Tuesday 13th !!

Tuesday 13th November!!.. proved to be a lucky night for music lovers at Newport Open Mic at The Navy Club in Bellman's Yard Newport with the players board full by 8.15 and a crowd of over 60 people about to be treated to live music of the highest calibre.

Paul and Adele Parker carrying baby Parker (due in 3 weeks) had arrived to do a recce of the Navy Club venue prior to their eagerly awaited gig butwere more than happy to treat us to a 25 minute opening acoustic set.
Classics from Amy McDonald, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and a song from the soundtrack Easy Rider, The Weight by The Band transported me back to 1969 and my love affair with Peter Fonda.  Superb harmonies and a great set gave the audience a taste of what to expect from Paul Parker and All the
Right Friends on Friday.

14 year old Melissa Severn again stirred the audience with her own unique style of self penned songs from the heart including Walk in my Shoes (about people who are horrible to you for no apparent reason), Crowded Dreams, Lovestruck (about a cute boy in the maths class) and Paralysed.
Relaxed and now full of confidence Melissa is fast becoming a familiar favourite at the Navy Club. She tells me she has written over 70 songs to date so we are sure to hear a lot more new material in the coming weeks.



Peter Blythe, yet another newcomer to Open Mic, played his very first live performance with cool confidence and some interesting new songs not heard before at the Navy including Liquid Confidence by You Me at Six and If It Means a Lot to You by A Day to Remember.  Enthusiastic applause meant that I am sure we shall see a lot more of him.


Multi-instrumentalist Remynie-Kiah this week played guitar and stole the show with her startling vocals, singing haunting ballads from The Script, Bright Eyes, Priscilla Ahn and  finishing with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah which left us spellbound.

Melissa Walford gave another strong performance and included one of her own songs You and I and Kings of Leon Use Somebody in an excellent set.



Singer/songwriter Malcolm Purvis from Leeds made a welcomed return to Newport Open Mic always making the effort to come and play when working
the area. This week we were treated to Girl on Line 14, In Time, Candle and Alive. Great lyrics, songs about life and songs from the heart.

Olly (guitar and vocals) and Jake (bass) and only 15 and 16 respectively now play regularly at the Navy and at Jaspers in Shifnal and delighted us this week with Duffy’s Warwick Avenue, a splendid bluesy soul version of Bill Wither’s Ain’t no Sunshine and a favourite of mine, Gravity by John Mayer.




Worrying that we had hauled the drum kit out of the loft for nothing we were relieved to see birthday boy Andy Conway step up on stage with band mates Pippin and Rob to round off the evening with rock classics Voodoo Chile and Whole Lotta Love played in their own pulsating style. A very tight three piece band that never fails to clear out the ear drums at the Navy.

For regulars and newcomers to Newport Open Mic this was, in my opinion, one of the best 3 hours of live music I have had the pleasure of listening to. Mostly acoustic sets this week, with lots of original material and not a song sheet or music stand in sight. Terrific stuff and thanks to those that make it happen each week.

Newport Open Mic is held every Tuesday at the Royal Naval Association in Bellmans Yard just off Newport High Street (Opposite The Nat West Bank) from 8pm. See you next week.

For all you live music lovers don't forget that we have Bang To Rights plus support from Jack Green on Friday the 7th December. This promises to be a great night of live music and partying. Make sure you come early.