3. Congrats to Sligo ladies Corcra on the release of their debut single. It was one of those projects you didn’t want to end, so thanks to Rory at TemperHound for asking me to come on board.

Finally…

Going back to that year in Australia, we spent a lot of time on buses. Especially that trip to Ayers Rock and beyond. 72 hours on a Greyhound bus to get back from Darwin to Sydney. A lot of time to think.

I had my walkman and cassette collection on the trip with me, and I listened to one song over and over again. It summed the whole thing up for me. Paul Simon’s America. The country may have been different, but the vastness of the land, the bus company (!) and the things you’d do to pass the time were the same.

“Laughing on the bus, playing games with the faces”. Counting kangaroos.

Because there was wonder to be found everywhere. If you looked for it.

Which was easy as a wide-eyed 18 year-old a long way from home. Not so easy when you get a bit older and a pandemic means you haven’t seen much new for over a year. But it’s still there, and hopefully we can help each other see it over the coming weeks and months.

Thanks for reading today.

And go on, contact me about the theme night album!

Kieran.