Review of 2013  Open Mic    by Dave Whiteman

Almost exactly ten years ago, Mervyn Williams, Ken Evans and myself came to the Navy and started the first Open Mic. And every week since on Tuesday evenings, with very few exceptions, the Newport Open Mic has entertained thousands of live music fans. This has been a particularly busy year and as we look forward to 2014, I thought it would be fun to take a look back over the last twelve months. 


January: First appearance for New tennis coach, Darcy Crawford who would become one of the most regular and popular performers. Highlight of the month was a four piece band from Blythe Bridge, Sons of Clogger with their particular blend of Folk Rock.

February: Nice to see Richie Evans take to the stage with his Dad, Clive a keen player and live music supporter. 


Mellisa Walford made an appearance in Britains Got Talent, and her Mum & Dad turned up to watch her performance at the Navy wearing Simon & Amanda masks!



 
 
March: Carol Cartwright was becoming a Navy regular, with her lovely style of finger picking and soft melodic voice. 

Nathan Davies made his first appearance on stage accompanied by his Mum, Louise.




April  Good to see Martyn Templeton back on stage…his effortless vocals never fail to please. 

Also nice to see Dan Corcoran on a flying visit from Cork playing a vintage blues song from Mississippi John Hurt





                            
May: Vinyl Tap made an          appearance this month, opening with a fantastic instrumental, Wipeout by The Surfaris. Also memorable for the first appearance of 10 yr old Jay Harris playing songs that were written fifty years before he was born!



June      Graeme Beardmore and Sheena McDonagh from Stoke made their first appearance at the club as Rain….a very appropriate name given the weather in June. Love and Affection by Joan Armatrading was superb. From Telford came Bryan James and Steve Ross singing self penned songs including ‘The Future’s a Mystery’

July     Claire Shaw made her first appearance on stage at the Navy and soon became a regular favourite. Another debutant was 15yrs old Zac Christie playing live for only the second time. ‘English Rose’ by Paul Weller stunned the sizeable crowd in to silence. 


 




August          Ian Simpkins runs his own Open Mic at Copmere End, but also now a regular at the Navy. His soft Scottish brogue and lovely guitar style are guaranteed to entertain. 
Eighteen year old Jack Pierce played for the first time, and songs from Mumford & Sons made for a fine performance.

September    Londoner Steve Davis entertained with a great version of Traction in the Rain, by David Crosby, While Gaz & The Tones made their debut this month and I don’t think they have missed an Open Mic since.


October        One of my favourites of the year, singer songwriter Lizzie Hogan performed for the first time. She only looks about 14 but is in fact 23….a fabulous talent. Roger Clark brought his new band to the club, Enigma and rocked the house with ‘Steamy Windows’ the Tina Turner classic.




 

November   Ben Garrott usually plays keyboard and sax, but having bought his a guitar just a couple of weeks ago, he played it on stage for the first time. Graham Dabbs was making a welcome return to the club singing the Johnny Cash/June Carter number ‘It Ain’t me Babe’

December    Barry Hollyhead joined forces with his old musical partner Harry Wooley to give us some superb sixties covers. 

Open Mic Founder Mervyn Williams brought his band Bang to Rights to the club to play some blistering rock from AC/DC amongst others.

So Open Mic 2013 in words and pictures, I hope it brought back happy memories. See you next year at probably the area’s best live music evening,  The Newport Open Mic at The Navy!