Those who know of my current endeavours will likely be aware that for the past three years I have been chair of the board of the Sligo Live Music Festival.
It is a super event focusing on indie, roots, a little bit of rock, bluegrass, country and traditional. It runs over the Bank Holiday weekend in October. It focuses on staging acts big and small over a five day period that range from the local and unannounced to some of the biggest stars in the world – how about Elvis Costello, Martha and Rufus Wainwright (separately), Lloyd Cole, The Proclaimers, KT Tunstall, Sheryl Crow, Jools Holland – as well as eminences of Irish music such as Van Morrison, the Waterboys, BellX1, Sinead O’Connor, Horslips, Imelda May and Sligo’s own Dervish.
But I think that Sligo Live could be part of something a lot bigger in and for Sligo. It is just one of a range of standout things that are happening on the broader music scene in Sligo all year round, every year.
Sligo boasts an array of musical talent across the genres from rock guitarist Tabby Callaghan to pianist and songwriter Kieran Quinn, classic country singers like Sandy Kelly and Pat Ely, the emerging Rackhouse Pilfer to three lads from a certain ‘boyband’ that broke up in 2012 not to mention the aforementioned Dervish and many other highly talented and multi award winning traditional musicians.
There is a huge effort week in week out to introduce children to music with the stellar work of the Sligo Academy of Music and the Music Generation Sligo programme and they compete annually against all comers in the Feis Cheoil, Feis Shligigh and Fiddler of Dooney competitions.
Events wise, while many people will know that Sligo hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in 2014 and 2015, there are major public events held annually such as the highly rated Jazz Project and International Summer School and the Sligo International Choral Festival which attracts choirs and choral groups of all sizes and ages from all over the country, the UK and throughout Europe.
For me, music is something that Sligo does more of and better that most areas. It has diverse talents, diverse events, a legacy that goes back almost a century and generations coming through with music as a natural part of their childhood the way hurling is in Kilkenny or football in Kerry.
Allied to the other attractions of Sligo from a land and seascape point of view, its options for outdoors activity and its Yeats heritage, is it not time that all of the many music interests sat down together and hatched a plan to make Sligo a ‘place of music’, somewhere where musicians go to listen, play and learn more and to where music fans will travel to listen in, knowing they will be hearing and mixing with the best.
It can be about more that performances. Let’s think in terms of schools, jam sessions, open recordings, how to make, modify and customise instruments. Can we think of new events trying different things – clashing different styles together? Think also in terms of workshops and forums for up and coming musicians, think in terms of trade fairs for musicians… is there an angle for the IT, maybe a tie up with institutions elsewhere – either in Ireland or overseas?
Sligo has pulled together for the Fleadh (twice), it has pulled together for #Yeats2015. Those were one offs but #MusicCitySligo can be a permanent state of mind and of being. In the last year Sligo Live has seen its marketing support from Failte Ireland reduced and Sligo Jazz has had an application to the Arts Council turned down. Separately and one by one, it gets harder, but together… do we not have something?
Let me know what you think?
From the outside looking in... 
Sligo is truly differentiated through its cultural and particularly the music. The investment in the next generation of musicians in Sligo through the initiatives that you mention is unique.
The theme nights (and teenage nights ) that Kieran Quinn and his colleagues host every few months are a magnificent showcase of the talent locally. These are now so popular and anticipated that it may be possible to feature theme weekends throughout the year targeting music weekend visitors from elsewhere in Ireland and the UK.
We need to share what is unique and great about Sligo and build our brand
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John,
I completely agree. I’ve started to look a little more at this and there is work that needs to be done to capture the moment while it is there.
Look what is happening in Canada and the conversations elsewhere both in North America and in Europe.
I see this as an economic development thing where we have to look at the development of a long term plan addressing the layers of stakeholders involved – those who own it, those who think they own it, those who think they should own it, and those who actually need to own it – with a view to building appropriate soft and hard infrastructure and assets in a sustainable way over a period.
It would would not be unique concept globally but rather could become part of a global community – unique in its particular form, complementary to others and therefore of greater value again as part of that community.
It is way beyond my available capacity just now to even begin thinking about it beyond that, but with a bit of resource, imagination and time such a plan could be framed…
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