Hot Summer Music

Live music in and around Newport has never been better with NEWfest at the Rugby Club in June, V Fest at Weston Park last weekend and the Pheztival this coming Bank Holiday Sunday at the Phez in Newport. Not much change out of £300 for a weekend camping ticket at V I shouldn’t think but for £1 at Newport Open Mic every Tuesday at the Royal Naval Association in Bellman’s Yard you may not see Olly Murs or Paloma Faith but you may well have the pleasure of hearing Newport’s own Olly Flavell and Remynie Faith as well as a host of other talented singers and musicians. 

This Tuesday was no exception and although the crowd was somewhat less than the previous week due, we suspect, to the entrance to Bellman’s Yard proving difficult to navigate because of chewing gum being pressure hosed from the pavement the evening proved to be a marvellous musical extravaganza from 10 year old Jay Harris to some over 6 times his age and eligible for a bus pass.

Dave Blue, Steve Black and Roger Clarke got things underway with the sound check and Dave’s self penned number How, Why, When? Olly then joined them and sharing lead vocals with Dave they performed a great set which included Crossroads (great bottleneck from Mr Blue), Sweet Home Chicago, Valerie and Black Country Boy sung of course by the man from Willenhall (pronounced Willin’ All).

Olly had the stage to himself to perform an excellent acoustic set with songs by Alison Krauss, LMFAO, Maroon 5 as well as an original By My Side. Olly, at only 16, oozes with confidence and has a unique jazzy funk style all of his own. 

 Megan Hodgkinson was next up accompanied by Alan Lane on guitar and is an example of another young singer who has gained in confidence enormously over the past few months. Not only is her voice full of emotion but her facial expression as well. Songs from the heart included Olly Murs Dear Darling, Try by Pink, Let Her Go by Passenger and Rihanna’s Love the Way You Lie.

Starting with A Town Like Malice, Vinyl Tap took the audience across the decades from Radiohead’s Creep, Walking in Memphis and way back to the summer of love with a Whiter Shade of Pale. Alex’s new radio mic proved a hit with him and the audience as he sashayed across the dance floor bringing smiles all round. A really good set from the Navy’s own stalwarts, Cath Butler, Jude Paton, Alan Lane, Alex Ash and guest drummer from Amber Lizard, Matt Miles.

Next up was the scratch band comprising Dave Sandford, lead guitar and vocals, Olly Flavell, rhythm guitar, Roger Clarke on bass and Baz Webster on drums bringing us a raunchy version of After Midnight and Cocaine in tribute to the late great JJ Cale. This was followed by a funky version of Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and finally Black Magic Woman which brought the set to a rockin’ good close.

10 year old Jay Harris made a welcome return to Open Mic tonight and with no school in the morning had the 10.15pm slot and as always surprised us with a song by the Stones from their 1969 album Let It Bleed, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards it was named as the 100th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in its 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs. The Stones obviously made a huge impression on Jay when he saw them recently at Hyde Park and I’m sure he would impress the great men too. His second song by Oasis brought us more up to date but nonetheless Don’t Look Back in Anger was released in 1996 and still 7 years before Jay was born.

Cockney lad Steve Davis brought the evening to a close giving his beautiful 1971 Fender Strat an airing for the first time in many years accompanied by Jude Paton, Matt Miles and Dave Sandford and demonstrated his astonishing vocal range with Christy Moore’s Ride On followed by 2 more songs and I suspect favourites of his by JJ Cale, Call Me the Breeze and Magnolia.

Another great night of live music and all on your doorstep every Tuesday for just £1.

Thanks to all those who helped to set up, Matt for taking photographs and Adam on the sound desk.