"You're welcome to Cloonacool"

Dear Reader -

Theme Night Season is up and running! Here’s what’s coming next…

The Big Thing

Sarah Crummy is flying in from Iceland.

• Possibly the best teenage pianist I have ever seen.

• Sinéad Conway singing THE song she has always wanted to sing.

• A Theme Night newbie from North Sligo who will blow you away.

• And Seamie O’Dowd will be put to the pin of his collar like never before.

• Plus LOTS more…

Theme Night #35. Hawk’s Well Theatre. 9-12 Oct.

Get your tickets now before it’s too late.

Where else but Sligo?

“You’re welcome to Cloonacool” (accompanied by a warm handshake).

These words must have been said to me a dozen times upon arrival at the Cloonacool Community Centre last Thursday night. And they weren’t just words - from start to finish we were looked after like royalty by Pat McCarrick and his crew. Chairman of the committee Ado definitely has a future in comedy - it was certainly the funniest welcome speech I ever heard.

Seamie O’Dowd and I had done a gig with Pat before - a wonderfully intimate house concert, so I knew what to expect here - a warm welcome and respect for the musicians.

And that’s exactly what we got.
It was a fitting way to kick off the Theme Night season - and Aileen, Dave, Luke and Steve were on top form playing a setlist derived from Theme Nights over the years - complete with some original songs and our own arrangements.
Joy joined us for a song too and had the while room singing with her on Caledonia.

Finally I was struck by the lyrics written on the wall in the Mill Cafe (where we were treated to scones, tea and Heroes!) - from a song written by Terry Clarke.

“I fell in love with your name - when we were walking to school,
But I fell in love with your face - last summer out in Cloonacool”.

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY MASTERCLASSES: First one takes place this Wednesday evening. Dave Flynn and Sinéad Conway will be passing on tips on performance. We hope to open these to the public eventually but for now it’s the lucky teenagers (and me) who get to hear what they have to say!

2. TN #35 VISITING ARTISTS: Really can’t wait to announce these for you next week.

3. FIONN McMORROW: Fionn is a fantastic dancer and always moves me when I watch him. He’s now studying dance full time in Dublin but I’m delighted to say that he will join us on the Thursday and Friday nights of our upcoming Let’s Dance show for a special brand new and hard-hitting dance choreographed by his talented teacher Lisa Cooper.

Finally…

Is there room in the Let’s Dance set for this?!

Till next time - Kieran.

‘Music is boring’

Dear Reader -

So said one of our new students this week…but then he opened the book!

The Big Thing

Micky Downs makes the best omelette I know.
And Rory Maitland has been the only man to cut my hair for as long as I can remember.

We worked out this week that Micky has made approximately 2000 omelettes in the last eight years. And Rory has completed almost 45,000 haircuts since he began training to be a barber in 2013. No wonder they are great.

What would you like to be great at?
There is no substitute for putting in time. Get your numbers up. Off you go…

Where else but Sligo?

Sept 16th has been THE date in my head for quite a while.

The start of term. The date by which we need to have books printed, timetables sorted, premises secured and furnished, teachers prepared.

And we made it! We hit the ground running yesterday with lessons taking place simultaneously in Strandhill, Rathcormac and Clontarf.
And then the stories start to come in - and there’s the payoff!

• The 7 yr old who after 5 minutes of being put to work on her own came back and played Love Story.

• Annette Hayden showing up unprompted and giving her time to help the new teachers because she remembers what it was like to teach her first lesson.

• The boy who told his teacher in no uncertain terms that music was boring and that he wouldn’t be practising but then spotted The Rattlin’ Bog in the book and now wants to move on already to Old Town Road.

• The two girls who asked me was their new teacher a ‘chatter like their old one’ and vowed to turn her into one if she wasn’t!

• And - hearing The Irish Rover last night on the piano at home -my son playing it 3 decades after his uncle used to sing it as a party piece at the same age!

What’s New?

1. JAMES NELSON: Back by popular demand after a successful solo show last year. This Sunday.

2. SWEENEY TODD: Karen Gordon and Pop-Up Theatre are planning something big for next Spring! Auditions coming soon. Follow them here for more info.

3. FIRST OPEN MIC: We had a fantastic night in Kilmacowen Hall last Thursday at the first Theme Night Academy Open Mic. My favourite moment happened before the show when I asked for any guitarists to come down and soundcheck their instruments - and a dozen or more appeared out of the darkness. So good to see!

Finally…

Our first Theme Nights Unplugged gig of the year takes place this Thursday 19th in Cloonacool. I came across this song recently - and we may just have to do it!

Till next time - Kieran.

I hope you dance…

Dear Reader -

Sure it’s a great country when the sun shines…

The Big Thing

It’s full steam ahead for Theme Night #35 - Let’s Dance!

The setlist is taking shape - we have some Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie and The Pogues. We will have new music from Seamie and Stephen O’Dowd, some exciting Visiting Artists (announced shortly) and of course we have dancers!

The one thing we are missing is a song for Sinéad Conway - there was great feedback from this Facebook post on Sunday, including the below comment from her husband! But some of you learned letter readers may not have seen it, so if you have any suggestions as to what you’d like Sinéad to sing let me know…

9-12 October.
Still some tickets left for Wednesday Thursday Friday here…

Where else but Sligo?

Friday evening in Collooney was just glorious. A final with the Coolera-Strandhill U-14 girls and one of those evenings that will live long in the memory for more than just the weather. The girls doing themselves justice on the field followed by a trip to Mammy Johnston’s to finish off the season. Ice-creams and smiles all around.

Then Saturday morning Micky Downs took me out in his van to put up some roadsigns advertising October’s show around the place. The town and county looking great - and sure doesn’t it bring out the best in everyone when the sun shines?!

Then the mist rolled in that afternoon and our brief summer was over…ah no - surely we’re due some more sun this month. Aren’t we?!?!?!

What’s New?

1. PANTO AUDITIONS: If anyone would like to audition be in the chorus of this year’s Coolera Dramatic pantomime (Jack and the Beanstalk) please contact producer Susan Harte on 086-8280576.

2. MORE AUDITIONS: The Hawk’s Well are looking for someone 16+ to play the lead role in their family Hallowe’en production (paid gig). More here.

3. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY: There weren’t enough chairs in the room for all the teenagers who came to our information evening in the Hawk’s Well last Thursday. The first event of our brand new Theme Night Academy calendar takes place in Kilmacowen Hall this Thursday.
   Tickets are free but you will need one to attend!

Finally…

Thanks to Pauline Kilfeather and Susan Cox for suggesting this song for Sinéad. A lovely uplifting message for you all today..

Till next time - Kieran.

A noble aspiration for any band...

Dear Reader -

Our YouTube channel is back with a bang…this week featuring Mark O’Donnell from Glenties - as well as a guitarist with ‘some calves’ according to YouTube…

The Big Thing

Last shout for the 2024-25 Music Club!

New host Sarah Casserley will be sending out our initial groupings early next week, so if you would like to play and/or sing in an informal environment with like-minded people, now is the time to let us know.

More info here, or email musicclubsligo@gmail.com

Where else but Sligo?

Gerry Grennan and I would have had many conversations over the years about recording an album. Some general in nature, some more particular and some that may yet bear fruit.

We discussed the many reasons not to do so, the risks involved, how the music industry has changed and the relative values of playing music vs recording it.
But at the end of it all we agreed that it was a somewhat noble aspiration for a musician or band. A legacy as such. This is me and this is what I do (or what I did at this particular period in time at least)!

So it was fantastic to see Jargon (of which Gerry is a member) release their album Midnight Moonlight last week. It’s one of those albums that deserves a quiet room and a proper start-to-finish listen and I am looking forward to doing so.

Jargon are playing the Hawk’s Well Theatre as part of Sligo Live and are strongly rumoured to be making a special appearance on the Thursday and Friday of next month’s Theme Night run!

Tour info here.

What’s New?

1. SAM PURCELL ON RIVERDANCE! Recent Theme Night Academy graduate Sam Purcell was in the drum chair for Riverdance in The Gaiety Theatre last weekend. No surprise there - this man is top class.

2. THEME NIGHTS IN CLOONACOOL: First gig of the new season - Theme Nights Unplugged in a brand new venue on 19th Sept. More here.

3. INTRODUCTION EVENING: Producer Joy Feehily and I will answer any questions you may have regarding the brand new Theme Night Academy this Thursday from 6-7pm in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. All teenagers welcome.

Finally…

Here are the lads from 1981!!

Till next time - Kieran.

Introducing the Theme Night Academy!

Dear Reader -

OK Oasis may have stolen our thunder this morning but we have a big announcement too!

The Big Thing

Today we launch the Theme Night Academy.

2024 marks ten years since Teenage Theme Night #1 took place in the foyer of The Model. Since then we have hosted more than 40 teenage musical events featuring almost 400 teenagers.

This is the next step - a result of all we have learned in that time - a broad educational programme designed to create an environment where young people can grow, learn and thrive, through the medium of music.

All you need to know is here.

Where else but Sligo?

Kenya Carr joined Luke and I in The Blue Room Recording Studio last Wednesday to record a beautiful song of hers called Frames.

We first heard it at the Young Songwriters’ Showcase last March and loved it immediately. It was beautifully structured, with a simple but tasty melody and some lyrics that hit home straight away.

We worked with Kenya on the song for a number of hours, and have a preliminary mix done - we will soon get Kenya’s thoughts on that and work towards finalising the track. Then Kenya will meet Rory Maitland to brainstorm ideas for her music video and finally they will shoot that together later this year.

It will be the fourth in this series of videos, following these three.

We can’t wait for you all to hear and see it all - as always you guys will be the first to hear in these pages.

Well done Kenya!

What’s New?

1. BIRDS OF A FEATHER: One of the most requested songs by students this summer - I recorded a short version of it yesterday.

2. WHAT YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN MISSING: A video of a dog howling in tune. Multiple times and on different notes!

3. THEME NIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL: New video coming tomorrow - in the meantime why not check out the 36 videos already up on our channel?

Finally…

Lots of Coldplay coming your way this week no doubt - here’s a great start!

Till next time - Kieran.

Level 8...

Dear Reader -

What do you do when you’re on the other side of the country and lose your car keys on a beach?!

The Big Thing

Our two new workbooks go to print this week. I wrote this passage last night for any of our more advanced students who will be starting out on our last Level - Level 8…

“Level 8 is the last level on this particular course.

By this stage you should be almost independent of your teacher, able to work out melodies and accompany those melodies with a variety of right-hand harmony notes and left-hand chordal-based patterns. Your songs should sound full and interesting.
You should know your 12 scales and be able to play them over 2 octaves.
You should also know your 12 major, minor, diminished and augmented triads.

 What you will learn in this level is how to make and play major 7, dominant 7 and minor 7 chords. You will have the option of branching out from learning popular and contemporary songs to jazz standards, blues and boogie tunes and even some traditional Irish reels and hornpipes. Plus some guidance on how to improve your dexterity by playing your scales faster.

 Oh and the bad (and good) news is that this level can never be completed.
I’m still on Level 8 – as are Billy Joel and Sangah Noona. That’s the beauty of music – you will never know it all – there will always be something new to learn, a different way to interpret a song, a new chord or melody to express what you are feeling.

I hope you have enjoyed learning to play the piano by ear. It is a gift that will never leave you. Enjoy it!”

 *Disclaimer - not all of our students get to Level 8, but if you would like to try, we are currently enrolling for lessons in Strandhill, Rathcormac, Boyle and Dublin. Email pianowithkieran@gmail.com if you’re interested…

Where else but Sligo?

A friend of mine came down from Dublin last weekend. He had promised his children a camping trip but the campsite in Strandhill was fully booked so I offered him a premium spot (!) to pitch a tent in our back garden.

They went to the beach in Streedagh for the day and had a great time until the car keys disappeared. Probably buried under sand somewhere. At one stage he reckoned he had 50 people walking the beach looking for them, but no luck.
So there they are on Streedagh beach, more than 100 miles from home, in wetsuits, with clothes, wallet, phone and tent all locked in the car.
After over an hour of looking, he sheepishly called me to pick them up and by the time we got to Ransboro he had sorted a lift back home to get the spare key!

A (non) camping trip they will always remember probably - but the twist came the next day when he arrived fresh off the train to pick up the car. There were the keys - on the windscreen - left there by some kind local who had found them and decided not to loot the many valuable items inside. He couldn’t get over it.

Honest folk in North Sligo!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT ACADEMY: We have been working hard all summer on this and are so excited to tell you all. Coming next week…

2. STEPHEN O’DOWD NEW MUSIC: Great new song called The Galleass Girona from Stephen…

3. GROOVELINE AT ELECTRIC PICNIC: These Teenage Theme Night graduates absolutely rocked the Trailer Park Stage last Saturday night.

Finally…

Great singers, great song, great video - here’s what that looks like…

Till next time - Kieran.

Three nights, three pianos…

Dear Reader -

Some news today for anyone out there in the Boyle/Dublin areas…

The Big Thing

Next month will be the 20th September in which I have opened my doors to piano students old and new.

It’s a big milestone and we have been working hard this summer on the following…

• Brand new editions of my Learning by Ear piano workbooks.

• Updated online videos for almost 300 of your favourite songs.

• Providing lessons in Strandhill, Rathcormac AND for the first time in Boyle and Dublin.

So - if you or someone you know would like to try learning to play the piano by ear, click here or email pianowithkieran@gmail.com for more information.

Where else but Sligo?

I have had quite a social few days. A mini-holiday I guess - so apologies for this letter being a day late. I thought I’d tell you a bit about it today however because pianos have been at the centre of it all.

Firstly apologies to the three young gentlemen in the back room in McLynn’s on whom I forced an impromptu sing-song on Saturday night. In fairness they rose to the occasion with a rousing rendition of Viva La Vida.

I played a couple of nostalgia numbers for my wife (and a few unsuspecting American guests) in a hotel bar on Monday as we celebrated our wedding anniversary, and then it was lovely to be asked to sit in on a tune or two with a great dixieland jazz band playing at a party in Dublin last night.

Sometimes on a night off I don’t want to go near a piano but on these three occasions I felt exactly the opposite and so it was lovely to sit down and play on these three very different pianos.

Oh and I was told about a young Sligo man who is college in Maynooth and plays piano in the K Club - if anyone knows of him please let me know!

What’s New?

1. LOCAL HEROES: September is Irish Music Month on Ocean FM and 20 other Irish radio stations - and they’re on the hunt for Ireland’s newest musical Local Hero. Find out more here.

2. TREAD SOFTLY: Theme Night regular Joe Hunt and many others have been busy in creating and now bringing this diverse programme to Sligo audiences. More here.

3. NOT-SO-LOCAL HEROES: This interview was incredible. 4 amazing Irish athletes trying to come to terms in real time with the run of their lives.

Finally…

Some fantastic Let’s Dance suggestions from you all - here’s one that you guys sent in…keep them coming!

Till next time - Kieran.

Monday magic

Dear Reader -

Some (melodic) reflections on Seamie and I ending up back in Connolly’s last night…but first…

The Big Thing

Sometimes I get to sitting down to write this letter and can’t think of anything to write! The easiest prompt for this section though is to figure out to what project did I give the most time in the last few days. And I guess there’s only one answer here…

The 5th edition of my Learning By Ear piano tuition book will be published in time for the new term in September, and for the last few weeks we have been choosing, writing and designing the now 120 songs that will feature in Levels 1-4. There will be another 100+ in Levels 5-8 and so there should be plenty of choice for piano students in the coming months. We have found that the biggest factor in whether people practise is whether they like the song so we are increasing the odds of that!

There are some really exciting developments too in terms of new locations where we will be offering lessons - all the details coming your way in next week’s letter…

Where else but Sligo?

We got a late call-up to play Connolly’s last night.

It was Monday night of course, and Seamie arrived with a grin muttering something about a comeback tour.

So we sat down in that familiar corner and took that as the theme for the night, playing all the hits (!) from our 2017 album.
There were a few bolters as always - including this 1994 Seal/Joni Mitchell collaboration that only Seamie’s mind could somehow contain. The Galway Shawl was by special request and we finished of course with Dirty Old Town.

There was a lovely feeling in the pub as always, lots of visitors and plenty of friendly faces on both sides of the bar. We both have great memories of the Monday nights there, and of writing and recording music together.

And while we will never be able to make time for all the musical projects that excite us, last night was a timely reminder to prioritise the ones that make us feel good!

What’s New?

1. THEME NIGHT #35: Let’s Dance! Which songs and performers do you want to hear from this time? Would love to hear from you on this…

2. DERMOT KENNEDY is playing Sligo Live this October! And so are lots of other amazing artists - you can check all out here.

3. SYLVIA PLATH: I’m not sure I had ever heard her name (shame on me!) and then this week she appears everywhere. Firstly in the opening chapter of The Bee Sting (really enjoying this novel so far) as a glamorous lady poet, then quoted on an EJ Menswear social media post and finally this thought-provoking piece from her novel The Bell Jar as featured in James Clear’s newsletter.

Finally…

Inspired by last night’s gig - I heard this on the playlist in a local cafe recently and it brought back great memories…

Till next time - Kieran.