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.
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| 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 .
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| 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 .
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| 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”!!!!!!!!
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| The-Oxford Totterdown |
oxford_totterdown@yahoo.co.uk
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| The George And Dragon InnKnighton, Powys |
