Brilliant Buskers at the Navy   Words: Dave Whiteman, Pictures: Matt Thomas

There is a famous tune called ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and although I have sung it many, many times, I have never really understood the line ‘Now Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers, they’ve been known to pick a song or two’. That was until this last week, when a brilliant BBC4 documentary explained it. Muscle Shoals is a studio in Sheffield, Alabama and almost everyone in the music world, from Aretha Franklin to The Rolling Stones have recorded there at some point. The resident rhythm section, who were able to busk almost anything in any musical key, became known as The Swampers…hence their inclusion in the famous Lynryd Skynryd number. I mention this only because every week at the Newport Open Mic in the Navy Club you will find a bunch of musicians who get up on stage performing with someone they perhaps have never met, playing something they have never played.

More of that later, but first up Helen Brown from Telford, who has just returned from six weeks in Thailand. Always a pleasure to listen to her soft style and she managed to squeeze two of my favourites, James Taylor and John Prine into her lovely set.

A little bird tells me that Robbie Pilgrim and Jobe Spencer have been spotted busking in Stafford. Clearly the practice is paying off because their short instrumental set was excellent….particularly ’Freefallin’.

An absolute pleasure to welcome back Jade & JP from Wolverhampton. Their visit a couple of months ago set the place alight and they impressed once again with a brilliant performance. ‘River Deep Mountain High’ was my highlight of a fantastic medley of songs, which segued seamlessly from one to the other.

Next up, Newport’s own ‘Swampers’
I was tempted up on stage to join very experienced musicians Steve Hammond on guitar, bassist Simon Mann and drummer for hire Paul Crewe to hammer through a roaring set that had little heard rock and soul from the sixties….great fun indeed.


Continuing in the same vein, Martin Jacks and Tony Rodberg otherwise known as the Magpies, lived up to their name by ‘borrowing’ a few musicians from the floor to fill out their sound. A brilliant set from this five piece followed, my favourite being ‘The Thrill is Gone’ made famous by BB King. Tremendous stuff from these musical strangers.


Resident bluesman Dave Sandford stayed on stage with the rhythm section Al Middleton and Baz Webster, recruiting youngster Olly Flavell for some serious blues tunes from JJ Cale, before another very experienced guitarist joined them for a finale. Roger Clark hasn’t been seen in a while but rousing numbers from Dire Straits and Bryan Adams blew away any cobwebs.

So never mind Muscle Shoals….the talent is here in Newport!

If you play, sing or just want to jam with other like-minded musicians, then the Newport Open Mic is for you, every Tuesday at the Navy Club.

Till next time, keep it live!