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 Two (Jan-May 2025)

Jan 26 - Young Songwriters’ Showcase in The Hawk’s Well Theatre
Jan 30 - Open Mic/Jam Session 4
Feb 12 - Masterclass 5- ‘Arranging - Parts and Charts’ - with Niamh Crowley and Kieran Quinn
Feb 22 - Workshop 1 for Teenage Theme Night #35
Feb 27 - Open Mic/Jam Session 5
Mar 21-23 - Teenage Theme Night #34 in The Model
Mar 29 - Workshop 2 for Teenage Theme Night #35
Apr 10 - Open Mic/Jam Session 6
May 3 - Workshop 2 for Teenage Theme Night #35
May 10 & 11- Teenage Theme Night #35 in The Hawk’s Well Theatre - with the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta

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

Young Songwriters’ Showcase

Some details on our upcoming showcase THIS SUNDAY.
Here’s how it will work:

- All entries are new material written by you guys.
- Instrumental pieces are welcome every bit as much as songs.
- Accompaniment w

Introducing our Young Songwriters’ Showcase graduate!

We are looking forward to welcoming back 2023 graduate Annie Buick to the Theme Night Academy stage this weekend.
Just FIVE days to go!

Almost a year since the last Young Songwriters’ Showcase - but less than a week until the next!

We are so looking forward to hosting a new show of original music from the teenage musicians.
Show your support for the performers by coming along

Your schedule for term two!

Take note of key dates ✍️
Any schedule updates will be posted here.

#sligo #sligoireland #sligohub #youth

Hello 2025!

We rounded off the 2024 calendar with our Teenage Tech Camp - learning all about sound, lighting and video production.

The 2025 term kicks off this evening with a Masterclass from Kieran Quinn.
7:30-8:30 at Sligo Presbyterian Hall. See

It’s all about behind the production in this week’s Tech camp!

Just 5 days to go until Luke, Rory & James guide us through the techniques of light, sound and video production. By the end of the course teens should be equipped with th

Last week we hosted our first Open Mic at @foroigecribsligo 🙌🏻
It was great to see some new musicians and many of our Theme Night Academy participants getting up to perform.

That was our last performance event of the year - however we still have o

We have two events left in our 2024 Theme Night Academy programme.

Our tech camp on Dec 28/29 and only two weeks to go now until our special Christmas Open Mic evening on Dec 12.

Time to get thinking about your songs!

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.”