Theme Night Academy

The Theme Night Academy strives to create an environment where young people can grow, learn and thrive, through the medium of music. For over ten years now, the Academy has provided a platform for older teenagers to perform with their peers in a professional, safe and friendly environment. It also involves a broader educational programme, facilitating numerous specialist masterclasses, workshops and performance opportunities for teenagers of the region. These are delivered to the teens by industry professionals, addressing areas such as songwriting, arranging, and performance, as well as production and technical work. Events such as Teenage Theme Nights and the Young Songwriters’ Showcase offer teens a space to perform their own music as well as that of their favourite artists, in a theatre environment to their peers with a professional band. Open Mics, a recent addition to the programme, provide an informal space for new performers to get involved and to play with new musicians.

Through these activities, we aim to nurture the musical development of young people, providing them with skills to help them succeed in their own lives, and in music. The Academy provides teenagers with invaluable musical experience and encourages them to explore music further in their own lives. Many graduates of the academy have gone on to study music, have careers in music, as well as play important roles in the Theme Nights.

Upcoming Activities for Term One (2024)

Sep 12 - Open Mic/Jam Session 1 at Kilmacowen Hall
Sep 25 - Masterclass 1 - ‘Performance’ - with Dave Flynn & Sinéad Conway
Oct 3 - Open Mic/Jam Session 2 - Sligo Presbyterian Hall
Oct 23 - Masterclass 2- ‘Preparation’ - with Joe Gorman & Stephen Kohlmann
Oct 27 & 28 - Stage Tech Camp (Intro to Light & Sound Engineering - Producing a Professional Audio & Video Recording) - with Luke Devaney, Rory Maitland & James Mc Manus
Nov 8-10 - Teenage Theme Night #33 - The Model, Sligo
Nov 20 - Masterclass 3 - ‘Songwriting’ - with Steve Wickham
Dec 12 - Open Mic/Jam Session 3

Register your interest

Young Songwriters’ Showcase

How to get Involved

If you live or attend school in Sligo or the surrounding areas AND you are in 4th, 5th or 6th Yr AND you would like to get involved, please email us with your name, age, instrument and previous musical experience (can be zero) to teenagethemenights@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram (page below).

Follow Theme Night Academy on Instagram for Regular Updates

We love following along and seeing what our graduates get up to after they finish up with us in 6th year.

A huge congratulations to @_grooveline (2022) who recently took to the stage at @epfestival - the place was rocking!

New to the programme this year - professional masterclasses!

We are so excited to be kicking off this series with our first Masterclass on Performance - hosted by none other than Sinéad Conway & Dave Flynn! They will be working on all thi

Excerpt from my Letter - 7/3/23

***Letter -*** ***Good News stories and teenage superheroes!***

“So Teenage Theme Night #28 took place last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. One-Word Wonders was our theme - so any song with a one-word-title. It was a blast from start to finish and there was a fantastic buzz around the Model for all three shows.

The four teenagers pictured (left) are this year’s emcees and each did a great job in their own way. Johannes’ calm, Orla’s energy, Clodagh’s thoughtfulness and Saoirse’s sense of craic all contributed to the shows running smoothly and comfortably for everyone.

Their song choices reflected the variety on offer all weekend. Clodagh (below, left) chose Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen, Saoirse (who celebrated her 18th birthday on stage with us on Sunday) sang Waterloo, Orla (below, centre) went with an acoustic version of Calum Scott’s Rise and Johannes (above, right) teamed up with saxophonist Charlie McKenna to bring us a version of Miles Davis’ jazz standard Four.”