Report by Jude Paton.     Photography by Matthew Thomas

One of Dave Whiteman's favourite spots at Open Mic is The Scratch-house Band when someone gets up on bass, another on drums, guitar (or two) and vocals. This is totally unrehearsed and very often the band members have never actually met before. The musicians however are thoroughly enjoying themselves and it is hard to believe that this 15 minute spot has not required hours of practice.

The Severn Theatre in our county town puts on some great live music and last week I saw Birmingham band Quill, whose music is described as Celtic/Rock. They are currently doing a theatre tour and it was interesting to see THREE drum kits on stage before they came on. The puzzle was solved when, as well as their usual drummer, the band was joined by drummer and percussionist Bev Bevan, one of the original members of The Move and ELO and the touring drummer with Black Sabbath. By no means comparable with an Open Mic Scratch-house band but an interesting collaboration of musical talent with the wonderful voice of vocalist Joy Strachan. One of the highlights of a great concert was "The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond" and with Bev Bevan on drums!

 

With plenty of new faces in the audience Open Mic at the Royal Naval Association in Newport kicked off with an extended Scratch-house Band sound check with the ever smiling Andy Clarke on bass, Dave Blu Sanford on guitar and vocals, Steve Black on drums and Olly Flavell, guitar and vocals. A bluesy start leading in to some early classics with  "Johnny B Goode", "Honky Tonk Woman" and BB King's "The Thrill is Gone" got an evening of great live musical entertainment underway.

 

Always good to see Open Mic stalwart Laurence Gale, this time with guitar instead of camera and some lovely gentle songs. Harry Chapin is one of his favourite artists but "Norwegian Wood" with some lovely finger picking was the one that stood out for me.

 

A return visit to the Navy Club and long overdue was Mitch Reynolds, originally from Stockton-on-Tees but now living in Telford. Mitch is a prize winning singer of sea shanties so wek new we were in for something different from her tonight when she stepped in to the spotlight with concertina and a low G whistle. The room was hushed from the start with her opening song "Lord Franklin" about a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer who perished on his last expedition along with his entire crew in 1847. Conditions on these expeditions were dreadful with men forced to eat lichen, their own leather boots and even resorting to cannibalism and in the end often dying from starvation, hypothermia, scurvy, lead poisoning or tuberculosis. A couple of Irish tunes on the whistle was followed by the sea shanty " "Shallow Brown" and with shouts for an encore Mitch ended a delightful set with "The Poison Pasty Song/My Boy Billy" a capella. How she remembered the numerous verses to these songs I have no idea but Mitch brought something quite different to the Open Mic stage on Tuesday.

 

Dave Sanford and Friends (Olly, Andy and Steve) were back on stage with the Santana version of "Black Magic Woman" followed by a folk version of "Hey Joe" supposedly written in 1962 by Billy Roberts. The Surfaris "Wipeout" showed just what a great drummer Steve Black is - he was really in his element with this classic 12 bar blues instrumental from 1963.

 

17 year old Olly Flavell remained on stage for a solo spot proving what a talented, versatile and confident young musician he has become. With a couple of his own songs and the promise if his new album due for release soon he is proof that Newport definitely has talent in abundance.

 

Singer/songwriter Alexandra Jayne was paying her first visit to Newport Open Mic and her acoustic style complemented by a strong soulful voice brought a hush around the room. Alexandra Jayne at just 22 and from Wheaton Aston is another example of what fine young talent we have here on our doorstep. Supporting James Blunt on his recent "Moon Landing" tour Alexandra Jayne treated us to 3 of her self penned songs after a superb opening cover of The Beatles "Helter Skelter". Her own songs "Clumsy Love", "Home" and "Troubadour" held the audience spellbound. Maybe the first time here at Open Mic but I don't think it will be the last.

 

By way of complete contrast Rich T was up next and he always chooses some great songs which inevitably make us smile, not least with lyrics such as "driving a truck with my high heels on" by Al Yankovic and "I'll never smoke weed with Willie again" - a tribute to Willie Nelson. And "Mississippi" by the all girl Dutch band Pussycat?.....not often you would hear that sung at an Open Mic session. A great choice Rich.

 

John Minor was in good form tonight on borrowed keyboards and playing an instrumental set with 2 songs from his favourite band Oasis and finishing with "I'll Get You" the B side of The Beatles 1963 single "She Loves You". An excellent set from John.

 

3 members of Vinyl Tap recruited Dave Sanford on guitar, sound man Jon Newton on drums and Gail Faith on tambourine with  additional vocals from a member of the audience to bring the night to a close. Great fun, completely unrehearsed and just a splendid way to bring an evening of live music to an end.

 

Same time next week - Newport Open Mic every Tuesday at the Royal Naval Association, Bellmans Yard, Newport. Live music, there's nothing better.