Yesterday's big day out!

Dear Reader –

Sometimes you need a good day out!

The Big Thing

And you mightn’t even know you need it until you’re halfway through it and you can’t stop commenting on what a great day out it is!

It was a lovely mixture of the In The Lamplight crew and the gang of us who are looking after the Theme Nights YouTube channel. And the day was full of wonderful coincidences.

Rory drove most of us up - we stopped in Ballinalack (of course) on the way up and I bumped into the father of a friend of mine and then (amazingly!) another great friend home from Uruguay.

We met Joy in Dublin and headed to Vicar St for a reccie where we discovered that the production manager there is the son of one of our choir members (and his sister is best friends with mine)!

We checked out a few smaller venues for possible upcoming gigs and bumped into Ballina superstar Garron Noone getting ready for a gig in Whelans. While we were there the news came through that one of our big guest artists for the Vicar St show has confirmed that he can make it…

So good fun all round - a leisurely afternoon, a nice bite to eat, a successful trip to an Escape Room of course, and we were ready for the road trip home, where we got stuck into the last few arguments about who should sing what on the upcoming show.

A great day out!

Where else but Sligo?

Ken ‘Tonto’ McDonald was featured this week in our Humans of the Theme Nights series.

In what is certainly not your conventional route to becoming a professional musician, Ken tells of leaving the ‘safe job’ in the bank, a failed audition with the school orchestra and the coat stand that supported his first cymbal.

Ken has been a massive part of the Theme Nights and Teenage Theme nights since Day 1 and yet there were parts of his story that I didn’t know. Read it in full here…

What’s New?

1. VANESSA JOB: Rest in Peace Vanessa - you brightened up our Hawk’s Well days in your own unique way. I wrote a few words about Vanessa’s impact on the Theme Nights here.

2. WHATSAPP: Shows how much we use the app when we are thrown by two lower case letters being changed to upper case! You know which ones I mean…

3. VICAR ST PREVIEW SHOW: Limited availability for this gig - last few tickets here.

Finally…

The latest Theme Nights video…
The crew eventually persuaded me to do a current song! First one in Rory’s shed too…
Favourite moment? Seamie setting up his amp and asking Stephen for a ‘quick listen to the tune’. 60 mins later he produced this.

Oh and Emily’s not bad either…

Till next time - Kieran.

One Night Only!

Dear Reader –

News of a special gig this week for those of you who can’t make it to Vicar St…

But first - we have lots of new releases to look forward to on the Theme Nights YouTube channel over the coming weeks…starting with Mr Joe Hunt!

The Big Thing

As promised above…our special Vicar St preview show…as always you dear letter readers have first dibs.

Wed May 8 upstairs in Lillies.
Show at 8pm.
Very limited availability.
Tickets (only €10) on sale from 6pm this evening (Tuesday).
Get them here.

Where else but Sligo?

Therese O’Loughlin was featured this week in our Humans of the Theme Nights series.

Therese is a much-loved member of the Theme Night Choir, and told us how choirs have now been part of her life for almost 50 years! She also spoke about her work in Globe House, her passion for Sligo Jazz and her favourite Theme Night moment.

From a personal point of view, Therese is one of the people who epitomises the spirit of the nights. She is first to welcome anyone new to the group, always looks out for people backstage and performs with a huge smile every time!

Read her story in full here…

What’s New?

1. NEW MUSIC: Teenage Theme Night graduate Paddy Keyes has released another great upbeat song. Over and Over - have a listen here.

2. END OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON: As we watched Storm Kathleen lay waste to the last of this years’ blossoms over the weekend, I was reminded of this quote from The Last Samurai.
   ”The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your entire life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life”.

3. TEENAGE THEME NIGHT WORKSHOP: The preparations have begun for May’s big show!

Finally…

No second chances with this Vicar St show folks…it’s on for one night only!!

Till next time - Kieran.

We've only just begun...

Dear Reader –

After all our efforts to determine potential numbers for a bus to Vicar St last week, we found out that Irish Concert Travel already had one on!
Details in the What’s New section…

The Big Thing

But first, we hosted our first Teenage Theme Night Open Mic on Tuesday in the foyer of the Hawk’s Well Theatre.

It was a less formal event than our regular Teenage Theme Nights - designed to encourage first-timers to get up and sing, and existing participants to try new things. It was also an opportunity for the teenagers to catch up in the lead-up to our last show of the year in May.

And it was fantastic - it ended up being a sold out event with lots of new faces, and loads of musical highlights! Thanks to our hosts James and Sean, event producer Joy, to all our performers, to everyone who supported the event and a shoutout to Cal Halpin for bringing the drum kit!

More photos from the event on my Facebook page.

Where else but Sligo?

Our Humans of the Theme Nights series kicked off last week with a feature on Jamie Callaghan (pictured below, second from right, with his first band).

Jamie first got involved with us on Theme Night #20. Eddie Lee had sent me a video of him busking on the street and then when I heard him in person outside Tesco I knew we had to get him involved.
He sang The Best of My Love on the show but I remember vividly that it was when Joe Hunt couldn’t make a rehearsal one night and Jamie stepped into his place to sing Hotel California that our collective jaws dropped! What a vocalist he is.

And his story is full of surprises, including a session with Adele’s vocal coach! Read it in full here…

What’s New?

1. VICAR ST BUS: Book your tickets here.

2. BALTASAR GRÁCIAN ON PRODUCTIVITY: “Do something well, and that is quickly enough.”

3. ROAD SIGNS: Standing proud around the outskirts of Sligo town. Have you spotted any?!

Finally…

The setlist discussions for Vicar St are firmly up and running…this is beautiful!

Till next time - Kieran.

Humans of the Theme Nights...

Dear Reader –

Anyone for the bus to Dublin?!

The Big Thing

There has been loads of chat about the Vicar St gig in the last week or so which is great to hear. And one question I have been asked plenty is if there will there be a bus from Sligo?

So - any interest? The bus would probably leave Sligo around 3pm and return straight after the gig.
Please reply to this email or get in touch ASAP if you or a gang would be interested. If enough of you are we will certainly put one on! Thanks…

Where else but Sligo?

Please keep an eye out over the next few weeks on my social media pages for our Humans of the Theme Nights series. The stories of some of the faces you see on stage, how they first got involved in the shows and what they get up to outside of the Theme Nights.

We’ll start this week with one of your favourites but will feature many more over the coming weeks.
Is there anyone whose story you’d like to hear?

What’s New?

1. TTN OPEN MIC: The first ever Teenage Theme Night Open Mic takes place this evening in the foyer of the Hawk’s Well Theatre. We hope to introduce a series of these events into next year’s TTN calendar. Hosted by James McManus and Sean Callaghan (AKA Bacon and Cabbage) - all are welcome to come along and join the fun. A small number of (extremely reasonably priced) tickets left here!

2. BEGINNINGS: A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in ideas for our Vicar St theme. I have been blown away by the number of you who got in touch with your thoughts. Last chance to do so today - just have a look at this doc first…

3. WAKE: THISISPOPBABY are a theatre and events production company whose latest show I had the pleasure of seeing in the National Stadium last Saturday. It was incredible and fantastic to see MOXIE’s Darren Roche in the thick of it all. Below pic courtesy of their Instagram page.

Finally…

The WAKE crew adapted this Leon Redbone song (also recorded by Peggy Lee) and it was one of the comedic highlights of the show…

Till next time - Kieran.

Beginnings...

Dear Reader –

Vicar St here we come - the fun starts today!

The Big Thing

“So what’s this Beginnings theme all about anyway?”

A question I have been asked once or twice (!) since we announced it…

All is explained today - and I’d love your help in picking the set too.

Read more here.

Where else but Sligo?

It was so good to see music back in the newly christened Méabh’s Square for St. Patrick’s Day.

There was a full programme of events this weekend - I got to see the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta pair up with the Ceol na nÓg Traditional Orchestra for the world premiére of the North West Suite.

I loved everything about it - the music, the relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, the new angle of the stage and the sheer scale of the square, the fact that my son could fit through the security gate of a local institution in order to retrieve his football (!), and most of all - that Sligo has had the foresight to invest in its artistic, cultural and musical traditions.

This is a huge addition to the town - well done to all involved.

What’s New?

1. CLEAN THE DRESSING ROOMS: I was never the biggest fan of sports teams who felt the need to tell the world how amazing they were to clean their dressing rooms themselves after a game. But there was something impressive about seeing the Head of the Academy at Sligo Rovers (and former great) Conor O’Grady picking up the litter at the Showgrounds after the game on Saturday night. The 3 goals weren’t bad either!

2. THEME NIGHTS ON THE WEST END: Congrats to Theme Night regular Nichola MacEvilly, who stars in the West End production of A Long Day’s Journey Into Night. It opens this evening - and Nichola is keeping some serious company in this show!

3. THE LETTER TREE IN FULL BLOOM! As christened by you guys…it’s that time of year again!

Finally…

This is fantastic! The Chieftains and the RTE Symphony Orchestra in a clever, lively and sometimes hilarious face-off. Love that The Late Late Show encouraged this type of music.

Till next time - Kieran.

Murder on the Dancefloor...

Dear Reader –

Apparently it was mayhem at TedFest last weekend…read on to see which Sligo band were at the centre of it all…

The Big Thing

The big things at the moment aren’t that exciting, and so I’m not going to say much about them today.

But if these not-that-exciting things lead to what we hope they will, then that will be a big thing!

So let’s move on - I have some actual things to tell you about in the next section…

Where else but Sligo?

Specifically…two gigs featuring Sligo musicians at different ends of the province of Connacht last Friday night.

Firstly the Hawk’s Well Theatre celebrated International Women’s Day with a star-studded line-up for Ladies Night. Pauline McLynn hosted - and it was great to see lots of local groups represented, including our Theme Night Choir - just not quite sure how Dave, Liam and Robert (below) were allowed in!

At the same time on Inis Mór it was TedFest weekend - not sure how Pauline McLynn avoided this one (!) - but who headlined the festival on the Friday night only Sligo band The Pound St (Altar) Boys - who as you can see below dressed up for the occasion. The stories coming back from the weekend are brilliant - priests and nuns everywhere, no Fr. Ted detail too small to be included.
However drummer Micky Downs’ biggest takeaway had nothing to do with Fr. Ted - ‘how’, he asked, ‘in days gone by - did men row over and back to the mainland in a currach with cattle and sheep’?!

How indeed.

What’s New?

1. MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR: Counter-intuitively, Theme Night off-season means more time at the piano…

2. THE GREATEST NIGHT IN POP: Watch it…

3. TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON: How clever is this video? And emotional. Making full use of modern technology…

Finally…

This was the finale from Friday’s Ladies Night which featured Sinéad Conway, Joy Feehily, Katelyn Ressler and the Theme Night Choir. This version merely features Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin…

Till next time - Kieran.

Both Sides Now...

Dear Reader –

Some insight into the crazy world of the musician’s brain today, some must-see shows over the next few weeks, and a tribute to a giant of a man.

The Big Thing

This week is workshop week!

Always a favourite of mine in the teaching term - it’s where I meet lots of our younger students in groups and try to show them a different side of music to what they get in their regular lessons.

Yesterday for example we spoke about the differences between clapping on beats 1 and 3 of the bar and doing so on beats 2 and 4. I showed them this Harry Connick Jr video where he tricks an unknowing audience to change from clapping on the 1 and 3 (musicians don’t like!) to the 2 and 4 (musicians like!).

Have a look - it’s short - and see if you can spot the drummer cheering when he pulls it off - trying to do this was the highlight of yesterday’s workshop.

Where else but Sligo?

One morning last September Joe Shannon told us a story.

It was a story from his teenage days about a prank his friends played on him. Young Joe had been secretly writing letters to a mystery female penpal for a number of weeks now, and this was the day he was finally going to get to meet her.

Little did he know that the letters had been part of an elaborate set-up and this gorgeous girl in a floral dress hadn’t a clue who he was when he walked up for his big moment. Torn between keeping a brave face and the heartbreak he was feeling inside, he walked away and never saw this beautiful lady again. 

Thankfully many years later Joe could see the bright side of this story and he had a great laugh telling it to myself and Georgie (and thousands of listeners) last September on Ocean FM.
It summed him up really - honest, positive and full of craic.

Soon after he told the story Joe sang Both Sides Now. The feeling and passion with which he sang it moved many people that day and I remember leaving the studio with that feeling of having experienced something real.

Sadly Joe passed away yesterday and is now looking at life from the other side - so on behalf of all in the Theme Nights thanks Joe for all you brought to our shows over the years. I’ll never forget the feeling in the room when you sang Rocking All Over The World and indeed many of us, in the Theme Nights and beyond, will never forget the feeling you gave us when we met you. 

Rest in Peace Joe.

What’s New?

1. HAWK’S WELL 1: I had a great Saturday night out last weekend at Shaun Purcell’s musical Esmeray. I love Shaun’s music - and Stardust sung by Éabha, Niamh, Aoife, Kieran and Ryan - was a real highlight.

2. HAWK’S WELL 2: Am hoping to get to see No Crows this coming Saturday too. What a band!

3. HAWK’S WELL 3: Can’t wait to see what Karen Gordon and her crew do with One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest! On at the end of this month…and still a small number of tickets here.

4. HAWK’S WELL 4: I won’t be seeing much of three of my friends for the next while - Sinéad, Luke and Niamh are part of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change - a musical comedy directed by new Hawk’s Well Theatre director Kieran Griffiths. Apparently they are going into full-time rehearsals for the next few weeks - I can’t wait to see what results that brings!

Finally…

Take a moment…

Till next time - Kieran.

Stuck for words...

Dear Reader –

I had a moment this morning on the phone to my mother where we both realised that it doesn’t get much better than this. What a few weeks we have just had. Playing great music with great musicians for great people. Working with young musicians to help them on their way. All the time surrounded by an amazing team and huge generosity of spirit.

And so today I’d like to say a heartfelt thankyou to you all for the part you play in making that happen.
Long may it last!

The Big Thing

I don’t really have too much to say today apart from that.

And a few words about last Friday - the Theme Night spaceship landed in Ballyshannon for the last show of the run. It was a lovely way to wrap it up. One of the Ballyshannon musicians wrote to me afterwards to thank me for a great night of friendship and music. And that sums it all up really.

Where else but Sligo?

OK one more thing (!) - I LOVED this. Niall was one of our visiting artists at the Sligo shows a few weeks ago and he is a class act..

Interestingly I nearly didn’t play on this recording with him. The piano track on the original Paul Brady version is so iconic and so embedded in my head that it was difficult to come with a piano track that wasn’t that.

With a bit of encouragement from Niall I found something however…and I’m so glad I did. A great experience. Massive thanks to Niall and to our Theme Nights crew for capturing it so well.

What’s New?

1. KENDY/RAYBO: I was at my first live show with the lads last Thursday - a great night out. Congrats to all, especially to Brendan Tierney for another hugely successful Sligo Comedy Festival. What this man is doing is nothing short of amazing.

2. 1-20: Not a bad score to put up! Big third win in a row for Sligo GAA on a lovely spring day in Markievicz Park last Sunday…great to see things continuing to move in the right direction.

3. A TIME FOR DOING AND A TIME FOR THINKING: It’s hard to do both. Am looking forward to switching gears for a while. I’ll keep you in the loop!

Finally…

Hard to pick one favourite from all the fantastic Sting and Paul Simon music we played over the last few weeks. This was so much fun to play each night though…great version too!

Till next time - Kieran.