Up Our Side!

Dear Reader –

We spotted three Galway GAA fans on the pitch in the AVIVA stadium last Saturday. They had just crossed the city from Croke Park where they had watched their team qualify for an All-Ireland final for the first time in over 20 years. Now they were letting loose to the Sugababes set and Westlife were still to come. Does life get any better, I wondered?

More Westlife and All-Ireland semi-final action in today’s letter…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

But first…later today I’m looking forward to calling into Seán and Eamon in Tiger Print to lay out the 3rd Edition of my piano tuition book.

It’s an 8-Level step-by-step approach to playing the piano by ear - suitable for children and adults who want to learn to play the piano in this way.

Every year I learn more about what students want and need from this book, and so this year it will include a greater choice of songs, bite-size ear training puzzles, my latest attempt to make scales interesting (!) and for the first time - practice tips.

I will be taking on new students of all ages this September - more details to follow here and on my social media later in the month.

Where else but Sligo?

So - we saw Westlife last Saturday in the AVIVA stadium in Dublin, and what a night it was.

The lads leave nothing to chance, and invest hugely in the production of all elements of their show.

They seem to be constantly working at their set too, and produced at least two new medleys, and a great fresh arrangement of World of Our Own, complete with segue into Beyonce’s Crazy in Love.

They were obviously thrilled to be back out performing live. They were so grateful to their fans for giving them the opportunity to do what they love, and they marvelled several times about the now 23-year journey they have been on together.

And it was impossible not to get swept up in the whole thing. Local businessman and fan of all things Sligo Eamonn Cunningham was sitting behind me and as the night reached its climax he turned to me, clenched his fist and uttered the famous Sligo words ‘Up Our Side’!

We may not have a team in the All-Ireland Final (this year anyway) but in ways this was the same. Part of the joy of the night was the music and the show, but undeniably part of it too was cheering on three local lads who have conquered the pop music world yet managed to keep their feet on the ground.

I have shared this blog before - but it’s so good - on bands who stay together. There’s a magic about it.

What’s New?

1. KIAN EGAN INTERVIEW: Not new but certainly worth a listen. From late last year - Kian joined us on In The Lamplight and spoke honestly about the early days of the band, how they plan these massive stadium shows and why he chose to settle in Sligo.

2. KERRY v DUBLIN: My friends at Second Captains produced this evocative video of that free-kick which won the game for Kerry last Sunday. Watch here via Twitter. Also available on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

3. SLIGO JAZZ 2022: Starts this day next week! Browse or download the programme here.

Finally…

One of my Sligo Jazz favourites from years gone by - Liane Carroll and Meilana Gillard from 2018.

Till next time - Kieran.

Golden Time

Dear Reader –

I’m back on Irish soil and ready for the summer!

Some exciting announcements in this week’s letter, but first one more holiday snap for you all (probably for me actually as I look out onto grey skies)!

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

One more holiday story too…please indulge me.

Just before we left to come home I had an amazing couple of hours.

I had read a book called The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle a good few years ago. It was one of the first books that drove home the message of how the right type of work and practice can trump talent any day. A parent of one of my students gave it to me at our end-of-year concert a few weeks ago – she thought I might like it.

Anyway I brought it on holidays in case the mood took me, which it didn’t, until 3pm on our last day. We were due to check out at 5 and I was out for a walk when for some reason the thought entered my head that it might be a good time to have a look at this book before we left for home.

And boom! Two amazing hours flicking through the book and dozens of ideas about how to be a better teacher flying back from it into my head and onto a (now) well-protected sheet of paper. I think I could feel my mind was ready to go, which is why something in my unconscious told me to read this book.

I call it golden time - when the mind has rested, been coiled up for a while, and all of a sudden bursts into action again.

So the new teaching term is now sorted ideas-wise anyway – I look forward to working on them over the next few months, and to telling you all about what’s going to be happening.

Where else but Sligo?

It’s the year of the comeback. “For the first time in three years, X is back”.

And it’s great to see it.

The latest to announce is the Sligo Summer Festival. And we were thrilled to be asked back to our usual Thursday night slot.

We have a huge band, a brilliant line-up of singers, and a full set of Summer Anthems coming your way. Also featuring supporting acts exclusively drawn from Teenage Theme Night graduates. More details in the coming weeks.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT #30 (MUSICALS): I had a look this morning and there aren’t many tickets left for these shows. Thankyou to you all for the huge response to the announcement. And if you’re on the fence it might be time to make your mind up! Details here.

2. JUST LIKE A MOVIE: Current TY and Teenage Theme Nighter Pro Murray released his first single recently. It’s the song he performed at our Young Songwriter’s Showcase earlier this year. It’s called Just Like a Movie and it’s great! Listen here.

3. MEASURING FESTIVAL CROWDS: I heard of a great hack this morning. When event organisers are measuring crowds, they look for waists, shoulders and heads. They have measured the space and know if they can see people’s waists that the size of the crowd is X. If they can see shoulders it’s bigger and if all they can see if heads then it’s packed.

Finally…

So what size crowd is it when all you can see is arms?! This is an iconic performance of a great song. Thanks Micky Downs for playing it this morning!

Till next time - Kieran.

Holidays (Part 2)

Dear Reader –

The gears are grinding slowly to a halt as we get into the second week of our holidays. Nevertheless I tried my best to crank the cogs to find some bits and pieces in which you might be interested this week…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Holidays in our 20s used to leave us in need of another. That’s almost the point of them at that age.

Whereas now if you don’t come back in better shape than when you left it feels like you have wasted your money. Holidays are for switching off, and I must say we have managed that well this time. Bar a couple of times work has crept into my mind…

There’s an AquaFit class at the nearby pool some mornings. There are two instructors who stand on the edge of the pool and demonstrate what to do. One has great rhythm but spends his time looking at the other instructor and cracking jokes with him. The other has terrible rhythm but spends his time focusing on the audience and makes sure they are having a good time. And as a result he’s the one everyone looks at. Now obviously you can’t have terrible rhythm and get away with it as any sort of a serious musician. But you certainly can’t ignore the audience either.

Which unfortunately is what a local band we saw did one of the evenings. They had written some nice songs and had some imaginative covers in their set but they weren’t hitting home with the crowd. We eventually figured out why. Their jokes were aimed at each other and any chat with the crowd was limited to a quick thankyou after each song.

As Cathy Jordan told us on In The Lamplight once - if you’re having a party, you have to make sure the audience know they are invited.

Where else but Sligo?

I won’t lie - the reports of heavy rain and matches getting called off in Sligo did make us feel a little more smug as we enjoyed the light ocean breeze taking the edge off the Mediterranean heat over the last few days.

Because no matter how good a time you’re having on holidays, if the weather is amazing at home it can take away from it. “The one week of good weather we get all year and it had to be the week we went away!”

Comparisons are often key to our happiness. The €50 we paid for a family dinner last night delights us when we compare it to Irish prices, but when we find out our friends got the same dinner down the road for €40 we’re left feeling less happy.

Why else would people choose the imaginary job that pays €30k the first year, then €40k then €50k ahead of the one that pays €60k, then €50k then €40k? The second job pays €150k overall compared to €120k, but the year-on-year comparison of wages is unfavourable, hence people go for the job with the increasing wages.

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert has been one of my holiday reads - and it was fantastic. As Gilbert says himself, ‘My book isn’t meant to make people happy. It is meant to make them smart about happiness by telling them what science has discovered. I’m not in the business of telling people what’s right. I’m in the business of helping them see what’s true and then letting them decide for themselves what to do about it”.

Thanks to Brian and the gang in Liber for getting this book in just before we left. I would highly recommend it.

And no offence to you dear readers, but for my last few days I’m going to do my best to forget all about Sligo and enjoy where I am free of any comparison!

What’s New?

I’m sorry, but there is absolutely nothing new to report this week!

Finally…

There’s always a holiday song…and this Bruno Mars number has featured strongly this time. Great bass line!

Till next time - Kieran.

Holidays (Part 1)

Dear Reader –

Everybody needs a break. Climb a mountain or jump in a lake. A few stories from our holidays in this week’s letter…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

As you may know, the theme for the upcoming Theme Night #30 is musicals. So it was with interest that I noted on a stroll past the Victoria Palace Theatre in London last Friday that there was a sign outside saying ‘Tickets Available’.

Hamilton was showing, and I had heard that these tickets are among the most sought-after in the West End, so I was expecting prices north of £200, but we said we’d go in and at least enquire.

We were told there were a few tickets left for twelve fifty, and I presumed that these were the last few and were selling at the premium price of £1250.

But no, in fact we had come across some unused cast family and friends tickets and although we had to stand at the back of the theatre, they cost £12.50. Yes twelve pounds fifty pence. We couldn’t believe our luck and even snuck into some (strangely) empty seats with an amazing view after a few minutes of the show.

And despite one close friend (and musicals fan) telling me the tickets were wasted on me (!), I actually really enjoyed it. Hats off to all, especially composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Where else but Sligo?

I’m not in Sligo this week, so this story will have to do…

We flew from London to somewhere hot, and it’s great!

The first afternoon we were here, Sinéad and I went for a cycle. Nothing hectic, the idea being that we would take our time, see a bit of the local countryside, and stop for a drink or an ice-cream in a village hallway along the route.

Approx 2km short of the village, grey clouds started to gather overhead. Thunder began to sound in the distance, and soon some of the biggest raindrops we ever saw were pelting down. Real rain! We took shelter by a wall on the side of the road and were happy enough to wait it out.

Soon afterwards a group passed us on the way back to where we are staying. They were skidding down the hill in front of us, there was no sign of the rain stopping and so the guides made the call to abandon the ride. They would shelter under a tree down the road and wait for a car from the resort to bring them back. They told us to join them.

So we did. At this stage however the rain was getting heavier. The thunder was louder and spectacular lightning was intermittently filling the sky. So now the tree was out of bounds, and there was only one option. With no shelter. Resigned to getting absolutely drenched, out we went onto the road.

With perfect timing however, the front door of a large house just off the road opened. Three kind residents gestured to us to open their gate and take shelter in the patio/barbecue area beside their house. What’s more, they brought out figs, towels, a hair-dryer and finally a bottle of raki, a clear and potent local digestif. They stayed with us for the hour or so it took to ferry four loads of us back home and despite the language barrier the craic was good.

The man of the house was 70-ish. His name was Pedros – and he had taught maths and physics in a local university. His son, Kostas, was around my age, had decent English and acted as a translator as best he could.

I asked him how he learnt his English and he told me it was partly in school and partly by working in a bar full of tourists and being immersed in the language all day.

His dad then told the story of how despite going out with an English Theology student in his university days, he learned no English. “How come?”, I asked.

He needed no translation to get his answer across.

“We no talk much”, he said, while making the universal kissing and hugging action.

What’s New?

1. SLIGO SUMMERFEST: Just before I left, I got the great news that this will be going ahead, and we will be a part of it once again. Can’t wait. More details to come soon.

2. SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL (COOLERA-STRANDHILL STYLE): It was lovely to be asked to contribute a piece of music to my local club’s #OneGoodClub Youth Mental Health Awareness campaign. Well done to all who took part, especially Aisling Browne and Susan Harte who put this video together.

3. THE APEX SINGERS: Niamh Feeney was among the first crew of Teenage Theme Nighters back in 2014/15. She went on to study music in Manchester and is currently part of some amazing vocal groups. One of them, the Apex Singers, performs in the Yeats Society in Sligo on Sat July 2nd. Click here for beautiful track of theirs.

Finally…

The opening track from Hamilton - will give you a real taste of what it’s all about - thematically and musically.

Till next time - Kieran.

Children From the West Country...

Dear Reader –

Read on for some big news regarding one of our Theme Night Ensemble, two special gigs tomorrow night (Wednesday 15th) and the lucky children of Sligo...

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Brendan Tierney has featured regularly in this letter over the last year. He is a constant source of ideas and energy and a huge addition to the cultural scene here. His latest residency - Póg Mo Cajon - every Wednesday in Lillies - is taking a break for the summer and he has asked me to guest with him tomorrow evening (15th) for the grand finale.

Luke Devaney and Dave Flynn will be in too, and rumour has it they were inspired by the amazing Jack Stratton/Jacob Jeffries song featured in last week’s letter and learned it. So it may just get an outing on the gig. One way or the other it will be fun - it will be my first gig in Lillies and I’m looking forward to it!

Where else but Sligo?

I had the pleasure of attending three end-of-year shows recently.

Niamh Crowley’s Sligo Academy of Music Gala Concert and Lisa Cooper’s LCDA Summer Showcase both in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. And Vanessa Byrne’s Dramarama Summer Showcase in Kilmacowen Hall.

And each time Sinéad and I were left with the feeling of gratitude that our children are growing up in such a rich environment for creative expression - be it music, dance or drama.

The shows were all enjoyable from start to finish. The imagination, flair and hard work that had been put in to each was clear to see and huge credit must go not only to the three ladies mentioned above but also to the many unsung heroes who put in the hours behind the scenes to make these events possible.

I was left with a real feeling of pride. Proud of Sligo, its culture and its people. The town and county supports these events (and the many others like them that I didn’t attend) like no other, and that support allows for a virtuous circle of cultural improvement and creative rewards. It has been built up over many years through the efforts of countless individuals and is something that must be valued, preserved and celebrated.

Pic below of Niamh’s Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta playing with us on Theme Night #15 back in 2016.

What’s New?

1. CONGRATULATIONS NICHOLA: Actress and singer Nichola MacEvilly is a regular member of our Theme Night Ensemble, and we were all delighted for her when she was cast in the upcoming Irish and UK production of Girl From the North Country - Conor McPherson’s show using the music of Bob Dylan. More info here.

2. 500SONGS.COM: Thanks to Seth Godin for putting me on to this brilliant music podcast. In his own words - “It’s simply extraordinary. Trivia connected to cultural commentary connected to the endless web of the pop music world”.

3. SLIGO JAZZ 2022 TOMORROW: Am so excited for the return of this event next month. First though, the festival launch and a great gig in the Hawk’s Well tomorrow night (Wed 15th).

Finally…

Dave and Luke (see The Big Thing, above) are huge Paul Simon fans, so there’s every chance we will feature a few of his songs in Lillies tomorrow night. Here’s one of my favourites - from his 1991 Central Park gig, featuring (among others) the great Richard Tee, Steve Gadd and Michael Brecker.

Till next time - Kieran.

How Much Do You Love Me??

Dear Reader –

Not to be confused with How Long Will I Love You.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

This week’s title could be an unofficial slogan for any social media company. We are all too aware of the possible perils for our mental health of putting ourselves out there in the search for likes.

At the same time, without social media, I wouldn’t have come across the amazing song (with this same title) that concludes this week’s letter.

And without social media, you wouldn’t be able to watch back any of the videos from Theme Night #29, which as of this morning - you can!

YouTube playlist here.

Or click below for one of my favourites from the show - our version of Amy O’Hara’s song Innisfreedom…

Where else but Sligo?

When we moved into our home a few years ago, I said to my wife that the only reason I would ever move from here would be for a sunset view.

You see I can remember all sorts of sunsets. Strangely serene ones looking back upstream over the River Liffey in Dublin, colours you would describe as almost angry in the Australian bush, and the best one I ever saw over the tin roof of a bus station in northern Mexico.

But there is something special about watching the sun drop into the sea. It feels like the way the day should end. So I took a spin up over Knocknarea on Sunday evening and got to the rocks on the Strandhill shore just in time. Where else but Sligo indeed.

And watching the day expire slowly like that I was reminded that today is all we have. Yesterday is gone and there is no guarantee of tomorrow. Every sunset we get to watch is a blessing and we should probably make the time to watch more of them. Especially when they are as pretty as this.

What’s New?

1. THE DAVE FLYNN CHOIR PROJECT: I’m looking forward to singing in the bass section of The Dave Flynn Choir this Thursday in the Hawk’s Well. Dave has put together some beautiful 4-part arrangements of some fantastic songs for the show and they are sounding great! Also on the bill are Westport-based vocal group Coda. There are still some tickets left here.

2. DEREK SIVERS BOOK RECS: Another shoutout for this wonderful resource. CD Baby founder Derek’s notes on the last 330+ books that he has read.

3. THE BIG NOTE: Also loved this from Gabe Anderson this week - for singers (and us all) on how to deal with the big note - you know the one you have to hit but are scared you won’t.

Finally…

Turn this up and listen to it twice (at least).

Till next time - Kieran.

Sligo's changing music scene...

Dear Reader –

It’s May - a month of titles and recitals!

Both in today’s letter…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

It’s a great time of the year! Dance shows, concerts, speech and drama recitals - it’s all happening.

And after a lovely evening earlier this month when the adults in our Music Club performed for each other for the last time this term, it’s the turn of the younger students this coming Thursday.

Their end-of-term concert will take place in Strandhill, just across the corridor from the room in which they have their lessons each week, and the aim is to have an informal and enjoyable evening, where students, parents and teachers alike can mix and hear what each other has been up to over the last few months.

It is a learning experience for the children - many will not have played in front of an audience before, and it makes the sometimes lonely experience of playing the piano a bit more social.

It’s another example of something we all missed over the last few years, and while it’s always an evening to which I look forward, this one will be extra special.

Below photo by Siniz Kim on Unsplash

Where else but Sligo?

I feel it’s a really interesting time in Sligo’s music scene.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with Gerry Grennan on one of the long car journeys we undertook on our 32 Pianos tour back in 2015. He reckoned that while the musical cards in our town may sometimes seem to be settled in certain unshakeable combinations, every so often they will get thrown up into the air and gradually reform into new groups.

The enforced break we all had over the last few years gave us all time to think. Some musicians have found new careers, others have changed their priorities. Some pubs have closed while others have opened. Some gigs have stopped and others have started.

There is an ever-growing gang of young musicians around town who are hungry for gigs and this is always great to see.

And so I’m looking forward to seeing what combinations come out of this latest reshuffle. One thing I would love to see is the emergence of a new original band following in the tradition of the likes of Indian, Those Nervous Animals, Oddsocks, Rackhouse Pilfer and Moxie. Bands who wrote their own music and drew crowds.

I feel that now the time is right (and the talent is certainly there) for a new band to take the town by storm. Who’s it gonna be?!

What’s New?

1. LA ROCHELLE: It’s also the time of year where many sporting titles get decided, and I was particularly happy to see Corkman Ronan O’Gara lead an unfancied French side to victory in rugby’s European Cup. There is something about O’Gara’s ability to lead people while being so open and transparent himself that is impressive.

2. THE VISIT: Am looking forward to seeing this play tonight in the Hawk’s Well.

3. BURNOUT: Particularly relevant to me this month (!), I listened to a short podcast today on this topic. Find the link to listen to it here, as well as some other interesting resources on this matter.

Finally…

One of the more popular tunes among my (more advanced) students. Here’s Pascal Wintz doing his thing…

Till next time - Kieran.

Angry drummers and a pictorial feast...

Dear Reader –

I hope your eyes are ready…!

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Kris Manulak takes great pictures.

And over 100 of them from Theme Night #29 are on my Facebook page as of this morning.

Go on - have a look. Steve (below) will come after you if you don’t!

Where else but Sligo?

At the core of the young talent in the Theme Nights every year are a crew from the Sligo Academy of Music. Year upon year, this much-loved Sligo institution produces young musicians who are willing and (more importantly) ready to play whatever we put in front of them. A prime example in the current crop is young trumpeter Johannes Kavanagh (pictured below).

Spearheaded by Niamh Crowley, I know first-hand the work that she and many others have put in over the years to create the conditions and environment in which these young people can grow and thrive both musically and personally. And it has paid off in spades.

They host their gala concert in the Hawk’s Well Theatre this coming Thursday 26th. I bought my tickets this morning, and can’t wait to see what Niamh and the gang have lined up for us. They deserve our support. Tickets here.

What’s New?

1. WEDDING BAND IDEA: Here’s a beautifully-written blog about marriages and bands which endure, as well as a great idea for anyone in the wedding band game!

2. THOUGHT: If you deliberately touch an electric fence, does it still count as a shock?

3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! This letter is one year old this week. A good deal more of you are reading it each week than when I started, so I’m taking that as a good sign. Thanks for your support, and here’s to another year.

Finally…

One more vid from the show here for you all today.

Something Inside So Strong from Sarah Crummy. Visuals by Joe Hunt.

Till next time - Kieran.