4/9/12
The sun was setting behind a beautiful painted pink sky as revellers poured in to September’s first Open Mic session at the Navy Club.
As the sun went down The Blues Guitar playing of Mark Langford kept the early arrivals entertained; it is good to see him back and playing at the open mic.
The opening act saw a variety of musicians hopping on and off the stage, including birthday-girl (and Grade 8 Bongo drums star) Sammy B and Diamond Geezer, aka Neil Willday, who teamed up, for a funky Latino version of Hotel California.
The rest of the sky gazers made it inside just in time to see Olly and Jake take to the stage. This week they were joined by Andy Conway on the drums. Olly and Jake successfully managed to tame
Andy’s drumming to ‘Acoustic’ mode for a superb performance of John Mayer’s Gravity. Great to hear this young duo in a full band situation.
Darcy Crawford continued the acoustic fun with some Paulo Nutini. With the audience shouting out for more, he launched in to Michael Jackson’s ‘Man in the mirror’: totally unexpected but totally
brilliant!
Next up were a brace of Mellissas! Starting with Mellissa Walford, the audience were treatedto acoustic songs from the likes of Ed Sheeran. She finished off with one of her own talented compositions called All Those Days.
Is the name Mellissa ancient Greek for accomplished singer-songwriter? Maybe not, but there must be something in the name, as Mellissa number two, 14-year old Melissa Severn, captivated the crowd with her tales of teenage heartache. She played a set of her own material, wrapping up with a really cute song called ‘Gonna Wanna’. You can check out her compositions at YouTube/MelissaSevern.It was then time to welcome the birthday girl back to the stage: happy 30th birthday to Sammy!
Sammy started her set with some Dido, but soon got in to birthday party mode with some of the
finest 90s cheese. The dance floor was fully in use during her emotional cover of Enrique Iglesias’
Hero. Tissues were at the ready just in case!
Rich Evans, fresh from entertaining the weekend's Nocturne crowds with Weasel Diesel, was in fine form yet again. Arguably Newport’s best voice, he played a great set of song recruiting the help of professional tambourinist Christine Bowering on Greenday’s Time of Your Life. Rich then encouraged as many people as he could for a mini stage invasion: his 11 backing singers did a great job supporting him on a countrified version of Mustang Sally. Well they don’t call it an Open Mic night for nothing!
Former Airbag colleagues Ed Young and Ade Morris were up next, and their acoustic set got yet more people on the dance floor. They wholly satisfied the audience's demands for love songs and power ballads, before finishing their set with Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl.
After an exclusively acoustic start to the evening, Navy rockers Pip, Rob and Andy were ready and waiting for the sun to go down. Launching in to a hard rock set, we were shown some blistering lead guitar by Pip Henderson.
With the crowd refusing to go home, an all-star jam took to the stage – Remynie Faith, this week on drums and vocals, joined Neil, Jake and Sammy to play a great set, climaxing in a version of Sweet Child of mine.
Owen Wilson took the last remaining spot of the night to bring everyone back down to earth with some mellow acoustic work.
Another great night of music at Bellman’s yard. The word seems to be spreading, with well over 70 people!
Many thanks go to all the dedicated people that put in their free time to make this happen week after week!
Entry is only £1, so come along and see what all the fuss is about.
See you next Tuesday!
Words by Rebecca Threlfall and Daniel Nicholas
Pictures by Rebecca Threlfall, Daniel Nicholas and Mervyn Williams
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