Let's Dance!

Dear Reader -

We have a theme for October’s Theme Night #35…this vid reveals all!

The Big Thing

Let’s Dance!

Sligo, Roscommon and Ballyshannon dates below.

Tickets here - get them before they’re gone!

Where else but Sligo?

Take a bow Eddie, Therese and Mimi Lee. Sligo Jazz delivered once again.
This amazing event celebrates 20 years of inspiration and great music next year and I can’t wait to see what Eddie and the gang come up with.

It was a vintage year. A really well run week with an all-star cast of musicians from all over the world. A brilliant team of volunteers making our lives easier.

Highlights from the week definitely included Fergus McCreadie’s practising masterclass. It was amazing to see Fraser Gaine playing his own song on Saturday night with an all-star band in the Hawk’s Well. Trumpeter Freddie Hendricks was a revelation on stage and in the way he interacted with students on the jam sessions. Sunday’s students concert was fantastic. And although I wasn’t there I heard that the impromptu trad/jazz session in McLynn’s on Sunday night was one for the ages.

Here’s Eddie and I with UK bass player Oli Hayhurst at the back of the HWT stage during the finale on Saturday night pretending we know how to play these instruments! Ken McDonald any tips?!

What’s New?

1. CELINE DION: Just in case you didn’t catch her Eiffel Tower performance…

2. ARMAGH NOSTALGIA: Memories of 2002 last weekend…

3. 2022 INTERVIEW WITH MONA McSHARRY: From 2022, this is a fascinating and detailed chat between The Sligo Show’s Brendan Tierney and our very own brand new Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry…

Finally…

It’s not a Bowie tribute show, but Theme Night #35 may just find room for this song somewhere. Here’s Rick Beato telling us what makes it great.

Till next time - Kieran.

The greats are in town...

Dear Reader -

The pub gig in Sligo is alive and well, but first…

The Big Thing

Sligo Jazz is back!

By the time you read this the summer school will be underway, and the jam-packed gig schedule begins this afternoon (Tuesday) at 4.30 in Garavogue with the Kosinski Trio (featuring 11-yr old drum prodigy Mark Kosinski).

It’s a magical week every year - whereby jazz students and players of all ages get to hang, play, and learn with world superstars of the genre for a week. Festival director Eddie Lee (pictured below with 3-time Grammy winning trumpeter Freddie Hendrix) has done an incredible job for almost 20 years now and it’s such an exciting feeling when SJP week rolls around each year.

All you need to know about the week ahead is here (and PS the website looks fantastic)!

Where else but Sligo?

I emerged this weekend for my first pub gigs since Vicar St back in May, and they were two crackers!

Firstly there was a beautiful madness in the air in Bree’s on Saturday. It reminded me of gigs we used to do 15 years ago in the back room of The Strand or upstairs in McGarrigle’s. Whatever Suits were on fire, and the crowd were there with them every step of the way.
A proper loud and rowdy gig with front man Sean Callaghan (aka Cabbage) very much in charge and delivering the band’s takes on songs from Britney Spears, Eminem and everything in between.
Safe to say I brought the average age of the band significantly up, but it was so nice to see 5 lads who had come through the Teenage Theme NIghts over the last few years right at the top of their game and absolutely rocking the room.

Then last night it was a more laid-back affair in Connolly’s with Gerry Grennan and Brendan Emmett. But that’s not to say there wasn’t dancing! Readers of this letter will know exactly how happy I am every time I get to play with these gentlemen, and last night was no exception - a joy from start to finish for musicians and audience alike.

It was great to be out and about playing again - thanks so much to the lads and to Gerry for the invitations.

What’s New?

1. ALL THE EXCITEMENT: My Dad asked me yesterday if he could look forward to anything new coming down the tracks when our year kicks off again in September - and it was great to see his excitement when I filled him in on a few of our plans.
   As always you will be the first to know (well apart from Dad)! Stay tuned - the first of a few big summer announcements coming your way in this letter next week.

2. ALL THE PUB GIGS: A reminder of this wonderful resource - curated by John ‘The Map’ Callanan.

3. HOW DO WE KNOW THE DANCER FROM THE DANCE? I let out a few involuntary roars watching the actions of this man at the weekend. The best players doing incredible things on the biggest days - it’s my favourite thing about sport - and Tony Kelly delighted us in Croke Park on Sunday.

Finally…

I have a feeling I have sent this one your way in a previous SJP, but it’s SOOOO good…Liane and Meilana from 2018.

Till next time - Kieran.

Solvitur Ambulando

Dear Reader -

Today’s title brings me back to the classroom of one of the best teachers I ever had…

The Big Thing

Martin Wallace is his name, and he did wonders with my writing as a Leaving Cert English student. However it was in my early teenage years that he made the biggest impression on me. He was our Latin teacher, and when helping us learn the case endings of the five noun declensions, he ingeniously linked one to Man Utd’s star footballer at the time.
Apologies for any mistakes in my below attempt - would love to hear from any Latin scholars with any corrections!

Cantona
Cantonae
Cantonam
Cantonorum
Cantono
Cantonis

Where else but Sligo?

I have been enjoying Declan O’Rourke’s recent set of social media posts. It’s 20 years since the release of his Since Kyabram album and he has been taking us through the recording process day by day. And who appeared recently but the bould Steve Wickham, who not only played on the album, but along with Declan and cellist Christine Hanson put together the string arrangement for Galileo and the rest of the songs.

And in another link between Declan and the Theme Nights, he and Dave Flynn played together in Paddy Casey’s band for a few years at this time too.

What’s New?

1. BREE’S THIS SATURDAY 20th: Delighted to be asked to join Whatever Suits and Fraser Gaine this coming Saturday at 10pm in Bree’s.

2. SOLVITUR AMBULANDO: “It is solved by walking”.

3. JARGON ALBUM TOUR: Great to see these Autumn dates! Really looking forward to hearing this new album too - from Gerry, Brian, Liam and Charlie…

Finally…

Speaking of Gerry…here’s a fun one from a few years ago - Just Chatting from my 2013 album Not Just Black and White.

Till next time - Kieran.

Measure nine times...

Dear Reader -

Dreaming up the year ahead is easier when you get to do it in places like this.
Handy to have great photographers hanging around too - thanks James McManus!

The Big Thing

It’s a great time of the year!

Sitting and thinking, walking and talking, dreaming and planning.

Measure nine times and cut once.

A friend of mine advised me early in my musical career that I’ll have to get used to thinking a year in advance. I couldn’t fathom it at the time, but he was so right. Really looking forward to sharing all in these pages soon.

Where else but Sligo?

We were driving to a family occasion on Sunday and our daughter requested that we play the below song through the car speakers. Sinéad and I simultaneously asked “how do you know that song?!”

“We did it in orchestra” came the answer back.

Niamh Crowley does amazing things with the Sligo Academy of Music, the latest of which was bringing 70 teenagers to Spain recently to play a few gigs and have a good time. And they managed both, according to the reports we got. And if our daughter learns a few golden oldies along the way then all the better!

What’s New?

1. OCKY JOB: No-one in Sligo will be unaware of this tragic story. It has however been heartwarming to see the response to this fundraising initiative for the family.

2. NEW PHASE OF OUR THEME NIGHT VIDEOS: Anyone have any ideas of a singer/song collaboration they’d like to see?

3. RORY’S NEW BARBERSHOP: Best of luck to Theme Night regular Rory Maitland on opening his new premises in Collooney. A few of us helped him celebrate it last week with an Indian takeaway and a chat!

Finally…

The big end-of-summer gig in Ireland this year - I came across this version last night and loved the groove!

Till next time - Kieran.

Belief and Connection

Dear Reader -

That’s what I took with me after Joe Gorman’s wonderful tribute to his Dad in Ransboro last Saturday - the power of strong belief and true connection.

**New Sligo Rovers scarf courtesy of Kevin Noone…

The Big Thing

But first, some music news, and a great new initiative from Theme Night regular Gráinne McCarthy.

A monthly gig upstairs in Lillies featuring the best of original music from Sligo and beyond.

First gig is July 18th - tickets (only €10) available here.

Where else but Sligo?

There are some events about which you’ll always remember where you were when you heard. Last Tuesday’s news was one. I was with my son at the dentist when the messages came through.
Here are a few words I wrote about a giant of our town.

Tommie Gorman came to many a gig.
And every time I saw him at one it made me feel l must be on the right track.

But he only ever sent me one piece of music - a clip of Springsteen playing piano and singing Thunder Road on the Howard Stern show.

"Roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair.
Well the night's busting open - these two lanes will take us anywhere"

“Magic”, said Tommie, and it was fitting for me that it was Springsteen.

Perhaps he saw in him his own qualities of great storytelling, sense of adventure and love of home place.

A great Sligoman. One of the greatest I had the pleasure of knowing.
Rest in peace Tommie.

What’s New?

Three great pieces of writing from the archive.

1. TOMMIE ON SLIGO ROVERS: From Nov 2020. From the RTE website.

2. TOMMIE INTERVIEWED BY SPORTS JOURNALIST KIERAN SHANNON: From April 2021. From The Examiner.

3. TOMMIE ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS: From December 2021. With thanks to The Currency.

Finally…

This has everything. I could write for hours on it. Just watch it…

Till next time - Kieran.

The Theme Nights meet Sting!!

Dear Reader -

An incredible story about Sting (the actual Sting!) below, but first…

Here’s our last Theme Nights video of the current season. Our 36th (!) video since last October - and this one features Theme Nights producer Joy Feehily stepping out in front of the camera for once. Also featuring Beezies (Anna, Ellie and Nicole) who sang this gorgeous version of Linger on our channel earlier in the year.

A big thanks to Joy and the other members of the crew - James McManus, Luke Devaney and Rory Maitland - who worked so hard to get this project off the ground over the last 18 months or so.

You can check out all 36 videos here, and I’ll also be presenting some highlights below…

The Big Thing

Clare Island’s Niall McCabe was one of our visiting artists on Theme Night #33 in February. He sang Paul Simon’s Only Living Boy in New York and also Sting’s Roxanne.

So it was a lovely full circle moment when his manager, Sligo’s Colin Gillen, rang me last Wednesday morning to tell me that one of these legendary artists had asked Niall if he could meet him the previous night (see pic below).

It’s a great story - and an inspirational one for any artist involved in the Theme Nights or elsewhere. Sting had heard Niall doing a cover of one of his tunes and also some of his own songs, loved what he heard and invited himself and Colin to his gig in Cork last Tuesday.

I was delighted for Niall and Colin - two gentlemen - and man do they work hard so they deserve a moment like this. Niall is a fantastic musician and songwriter too. He and I recorded this version of The Island - one of our most popular videos and one of my favourite moments from the year.

And…Niall is back in the Hawk’s Well Theatre this November with a solo show. Still some tickets left here.

Where else but Sligo?

We recorded in many venues over the course of the year…and I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who helped us out in this regard.

Hawk’s Well Theatre, Rory’s shed, Castle Dargan, Sligo Folk Park, Robbie Fitzpatrick’s office, The Abbey Arts Centre Ballyshannon, our sitting room, Kilmacowen Hall, Glencar Lake, The Ox Mountains, Streedagh Beach, Lillies, Tapa Gym, The Model, and of course Vicar St.

We were also in McLynn’s a few times during the year - Darragh and the gang were great to us - and I love how well the place looks in this video…

What’s New?

1. OUR MOST WATCHED VIDEO: From Feb 2024.

2. WHEN WE TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT: From Nov 2023.

3. MY FAVOURITE NEW SONG: From May 2024.

Finally…

This is the first video we produced - released in October 2023 - and still one of my favourites.

Till next time - Kieran.

Ten years ago this week...

Dear Reader –

The last of our live Vicar St videos today - and the first time you ever heard AC/DC on a Theme NIght!

The Big Thing

It’s a great time of the year!

Time to reimagine the Piano with Kieran curriculum - what new songs and features can we add for next year in order to excite our students (and teachers)?!

In the meantime this is the last shout for summer lessons - just a few places left for our 4 and 6-week blocks of classes. 1-1 and shared options available. Perfect for someone looking to try out our unique teaching methods before term proper starts in September. Email pianowithkieran@gmail.com for more info.

Where else but Sligo?

See how many you can recognise from the below photo!
Taken on June 11th 2014 - more than ten years ago now.

It was the night before Theme Night #10 - Burt Bacharach - and a gang of us gathered in the sitting room of our old house in Strandhill to run a few of the tunes.

I’ll always remember the night for two reasons - firstly it was a lovely summers evening and a gang of the neighbours set up camp with a few drinks outside the window and sang, clapped and danced their way through the rehearsal.
Secondly Sinéad Conway has never forgiven me for putting it on the night before her wedding…but thankfully we have managed to move on!

PS in case you were wondering, the pic features myself, Cathal Roche, Aileen Concannon, Eoin Troy, Austin McManus, Niamh Crowley and Dave Flynn.

What’s New?

1. WERNER HERZOG READS AI POEM: If you’re not freaked out enough already by the possibilities of AI - check these poems out. Listen here from 35 mins…

2. CLASS (!) NEW SLIGO ROVERS SCARF: Designed by the great Kevin Noone and all proceeds going to the club. Check it out here (modelled by Theme Night favourite Sarah Crummy).

3. FELIP CARBONELL’S RUMBA EXPERIENCE: Coming soon - as part of the Cairde Festival (6-13 July). A 12-piece band led by Sligo’s favourite Mallorcan Felip Carbonell - more here.

Finally…

Shostakovich described this as ‘a musical portrait of Stalin, roughly speaking’. What a piece of music!!!
Brought to my attention by a wonderful little book called ‘You spin me round' - essays on music’.

Till next time - Kieran.

Man In The Mirror...

Dear Reader –

Firstly - our finale from last month’s Vicar St gig…you just cannot contain Luke’s energy towards the end!

The Big Thing

End of the holiday. All the books read. All the reflection done. Body refreshed. Mind coiled. Going home with clear blue clarity.

But as Mike Tyson would say, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. And life can’t all be a holiday. So how is it going to be different this time? Because it always needs to be different.

So - a few mid-year thoughts - sharing in case you need to read something like this today…

Do fewer things and do them better. Make them great. Give them care. Believe.
Put the phone away. Seriously. Find a way to do it this time. Minimise your exposure to distractions while you’re doing the work that’s most important to you.
What is that work? Be honest with yourself. Find a way to give it the time it deserves.
Finally…the challenge - make something so good that it eliminates the busyness from your life.

What’s it going to be?!

Where else but Sligo?

It’s not often a Sligo man wins a gold medal at a major athletics championship.
Amazing stuff Chris O’Donnell and the team…

I can’t stop watching this race.

What’s New?

1. SLIGO JAZZ: Launched with a bang last Saturday in the Hawk’s Well. The festival itself is coming soon - starting on July 23. Find out all you need to know here.

2. JESSICA McCAUNA ON SPOTIFY: Go on - add it to your playlist…

3. OONAGH MONAHAN BOOK LAUNCH: Theme Night regular Oonagh is launching the third edition of her popular book - More Money For Jam - on next Wednesday 19th June. For anyone looking to turn their passion for food into a profitable business. You can register here.

Finally…

For anyone with kids who is sick of Baby Shark and the like…this is so much fun!

Till next time - Kieran.