When you play the wrong song...

Dear Reader –

Plenty of memorable moments during Teenage Theme Night #27 this weekend, not least when I started into the wrong song! More below…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Teenage Theme Night #27 was just great. So uplifting! Three shows, brilliant audiences and lots of surprises from a new gang of teenage musicians. Here are a few of my highlights.

Firstly a big shout-out to the Transition Years. Usually for the first show of the year we might have four or five from this age group. Then gradually as the word spreads more get involved. But not this time. More than 30 TYs got involved from the word go and brought so much to the nights.

Special mentions to Mimi who embraced the spirit of the nights and got involved in as many songs as she could - and did a fantastic job. Sean, Ethan, Oscar and Lorcan who absolutely rocked Enter Sandman - the first ever Metallica song on a Teenage Theme Night. And Joseph who stood there calmly as I played the piano intro to a completely different song to the one he had chosen.

I figured this out after about two and a half bars and we all had a good laugh about it. But I wasn’t allowed forget about it, as Orla, one of our new emcees came on straight away afterwards and gave me a good ribbing about it. As she should have! She was brilliant all weekend, as were Clodagh and Saoirse - they fronted the shows with great energy, humour and thought.

It was great to see a new generation of horn players emerge and our 5-piece section did a fantastic job on Don’t Rain On My Parade, as did singer Anna Rose McLoughlin. Always good to see a few bands take part too. And performing my own Mr. Tee with Sam Purcell on the Friday night was special.

Graduates Joe, Mia and Eoin returned and showed the current gang where a bit of extra practice and experience can get you. Joe performing The Angelus was a particular highlight.

A huge thanks to everyone who made it happen. Especially to Dave, Ken and Keith in the band, Joy behind the scenes, Daniel on sound and Patrick in The Model. That’s it for 2022 with the teenagers, but we will have three shows in early 2023. Dates to be confirmed this week - you’ll hear first on our Instagram page.

Where else but Sligo?

My favourite moment of the weekend however happened in rehearsal before the show on Saturday night. There happened to be five new drummers on the show this night. Leo Kennedy was one of them, and he was on stage rehearsing his song - Adele’s Rolling In The Deep - with the band and a few singers, and nailing it.

Leo’s teacher and regular TTN band member Ken McDonald was sitting on one of the audience seats watching Leo with a big smile on his face, but behind Ken was a beautiful sight that I could see but he couldn’t.

The other four drummers (also students of Ken) were waiting for their turn at rehearsal, sitting in various positions behind Ken, each one of them mime-drumming to the song as Leo played it. Separately. With smiles on their faces too.

It was a weekend where our instrumentalists shone every bit as brightly as our singers, and this new cohort of drummers were a big part of it. Am really looking forward to working with them all again in 2023.

What’s New?

1. BREE’S UPDATE: Seamie is away touring across the Atlantic Ocean somewhere and so Gerry Grennan and Brendan Emmett joined me for a spooky Monday session last night. We hope to have regular guests throughout this residency and will keep you up to date with any news here.

2. SISTER ACT: Many of the crew who took part in our recent Musicals Theme Night are part of this upcoming Fun Company production. It runs from Nov 5-11 and tickets are still available here.

3. SO FUNNY SLIGO COMEDY FESTIVAL: Finally for this week, just look at this line-up. Brendan Tierney has been mentioned in these pages before, and is the driving force behind this innovative festival. All the gig details and ways to support the festival are here.

Finally…

The Elton John song I should have played on Saturday night. Not Your Song! Some great footage of an early iteration of Tiny Dancer here.

Till next time - Kieran.

Selfies, scholars and values...

Dear Reader –

This week’s letter brings us from the local all the way to Goran Ivanisevic and Maura O’Connell. But first, news on the first Teenage Theme Night of the new school year.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

It was the first selfie I ever saw being taken. A new phenomenon (to me anyway) in 2014, I watched as Joe Gorman (centre, below) gathered a gang of fellow performers around him and took a photo of them all with his phone. Teenage Theme Night #1 had just ended, and the post-show buzz is evident in the facial expressions below.

More than eight years later, and the 27th in the series of these shows takes place this weekend. Joe is back to perform in one of our graduate slots, as are Mia O’Regan (2021) and Eoin McDermott (2019). But the real stars (sorry guys!) will be the current crop of teenage musicians.

Over 70 of them will take part, so for the first time since before the pandemic we have had to put on three shows to cater for the demand to perform. And already in rehearsals I can see the familiar patterns. The 6th Years whose new status as the leaders in the show has enabled confidence to blossom seemingly overnight. Meeting the new participants - some immediately ready for the stage, others needing a bit more encouragement. And the surprises that will no doubt be revealed over the weekend - those who come alive on stage, those who reveal character you hadn’t seen before, and those who will surprise even themselves. I can’t wait.

Teenage Theme Night #27. The Model. Fri 28th, Sat 29th and Sun 30th Oct 2022. Tickets still available here.

Where else but Sligo?

I wouldn’t have known that Joe was around for this weekend’s show only that I met him in the foyer of the Hawk’s Well last Sunday at a Sligo Live event to mark the launch of his father’s book.

Tommie Gorman needs no introduction to Sligo people (and lots more beyond). He is a kind of hero to many in this part of the world, not just for his distinguished career as a journalist and broadcaster, but for his generosity of spirit and positive influence on countless Sligo people and institutions over the years. There was huge warmth in the room for him on Sunday.

Tommie thanked us for coming at the start of the show and said that he hoped we would take something away with us from the afternoon’s events. And so I did.

We were treated to wonderful new writing by his brother Michael and our neighbour Maura Gilligan. Regular readers of this letter will know of how much I love Michael Rooney’s music, and so I was thrilled when he and his wife June emerged to play a set of tunes.

And then there was the interview itself, conducted by Ocean FM’s Niall Delaney (who was recognised in turn by Tommie for being the great broadcaster that he is). Insightful questions, impeccable pacing and leaving space for his guest’s personality, stories and values. And if I’m honest, these were my favourite parts of the whole day - hearing Tommie speak so eloquently about reconciliation, love of people and love of place.

What’s New?

1. BREE’S RESIDENCY: Our Monday night residency in Bree’s is up and running as of last night. Thanks to the many letter readers (and others) who came, and I look forward to seeing more of you there over the coming weeks.

2. RESIDENCY CLARIFICATION: Last week’s letter listed some of my previous musical residencies in Sligo. It was not - I repeat not - a list of current residencies (some of you were kind enough last week to congratulate me on my many gigs) - I’m not sure it would be humanly possible to play all those gigs every week - one takes enough out of me!

3. SLIGO LIVE: 2019 Teenage Theme Night graduate Paddy Keyes plays as part of Sligo Live this coming weekend. I enjoyed the below positioning of his gig in the event programme. It reminds me of a July 2001 edition of the Sunday Times, where at the top of the sport section the two lead pictures were of Goran Ivanisevic (in white, about to win Wimbledon the following day) and my good friend and former teammate John McPartland (in black, after we had beaten Kildare in Croke Park the previous day). Best of luck Paddy!

Finally…

Not only did Joe Gorman introduce me to selfies, but also to this beautiful Thom Moore song. He performed it with Nell Kelly at a Teenage Theme Night once upon a time, and it’s sung here by the great Maura O’Connell.

Till next time - Kieran.

A new residency begins...

Dear Reader –

When our residency in Connolly’s finished earlier this year, it was a bit like a long-term relationship coming to an end. I felt I needed time to take stock before jumping into something else. But as of next week, Seamie and I are back in the game.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Fridays in McGarrigles with The Odd Couple.

Sundays in Tobergal Lane with The Odd Couple and Sinéad.

Thursdays in Fureys with The Odd Couple.

Fridays in Hargadons with Anything Goes.

Mondays in Fureys with Seamie.

Mondays in Connolly’s with Seamie and guests.

Residencies rock. I have been lucky to be a part of some great ones over the years. An opportunity to play regularly, to build up a relationship with audiences, and to get to know great pubs and people. I have missed not having one for the last few months. As have my fingers, ears and mind. So it’s great to be starting something new. With the great Seamie - with whom no gig will ever be the same.

A big thanks to Brees in Strandhill for making it happen. We’ll have guests some weeks, but Seamie and I will kick it off with just the two of us next Monday 24th, and I’m feeling happier about it than the below pic suggests (I must have been worrying for my fingers)!

Where else but Sligo?

I wrote about some Theme Night #30 heroes and highlights last week. Before we park this show, here are a few of my favourite behind the scenes stories…

• Seeing our choir (many of whom took a while to warm to this theme!) get totally stuck in when it came to acting drunk on Master Of The House.

• The sheer energy and joy that Niamh Keaveney and Holly Higgins brought to Ease On Down That Road.

• Conor Bastible was at the back of the stage on Luke Devaney’s keyboard each night when it came to Hello. It was his responsibility to play the doorbells and the buzzer. Watching him crane his entire body so that he could see Kieran Cunnane press the imaginary buzzer and play the note on the keyboard at exactly the right time added to the hilarity of the moment.

• To the lady in the green jumper in Row 2 on Thursday - thank you. Firstly for coming to see our show, and secondly for knowing all the words to every song and singing along with a smile on your face all night!

• Having to be advised (twice) not to introduce the Entr’acte on nights 2 and 3 as I did on Night 1!

• The entire key change at the end of Roxanne was on the shoulders of Jack Courtenay. It was his first theme night and he was exposed. Out on his own. Sing the wrong note and the big encore number is a car crash. No problem to Jack - he nailed it each time.

• Newcomer Mary Gaynor soaking up everything she could backstage before coming on and delivering her song with such calm and poise.

• So many audience members telling me that Paul Maitland should be on Broadway. And he should!

• Finally, Joe Hunt (below) absolutely rocking Pinball Wizard on the Wednesday night rehearsal (it was the first time we heard him) and then 30 seconds later being back at his projections perch at the back of the theatre as if nothing had happened.

What’s New?

1. TN #31 TICKETS: Stories in Song - Jan 19th-21st 2023. The song suggestions are flying in and the tickets are flying out! Fri and Sat shows are now SOLD OUT, just Thursday tickets left. Get them here before they’re gone.

2. ANOTHER STRANDHILL GIG: Seamie, Gerry Grennan and I will be LIVE in The Strand this Friday 21st Oct. Sparks flew the last time we did this gig - here’s hoping for more of the same…

3. GO AHEAD - BUY A PIANO: Speaking of stories, here’s a gorgeous one about a man who decided later in life to put a large piano in his small apartment and hasn’t regretted it once.

Finally…

Keep the suggestions coming for the Theme Night #31 (Stories) setlist please - all are welcome! Here’s another strong contender…

Till next time - Kieran.

Don't miss out this morning...

Dear Reader –

Some reflections on an epic Theme Night #30 today. Thanks to Kris Manulak for the great pics.

But first, here’s how and when you can get Theme Night #31 tickets…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Theme Night #31 - Stories in Song - Hawk’s Well Theatre - January 19-21 2023.

Tickets on sale this morning at 11am. Get them here.

Where else but Sligo?

Vinnie Higgins had 59 separate inputs into his desk on this show. He had to EQ, mix and balance each and every one of those in order for this show to sound great. He had the needs and requests of dozens of musicians and singers to look after. And not once did he give out. What a hero.

Our regular drummer told me with less than two weeks to go that he couldn’t do the show this time. Fair enough - it happens. But I loved what happened next - former teacher and student Ken McDonald and Sam Purcell (18 - yes 18 yrs old!) came together to figure out how to firstly learn and then divide the drum and percussion parts between them. All with the good of the show in mind, And then delivered them impeccably.

But in the end, the golden jacket for Theme Night #30 went to our hugely popular, hard-working and expressive (!) choirmaster, Dave Flynn. It was lovely to see how the choir responded to him, and he really got the best out of them. And boy did they come out to bat for him when it came to the Golden Jacket selection. Below is one of his less animated faces!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT NEWBIES: 16 people took part in the theme nights for the first time last weekend. I can’t believe we’re still finding so many new talented people. Thanks to Mary Gaynor, Jack Courtenay, Paul Kelly, Ken Roht, Thomas Spratt, Ciara Frahill, Brendan Doyle, Keith Russell, Jason Kenny, Darren Kerr, Conor White, Emily Tansey, Karen Lynch, Sarah Burns, Gráinne Caldbeck and Charlie McKenna for all they brought to the shows.

2. MUSICALS SONG THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER LIKE BUT I DID: It has to be Nothing (from A Chorus Line) - I thought this song represented everything I found troubling about musicals. But when I learnt and performed it, firstly for Eimear Kearney’s performance in a Teenage Theme Night in 2019 and then again for Karen Gordon’s performance this weekend, I found I began to really appreciate the craft that went into the song and the skill it took to perform it. Karen was another of our heroes this week, and it was such a shame she couldn’t perform on Friday and Saturday. Thanks for everything Karen!

3. PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEKEND: To go solely by audience reaction, the three loudest roars I heard during the run (in no particular order) were for Joe Hunt’s Pinball Wizard on Friday, Seamie O’Dowd’s playing on Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (!) on Saturday, and Paul Maitland’s (below) If I Were a Rich Man on all three nights.

Finally…

Definitely a contender for Theme Night #31 - one of my favourite story songs and something to think about for any fathers out there!

Till next time - Kieran.

The best part...

Dear Reader –

There’s only one show in town this week…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

And so I’m going to let the show do the talking, except for a few short messages…

• This show is sold out - and thanks once again for your amazing support of these Theme Nights. If you didn’t get a ticket and want to go however, keep checking the Hawk’s Well website (at the time of writing I see there are two available for Thursday).

• A huge thanks also to the (ever expanding) Theme Night Ensemble and Crew (some pictured below). This is our most ambitious show yet and it wouldn’t have been possible without you all.

• Finally, this is the best part. You’ve done your bit and we’ve (almost) done ours - and so now comes the time where we get to share the music and fun in a room together. I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of you guys over the next few days. Make sure to say hello!

Where else but Sligo?

I see Ben Bulben now has it’s own Twitter page.

What’s New?

1. COMP WINNER: Firstly a huge welcome to everyone who joined us as a new subscriber this week. I hope you enjoy the writing and stay with us here for a while. Congratulations to Clodagh Moore whose name came out of the hat (well the online random number generator to be specific) and won the tickets. Enjoy the show Clodagh!

2. 80S NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA: Last Friday’s fundraiser in Toffs seems to be the talk of the town. Well done to Trevor, Barbara, Sam, Wired for Sound and all involved. Hopefully the beginning of another regular live music event in our calendar.

3. THEME NIGHT #31 - JAN 2023: As always, subscribers to this letter will get first access to tickets next week. Keep an eye on your inbox next Tuesday morning - the letter you need to read will be out earlier than usual. Dates are Jan 19-21 2023 - our last theme night for almost a year.

Finally…

Nothing from The Lion King in this show I’m afraid - it would be hard to top this! From Theme Night #15, skip to 4:45 of this vid to hear The Circle of Life. From Sinéad Conway, the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta and our Theme Night Choir. See you all this week!!!

Till next time - Kieran.

Lifelong companions...

Dear Reader –

Even if the All-Ireland football final hadn’t been brought forward, it would still be over by now. And - the heating went on in our house for the first time last night - so there is a real feeling around of settling in for the winter. But that doesn’t mean we have nothing to look forward to…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

We’re into Week 3 of the official teaching term at this stage, and it’s been a busy start.

Lessons are up and running in Strandhill and Rathcormac, the new workbooks are proving popular, and we have the first sessions of our Music Club and adult Group Workshops this week. Students are busy learning all sorts of songs, from Row Row Row Your Boat all the way through to this Herbie Hancock solo.

Enthusiasm is high at the moment, which is always great to see. However the challenge may come for some in the coming weeks as what is now new becomes routine. We will be impressing on students that consistent practice is better than irregular bursts, and that this is the best way to ensure progress and keep lessons exciting.

Neil Gaynor (pictured below) knows this better than any. He is my longest-serving student, is continuing a proud musical tradition in his family and returned yesterday for another season of lessons. The trip to Strandhill at lunchtime has long been part of Neil’s weekly routine, but his consistency and dedication to his practice has meant that his piano is not merely a piece of furniture in his house, but rather a lifelong companion.

Where else but Sligo?

This day next week we’ll be getting ready to take over the Hawk’s Well Theatre for Theme Night #30.

And while we won’t be straying too far from the theme night mission of bringing you great music played by a variety of local musicians (see pic below for our latest new ensemble), there are some new dimensions to this show. Musicals aren’t just about the music, there has to be an element of theatre also. In some of the performances at least!

And so it’s lovely to welcome a large number of Theme Night debutants this time, provided mainly by Sligo musical societies including Pop-Up Theatre, The Fun Company, The Mad Ravens, and Sligo Musical Society.

A huge source of information and advice has been Niamh Crowley, who is the regular musical director for all these societies and someone who will have looked after the music for 5 more musicals (!) by the time next May comes around.

And while she’s not quite a Theme Night debutant (having sung Anyone Who Had a Heart on Theme Night #11), Karen Gordon has certainly added a huge amount to our preparations this time. She kindly agreed to come on board to direct the visual aspect of this show, and her vision and creativity has opened up new possibilities for us all. She might even sing a song on the night too!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT #30 TIX: This show has been sold out for some time now, but some tickets do become available from time to time on the Hawk’s Well website. So keep an eye out!

2. MORE FICTION: No sooner had I pressed send on last week’s letter than I was informed by my eagle-eyed mother that the next in the series of Strike novels is out. These are great, and usually close to 1000 pages, so will be my bedside companion for quite a while. Available in your local bookshop.

3. MAKE LEMONADE: Congrats to my In The Lamplight co-presenter Rory Maitland, who produced this book to mark the occasion of his 30th birthday. This is one of a limited number of copies, and details of how to get one will be available soon. You’ll hear first on his Instagram.

Finally…

Neil (mentioned above) and I are both big Billy Joel fans and we have tackled many of his songs together over the years. Here is one of our favourites - it could be about saying goodbye to someone special, or saying goodnight to a child - or you tell me what you hear in it…

Till next time - Kieran.

Keeping the head right...

Dear Reader –

It was nice to be asked by Rory O’Connor (Rory’s Stories) to be his guest on the Sligo leg of his national tour last Saturday night. We had a great chat and finished the show with a few tunes and a sing-song. The main topic of conversation was mental wellbeing, how we look after ourselves, and after plucking up the courage to speak about this in front of a full theatre (!), I thought it might be an interesting topic for today’s letter.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

In October 2019 I was getting ready to release my first (and so far only) solo piano album. I had been regularly talking to a counsellor every Wednesday morning for the guts of a year at that stage and the sessions had inspired a lot of the music that ended up on the album.

I wanted to call the album ‘A Year of Wednesdays’, but knew if I did so that people would ask why. And so I had to figure out if I was OK with people knowing about what I got up to each Wednesday morning.

And after a bit of thought and a few conversations, I figured I was. It’s not something we talk about regularly, but I don’t see why that should be the case. I don’t feel it’s anything of which to be ashamed, in fact it has been a hugely positive thing in my life and I would recommend it to anyone.

There’s no doubt that these sessions are the big thing for me in terms of keeping my head straight. Nearly four years on and what brought me there is now in the past, but I keep going back. Why? It’s good for me. I don’t go every week, and some of the weeks I do go it can feel like a luxury and I wonder what we’ll speak about, but I always leave with something. A thought, an insight, a suggestion - something small that can make life better for me and those close to me.

I have a dodgy left hip. On a bad day I’ll hobble around a bit. It’s from years of wear and tear on the football pitch. I have to look after it, and so I see a physio who recommends daily stretches and movements to help it. And it’s exactly the same thing with a counsellor. An expert who can help you navigate difficulties that may arise from the general wear and tear of daily life.

I have had some lovely emails from letter readers sharing their stories in the last few days - some after the gig on Saturday, others by coincidence last week. Hopefully some of you get something from this. Please get in touch if you have something to say. It’s good to talk!

Where else but Sligo?

I have known Micky Downs a long time. He did fantastic work with huge numbers of local children in the martial arts field for years. Now he runs fitness classes for adults. Micky is very much about sustainable exercise. Valuing consistency over intensity, but with the aim of keeping us all fit and healthy as we get older.

I heard about the classes recently and am a regular attendee now. But while you go for the exercise, you come back for two reasons. Firstly the community. The morning class suits me (and many other self-employed people) and there is a great gang there from all walks of life who keep you entertained and motivated as you make your way through the programme.

If I told you the second reason you’d all be there tomorrow morning (!), so I’ll keep it a secret for now, but it’s Micky’s unique and generous way of making his gym a little bit different.

It’s great for the body, but crucially also for the head. And far easier to look after yourself in a group like this with a coach than on your own. And - the music is top class - Micky plays great drums too so knows his way around a good playlist!

What’s New?

1. SINGING TOGETHER: Sinéad commented after Saturday’s show that Rory clearly was onto something by finishing his show with a sing-song. The therapeutic nature of singing in groups has been written about many times, most notably here. From 2008, but still relevant today.

2. READING FICTION: One of my favourite ways to forget everything and get lost in a new world. This and this are my two most recent favourites.

3. SAYING NO: Sometimes you just have to. Here’s an entertaining (and possibly informative) look at how people have dealt with this issue over the years!

Finally

Here’s one of my favourites from the aforementioned A Year of Wednesdays. Featuring Niamh Crowley.

Till next time - Kieran.

TN #30 Teaser, and a ticket giveaway!

Dear Reader –

The Theme Night #30 sprint is about to start…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Just over three weeks to go, and the excitement is building.

And without giving too much away, there are some parts of the show which I can’t wait for you to see.

• The return of Georgie Gorman - and he and Sandy Kelly have been working on a special duet.

• 2 new and original songs from the Theme Night ensemble.

• The usual cast of brilliant young musicians and some amazing first-timers.

• Dean Gurrie is back!!

• Our 8-piece string section.

• And so many songs from the BIG shows - West Side Story/Les Mis/Grease/Wicked/Hamilton are all covered as well as almost 30 - yes 30 (!) more.

But the big question is - some of our gang are staunchly anti-musicals - so will they show up?! And if so, what will they sing?!

Where else but Sligo?

There were a few afternoons in mid-August where Seán (pictured below) and I would have preferred to have been at the beach. The sun was blazing outside, but we were in front of his computer screen going through 150 pages of songs, scales and puzzles detail by detail. Especially Seán.

The new teaching term started officially yesterday at 2.50pm, and at 12.30 I got the call to come and pick up the new books. And I was just as happy as I look below, knowing that I could deliver them on time to all the students this week. Seán looks delighted too - probably to get this project off his hands!

It’s the 3rd edition of the book - and this year we have 8 levels for students so we have split them into two books. Thanks a million to both Seán and Eamon in Tiger Print for all their hard work, and for getting them delivered on time. Now let’s get learning!

What’s New?

1. TICKETS GIVEAWAY: I’m very much looking forward to a chat and a few tunes as the guest of comedian Rory O’Connor this Saturday in the Hawk’s Well. I have two tickets to the show for the first person to email me with the name of the golfer who signed Rory’s bald head recently! *NB this competition is now over.

2. BATMAN: Actor Adam West played Batman in the 1960s ABC television series. Some would say his was the best Batman. I love the story of this prank he played using his local phone book.

3. MUSICALS: If you are a fan and missed out on tickets for our show, there are some great local productions coming up. Check them out here and here.

Finally…

Here’s one that didn’t make it in…ah but it’s so beautiful…maybe we’ll find room for it yet!

Till next time - Kieran.