"Back off"!!

Dear Reader –

Don’t you love that feeling when someone brings up something you said years ago?!

The Big Thing

A big few weeks ahead!

Our Theme Night take on the music of Paul Simon and Sting.

Roscommon, Ballyshannon and of course Sligo.

AND we have just released a small number of extra tickets for some of the Sligo shows.
Get them here.

Where else but Sligo?

We were out recently with a family we have known a long time. It was our first time to have a drink together and the conversation was great all around.

A few members of the family had been to me for lessons over the years and the mother recounted the story of a phone call she made to me almost ten years ago, when one of her daughters was a young teenager and not practising.

“Do you remember what you said?”, she asked me.
“No”, I said fearfully, hoping that my younger self hadn’t let me down!

“You told me to back off”, she said, “and you were dead right - look at her now - she’s a beautiful player”.

Now I would hope that I was a little more polite than that (!), but the point I was making remains valid.
As long as a student is enjoying coming to lessons, there are times where a bit of patience from parents regarding practice is no harm, especially at certain stages of life. Better to have a good student who enjoys playing than a great one who doesn’t play any more.

What’s New?

1. STING DOCUMENTARY: I love this Sting album. And here’s an account of how it came together…well as much of it as can be found on YouTube anyway!

2. GUINEA PIGS: Loved this piece from young Sligo man Joe Gorman - on his generation’s relationship with the internet.

3. JURGEN KLOPP: One man said to me last Friday when the news broke - “We remember where we were when the Twin Towers came down, and we’ll remember where we were when we heard Jurgen Klopp was leaving Liverpool”. For Liverpool fans maybe (!) - but for the rest of us - well there’s no doubt that football fans will miss him.
   Here’s something to warm your heart (with an Irish link)…

Finally…

One of the songs from the aforementioned Sting album…what a band!

Till next time - Kieran.

Frost is all Over...?!?!?!

Dear Reader –

Here it is. As promised - from last year’s young Songwriters’ Showcase - Pro Murray with White Foyer.
Also featuring Jayne Feehily.

A huge thanks to Rory and Rummy at TemperHound Productions and Luke at The Blue Room Recording Studio for making this happen.

The Big Thing

The Best of Sligo with The Best of Irish.
With help from Donegal and Leitrim too it must be said!

It was another fantastic weekend in The Model with over 100 performances over the course of four shows. Happy heads everywhere - from first-timers to seasoned campaigners. Lots of great music - Hozier, Kodaline and The Cranberries were especially popular - and as always there were some great moments including the following…

• The first time we had uileann pipes on a Theme Night!

• Our horn section figuring out that the arrangement was in the wrong key and immediately transposing by pencil to the right key. All 30 mins before the show!

• The devastation when people realised how bad the storm was and that they mightn’t get to sing their songs that night…and then the joy when the show went ahead.

• All of our multi-instrumentalists - love to see the versatility of some of these teens.

• And finally I loved Pro Murray’s live performance of the above song - great to see how it can grow legs in the hands of capable musicians…

Where else but Sligo?

Our three Teenage Theme Night graduates last weekend. Each with their own story.

Emily Meades (2018) sang Imelda May’s Black Tears on her very last Teenage Theme Night. It was so good we asked her to do it again in Vicar St in 2019. And it was lovely to see some of our current crew inspired by her. Emily sang it herself on Friday night, but it was just as exciting to see Mimi Lee and Cara Carleton firstly choose it and then deliver it on the following two shows.

Sam White (2015) sang Galileo - also the song that he sang on his last Teenage Theme Night appearance. Peter Watters accompanied him on violin that year, and it was lovely to see Leo Tarrant (who I’m guessing was 7 yrs old in 2015!) accompany him equally beautifully this time.
Sam was part of the very first Teenage Theme Night, and remembered the times when each performer got to sing two songs just so we could make up one full set. No such problem this weekend!

Ryan Scanlon (2022) is a force of nature. Guitar, bass, drums, vocals - he can do it all, and he can entertain the crowd too. A generous soul, he lives for his music and it was great to see him back on our stage. He brought a band with him - great musicians all - and they entertained us with some Thin Lizzy and a song of their own.

What’s New?

1. SPELLING BEE: Mental stimulator or time waster? Not quite sure - but it’s fun.

2. BILLY JOEL NEW MUSIC?! Surely not?! He has only released one new song since 1993.
   But yes there is a song and possibly more on the way - according to The Guardian…

3. ST. THOMAS: They’re calling it the best ever score to win an All-Ireland final…

Finally…

One of the highlights from this weekend - OK The Mary Wallopers are a bit old for our shows - but Trevor Horan and the gang did a fantastic job on it!

Till next time - Kieran.

The whole shack shimmies...

Dear Reader –

The month of January is shimmying away nicely…ready to break out into full dance in the coming weeks!

The Big Thing

The set is almost finalised. My family are firmly sick (!) of Sting and Paul Simon music. All the various Theme Night departments are working away on their briefs. The choir is sounding great already. Mícheál ‘the whole shack shimmies’ Kearney is back for more.
And for the first time we have invited some outside artists to be part of Theme Night week.

Yes folks we are just over three weeks out from Theme Night #33 and the excitement levels are building. In me anyway! The first rehearsal took place last Sunday with a Theme Night newcomer - and without giving away too much - if everyone can bring the level of preparation (and humour) that this guy did then we’re all in for a fantastic week in February!

A few tix left for the Wednesday night, and just the very odd one for Thurs/Fri/Sat.
Find them (quickly before they go!) here.

Where else but Sligo?

It was during one of the online Theme Nights that Rory Maitland and his brother Drew saw this video and decided that they wanted to work with these ladies. The result was this song and video, and we all enjoyed the process so much that we decided to find a way to do it again.

So we offered one performer from our annual Young Songwriters’ Showcase the chance of a similar experience - to record an original song in Luke Devaney’s Blue Room Recording Studio and to take part in a video for that song shot by TemperHound Productions.

Leah Davidson (see below) was the chosen artist in 2022, and now our 2023 song and video is also ready for release this coming Friday. It’s called White Foyer - written and performed by young Bundoran man Pro Murray and we can’t wait to show you all the video here next week.
The 2024 Young Songwriters’ Showcase will take place this coming Feb 16th in The Model and lots of teenagers are currently putting the final (or first!) touches to their songs. Find out more here.

What’s New?

1. NEW TERM UP AND RUNNING: Welcome to all the new and returning students who are beginning the new term of piano lessons this week. As we try and do every term, we have added some new features this week and are looking forward to the sound of music returning to Strandhill, Rathcormac and homes across the county.

2. THE DARTS!: TVs were full of it recently - here’s 90 secs of amazing drama!

3. TEENAGE THEME NIGHT #31: The Best of Irish. 100+ of your favourite homegrown songs.
   This weekend. All weekend!

Finally…

Emily is our featured graduate this Friday night. And I love how her performance of this song in Vicar St five years ago has inspired two of our current teenage crew to sing it this Saturday and Sunday!

Till next time - Kieran.

Lighting a musical fire...

Dear Reader –

The year is firmly up and running - hope it’s been good for you so far!

The Big Thing

New year new Teenage Theme Night. The 31st of the series.
And yet more teenagers joining our programme - great to see it!

2024 started with a busy few days of rehearsals for next week’s shows. It’s one of my favourite themes each time it comes around - The Best of Irish - and here’s what I learned from the teenagers this time…

• The songs most in demand are as follows - Falling Slowly, Take Me to Church, Chasing Cars, This Town, Zombie and (in no small part thanks to our graduate Emily Meades) Black Tears.

• Hozier is amazing. And so popular with our younger generation. Am loving all the new songs of his I’m learning as a result.

• Bands are back! We have more bands than ever taking part, including our first all-female band.

• At an age where many are still finding out who they are, a bit of charisma stands out a mile. And Ben (below) has both in spades…

• And best of all - the future for music in this part of the country is bright!
  

Where else but Sligo?

My first piano teacher passed away last week.

Kathleen O’Hara was her name, and I used attend lessons with her on the grounds of the Ursuline Convent in a long building that isn’t there any more. There were wooden benches in the hall and I used get my homework done there while my brother went in for his lesson. Fights about who would go in first (or last)!

Kathleen was a lady though. And a great teacher. She gave me the building blocks of technique and theory that stand to me today, and although I had no interest in the grade system and exams, she gave me enough leeway with my choice of pieces outside of these to light my musical fire.

Her funeral was a celebration. There was lots of amazing music played by her (no surprise here!) incredibly musical family. My favourite was hearing Give me Joy in my Heart as the recessional hymn (with the congregation singing two parts) - what a happy soundtrack by which to be carried out of a church.

Rest in Peace Kathleen.

What’s New?

1. JANUARY: It’s my favourite month of the year. Another 52 of our four thousand weeks have passed since it was last here. But it’s the best (but not only) chance to make the next 52 better!

2. CAHOKIA JAZZ: By Francis Spufford - great fiction book set in the golden age of jazz. The main detective is also a mean piano player - what’s not to like?!

3. NEW TERM OF PIANO LESSONS: Last few slots available - we start next week. More info here.

Finally…

We’re building up to our big release of Pro Murray’s song and video this coming Jan 19th.
First though the previous two videos in this series - starting with Waiting by Corcra.

Till next time - Kieran.

Amazing or warped?!

Dear Reader –

Firstly, a final thought for 2023 - it’s somewhat fatalistic, but also nicely reassuring.
It’s in the chorus of this Theo Katzman song - thanks Eoin/Aileen and the Theme Night Choir…

The Big Thing

It was lovely to hear the pianos of the various houses we visited over Christmas being played by children of all ages (and even the odd adult). From Twinkle Twinkle to Blinding Lights and The Bare Necessities, plus the usual smattering of Christmas songs, the sound of music really adds so much to a home.

So - if you are full of fresh resolve this January to bring more music into your life, have a look at the various learning options we offer - we are currently enrolling for piano lessons (in-person and online) and our Music Club.

Where else but Sligo?

One of our Christmas traditions is the Coolera Car Treasure Hunt.

Jim Doyle (below, left) has an amazing (or warped, depending on whether you get his clues or not!) mind, and this year set a 52-clue cryptic hunt around our parish in order to raise money for the Sligo branch of the Irish Kidney Association (and to test the strength of various marital and family bonds).

You pick up the clues on St. Stephen’s Day and have until New Years Eve to figure it all out, driving at a snail’s pace around the peninsula with various combinations of family in the car, staring hawk-like out the window for something that might vaguely resemble an answer. And then when you get one trying frantically to make it look like you haven’t in case a competitor spots you…

We had my brother’s 6 and 5 year-old children with us for one stint last week, and one particular interaction summed the whole thing up.

Children: What are we looking for?
Adults: We’re not quite sure. We’ll know it when we see it.
Children: So how do we know what to look for?
Adults: Just keep looking…
Children: But we can’t look when we don’t know what we’re looking for…
Adults: F***ing Jim Doyle!!!

We managed to smile for this picture at least, although Sorcha’s is through gritted teeth!

What’s New?

1. BALLYSHANNON GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY: The Kings of Cool play the Abbey Arts Centre on Jan 20th, and then we return there with Theme Night #33 on Feb 23.

2. A THOUGHT FOR 2024: Inspired by a trip back to my old school…

3. CATHY JORDAN!!! With Feargal Murray - on this beautiful Brendan Graham song.

Finally…

There was even an obscure reference to this band on the treasure hunt.
Happy New Year everyone!

Till next time - Kieran.

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.