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!