"OPEN MIKE" SPREADING ITS WINGS

With the live music being strangled with tacky shows like the X factor . Its good to see more organic live music pastimes steady increasing round the country . Thinking back to the late 80s early 90s the word was Jam . But mostly done behind closed doors in peoples back kitchens. Pop stars passing the time in recording studios. All on a musician to musician basis . The only time the great British public would catch one of these exciting unpredictable performances. Was at party’s festivals round the fire . Or the more music orientated pub dotted hear and there.

FLEECE FIRKIN BRISTOL

Over the last 5 years The OPEN MIKE stance has come into play . Up and down the UK pubs are trying every think to keep their heads above water . The open mike if done properly is a winner . The first open mike I attended was a lot bigger than the ones I attend now .

In the late 80s in the Fleece and Firkin Bristol a 500 plus capacity venue . Every Sunday afternoon coordinated by Talisman saxophonist Brendan Whitmore he labelled it as Next in Line . Musicians would turn up do there thing on a next in line basis slowly building up to a organic band finale . The audience would love it because they would see the music build up . Of course any of the audience could get up on stage there was plenty of percussion up there . The stage was miked up there was  fold back going though a 10k rig. On average 150 to 200 would attend Next in line lasted over 3 years . The venue would have been shut on a Sunday afternoon so it was extra beer sales .

Next in Line OMC Brendan Whitmore

Now days its OPEN MIKE . Although on a smaller scale but a lot more widespread in little groups . But things are changing little groups are starting to mingle .

STEVE YEOMANS
(When your a good OMC you get your painting on the wall)
THE OXFORD Bristol

Stevie Yeomans is a new breed of young open mike coordinator or OMC he is bringing two areas together . He is the OMC of a very successful night in the Oxford Pub in Totterdown Bristol a stones throw from Temple Meads Station . He is also OMC at The George and Dragon in his home town of Knighton mid Wales also successful . It is a 200 mile round trip but musicians of the two areas are intermingling swapping gigs and ideas . Steve is hoping to connect other areas throw the net wider. Then maybe have one off s in bigger venues bringing the different areas together . He is the best OMC I have seen up to now . But he is keen to network with like minded all now possible with social networks .

So who knows OPEN MIKES might be staged in arenas with none of the X factor tackiness .The paying public  enjoying the musical twists and turns with maybe the chance to say “I WAS THERE”!!!!!!!!

The-Oxford TotterdownBristol, United Kingdom

oxford_totterdown@yahoo.co.uk

The George And Dragon InnKnighton, Powys

All info About Steve Yeomans and OPEN MIKES HE COORDINATES I will put up when received.