Young songwriters and new(ish) roads...

Dear Reader –

Today we say goodbye to my favourite month of the year…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Still enjoying the afterglow of Theme Night #31, we had another great night last Friday - The Young Songwriters’ Showcase.

We initially ran it for a couple of years before the the pandemic and so when we got the green light last year to run events at full capacity again it was one of the first things on my agenda to revive.

Because songwriting isn’t something you either can or can’t do. It’s a skill and can be learned so the sooner you start the better. It can also be more difficult psychologically to stand up and perform something that came from inside you. All sorts of fears can come to the surface - can I do this? Will people like it? Will people laugh at me? It’s not quite finished yet! Will people know what I really feel inside if they hear my lyrics?

So huge respect to the teenagers who got up and did it last week. It was noticeable that those who had taken part last year seemed to have learned lots from that experience, so hopefully those who took part for the first time this year will continue to write. Well done to all involved.

One man who is a bit further along the songwriting path is Teenage Theme Night graduate Callum Wall. We invited Callum back to be a guest on this show and it was a joy to hear how he has developed in recent years - as a songwriter, singer and performer. Here is Callum performing his song ‘Limbo’ on In The Lamplight in 2021.

Where else but Sligo?

Today is the end of January, and as alluded to earlier, it’s my favourite month of the year. There is so much possibility around, although it was a bit more difficult to see this in January 2021 - I can’t remember a January that people were so keen to see the back of. We were in lockdown, and no-one was really sure when or how the end would come. I was writing a column for the Sligo Weekender at the time and there was so little happening in our world that I wrote about a new road opening!

Anyway, this ‘new road’ is now two years old. Thankfully a lot has changed in the meantime, but if anyone is looking for something to cheer them up this morning, read this and be thankful that the road ahead in Jan 2023 looks a lot different to how it did in 2021!

What’s New?

1. CHRISTMAS CONCERT: December is always a busy month, so this Thursday and Friday we are hosting our Christmas concerts (!) for all of our fantastic piano students. Annette, Niamh, Scarlett, Shauna and I can’t wait to see everyone play their pieces and perhaps enjoy a treat or two after!

2. PADDY KEYES: Another Teenage Theme Night graduate now writing and releasing his own music is Paddy Keyes. Listen to his latest single ‘Best Friend’ here.

3. IN THE LAMPLIGHT IS BACK: After a quiet 2022, we have made ourselves (and our listeners) a New Year’s promise to release at least one episode of our podcast each month in 2023. Which means one needs to appear today! Hopefully it will - keep an eye on your podcast feeds or search for ‘In The Lamplight’ later this evening…

Finally…

It wasn’t all doom and gloom in early 2021 however - this is from our lockdown season of In The Lamplight, and still one of my favourite things we did - will Luke ever learn to play the violeeeeen?!?!

Till next time - Kieran.

Did that really happen?!

Dear Reader –

Time to reflect today, but first let’s look ahead…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Theme Night #32 (Theme TBC).

Hawk’s Well Theatre, October 5-7 2023.

Tickets on sale this morning (Tuesday 24th) at 11am.

Joe is pointing the way. Get the seats you want here.

Where else but Sligo?

A few words about last week.

It was always going to be hard to follow Musicals. Huge thought and effort went into that show from many quarters and we threw everything but the kitchen sink at it. It was great and I loved it, but it was a monster of a show, and so I knew from the word go that we couldn’t try and compete with it in terms of scale.

So this one had to be cosy. Intimate. Warm. More about the songs, less about the show. Still with big moments, but more about the smaller ones,

It started with the choice of theme - and I must thank Robert Cullen for the idea. It was perfect for the type of show we needed, and once he and Eddie Fitzpatrick provided me with comprehensive lists of song possibilities I knew we were on to something.

The bones of a setlist gradually appeared. Some original music from brilliant musicians - Seamie, Gerry, Tabby, Felip, Steve. Rat Trap and Stairway To Heaven in the safe hands of Joe, Sinéad and Jamie for the big finishers, and a couple of surprises that seemed to work. We got to feature lots of performers who weren’t involved in the Musicals show, and as always it was lovely to see more than a dozen people shine on the Theme Night stage for the first time.

So as you can see it’s a while till the next one. Almost nine months, which is a good gap, especially given that we have done three shows in the last eight. And while I have enjoyed every minute of them, it’s no harm to think about other things for a while. Come back to Theme Night #32 in a few months fresh and raring to go.

So there’s no theme yet. I’m asking you to trust us while we let things settle and see what ideas present themselves. What else we can try with these shows?!

Looking back though It was an amazing way to start 2023 - making great music with great people for four fantastic audiences. I had a moment on stage on Saturday night during All’s Well where one part of my brain was trying to play the piano in time, but another part was marvelling at this amazing thing of which I was lucky enough to be a part.

Your support means a lot. Thank you all.

What’s New?

1. YOUNG SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE 2023: A platform for local teenage musicians to perform their own songs for their peers. This Friday at 8 in The Model. Tickets here.

2. STEPHEN JAMES SMITH: The Friday and Saturday night crowds loved this man. This is his signature poem, Dublin You Are.

3. TN #31 GOLDEN JACKET: Congratulations (and thank you) to Sinéad Conway, who once again stepped into the breach at short notice and delivered a showstopping performance on Stairway To Heaven. Imagine what she could have done with a bit of notice?!

Finally…

As promised last week, Leah Davidson’s debut single - Take it. From last year’s Young Songwriters’ Showcase.

Till next time - Kieran.

The people who make things happen...

Dear Reader –

Thanks for your support on this week’s Theme Night #31 - we are almost ready for you!

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

No. 5 in our series of Theme Night #31 stories is about Theme Night regular Siobhan O’Farrell and her talented daughter Leah Davidson.

After last year’s Young Songwriter’s Showcase, Leah was chosen to receive the chance to make a music video for her song and to record it in a professional studio. A huge thanks to Rory and Rummy at Temper Hound Productions and Luke at The Blue Room Studio who made this happen.

The track will be released tonight (Tuesday) at midnight and will be available on YouTube and Spotify. I’ll make sure to include it in next week’s letter. It features musicians Nils Kavanagh, Eddie Lee and Sam Purcell - and Leah’s brother Thomas also made a huge production contribution to the track.

PS speaking of Luke and Rory, stay tuned for some In The Lamplight news…

Where else but Sligo?

Yesterday was the day that we all got to hear the music for this week’s Theme Night #31 come together for the first time. And I was reminded of this quote (which I must have uttered to local scribe Jim Gray as he included it in the fantastic book he co-wrote last year). The two disciplines involved is Gaelic Football and music…

“In both disciplines, the emphasis is always on the value of teamwork. As a footballer, a togetherness, a camaraderie, a belief in each other is essential. Precisely the same traits would be to the forefront of my career in music. These shows would be nothing without the dedication and talent of the people I work with, and their willingness to work hard alongside me”.

This bunch of absolute stars below (and many more) have poured gallons of their 2023 energy into creating and learning the music for this show - and it’s nearly ready for you all!

What’s New?

1. STORY NO. 4: About Tabby Callaghan…read it here.

2. THEME NIGHT DEBUTANTS: Loads more Theme Night newcomers this week - looking forward to introducing Brian Devaney, Jaidyn Gieni, Ronan Callaghan, Joe Gorman, Eileen McDevitt, Annie Buick, Vanessa Job, Orla Devlin, Leah Davidson, Stephen James Smith and The Pound Street Band to you all. Also Niamh Farrell’s first live show with us!

3. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Given the timing of this show, it feels like 2023 will only really begin once it’s over. The usual January opportunity to pause and reflect hasn’t happened yet. So a reminder for anyone who needs it that we can all choose to start new projects, hobbies or habits any time - we don’t have to wait until a certain date on the calendar.

Finally…

I mentioned Niamh Farrell earlier - this may be her first live Theme Night, but she and her brother Sean took part in one of our lockdown Theme Nights - and this remains our most watched Theme Night video on YouTube - it’s just beautiful - take a minute and listen.

Till next time - Kieran.

Sing Us a Song, Tell Us a Story...

Dear Reader –

It’s all things Theme Night #31 today as we prepare for our biggest ever Theme Night audience next week. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, you can still join us…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

This show will feature….

• Our first Theme Night poet - and what a poet he is - coming all the way from Dublin to join us.

• The highest (non-falsetto) note ever sung by a male vocalist on a Theme Night.

• Gerry Grennan in the band!!

• Both a mother/daughter duet and a mother/daughter performing separately on the one night.

• An almost entirely different line-up to TN #30 - the depth of talent in these parts being tested but coming up trumps again!

• The most country and western songs on a Theme Night since it was all braces and bowties for our night at the The Grand Ole Opry 7 years ago.

Where else but Sligo?

As you surely know by now, Theme Night #31 is all about Stories - and last week’s letter featured the first in a series of stories about some of our Theme Night crew. Here’s Story No. 3…

Joe’s Dad is well known in Sligo and beyond. Now Sligo isn’t that big a place so many of you will know who he is (and I haven’t made it that difficult for the rest of you to work it out)! But although Joe’s Dad is great, so is Joe. And since not as many of you know his story, here it is (or part of it anyway).

I have known Joe for a long time. I remarked to him recently how a panto rehearsal in Ransboro School reminded me of a November afternoon more than ten years ago when he and his friends were playing football outside the window of the school hall. Now it just so happened that inside said hall at that very moment a gang of teenage girls his age were rehearsing for the show. He claimed no prior knowledge of the rehearsal. I’m not so sure.

Joe (along with his contemporary Nell Kelly) was the first ever Teenage Theme Night emcee, and it was clear from the start that this was a job that suited him down to his toes. He was our standard-bearer and many subsequent emcees mentioned Joe when I asked them if there was anyone they would like to emulate in the job. One even told me of their parents’ reaction when they heard the news that she was going to be an emcee – ‘Well done, but how are you going to be as good as Joe’? 

So I wasn’t surprised to see a picture of him speaking for our Taoiseach recently. He is a bright, upstanding and grounded young man and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him.

Joe is making his Theme Night debut on Theme Night #31, and while he has a fantastic baritone voice, it’s no surprise that he has chosen a song where many of the words are spoken. He will inhabit a character for its duration, and funny enough – he’ll tell us a story about that character’s Dad. Who was the opposite of well known, but did commit one very significant action in his life.

What’s New?

1. STORY NO. 2: In case you missed it on social media last week…read it here.

2. LEE KEEGAN: Possibly my favourite footballer of the last decade retired yesterday. Here are some of his greatest moments.

3. CONGRATS MARGARET…on winning four tickets to Theme Night #31 in the big final night raffle draw at the recent Coolera Dramatic Society Christmas pantomime. Thanks to Joe Grogan and Walker 1781 for sponsoring dinner for four as part of the prize.

Finally…

Surely one of the most famous story songs ever written…but did it make it into the show?? Or has he any other story songs that might?

Till next time - Kieran.

Four Thousand Weeks

Dear Reader –

A nice round number to put on our average lifespan. And we’re starting into another 52…let’s make the most of them!

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

It’s January - so that means the start of a new teaching term - and a brand new beauty of a digital piano (see below) is ready to get out of its box and help all our fantastic students sound better this year!

Regular readers of this letter will be familiar with my teaching philosophy, but if you’re new to these pages, you can read about it here.

We run classes in Strandhill and Rathcormac and cater for students of all ages, including tailored classes for adults. Or if it’s performing in which you’re interested, why not try our music club?

There are a few new slots available this term - if you or someone you know is interested please get in touch and I’ll tell you more.

Where else but Sligo?

Theme Night #31 is all about Stories and the songs that tell them best, so to get you all in the mood, over the next couple of weeks I’m going to tell you some good ones about some of our special guests on this show.

Here’s Story No. 1…keep an eye on my social media for the rest…

Sundays are long days in Panto land. A matinee followed by an evening show with possibly two hours in between to change and get a bite to eat. These days, much-loved panto-dame Brian Devaney doesn’t leave the theatre between shows – his costumes and make-up are so elaborate that it wouldn’t be worth his while – so he gets his grub delivered to the changing room and takes some time to himself.

There was a time he did however, and it was one such Sunday in the Ark Bar during my first panto in 2006 that he took me aside and gave me some advice that I still remember. West Ham were beating Man Utd on TV and Scruffy Duffy was rocking a Christmas party in the adjoining room. There was some food laid on for the cast and crew and before we went back to the theatre Brian asked could he have a quick word with me. We went outside into the cold and he paid me a lovely compliment that I still treasure today. However it is the words with which he prefaced them that stuck with me. “Kieran”, he said, “I have long believed that if you have something nice to say to someone you should say it. And say it as soon as you can”. A simple but inspiring message and one that I have tried to live by since.

It makes me extremely happy that Brian is joining us on stage for Theme Night #31 (Wed 18th-Sat 21st Jan). He’ll be with us for the Wednesday show and will tell us the story of an unlikely reconciliation between a father and son. The shows are mostly sold out but there are still some tickets available here.

What’s New?

1. VIDEO SHOOT: My friends at TemperHound Productions are shooting a special video for the aforementioned Theme Night #31 and they need two volunteers. Preferably people in their 20s/30s and availability on Sunday 15th Jan would be preferable but not essential. Singing or acting experience not necessary. Get in touch if you’re interested.

2. PELE DID IT FIRST: No need to explain the concept of this short video - just watch it.

3. 2023: Well it’s new, isn’t it?! Here’s my favourite non-fiction read of 2022 - it might be relevant to anyone looking to reflect on their life as we head for another spin…

Finally…

Usually I’d be reluctant to share any songs from an upcoming Theme Night set, but a) this version is beautiful and b) what we do with it on this show is going to surprise you even if you know the song is coming…

Till next time - Kieran.

The 2022 review

Dear Reader –

Nothing too taxing this week - I hope you enjoy some 2022 reflections and highlights in today’s letter.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

These were the biggest things this year - the five letters that interested you guys most…

1. A new residency begins (Oct)

2. When you play the wrong song (Nov)

3. Keeping the head right (Sept)

4. One we’ll always remember (March)

5. The review (May)

Where else but Sligo?

2022 was the year we got the show back on the road.

It’s easy to forget that this time last year pubs and restaurants were still closing at 8pm. Live music had yet to return in any meaningful way and we were budgeting for 50% capacity in music venues.

It all changed at the end of January however. Quickly in one way but slowly in others. Bit by bit confidence returned and venues filled. Theme Night #29 (Freedom) in May saw the return of a full Hawk’s Well for the first time and by the time October’s Musicals Theme Night came along there wasn’t a ticket to be found.

Coolera Dramatic Society’s Christmas pantomime made its long-awaited comeback, as did the Sligo Jazz and Sligo Summer Festivals.

It was a year Seamie and I found a new Monday home in Bree’s, and a year where we welcomed a huge number of new teenage performers to our Teenage Theme Nights. It was a year where I expanded my teaching philosophy, with new students, teachers and books, and a year where we opened for classes in Rathcormac for the first time.

Getting the show back on the road takes more than simply keeping it there however, and so 2022 was also a year where I got to create a bit less than I would have liked - in terms of writing music, recording podcasts and some other bits and pieces. Nothing that can’t be rectified in 2023 however!

Overall though a fantastic year - musically, socially and psychologically - and one on which I will look back fondly. Thanks for your part in that, and see you in 2023!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR: For impact, Luda, for energy and communion between audience and performers, Joe, and for craic, Seamie.

2. NEW MUSIC OF THE YEAR: Thanks to letter reader Des Power for sharing this wonderful playlist of some of his 2022 favourites. You’ll definitely find something you like on it.

3. GIG OF THE YEAR: Theo Katzman in Galway in August. To give you a flavour, here’s a live album of his.

Finally…

My favourite new song of 2022 - has to be this one (from June).

Till next time - Kieran.

The Christmas Edition

Dear Reader –

Happy Christmas to you, and a huge thanks for reading in 2022. We begin today with a short message about the art of celebration - it’s called ‘Eve‘.

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Eve

We’ve gotten really good at anticipation but have a harder time with the celebration.

The eve is the time just before the thing…and so we get to fill in whatever story we want about how it’s going to go. But for the actual celebration we have to deal with reality, how it is. 

We’ll get better at the celebration the more we practise.

Courtesy of Gabe Anderson.

Where else but Sligo?

We’ve been doing our best to fill Sligo with Christmas cheer over the last few days.

Gerry Grennan had the Bree’s crowd just where he wanted them last night as our gig drew to a close. Not only had he made them wait until the end to hear a Christmas song, he also made them wait for 6-7 instrumental choruses of the song itself before actually singing it. And his craftiness (!) paid off - I have never seen such a reaction to Santa Claus is Coming To Town! Great to have John Joe Kelly (bodhran) back out with us too.

But first prize must go to the children who came to see our Anything Goes Christmas Toons show on Sunday and Monday. Now we only have ourselves to blame, since Sinéad encouraged them to sing Jingle Bells so loud that Santa himself would hear us. As you can see from the picture below it worked - I just hope the roof in the Hawk’s Well is OK!

What’s New?

1. WORLD CUP FINAL: This Argentinian commentator’s reaction to the final Argentinian penalty being scored last Sunday would bring a tear to a glass eye. Starts at 0:36.

2. WITH GLOWING HEARTS: A gorgeous-looking Christmas gig taking place in the Hawk’s Well Theatre tomorrow evening (Wed 21st). What a line-up!

3. BONG DING A LING: If weird, wacky and witty Christmas songs are your thing, check this brand new one out. Courtesy of Theme Night Ensemble members Ken Roht, Dave Flynn and Ryan Scanlon (among others by the looks and sound of things)!

   Finally…One of the sadder Christmas songs, but no doubting its beauty. I always love to listen to Eoin singing it at this time of year. Live version from Vicar St 2019 below, or else check out this 2021 studio version.

Till next time - Kieran.

Dublin tales...

Dear Reader –

The gigs, the train, a request for you, Christmas present ideas and more original Christmas music…

**All hyperlinks in bold.

The Big Thing

Last week’s letter and the concept of building something great came back to me when I joined the Second Captains crew for two shows in Dublin last Wednesday and Thursday.

I have written about these lads before, most notably after our series of shows in March of this year, which included a star singing performance by George Hamilton among other things. They are first and foremost great (and funny) sports journalists and have recently asked me to add some music to their live shows. As a big fan of what they do I have been more than happy to oblige!

They have been working together for almost 20 years and celebrate 10 years of this particular incarnation next spring. They have lasted in a tough business and have the freedom to create whatever content they want due to their subscriber-led model. And they are good people.

How do they do it?? No easy answer to this one - I’m sure it’s a combination of many things, but here are three I saw for myself last week…

• They’re not afraid to try things (and bin them if they don’t work). No idea is a bad one.

• Impeccable musical taste.

• They bring you for exotic late-night meals and to secret pubs!

Where else but Sligo?

The Sligo-Dublin train is a big feature of life for many of us who live in this part of the world. We all have our stories from over the years - here’s mine from Friday morning.

I was to catch the early train home but due to the icy weather was standing on the (very cold) platform in Connolly Station for over an hour waiting for the train to emerge from its overnight shelter.

I was feeling sorry for myself until a man approached me and told me of a young American lady he had just met on the same platform who thought she was about to get on the Galway train. He sent her off on the Luas to Heuston Station to catch the correct one. What’s more, he was late and if the train had been on time he would have missed it. So he was delighted with himself (and with the train being late) - and his good cheer rubbed off on me! Thank you sir.

Finally, Sligo is all shades of white and grey at the moment. Here’s one from a few weeks back with a similar mood but a bit more colour…

What’s New?

1. HELP NEEDED: I’m looking for a venue in Dublin with a piano. Not necessarily a live music venue (although that would be great too), but any smallish (50-100 capacity) room with what you think may be a decent piano. Thanks!

2. CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEAS: We begin a new term of both our adult piano classes and our music club in early 2023. Also Theme Night #31 (extra date) tickets are on the move - a great gift which will give the January-hater in your life a lift!

3. BREE’S DEC 19th: I have missed the last couple of Mondays due to panto commitments, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to Bree’s next Monday 19th with Seamie and a few special guests. Our last Monday gig of 2022 so come on out!

Finally…

I had the pleasure of bumping into Georgie Gorman last Friday at Joe Kelly’s book launch. We had a lovely chat and reminisced about this Christmas song we wrote together five years ago. Listen to that voice!

Till next time - Kieran.