Newsflash….Dylan plays Newport!   Words: Dave Whiteman, Pictures: Matthew Thomas

Fifty years ago this week, musical history was made at the Newport Folk Festival, when Bob Dylan ‘went electric’; plugging in his Fender Stratocaster and then delighting and alienating the crowd in equal measure. For those of you old enough to remember fifty years ago, I should point out that this was Newport, Rhode Island, USA and not our lovely old town. Much was made of the loud boos that Dylan received; some said he had sold out, others that it was a musical milestone, but the truth is old Bob is still around and rumoured to be topping the bill at this year’s Festival. As a footnote, the instrument he used later sold at auction for $1,000,000 and still holds the record for the largest sum ever paid for a guitar!

Whilst we cannot promise you expensive equipment like that, we can say that at the Newport Open Mic, there are guitars, drums, amplifiers and microphones….in fact everything you need to get up on stage and perform…..and you will not get booed!

First up Dave Sanford also had a vintage Stratocaster on display, and although certainly not as expensive as Dylan’s, it definitely sounded better. Assembling the first Scratch House Band of the evening, he rattled through a great rock blues set, ably assisted by bassist Steve Bennett and drummer Steve ‘Blackie’ Black.

Eddie Maiden at 71 years young is one of our senior members, but also one of our most experienced. Eddie played in bands in the Sixties, and it is clear that he can still knock out a tune…..and hold the audience. His material from Neil Diamond and Tom Jones had the audience joining in despite the early evening.

From senior to junior as our youngest member, 12 years old Jay Harris did his own electric set with songs from Neil Young and a great version of ‘Won’t Back Down’ by Tom Petty, recruiting soundman Jon Newton on percussion.

It seems it was to be an evening of collaborations, and the audience of around seventy were clearly delighted. Regular John Minor, who I continue to introduce as John Major, gave us a nice mix of Oasis, this time playing guitar instead of his usual keyboard, before inviting Richard Heywood for the finale ‘Some Might Say’.

Now for something completely different, as Monty Python used to say, and for an interesting change it was nice to welcome Jolene Modd to the stage reading her original poetry. Our crowd like their music, but within seconds, the hubbub had died down and the room was silent……excellent stuff.

Local group Robbie’s in Rehab disbanded years ago and now play together only on very rare occasions. A gig at Blists Hill next week, gave them the opportunity to get back together and try out their stuff onstage at the Navy. Stand in drummer Jon Newton once again kept a great rhythm, particularly on the closing number, Bryan Adams ‘Run to You’.

One of my favourite bands from Newfest a couple of years ago was a bunch of young lads ‘Blue Tuesdays’. Due to university commitments, they have now split but frontman Dan Walton still comes to Newport Open Mic whenever he is home and you are guaranteed good quality. My favourite of an all too short set ‘The Seeker’ from The Who.

Time was moving on as next up Haydn Lee showed once again what a talented family he belongs to…..his sister is multi-instrumentalist Remynie Faith and his mother Gail is heavily involved in the local music scene. I swear I saw her reaching for the tissues as Hayden thanked her with a musical tribute!

Newcomer Jamie Clapton….no relation to Eric he tells me, had no intention of playing, but when his parents, visiting from Oxford, suggested that they might like to hear him play in front of a live audience, how could he refuse? Despite problems with his own guitar, he didn’t panic, but simply borrowed the club’s Epiphone and carried on; highlight of the set was Joseph Arthurs ‘In the sun’.

Just time for the two Richards, first Rich Thomas and then Rich Heywood to bring the evening to a close and send everyone happily on their way. It must have been well past 11pm before the last chords of ‘Pinball Wizard’ started to fade, perhaps a reminder that if you want to play, you have to get your name on the board early in the evening.

So around a dozen great live acts, four hours of superb entertainment and all for a quid….including the raffle…..what superb value! Thanks to all who continue to support and promote live music in the town, particularly those who arrive early and leave late to set up the equipment. Till next time, keep it live! 

Champions All 

Wimbledon fortnight came to an end on Sunday and a head to head between probably 2 of the fittest sportsmen you will ever come across, Sweden's Roger Federer, looking for an eighth Wimbledon title, and the 28 year old Serbian Novac Djokovic. The Serbian didn't put a foot wrong on Centre Court celebrating his third win at SW19. Not quite so it would seem at the Champion's Dinner which followed where he came head to head with Serena Williams. Novak and Serena were first on the dance floor reviving a tradition last observed 30 years ago but it seemed that they were plunged into terrifyingly unfamiliar territory with foot faults all round.  The video footage has to be watched as it is a reminder that these perfectly honed athletes are human after all and are just like you and me.  For a few short seconds the world sees them trying to pull open a door when it says push or breaking wind in front of a first date and pretending that it was just the chair moving across the floor. Embarrassing or what? Djokovic said "I was actually thinking it's going  to be a slower tune, something like a waltz, something more sophisticated, but she chose "Night Fever" and you can imagine how that went!" The best tennis players in the world certainly but definitely not the best dancers!

It's good to know however that there are many of us out there who will just give it a go and none more so than those who appear at Newport Open Mic at the Royal Naval Association on a Tuesday night and despite a quiet start with new faces in the audience but not many names on the board the evening turned out to be one of great diversity. Laurence Gale, photographer for the night, got things underway with a set which included a couple of Beatles classics (aren't they all?), "Let It Be" and "Norwegian Wood" but  the lesser known Jackson Browne song "Naked Ride Home" was the real winner for me.

John Minor has gained in confidence enormously performing at Open Mic probably because he knows he is amongst friends who are always encouraging. He paid a  fine tribute to his favourite band Oasis before being joined on stage by Richard Heywood on lead guitar with a great version of "Supersonic".

In charge of the sound desk tonight was Hayden Lee and so often the person in charge of sound turns out to be a talented musician too so with Andy Clark on bass and Steve Black on drums the Scratch House Trio delivered a formidable instrumental jam session as well as Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll". A terrific drum solo from Steve Black almost brought the house down.

Fast becoming an Open Mic regular young Richard Heywood was back on stage with a solo set which included songs once again by Oasis and The Beatles finishing with a great version of The Who's 1969 rock opera classic "Pinball Wizard".

It was certainly turning out to be a night of great diversity and a first for the Open Mic stage I believe with Jolene Modd reciting some of her own poetry. Writing since she was 10 and now in her thirties Jolene has had three books of poems published as well as a children's book. Originally from Manchester I particularly liked her poems entitled "My Home Newport" and the thought provoking "Family Sonnet". Locally Jolene's publications can be found in the Guildhall Pop-Up Shop here in Newport which is well worth a visit.

Hot footing it from their performance at Adam's Grammar School Summer Concert earlier in the evening was the young 4 piece band Blue Season. These talented 16 and 17 year olds looked particularly smart in white shirts, black waistcoats and ties and reminiscent of bands appearing on TV screens in the sixties. With Tom Boddison on lead guitar, Callum Shaw on bass, Luke Owen-Bowden on drums and 16 year old vocalist Adam Clark-Hill their splendid set included songs by the White Stripes, Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" and for the second time this evening another great version of Led Zep's "Rock and Roll". 

Certainly a night of contrast and to finish off Alex Ash, lead singer with Vinyl Tap, took to the stage to perform solo and a capella and appropriately a Bee Gees' song which may have more suited Djokovic on the dance floor with Serena, the 1969 ballad First of May. 30 years since the last traditional Wimbledon Champion's dance and also 30 year's since the first Live Aid concert raising funds for famine relief in Ethiopia so the Bob Geldof song "I Don't Like Mondays" was most appropriate. Follow this with a song from Les Miserables and Meatloaf a capella and you will understand what I mean by an evening of diverse live entertainment.

Great to see new faces once again in the audience and thanks to all those who took part in whatever way "KEEPING MUSIC LIVE!

Report by Jude Paton

Photographs by Laurence Gale of Blue Season

Following a fall from the stage at a gig in Sweden last month which resulted in a broken leg and then surgery in London and six pins to put it all back together Foo Fighters' front man Dave Grohl was determined to perform on 4^th July in Washington to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of their debut album and of course American Independence Day. This he did from a “throne” to keep his leg imobilised and elevated, inspired by the fantasy drama Game of Thrones. Grohl thought up his Foo Fighters' Throne when recovering from surgery and sketched out his idea resulting in an amazing centre stage seat with lasers around the back and guitar necks as arms.

Grohl is a seasoned artist and performer but nonetheless it takes guts and determination to do what he did and none more so than from the artists and performers who turn up at Open Mic at the Royal Naval Association in Bellmans' Yard, Newport  on a Tuesday night taking centre stage on the Open Mic "Throne"......bought, with no expense spared from Brettells Auctioneers, several years ago.

There was an impromptu soundcheck from Natalie Lewis who recently had the lead role in Shrewsbury Operatic Society's performance of Sister Act as Doloris Van Cartier and Sister Mary Clarence. Just a flying visit from Natalie however so first under the spotlight and in the chair on Tuesday was John Minor and some favourites of his from Oasis.

 Richard Heywood is becoming a regular face on a Tuesday night and after joining John on his final song opened his set with Muse's "Plug in Baby". Feet were tapping however to "Pinball Wizard" and "Help" with some lovely finger picking guitar from this young man.

Always nice to see Harry Woolley amongst some of us Open Mic veterans and with his 70th birthday this Sunday his scratchband comprising Mark Langford,  Jon Newton and the ever smiling Andy Clark was named The 69ers. Slow blues in E was the order of the night and with great lead breaks from Mark included Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee", JJ Cale's "Call Me the Breeze" and of course the song he has made his own "Diggin' My Potatoes" recorded when Harry was just 10 by the King of Skiffle, Lonnie Donegan.

Recently returned from his travels in India Hayden Lee took to the Open Mic Throne and played an amazing instrumental version of Led Zeppelin's "Rain Song" from the album "Houses of the Holy". Only one song this week but delightful nonetheless and the promise of more to come from Lee as he likes to be known.

A diverse evening  of music and song so far and Alex Ash was next on stage singing acapella. He was recently an entrant in BBC's The Voice and hushed the room with Spandau Ballet's "Though the Barricades". No chairs spinning round in the Navy Club but Alex held us all spellbound. Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell" was the surprise choice of the evening and I can't imagine it has been heard acapella before but it worked splendidly.

The 10/20 Scratchband  had Mark Langford back on stage with Jon Newton and Andy Clark. Great to see Mark back at Open Mic for the second week running and if he can get the rest of his band Bang to Rights we would be in for a rockin' good night.  "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and "Johnny B Goode" brought Tuesday's Open Mic to a close in fine style.

Thanks as ever to all those who turn up early to set up and to those who stay late to put everything away and of course we couldn't do without all of you who turn up in the middle as well!!......KEEPING MUSIC LIVE in Newport.