Breaking the rules...

Dear Reader –

Firstly thanks you so much for your support this year. All of this simply wouldn’t be possible without you. I wish you a happy and peaceful time over the coming days, good health and fortune in 2024 and here’s to lots of great music in the coming months.

The Big Thing

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

1. We’ve hired someone (November)

2. Confidence-building and friendship-making (May)

3. The people who make things happen (January)

4. And the theme is… (April)

5. Stars under the stars (May)

Where else but Sligo?

It was in March when I first contacted Jamie in Lillies regarding the possibility of a gig upstairs in his venue. I had played there at Corcra’s Christmas party in 2022 and loved the atmosphere - it reminded me a bit of some of the first ever gigs I did in Sligo - upstairs in McGarrigle’s with Eddie Lee and Ken McDonald in 2007.

I ended up waiting till November to pull the trigger on it though - it was one of those situations where you think and hope that it will work but are a bit scared in case it doesn’t. As always, I’m glad we did it.

You guys know by now that I love putting together the Theme Nights - they are wonderful - but with this wonder comes structure and rules, without which the audience would be left hanging. The beauty of this new Unplugged series is that we can break the rules a bit. Play a bit looser. Try things out. Play with the structure a bit. And that’s an important part of our musical identity too.

One letter reader was there this week and kindly sent me an email which summed it up.

”Just wanted to say I really enjoyed Wednesday night at Lillies.  While I love the theme nights at the Hawk’s Well, the smaller, more intimate venue really was special.  Well done to all of you. You are a seriously talented bunch and a joy to watch performing.  Would really love more of these nights”. 

Safe to say that there will be more of these gigs in 2024 - stay tuned.

PS a special shoutout to the O’Reilly family. The Hawk’s Well are putting on a gorgeous-looking gig in January called Folk Families. Well if they ever decide to put on Rock Families they should look no further than Lorraine, Ciaran and Sean - Luke Devaney and I had the pleasure of sitting in with them after the upstairs gig on Thursday. What a band!

What’s New?

1. BEST NEW MUSIC OF 2023: Once again letter reader Des Power shared this playlist with me - some fantastic selections - have a listen - it’s a great way of discovering new music.

2. CHRISTMAS CHEER: I love this - Second Captains meet The Mary Wallopers.

3. FAVOURITE THEME NIGHT PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR: It wasn’t just me. You guys LOVED this every night of October’s Theme Night #32…thanks Sinéad for moving us.

Finally…

Here’s another great Theme Night memory from earlier this year…enjoy the turkey sandwiches!

Till next time - Kieran.

Completing a fatherly duty...

Dear Reader –

Lots of Christmas songs and stories this week, so why not start with the Christmas No. 1 from 1983 (!) - brought to you by the Theme Nights crew from a cozy corner in McLynn’s pub…

The Big Thing

Meanwhile further down the road the festive season was truly up and running in Lillies last weekend. The usual Sunday night crew - Tabby Callaghan, Duane Gallagher, Luke Devaney and Eddie Delaney - were rocking as always, and somehow managed to stay professional as the Christmas cheer got the better of some audience members!

We’re back in the upstairs room this Wednesday and Thursday of course for two Theme Night unplugged gigs. Aileen Concannon, Eddie Lee, Gerry Grennan, Ken McDonald, Leah Davidson, Luke Devaney, Sam Purcell and Seamie O’Dowd are joining me there over the course of the two nights and we have two great sets lined up.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing lots of you there, and a small number of tickets have become available for Wednesday night’s gig for the first person/people to express an interest.

Where else but Sligo?

Last week for the first time, I got to bring one of my children to the panto. The other is already too old (!) to want to go. It was the first year since 2005 that I wasn’t playing piano for the run, and so I was excited…

And what a show it was. I had helped to prepare and rehearse it, so I could anticipate a few things, but to sit there and watch it from start to finish was just so enjoyable. MD Bryan Mullen and the band sounded great and had added lots of clever underscoring from which the cast were getting a great buzz.

The stage looked fantastic, and the old favourites played a blinder once more. I loved when out of habit the audience booed Bobby Jones’ character, even though for once this year he wasn’t the bad guy. Brian Devaney had to playfully scold the audience - ‘you know he’s the nicest character in the panto this year’?!

Young actors Katelyn Rafter, Joseph Harrison and Trevor Horan more than held their own among a largely older cast and were especially good musically I thought.

Indeed we had the pleasure of Katelyn (pictured below) joining us back on the Hawk’s Well stage the following day for Christmas Toons, so the festive season is truly up and running!

What’s New?

1. SLIGO ACADEMY OF MUSIC CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: Really looking forward to this show tonight. More here.

2. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU: Overplayed? Maybe. Sick of it? Perhaps. Incredibly clever and well-written song? Certainly. This article is for the music theory nerds out there…

3. STING ON SODAJERKER: The research phase for Theme Night #33 is firmly up and running! This is a great insight into how Sting thinks about songwriting.

Finally…

I know I know…BUT…we had great fun at our piano workshops last week looking at the various features of this song. It is so well put-together. And you may need it as a reference for What’s New (2).

Till next time - Kieran.

The measure of my dreams...

Dear Reader –

There is only one big thing in the world of Irish music this week…

The Big Thing

Ciaran Murphy from the Second Captains podcast suggested once that we should each have to choose three famous people whose death we are allowed to mourn on social media. Anyone else - say what you like about them privately, but leave the public statements to those who really knew/loved them.

I was reminded of this over the last few days in the aftermath of the death of Shane McGowan. He’s not in my three (I have Paul McGrath and two TBC) so I’m going to leave the tributes to the likes of Steve Wickham (see below).

However I will always remember two moments from the last few days which illustrated the effect he had.
Firstly - Friday afternoon when I arrived slightly late and flustered into the Liberty Hall theatre in Dublin ready to hit the ground running and prepare for that evening’s gig. My mood flipped instantly as I realised that the production crew had all taken a breather to sit in silence and watch the livestream of Shane’s funeral on a phone.

And yesterday in Micky Downs’ kitchen when he asked us to take 5 minutes to watch the rendition of Fairytale of New York from the same funeral (see below also).
A gang of normally boisterous men sat quietly in awe and respect.

Where else but Sligo?

To borrow a phrase from the world of sport - ‘play the kids’!

That’s exactly what we did in the beautifully festive Drumcliffe Church last Thursday evening. This writer plus Sam, Cara, Leah and Zach - none of whom have yet reached the age of 20.

And this group of young musicians not only held the attention of the 200+ people who packed the church, but entertained them, connected with them and even moved some to tears. One of my favourite gigs of the year.

And so if I may conclude by drawing your attention to another phrase - the one used in the title of this letter and described in the Irish Independent in 2018 as “the most beautiful [line] in modern music”.

My dream was always to play music with great musicians to an audience that listens. If I was to measure - it would be to count how many of these happen each year. I don’t - maybe I should - but if I did last Thursday would definitely be on the list.

What’s New?

1. VICAR ST. tickets are on sale NOW. Here.

2. MICHAEL CARRUTH: He was a guest on the gig last Friday, and received a standing ovation without saying a word. The power of nostalgia.

3. RORY MAITLAND: Got out from behind the camera to deliver this beautiful vocal…

Finally…

No words needed…I was interested in the thoughts of the priest however…

Till next time - Kieran.

We're heading back to Vicar St!

Dear Reader –

Apologies for the late letter but we wanted to get all the details sorted before sending it out to you. The gig will be officially announced tomorrow but as always you guys get first notice.
It will have been over five years since we were in Vicar St. by the time we get back next May…I really hope you can join us.

We do of course have Theme Night #33 in February first though (Simon and Sting) - hers’s a beautiful arrangement from the pen of Luke Devaney that may just have to feature…

The Big Thing

But now - here all the details you need…

Theme Night #34 - Beginnings.
May 16th 2024 - Vicar St. Dublin.

Tickets on sale next Tuesday 12th Dec at 10am from ticketmaster.ie

Or why not treat someone special to an exclusive experience?

Where else but Sligo?

This blog post tells one of my favourite stories from our 2019 trip to Vicar St. It was published on March 3 2020, 6 weeks before we were due to return. Of course we never did…until now!

The theme really excites me I must say…I loved this quote i heard the other day.
‘And all of a sudden - you know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings’.
It sums up the feeling of starting into a new theme night with a blank canvas.

But the word beginnings conjures up so much more…
New performers. Dublin audiences coming to see the show for the first time. Sligo folk heading to see us in Dublin for the first time. Veteran performers reflecting on their beginnings with the theme nights. New songs and arrangements. Our new YouTube channel. Even the importance of the first note of a song. There is so much we can do with this theme and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

Finally, I went to see Theo Katzman in Vicar St in October. And who came around at the end of the night to tell me it was time to go home? You guessed right - one of the men at the centre of the story above! We had a good laugh about it and he’s looking forward to the return of the ‘choir from Sligo’ in May!

What’s New?

1. CORCRA’s version of This Christmas is out on all streaming platforms now…

2. MATT HALPIN: This friend of Sligo and regular Sligo Jazz saxophone tutor brings a European seven-piece jazz supergroup to Lillies this Friday at 8pm. More here.

3. BRENDAN GRAHAM AND CATHY JORDAN: Cathy has been busy! Below is the first single from Brendan Graham’s (You Raise Me Up) new album…

Finally…

One of the big moments from the 2019 ‘Victor St’ gig…great to hear Georgie in full voice.
And the choir sound amazing!

Till next time - Kieran.

Big smiley heads!

Dear Reader –

Aileen Concannon was one of our guests on last Thursday’s first Theme Nights Unplugged gig. I met her again yesterday and after having watched the below video she asked me ‘Why was I smiling so much’?
It was just that kind of night I guess…

The Big Thing

But first - after more than FIVE years - we are finally returning to Vicar St.
Thursday May 16 2024 is the date for Theme Night #34 and tickets will go on sale next week.

All you need to know in next week’s letter, including details of VIP packages and chartered buses to the event.
Let the countdown begin!

Where else but Sligo?

Back to last Thursday briefly though - Aileen wasn’t the only one smiling - look at Niamh Crowley below!

And as Luke Devaney lead out on the last tune of the night for us I spotted his Dad Adrian watching him with one of those contented looks on his face that only a proud father can wear.

It was a lovely night. It’s a great room upstairs in Lillies - it was magic to get to play some of the music we have performed at Theme Nights over the years but in a looser fashion. And while I’m well used to playing with Seamie and Luke in that type of gig, it’s not something I have done too much with either Aileen or Niamh. Aileen was in great form all night - and I absolutely love Niamh’s improvising on Dirty Old Town above.

Outside of the music I found it really interesting too - I noticed myself addressing the audience as if I was in the Hawk’s Well - maybe a slightly more informal approach might work better in December - but hey one step at a time I guess.

Speaking of December - we’re releasing a small number of tickets for those two shows at 6pm this evening. Click here for Wednesday 20th and here for Thursday 21st. Two brand-new line-ups too - see links for details.

Pics from the night by Sam Elliott.

What’s New?

1. COOLERA CHRISTMAS PANTO: Dick Whittington, his cat Tommy and all your panto favourites return to the Hawk’s Well stage this week. And while I’m guessing people will presume that tickets are all gone (because they almost always are), for once they aren’t…there are still some available here.

2. NEW TERM OF PIANO LESSONS: If anyone is interested in signing up for our new term in January, please get in touch. More info here.

3. PHARRELL DISCOVERS MAGGIE ROGERS: This is so good! It shows Pharrell Williams trying to keep his excitement in as he discovers the music of then NYU music student (and now Grammy-nominated) Maggie Rogers for the first time…

Finally…

The latest release from Cathy Jordan and the Crankie Island project…

Till next time - Kieran.

We have a theme...

Dear Reader –

A big week this week - Morrissey discovered the Teenage Theme Nights…and if you watch our latest video you’ll discover Sam Purcell on the tin whistle!

The Big Thing

But first - Theme Night #33 - February 2024.
Inspired by a gig that Sinéad and I saw in Glasgow in 2015…
Still some tickets available for the Wednesday and Thursday shows here.

The first time since Theme Night #25 four years ago that we have used an artist-focused theme, and the first time that we will look again at an artist previously covered by the Theme Nights. I’d love to know of any memories some of you may have of Theme Night #5 (Paul Simon) in Source in 2012…

AND - all details for Vicar St 2024 announced next week - you’ll hear first here next Tuesday.

Where else but Sligo?

A serious shift put in by this crew last Sunday!

Pro Murray (below, seated) wrote a fantastic song called Underneath The Chandelier which was selected to be professionally recorded at our Young Songwriters’ Showcase last March. It’s about a frustrated dancer.

So we asked UL dance student Jayne Feehily to choreograph and perform a dance routine for the song.

Luke Devaney (not pictured) recorded and produced the track at his studio this summer.

And finally Rory and Rummy from TemperHound came up with a plan for the music video and shot it all last Sunday.

Big thanks to everyone who made this happen, including the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Robbie Fitzpatrick and the good people at Castle Dargan who allowed us use their premises to record.

The video will be released in January 2024…can’t wait to see it!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHTS UNPLUGGED: The first gig in this series kicks off this Thursday upstairs in Lillies. It will feature Aileen Concannon, Luke Devaney, Niamh Crowley and Seamie O’Dowd, and I can’t wait for it! Thanks to everyone who managed to get tickets, and to the many of you who have told me you couldn’t, we certainly hope to put on more of these gigs in 2024…

2. MORRISSEY DISCOVERS TTN…17 year-old Keelan Murphy (with Aisling Little on BVs) presented a fantastic version of Morrissey’s Jack The Ripper at the recent Teenage Theme Night #30. Keelan grew up listening to the music of Morrissey - and indeed recently played at Sligo Live with These Charming Men - a Morrissey/Smiths cover band. So you can imagine how excited Keelan was when Morrissey posted his performance on his website…

3. SAM ELLIOTT took some amazing photos at TTN #30 - and indeed is joining us too in Lillies this Thursday…you can check out more of his work here.

Finally…

Here’s Sting performing Paul Simon’s America…

Till next time - Kieran.

Go Your Own Way...

Dear Reader –

Firstly a huge thank you - your response last week made it three Theme Night Unplugged gigs sold out in a matter of hours. Very much looking forward to the first one next week.

Here’s a brand new release from our YouTube channel to get you in the mood…

The Big Thing

But first - Teenage Theme Nights are back with a bang!
We played The Name Game all last weekend in The Model.
Rosanna. Gloria. St. Thomas. Jackie AND Wilson.

Amazing support shown to first-time performers and emcees.
Thanks to Sean Blaine Sam Sarah Mimi Maya Cara Joseph.
Taylor Swift taking over - Betty. Marjorie. Dear John.
Some older favourites too - Iris. Valerie. Jolene.

A TY show for the first time since 2020.
No bother to them. Amazing audiences.
Original songs and 9-minute epics.

Graduates Stephen Fraser Leanne.
Dave Ken Keith - what a band!
100+ performers. 90+ songs.
Minnie. Delilah. Seymour. Jesus!

Next one in January.

Where else but Sligo?

Two subjects not usually mentioned in these pages are my family and politics - but this week is different…

My wife announced last week that she will be stepping down from her role as a county councillor at the time of the next local elections in 2024. I was looking back through some photos of her tenure and was filled with awe at her sheer selflessness and dedication to the role.

It’s not something I could ever do - and I know many of you feel the same, and so I believe that those who do enter that world deserve our respect, especially those who display the courage and work ethic shown by Sinéad over the last ten years.

Those of you on Facebook can read her statement here, and I wanted to mention it today in the hope that it may encourage someone out there to think about the possibility of putting your own name forward. Sinéad is hugely passionate about the importance of public service and diverse representation - and indeed makes a generous offer to assist or mentor anyone who is thinking of running for election next year.

The people of Sligo were (and still are) lucky to have her as their representative. Thankfully we as her family and friends get to have the privilege of her company and wisdom for many years to come yet.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHTS #33+34: Two big announcements on the way - the theme for Theme Night #33 and the date for Theme Night #34 (Vicar St). Stay tuned here - as always letter readers will hear first…

2. ON COMPLIMENTS: Here’s a great take from Gabe the Bass Player on this subject…

3. ON MISTAKES: And one below from James Clear on this topic…

Finally…

While we’re on the Fleetwood Mac buzz…

Till next time - Kieran.

We've hired someone...!

Dear Reader –

More big announcements today, including another Lillies date in December…

But first - the opening Teenage Theme Night of the year is upon us. More details below, after you check out our latest video - featuring current 6th Yr Cara Carleton with one of our heartbreak songs from Theme Night #32.

The Big Thing

Thanks everybody for selling out our first two Theme Nights Unplugged dates in Lillies in a matter of hours last week. Anyone who has been speaking to me over the last few days knows how excited I am for these.

And so happily today we get to announce an extra date - Wed 20th Dec - again upstairs in Lillies.
Tickets on sale at 6pm today (Tuesday) here - once again capacity is small so don’t miss out!

Where else but Sligo?

I’m excited to announce that the post advertised in this letter in September has been filled. Thanks to all candidates who applied and indeed interviewed for the post - the quality was extremely high - and I’m happy to say that the successful candidate in the end was Joy Feehily.

I first met Joy over 7 years ago through the Coolera Dramatic Society pantomime and then the Teenage Theme Nights. We have worked together in various ways since then and her drive, initiative and passion for the arts have been clear throughout that time. She is a wonderful singer in her own right - many of you will know her from the Theme Nights stage - and she has played a huge part behind the scenes in the success of the shows over the last 18 months or so.

We have lots of exciting plans for the Theme Nights and Teenage Theme Nights over the next few years and I’m looking forward to working with Joy to make them happen.

What’s New?

1. TEENAGE THEME NIGHT #30: We have four (yes 4!) shows in The Model this weekend. Friday, Saturday and 2 shows on Sunday. 120+ teenagers and some fantastic talent. Tickets here.

2. THE RUNNING GRAVE: Good fiction alert!! Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) is back with another Strike and Robin story - I ordered this book this morning.

3. SLIGO LIVE: Congrats to Rory, Willie and all behind Sligo Live. A great few weeks of music by all accounts - The Waterboys were one of the headliners of course and I enjoyed this tweet from Mike Scott after last Saturday’s show.

Finally…

From Teenage Theme Night #29 back in May…featuring Annie Buick and Alannah Donohue.

Till next time - Kieran.