Exit Music…

Dear Reader - The class of 2025 made their exit this weekend…

The Big Thing

So the first year of our Theme Night Academy is finished.
And the current crop of 6th Yrs set us all a new standard, with the support of the amazing Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta of course.
What a weekend we had in the Hawk's Well Theatre.

The shows were more ambitious than anything we had tried before, but boy did they work. It took the expertise of ten professionals to get them there however - so a huge thanks to Aileen, Sinéad, Dave, Ken, Eddie, Niamh, James, Luke, Rory and Joy for all the hard work.

And while these nights are about the music, they also aren't.
They are about providing teenagers with a platform to express themselves and access to a community of like-minded people at what can be a difficult time in their lives. And if you saw the camaraderie and warmth around the piano in the back room of McLynn's after the show last night, it was clear that the friendships and memories made by this gang in their time with us will last a long time.

Musically it is unfair to single anyone out, but I'm going to do it anyway!
I have known Darragh O'Keeffe (below) since he was kind to our son during football matches on the green outside our house in Strandhill 8 or 10 years ago.
And while kindness can't really be associated with the lyric 'I hope that you choke', by the time he got to the end of his vocal on Radiohead's Exit Music (for a film) it didn't matter what the words were - we were hanging on every single one.
A remarkable performance.

So farewell to the class of 2025.
You brought so much to our lives over the last three years.
You will be missed, but this is not the end.

Where else but Sligo?

It’s festival season!
And we have a new Sligo date to add to our schedule over the coming months.
We had a fantastic time in Cloonacool last year and can’t wait to get back there.

And who remembers the song Seamie wrote about this festival on Theme Night #35?!
“It’s the Clooooonacoooooool Sheep Festival - the wooliest ceili around”.

It may have to be resurrected that night!

Tickets for both gigs available now - follow this link.
And more announcements to come soon!

What’s New?

1. PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE: This photograph collection is compelling.

2. BARCELONA: The most exciting foorball team around at the moment. Watch here and here for highlights of their two recent 4-3 classics.

3. CRINNIU NA NÓG: It’s exciting to be working with Sligo BID, The Crib and the Hawk’s Well Theatre in preparing a multi-disciplinary arts event for Sligo’s youth in early June. More info here.

Finally…

This is the song that Darragh sang over the weekend. So powerful.

Till next time - Kieran.

The grand finale

Dear Reader - a bittersweet weekend ahead..

The Big Thing

The biggest sporting event in Jamaica is nothing to do with soccer, basketball or even baseball. It is the National Boys and Girls Athletics Championships - the ‘Champs’ as it is affectionately known.
To Jamaicans it is the highlight of the sporting year, with crowds of 30,000 people gathering from across the island to watch over 100 schools battle it out for title of "King" or "Queen".
It is a showcase for emerging talent - the next generation of athletes who will represent their country at the Olympic Games or World Championships.

This event was an inspiration to me when setting up the Teenage Theme Nights over 11 years ago. To create a showcase for young musicians, where people would come from far and wide to see the next generation of talent.

And this weekend is the closest we have got yet to realising that vision.

On Saturday and Sunday we present Teenage Theme Night #35 - featuring the talents of our 100+ members accompanied by the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta.

We would all love for you to join us.
It will be sad, as we are saying goodbye to a fantastic bunch of 6th Yrs.
But it will also be uplifting, and it’s for everyone - these guys are good - trust me!

Where else but Sligo?

“Do you have any idea how lucky you are to casually say yeah I’d like a choir and an orchestra on my song”?

Aileen Concannon is one of our tutors brought in to help the teens prepare for the big show this weekend. And she let the teenagers know in no uncertain terms how great an opportunity she felt they were getting.

Niamh Crowley, Sinéad Conway and Dave Flynn have also been involved over the last few weeks.

It is always amazing to see Niamh in full control of her orchestra and Saturday was no different - 20 new pieces tackled with the minimum of fuss.

Aileen and Sinéad took the 4th/5th Yrs through their vocal paces, and despite Dave having had a crazy few Sweeney Todd months, he was in great form and taught the choir their 4 songs in just 90 mins!

What’s New?

1. BILLY AND ELTON: For any fans of these two fantastic piano men, we have a combined seven songs from their back catalogues on this weekend’s setlist.

2. EOIN AND LIAM: Our last show in March saw the emergence of two fantastic TY guitarists. We have paired them together on a few songs for this show!

3. THEME NIGHTS UNPLUGGED SUCCESS: A big thanks to the Captain and Lady Captain for the invite to play at Co. Sligo Golf Club last Thursday (Lady Captain happens to be a decent fiddle player too). It was a wonderful evening! More Theme Nights dates announced next week.

Finally…

Our Academy members may be young but they know their history!
Here is one classic choice for this weekend’s show…

Till next time - Kieran.

Infectious enjoyment…

Dear Reader - some Theme Night news for the first time in a while today!

The Big Thing

When announcing last January that the Theme Nights were taking a break for the rest of 2025, I was careful to say that there would be no more Sligo-based Theme Nights this year. That’s because I knew we had this exciting gig in the pipeline for this summer.

And so today we are delighted to announce the Theme Nights as part of the Boyle Arts Festival for the first time.

The Power of Love was possibly our most popular theme yet, so we’re bringing a brand new version of the show to Boyle on July 20.
For one night only.

And…these tickets will sell out, so get them here before they do!

Where else but Sligo?

Shane Filan joined us for the final Theme Night Academy Masterclass of the year last Wednesday. And we had such a good time.

The teenagers asked some great questions and Shane as always was generous with his time and information.

He told us about playing for the Pope, for the Queen, and Mariah Carey flying them out to an island off the coast of Italy.

We heard his opinions on vocal warm-ups, setlist preparation and what makes a great studio producer.

He gave the teenagers tips on practising, on getting their music out there and on preparing for a show.

But above all what came across was his love and enthusiasm for what he does.
It was infectious, so we all went home inspired!

What’s New?

1. NILS KAVANAGH DEBUT SINGLE: Great to see this young Sligo pianist going from strength to strength. This is called Hazelwood Home.

2. PHIL: Getting ready for Thursday’s sold out (sorry) gig in Rosses Point Golf Club by reading Alan Shipnuck’s biography of Phil Mickelson. It’s good fun to say the least - what a character. Available in your local bookshop.

3. CONOR DUFFY: Thanks to this talented teenage artist for coming up with this image for our upcoming extravaganza. We are so excited about it!
   Just 11 days to go…get your tickets here.

Finally…

So good! But as a friend of mine said - still not quite up to Sarah Crummy doing To Win Just Once…

Till next time - Kieran.

Listen!

Dear Reader - Plans plans plans gigs plans gigs plans plans…

The Big Thing

We may be on a break from Theme Nights at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing happening.

Very much looking forward to a sold out private gig on May 1 in Rosses Point Golf Club featuring many Theme Night regulars.

May 10 and 11 brings a top class celebration of youth music in Sligo - Teenage Theme Night #35 - a collaboration between our Theme Night Academy and the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta. And seriously - if you are missing Theme Nights please come to this - it’s going to be top class.

Finally, preparations are ongoing for a number of summer gigs.
We have an announcement coming shortly regarding a nearby festival, and yesterday we took a look at the Cleveragh Performance Space - a fantastic outdoor venue here in Sligo - with the possibility of putting something on later this summer.

As always you guys will be the first to hear any confirmed plans.

Where else but Sligo?

Lots of exciting Theme Night Academy activity at the moment!

We are recording three songs from January’s Young Songwriters’ Showcase - from Sam Regan, Zach McLoughlin and Zara Alexander (pictured at rehearsals below with producer Luke Devaney).

Rehearsals for Teenage Theme Night #35 are underway - and each time this part of the process comes around I get a kick out of it. Watching the teens get stuck into their song, hearing what new arrangements they have come up with, and finding ways to make it a memorable performance for them…

Finally, the 6th and final Masterclass takes place this week. This will be facilitated by none other than Shane Filan - giving Academy members a first hand insight into the music industry.

What’s New?

1. NEW HAWK’S WELL SUMMER SEASON: All the shows here.

2. CABBAGE COLLECTIVE: Talented performer and songwriter Sean ‘Cabbage’ Callaghan plays the latest Lillies Live Lounge on April 30.
   Tickets here.

3. SWEENEY TODD: Best of luck to Theme Night regulars Dave Flynn + Jack Courtenay AND piano teachers Katelyn Rafter + Niamh Keaveney PLUS all the cast and crew of what looks like it will be a fantastic show.
   Great to see such ambition being shown by Karen Gordon and her crew.

Finally…

One on the menu for May 10 and 11 in Hawk’s Well…what a vocal!

Till next time - Kieran.

Milestones

Dear Reader - It was a week of season endings and celebrations…

The Big Thing

Our debut season of Open Mic events for the Theme Night Academy finished last night, and as always it provided plenty of memorable moments.

We had a brand new band “What’s Her Face”, a song with two bass guitars as the only instruments and a few first-timers as always.

And fittingly, the last song was performed by two of our soon-to-be departing 6th Yrs - Sarah and Michael (pictured below).

Overall the year was a huge success though, a great addition to our Theme Night Academy programme. We hosted 6 events around the town and county of Sligo, welcomed over 100 musicians, lots who are members of our Academy and others who just wanted to try it out.

Thanks to Joy Feehily for all the work in designing and producing the programme, to James McManus, Luke Devaney and Sean ‘Cabbage’ Callaghan and to The Crib, Kilmacowen Hall and The Nest for hosting us along the way.

Where else but Sligo?

I was delighted to join Niamh Crowley and the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta last Saturday night in the Hawk’s Well to celebrate their 25-Year anniversary.

What a milestone, an incredible achievement for Niamh and her team and a hugely significant contribution made to Sligo in that time.

It was lovely to hear some personal stories from past students about the impact of what Niamh has built, great to look at pictures from trips away to places such as New York, Prague and Barcelona, and then of course there was the music!

Niamh has built up a large library of self-penned orchestral arrangements over the years, and we were treated to a variety of them on Saturday night - from some past Theme Night favourites (Going Home, Listen) all the way to Broadway hits (Some Enchanted Evening, On My Own) and more modern choices (You Raise Me Up, Something Inside So Strong).

Congrats to everyone involved on this landmark achievement. It is always such a pleasure to work with Niamh and her team. It’s not easy to build something like this but it’s even more difficult to commit the time, energy and resources necessary for longevity and sustainability.

Wishing Niamh and all in the Sligo Academy of Music all the best for the future.

What’s New?

Three beautiful solo piano pieces below.
I have either learned them recently or am doing so at the moment.
Have a listen!

1. IL POSTINO (SANGAH NOONA): Here.

2. DOROTHY (DR. JOHN): Here.

3. I (YIRUMA): Here.

Finally…

So much fun playing this with Niamh and the gang last Saturday!

Till next time - Kieran.

Where are you Now?!

Dear Reader - things are starting to get moving again…I hope you’re not too far away over the coming weeks!

The Big Thing

The Theme Nights may be taking a break for the moment, but our Theme Nights YouTube channel has remained very much active, and we have lots of new music videos on the way in the coming weeks.

January saw us release Frames by Theme Night Academy member Kenya Leigh, and we recorded Visiting Artists Clada during February’s Theme Night run.

March was a month for making plans but we’re back with a bang now in April with the latest single from 2024 Visiting Artist and Russell Crowe’s singer Lorraine O’Reilly.

Go on - have a look - it’s a great song and Lorraine’s voice is special!

Where else but Sligo?

Some reflections on last Sunday’s Informal Afternoon gig at The Model.

There was a time that Seamie and I played together every week.
A long time actually.
And then one day a couple of months ago I realised all of a sudden that it has been 8 years since we released Melodic Reflection together.

Thankfully around that time Anna Houston kindly invited the two of us to do a couple of short sets at April’s Informal Music Afternoon.
This is one of Sligo’s longest-running gigs. The first Sunday of every month. Without fail.
For years now - in fact even longer than Seamie and I have been playing together.
And it’s great. Varied yet consistent. Music that you don’t hear anywhere else.
From amateurs and professionals, old and young.

And it was a joy to be part of it today.
We did 4 tunes and a song, and the magic I feel every time I play with Seamie was there immediately. That unmistakeable quality, Sligo soul and familiar sense of mischief.
We had a quick chat after and resolved to make the time to do more together.
And we will.

What’s New?

1. 25 YEARS OF SLIGO ACADEMY OF MUSIC: Another pillar of Sligo’s music scene. Big celebration in the Hawk’s Well this Saturday - and Niamh has me learning some tricky stuff for this one! Get the last few tickets here.

2. I LOVE YOU’RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE: Back by popular demand after a hugely successful run last year. Luke, Sinéad, Katelyn and Warren. Plus Niamh and Mimi! A small crew but wow do they pack some punch.
   Directed by HWT director Kieran Griffiths - and on next week!

3. LAST OPEN MIC OF THE YEAR: And just like that the first year of our Theme Night Academy is coming to a close. The 6th and last Open Mic of our hugely popular series takes place in Kilmacowen Hall.
   And it’s open to anyone, not just members of our Academy.
   But you must be in possession of a (free) ticket. Get them here.

Finally…

One of Seamie’s compositions from the aforementioned Melodic Reflection (2017) - wait for the harmonica to come in!

Till next time - Kieran.

Making and fooling…

Dear Reader - Happy April!

The Big Thing

Courtesy of Gabe Anderson - for anyone who is into making stuff…

Three phases…I’m not sure they always go in order and there’s plenty of overlap along the way…

Making it…starting out you wanna make it. Make it big. To the top. Toppermost of the poppermost. It’s all about hype and glitz and leather boots and wearing sunglasses inside and being so cool it hurts. It’s all about being somebody everywhere you go…and you go everywhere.

Making something great…the realization that you’d trade all the cool in the world for a great song, a great offering that will lift you and the world around you. Magic is cooler than cool. Whatever it takes to make the people laugh and cry and pump their fist. Take the sunglasses off, let the people see into your soul.

Making…creativity is the gift. The feeling you get when you make the thing, that’s what music is for. Starting with nothing and ending up with something. Creation. A miracle. And making with others is a binding force that lasts forever…connecting with others through creativity…in real time.

Where else but Sligo?

Sunrise. New blossoms. New morning. New month.
Another chance to make things better. And make better things.

What’s New?

1. GIG WITH SEAMIE THIS WEEKEND: Looking forward to playing at the Informal Music Afternoon in The Model with Seamie O’Dowd this coming Sunday April 6th. More here.

2. GIG WITH NIAMH NEXT WEEKEND: And…to being part of the very special 25-Year celebration of the Sligo Academy of Music next Saturday April 12th in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. More here.

3. GIG WITH ALL THESE GUYS IN MAY: Thanks to Sinéad, Aileen, Niamh, Joy and the many teenagers who came to Summerhill College last weekend to start preparations for May’s Teenage Theme Night extravaganza with the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta. More here.

Finally…

Once again - to those fooling, those who were fooled or those just getting on with their day - Happy April!

Till next time - Kieran.

Around the world!

Dear Reader - we were taken around the world by members of our Theme Night Academy this weekend - from Babylon to Brazil, from Tennessee to Tunisia and finally back home to the Hills of Donegal and the Isle of Innisfree.

The Big Thing

Yes that’s right - the theme for Teenage Theme Night #34 was Places - so any song with a place name in the title. A brilliant theme choice actually - some great songs and huge variety all weekend.

Think about it - what would you pick?
Hotel California? Sweet Home Chicago? Budapest? Englishman in New York?

As always the weekend produced lots of memorable performances and some great stories. I’ll fill you in on more below, but to start it was lovely to see each of our featured graduates include a sibling who is a current member of our Academy in their performances.

So a huge thanks to…
Emily Howard (2019) and her sister Bella
Eddie Fitzpatrick (2021) and his sister Meadhbh (pictured below)
Patrick Conneally (2022) and his brother Rory

Happy families all round!

Where else but Sligo?

There are always standout musicians on these nights. Especially in terms of the 6th Yrs who are coming to the end of their three years with us.
Sam Regan played on 14 songs this time. Drummer Cal Halpin wasn’t far behind him and has developed such a great feel in his playing. And Rory Conneally brought a smile to my face every time he played that piano. Such a special talent.
One of the highlights of the weekend was when he accompanied Mimi Lee on Georgia On My Mind and watching Eddie Lee and Ken McDonald enjoying every minute of playing with him.

And then there was the birthday trio. Sarah Flavin, Jack Keaveney and Mimi Lee all celebrated their 18th birthday over the weekend and there were 6 cakes between the three of them!
There was a big crew of 6th Yrs in the green room after the show on Saturday hanging out, chatting about the show and eating cake. And it struck me that this is what the Theme Night Academy is all about really.
Yes the music is important but the personal development and friendships made is what really matters.

I thought back to when these guys joined us as Transition Year students back in 2022 and how they have grown and matured since. And then I looked at some of our current TYs and looked forward to seeing how their 18 yr-old selves will show up in two years time.

The likes of Liam Curran who blew people away with his guitar playing on a Motorhead song. Laynah Murphy who delivered an emotionally powerful version of Brooklyn Baby. Or Brooklyn Hunter (pictured below) whose voice captivated our Sunday night crowd.

I can’t wait to find out!

What’s New?

1. BIG NEWS: Only 6 weeks to go until the last Teenage Theme Night of the year - and for the first time we will be collaborating with the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta for what feels like the biggest ever celebration of youth music in Sligo! More here.

2. 3 MOST POPULAR SONGS OF THE WEEKEND: I’m always interested in this - to see what is currently resonating with the younger generation.
   The answer?
   Billy Joel (Vienna, New York State of Mind) and Hozier (From Eden).

3. COOL ENVY: A friend of mine said to me over the weekend - “Kieran I’m probably 40 years older than Sean Boni (pictured below) and I’m pretty sure I have never in my life been as cool as he is now”.

Finally…

This is a fantastic album. Dave Grusin’s arrangements of tunes from West Side Story.
Thanks to Sean’s coolness for reminding me of it today!

Till next time - Kieran.