Monday nights are back!

Dear Reader –

A week of hope for our industry and our country. I was in Blacklion at the weekend and was driving up to the village. Suddenly I realised that I had some time to myself and the door of Frank Eddie’s pub was open. I had the most wonderful half hour at the bar accompanied only by what you see in the picture below.

How about you? Please feel free to send on any nice moments you had since the big announcement last Friday.

All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

OK - as promised, here are some details on Adult piano classes. Starting very soon. I have had some big teaching aha moments in the last few weeks and have tailored my adult programme accordingly. So - if you’re looking to play piano in a natural and independent way, while learning to hear and understand music as the pros do, I would love to help you. Here’s what I can offer…

- A clearly structured, step-by-step approach to learning the piano by ear. Suitable for all levels (including beginners).

- Includes a constantly updating library of 100+ songs, ear training challenges, finger exercises and theory courses.

- A workbook and access to online videos.

- Monthly meet-ups with myself and other students with opportunity to learn, ask questions and maybe even play for each other.

- Access to an online community Facebook Group.

- 1-1 lessons not included but an optional extra.

Click here for more details.

Where else but Sligo?

On Monday March 9th 2020, I packed up the gear and walked out of Connolly’s after a great gig with Seamie (below, left), John Joe Kelly and Cathal Roche. We knew things were going to get a bit hairy for a while, but not one of us thought it might be the guts of two years before we got back.

But it was. More than 22 months of Monday nights at home. So when Paul O’Donnell rang me last Friday to ask us to start up the gig again, I was excited. Hugely so. Looking forward to my fingers and ears heading once again to their weekly Seamie workout. To pints of Miwadi Orange and packets of Bacon Fries. To Dirty Old Town, Bumble Boogie and the Lower East SideStep. To seeing Vanessa, Stuey and Declan (x2) in their regular spots at the bar. To John the Map and Brian McDonagh. Rita and Fred. Godfrey’s service.

And it turned out to be just as magnificent as I hoped. I always love playing with Gerry (middle, below). We got a warm round of applause when we walked in and plenty more after each song. Another step on the road back. We surprised ourselves with how much we remembered and how much it took out of us.

It reminded me of what they say about old friends however - even if you haven’t been in touch for a while you can quickly pick up where you left off. And it felt like that last night - our good buddy the Monday Connolly’s gig. And as Seamie said at the end ‘I think I can say fairly confidently that we’ll see ye next week’.

What’s New?

1. UPCOMING THEME NIGHTS: It’s a huge relief to be able to plan again, and so in the next month I look forward to announcing details of Theme Night #29 and Teenage Theme Night #25. Subscribers to this letter will hear this news first, as well as have an opportunity to buy tickets before anyone else. If you’re not already subscribed, you can do so here.

2. WORDLE: Possibly late to the party here but this is a great simple daily puzzle to exercise the mind.

3. BOOK RECS: Check this out. Notes and ratings on over 300 books from one of my favourite authors.
   

Finally…

A regular Monday night tune of ours…forgot about it last night but no doubt we’ll play it in the weeks to come!

Till next time - Kieran.

Two drifters, off to see the world...

Dear Reader –

Johnny Mercer was right - there’s such a lot of world to see. Today’s letter is dedicated to some of the great people who have helped me to see it.

All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Much-loved musician and Theme Night favourite Georgie Gorman was diagnosed with throat cancer last year.

He spoke to Niall Delaney on Ocean FM last week about what the last few months has been like for him. It’s great to once again hear Georgie tell stories as only he can and the interview is certainly worth a listen.

Here he is on top form in ‘Victor Street’ in 2019. It may be raining Georgie, but there’s a rainbow above you.

Where else but Sligo?

“And how did you two young Sligo gentlemen come across these ladies”? Gently implying that we were doing well for ourselves. One was his daughter after all.

But I also sensed a hint of pride. Because he, the epitome of a gentleman, was from Sligo too, and once upon a time had also come to Dublin as a young man and met a young Dublin lady. And probably thought he was doing well for himself.

And my how he did. But not just for himself. In fact most of the good he did was for others. He brought his big mind and his bigger ideas to the big city, and made the people there think a bit more. And we were all better off for having met him.

Fergus Armstrong RIP.

What’s New?

1. THE DYNASTY: Chapter 2 of Jeff Benedict’s brilliant sports/business book contains one of the best love stories I have ever read. It’s from the early 1960s, and it’s true. Here’s a summary.

   • Boy spots girl in Boston cafe. Finds out her name and where she goes to college.

   • Boy tracks girl down in college library and asks her out. Tonight.

   • Girl has boyfriend. She is going out with him tonight.

   • Boy is persuasive and girl makes excuse to boyfriend.

   • Boy and girl have pizza and talk for hours.

   • Before returning to her dorm, girl asks boy to marry her.

   • Boy is speechless, but eventually says yes, and gives her his fraternity pin until he can get the money together for an engagement ring. They have a long and happy life together.

2. TEACHERS TEACHING TEACHERS: For any teachers out there, this short podcast contains a moving story of the effect we can have.

3. ADULT PIANO CLASSES/MUSIC CLUB: These will kick off in the first week of February. Full details in next week’s letter. In-person and online. If you would like to express your interest all you have to do is reply to this email. 

Finally…

After hearing it on the car radio on their first date, it is no surprise that Robert Kraft and Myra Hiatt danced to Moon River on their wedding day in 1963. They weren’t to know that over 50 years later Jacob Collier (and many more) would produce this beautiful arrangement.

Till next time - Kieran.

Johnny Saucepan - anyone for grub??

Dear Reader –

For anyone looking to make great things in their home town, you need look no further than this man for inspiration. More chef stories below, but first, some news…

The Big Thing

Adult piano classes and the second session of last term’s popular music club will start very soon. I’m looking for expressions of interest for both classes now - please reply to this email if you would like to hear more about either.

And…thanks for your response to last week’s letter - all after-school teaching slots bar ONE are now gone. Early Wednesday afternoon suit anyone?

Where else but Sligo?

I was in The Venue one evening recently with some friends. We were trying to figure out what to eat and Susie behind the bar told us that when it came to the lamb curry, she couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Her exact words.

So the three of us ordered it.

When you use words like Susie did to describe something, you put your neck on the line. She didn’t say ‘you should try it’, or ‘I enjoyed it for my lunch earlier’. She said ‘I couldn’t recommend this highly enough’. Which means if we don’t like it, we won’t trust her word again. Thankfully we did, and we will. A special mention to chef Ash too.

One more thought - wouldn’t it be great to hear someone use those words about something you made?

What’s New?

1. YOUR RESOLUTIONS: How are they going? I found this interesting framework on goal-setting recently.

2. GET BACK: I couldn’t recommend this highly enough. The best 15 minutes of analysis I have heard on Peter Jackson’s epic Beatles documentary is here.

3. ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE: I was reminded of this book recently when a friend told me of his upcoming holiday to Montana and the Dakotas. I read it twenty years ago and loved it. Anyone else read it? Let me know if so.

Finally…

Continuing this week’s foodie theme, I was reminded of this ridiculously fast food song. Local band Me and The Lads (Sinéad Dave and Luke) do a great version. See can you make sense of it…!

Till next time - Kieran.

The best time of the year...

Dear Reader –

I love January! An opportunity to reset. The year stretching out ahead of us, full of possibility…

*All hyperlinks in bold. Below image by Mark Basarab on Unsplash.

The Big Thing

The internet and newspapers this time of year are full of the subject of New Years Resolutions. The best way to achieve your goals. How to be smarter with your money. Follow this routine and lose weight. Some worthwhile, others not so much, and sometimes difficult to tell the difference.

Here’s the best thing I read in this regard. I found it on Zain Kahn’s Twitter feed. It’s a summary of Yale’s most popular course in it’s 320-year history. How to live a happier life.

Where else but Sligo?

I was lucky to spend most of 2021 in Sligo. For my last Sligo Weekender Column of the year I wrote about a few of my favourite things from the last 12 months.

I forgot to include the below song though! Such fun we had writing and recording it.

You can read the column here.

What’s New?

1. PIANO LESSONS: One job for this week is to finalise my teaching timetable for the new term (staring this month). A very small number of slots are still available for students aged 7-18. Reply to this email or contact me on 087-2390710 if you are interested. Info on adult classes to come.

2. GET BACK: I mentioned it in the article in the Where Else But Sligo Section, but I am loving Get Back at the moment. Amazing historic footage. I keep pinching myself to check it’s real. Available on Disney Plus.

3. THEME NIGHT VIDS: All theme night #28 vids are now uploaded to YouTube. Here is a link to the playlist. 34 vids in total!

Finally…

I was talking to a former student this morning about Keith Jarrett’s Koln Concert. Well known music YouTuber Rick Beato goes into detail on two minutes of the legendary recording below.

And…if you’re in the mood, you can listen to the full concert on Spotify here.

Till next time - Kieran.