From Priscilla Maria Veronica White, cloakroom girl at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, to the girl we all knew and loved, Cilla Black is expected to have her funeral service at the same church as her beloved husband of 30 year's Bobby Willis who died in 1999 after battling with cancer. Cilla was part of the British Invasion in the sixties when British music found its way across the Atlantic and took the United States by storm forefronted of course by The Beatles. One of my favourite films from the sixties was "Alfie"with Cher singing the title track over the closing credits although it was a big hit for Cilla whose version was used in the original British soundtrack. Despite Cilla's negative reaction when asked to record the song saying "I can't do this, for a start - Alfie? You call your dog Alfie......couldn't it be Tarquin or something like that?" the single became a top 10 hit in 1966 and the opening line of the song was used by Cilla in her 2004 autobiography "What's It All About?"

The meaning of the word "invasion" usually conjures up something of a threat of a violent nature but in terms of the British music invasion of the sixties this was certainly not the case. With all hands on deck at 7pm to set up for the weekly Newport Open Mic session at the Royal Naval Association ready for the invasion of music lovers who come out on a Tuesday night to enjoy an evening of live music.

Richard Thomas did the honours with the early soundcheck with Matthew Thomas (no relation) on the desk as well as behind the camera this week. "Me and Bobby McGee" written by Kris Kristofferson and made famous by the earthy, husky sound of Janis Joplin and a  splendid drum solo from Steve Black in Suzi Quatro's Devil Gate Drive got the evening off to a great start. 

John Minor had been practicing on keyboards earlier in the day and delivered an excellent rendition of Greenday's "21 Guns" on guitar showing no sign of nerves whatsoever. With a couple of songs by Oasis which included "Supersonic" accompanied by 19 year old Richard Heywood, John has certainly found a niche for himself at Open Mic with his musical ability coming to the fore. 

Richard Heywood continued with a solo acoustic set and since his first appearance around 3 months ago has to be one of the most improved young performers not only with his vocals but with his guitar playing . A great choice of songs included Razorlight's "Golden Touch" and my favourite from his set The Who's "Pinball Wizzard" from the 1969 rock opera "Tommy". Some great guitar playing on that one Richard.

Back on stage for his set was Richard Thomas and you know that he will deliver something completely different. Who else can glide effortlessly from Abba to The Stones and then to the punk mayhem of The Members' "Sound of the Suburbs"? As always, Rich T deliverers musical entertainment with a capitol E.

Visiting his home town of Newport this week we were delighted to see Ben Garrott at Open Mic where he first cut his musical teeth some years ago. Multi talented musician, Ben is in the up and coming country rock band Darcy who went down a storm at this year's NEWfest. A classic by the man in black, Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" was followed by 2 songs written by Ben for the band Darcy "Whisky and Cigarettes" and "Me and my Guitar", two great foot stompin' country numbers.

Last weekend saw  Bloodstock Open Air, the UK's biggest independent Metal Festival with headliners, Trivium, Within Temptation and Rob Zombie. It is difficult to believe that our next performer was amongst some 15,000 metal heads for 4 days of unadulterated heavy metal and then on Tuesday she delights the Open Mic audience with her hauntingly beautiful vocals. If you haven't already guessed the young lady in question was Remynie Faith. "In the Arms of an Angel" a moving song by Sarah McLachan about the Smashing Pumpkin's keyboard player, Jonathan Melvoin who died of a heroin overdose in 1996 was superb but the outstanding song of the night was Remynie's interpretation of Dido's "White Flag". Marvellous.

Older brother Hayden Lee followed Remynie and another great musical talent delighting the audience with his very original experimental style of acoustic music. Detuning his guitar and stretching his vocal range he never fails to deliver something different to a receptive audience and his proud mum!

Tuesday night at the Navy would not be the same without a hastily assembled scratchband put together this time by Rich T, with Ben Garrott on drums, Jude on bass and Richard Heywood on lead guitar. Rich T had us ripping through some classics including "Johnny B Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven"....never played together but that's part of the fun!

Bringing the evening to a close we were delighted to welcome back Alan Turner, too long absent from the Open Mic stage at the Navy. Alan has a really lovely voice and his vocals tonight were crystal clear (well done Matt on the sound desk). A Beatles' opener "Don't Let Me Down" followed by Cat Stevens' "Father and Son", heavy with emotion from Alan and to round the evening off and indeed this report, back to the British Invasion and Liverpool's Gerry and the Pacemaker's  "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" a song they played on their first U.S. television show in 1964 and their biggest British chart hit. No doubt there will be a few tears shed at Cilla's funeral and no doubt too a great many shed by those who were a part of her life when she started out in the sixties.

Another great night keeping music live here in Newport.