A Taste of Summer and The Sound of Music

It is nearly 50 years since the Rodgers and Hammerstein film musical of the Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer hit the big screen. The film won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and displaced Gone with the Wind as the highest grossing film of all time. 

Newport’s Sound of Music on a Tuesday night at the Royal Naval Association in Bellman’s Yard may not gross quite so much but is still going strong. It was immediately apparent, looking at the running order on the board, that the performers at last Tuesdays Open Mic probably had never even heard of the Sound of Music. They included Robbie Pilgrim aged 16, Jobe Spencer, 15, Jay Harris, 11 and 17 year old Ollie Flavell. Dave Blu Sandford (sorry Dave), recently turning 60 was the oldest musician on the night but nonetheless held in high esteem by the younger performers.

With a band of ever willing helpers to set up Dave Blu opened proceedings with some self penned numbers as well as Hendrix and the Animals, beautifully played acoustically. Robbie and Jobe then busked their way through a superb instrumental set which included numbers by Tom Petty and Jake Bugg as well as some of their own compositions. These two youngsters have gained hugely in confidence in the past 12 months on the Open Mic stage and it is a delight to sit back and listen to this talented duo.  

11 year old Jay Harris, always full of enthusiasm and the image of a young Mick Jagger, invariably chooses some difficult songs to play and tonight was no exception with a set which included Beady Eye’s “Kill For a Dream” and 2 songs from the sixties, “All Along the Watchtower” and “Paint It Black”.

Prominent in the Newport music scene is 17 year old Ollie Flavell. A regular at Newport Open mic, Olly also runs his own Open Mic session at the Bridge Inn in Newport. A busy month for him in June includes appearances at Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton, the British Legion and opening for NEWfest14 on 28^th June with his band The Rivals. Olly has developed his own style - a kind of jazz funk fusion – and Minnie Riperton’s  “Loving  You” and Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” were certainly worthy of note.

Dave Blu’s acoustic scratch band had Olly up once again and Andy Clarke on bass playing alongside and a great jam session included The Joker and Hey Joe. Raffle time and tonight was sound man Adam Browne’s lucky night with his first ever win in 2 years. Maybe just a bottle of wine but he seemed happy enough.

It has been a while since Grahame Weir has been heard on the Open Mic stage but his set was outstanding especially “New Day Yesterday “covered recently by Joe Bonamassa but originally from Jethro Tull’s 1969 album Stand Up. The Dubliners, Boomtown Rats and Stray Cats completed a great choice of songs from Grahame.

Zoe Spencer, Jobe’s mum, was due to make an appearance tonight but sadly cried off at the last minute. On Wednesday she appears at the Robin 2 in Bilston supporting Terry Reid and we understand that her friend Robert Plant will be there to hear her!!

Dave Blu rounded off an evening of great live music with a mini set which included my favourite John Martyn song “May You Never” and a tribute to his friend  bass player Nigel who recently passed away, the song being “The Wind Cries Mary”. A fitting end to live music on a summer’s night.  

Jude Paton

Breaking News

Just to remind folk that NEWFEST is happening again this year.

Saturday saw some busking in Newport Town Centre where wristbands for NEWfest14 were on sale at just £10 in advance for 12 hours of live music from 10 bands on Saturday 28th June at Newport Rugby Club. 

 

Don't forget that after 7th June wristbands will be £15 so get your early bird tickets now and save a fiver. They are also on sale at Hey Jude's in Newport Indoor Market and The Glasshouse Opticians on the High Street. Overnight camping is £5 and under 16s £5. 5 years and under are free. 

 

Visit www.newfest.net

 

Headlining NEWfest14 are the Barflys, and local bands playing are The Rivals, Touch Too Much, One Nation, Heidi Browne, The Rooz, Zak Christie, The Revenues, All Over Nowhere and Gaz and The Tones. All profits will go to Greenfields Africa.

 

Our reporter this week is Harry (Woolleydog) Woolley
Photos to follow

The Newport open microphone night can be very quiet in May. We are usually competing with football on TV at this end of the football season. The football season is over ‘early doors’ and so it’s anyone’s guess for this Tuesdays attendance. Roadies this week are Andy Clark, Darcy Crawford and Cathy Butler. The roadies quickly assemble and connect stage equipment including guitar amplifiers. P A system, a full drum kit and lights. A swift sound check by rock band Ricochet and sound engineer Darcy and the stage is set and ready to rock.

The sound and lighting is now taken over by Ben Garrett who announces the first act and it’s that man again, roadie, sound man and all around good egg Darcy Crawford. Darcy launched in to a cracking half hour set of country/rock/folk with a tribute to the barman Jez. Darcy’s style is very hard to define or describe but if you can imagine the child of an impossible union between Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond you might get close. In true open magic, in the middle of his gritty set Darcy threw in a tune from left field ‘It’s all about you’ by McFly.

Next up was lead singer Sand Kumar from Telford band Ricochet with a solo set full of drive, enthusiasm and impact. Sand is the Ken Dodd of open music nights, he would play all night if he could, and everyone feels happier when he is on. After his sterling set Sand was joined on stage by the rest of his band Ricochet. Ricochet have played at the Navy for many years. They have a huge repertoire of songs at their fingertips from the Beatles to Greenday and Coldplay. This band is like a Stoke City football crowd, loud and proud, Rock on Ricochet!

With the performers list still a bit thin it was time for guitar hero Alan ‘Shady’ Lane with his guest singer for the night Megan Hodgkinson. Alan a long time supporter of live music in Newport is the lead guitar with a number of bands and accompanist of many fine vocalists. He rarely sings himself as a kindness to his audience.(his wife says) Megan is the daughter of regular vocalist Sharn. She gave a charming performance of folk based music with Alan just a pickin’ and a grinning’ as usual.

Still short of many of the regular contributors to the music night Darcy performed yet another gritty set of unusual songs in his own inimitable way. At this point a short but enjoyable evening appeared to be over as the performers list was now empty. A rapid series of phone calls seemed to indicate that many of the regular male performers were out trying to acquire evening dresses in the right size, and that most of the regular female performers were in the bathroom applying hair restorer to their chins, music is a trendy activity and following successful trends is essential.

Local Superstar to the rescue. Many years ago a doting dad brought his little girl to the open music night, she sang and played keyboard like an angel. Over the years Remynie has blossomed in to a very accomplished musician, she sings, she plays guitar, she plays drums and I bet she still plays keyboard. We have not seen as much of Remynie as we would like of late. She says she has lost a little confidence. No need to lack confidence Remynie, your set was excellent as usual.

Finally the master of ceremonies for the evening Ben Garrett gave us a great virtuoso saxophone solo to close the evening. A good night was had by all.

All fans of live music in the area don’t forget Newfest14 Newport’s biggest live music event is coming.
Saturday the 28^th of June at the Newport Rugby Club. With The Barflys, The Rivals, Touch Too Much, One Nation, Heidi Browne The Rooz, Zac Christie 

Until next week. Keeping It Live.

Musical Celebrations at 60

A very special person who has been a Newport Open Mic stalwart over the years turned 60 this week and was back where he belongs on stage at the Royal Naval Association with his trusty amp and in addition, a First Aid kit and bus pass kindly made for this important occasion by Jez  Price the bar steward.  Artists in the charts 60 years ago included Les Paul and Mary Ford, Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, Frankie Laine and Dean Martin but the man on Tuesday night’s Open Mic billboard was Dave Sandford better known as Dave Blu to Open Mic regulars who opened an evening of live music with a great blues set accompanied by drummer, Steve Black, and Andy Clarke, always grinning, on bass. A couple of self penned songs interspersed with Robert Johnson and Eric Clapton gave us a taste of Dave’s prowess as an outstanding blues player.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen young Claire Shaw from Donnington but what a treat to hear her once more. An outstanding voice and guitar playing from Claire who writes a lot of her own material which included “Heavy Heart” and “I Don’t Wanna Be”. It always amazes me how such young people can compose songs with such heartfelt lyrics. Her voice was suited admirably to songs by Joni Mitchell, The Lumineers and The Kooks. A great set from Claire.

Rich Evans got up to sing Happy Birthday to Dave Blu in his own inimitable style and the production of a zimmer frame had Dave cavorting around the dance floor looking more like a teenager with Cath Butler producing cheese scones as an alternative to her splendid chocolate cake. Dave’s scratch band for the evening was aptly named 60 Year Old Swinger (and friends) who were Steve Black and Andy Clarke once more and another Open Mic stalwart, Harry (Woolleydog) Woolley. Dave’s birthday present for his 60^th was a telescope (he’s a bit of a stargazer I believe) and Harry reminisced that on his 60^th birthday he had a 60 minute flight from Halfpenny Green Airport.  Birthday’s thereafter have always been pertinent to his age he said and this year he is quite excited because he is going to be 69. Harry’s version of JJ Cale’s “Call Me the Breeze” always goes down well and of course the evening would not have been complete without Lonnie Donegan’s “Diggin’ My Potatoes”.

Rich Evans delighted the crowd with a lovely acoustic set starting off with “In the Ghetto” and then the great Jagger/ Richards song “Sweet Virginia” before being joined on stage by his father, Clive. Indeed a rare occurrence but a delight nonetheless to hear 3 instrumentals by Fleetwood Mac followed by The Shadows, finishing with Clive, centre stage, singing Lead Belly’s “Goodnight Irene”.

Dave Blu was in fine form playing us out with a jazzy version of “The Wind Cries Mary” and a song he wrote 17 years ago called “Was It You” before being joined on stage by his friend Mike Daffern on bass, Steve Davis on drums and Ben Garrott for a last jam followed by “Folsom Prison Blues” to finish off an evening of quality live music.

Don’t forget there will be Music in the Square in Newport on Saturday 17^th May from 10am and anyone wishing to take part should turn up with guitar, any kind of musical instrument or just a voice to celebrate Live Music!!

Jude Paton

We have it all, at probably the best open mic night in the UK

Newport Shropshire ..... The home of live music

Report Jude Paton

Photographs Laurence Gale

You may have heard of Newport’s  “ Town Team” now moving into its second year of operation and whose aim it is to promote Newport’s social, cultural, business and retail trade.  Newport’s heritage and the canal are very much a draw not only for residents but also visitors to the town but have you also considered Newport as providing a major stage for musical talent in and around Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

NEWfest 14 on 28^th June has an impressive lineup of outstanding musicians and singers all of whom have come through Newport Open Mic and despite fewer numbers at Tuesday’s Open Mic at the Navy Club in Bellman’s Yard diversity was definitely the name of the game showcasing just what musical ability comes to Newport providing enjoyment for the listener as well as the performer.

With Darcy Darth Vader Crawford manning the sound desk ably assisted by Ben Garrott as MC for the evening announcing, in the blue corner, Olly Flavell as the opening act with his own unique blend of jazz/funk which included a great version of Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon”.

 

Jobe Spencer and Robbie Pilgrim gel very well despite the fact that they rarely rehearse together. They give great praise to Alison Rushton, Head of Music at Burton Borough School as being inspiring not only to them but to the musical achievements of the school, not least the school’s Concert and Big Band. 
 

 

Darcy Crawford as always delights the crowd not only on the tennis court but also on the musical stage with a country style this week. Great stuff as always.  Following some arm twisting Jim Paton who described himself as a “non performer” stepped up to sing acapella about rotten parsnips at Mountjoy Prison which on further questioning turned out to be an adaptation of a piece of prose by James Joyce, followed by a lullaby by Staffordshire singer/songwriter Gillie Nicholls and finally the traditional song “The Parting Glass”.

Singer, songwriter and pianist Chris Del Manso was next up to delight the audience with an extended set which included tracks from his recently released EP “A Taste of...Chris Del Manso”. With fingers tracing effortlessly over the keys of the piano and powerful vocals Chris opened with “I Won’t Go Back to Gillingham Again”. Tracks from his EP included “Goodbye Captain America” and “Photographs” – both outstanding with a lovely line from the second song “photographs of you in my heart and in a drawer, and I take them out when I don’t know what I’m doing anymore”. Obviously Elton John is one of Chris’s musical heroes and influences and he is going to see him later this year for the 26^th time. Tickets for Elton start at around £60. We shared the pleasure of hearing Chris play and sing for just £1. “Bennie and the Jets” and” Your Song” by Chris were faultless. MC Ben Garrott stepped up to the keys saying “How do you follow that?” “Admirably” I would say with a couple of his own compositions followed by an outstanding instrumental version of “Sweet Child Of Mine” and finishing with Booker T’s “Green Onions”. 

Once again a great night of live music at the Navy Club and plenty more in and around Newport with Olly’s Thursday Open Mic restarting at The Bridge this coming Thursday and of course NEWfest14, a must for your diaries on Saturday 28^th June, Newport’s premier one day Music Festival.

Chris Del Manso’s EP is on sale at Hey Jude’s in Newport Indoor Market, open Fridays and Saturdays.

See you all Tuesday from around 8pm.

Keeping it live.