Last week I went to The Robin 2, probably the best and one of my favourite live music venues in the West Midlands with a capacity of 700. I have seen many great artists there over the years, one of them being the late great John Martyn who sadly died of double pneumonia in 2009 just 60 years old.  My introduction to singer/songwriter and guitarist John Martyn  was at the age of 19 at Stirling University and he was  23.  

Last week's visit to Bilston was to see The Glorious Fools, taken from the title of Martyn's 1981 album Glorious Fool, a four piece band playing an eclectic mix of folk, rock, jazz and blues from John Martyn's entire catalogue. Great support too from 31 year old Matt Woosey to whom I had the great pleasure of chatting at the venue. An evening of nearly 3 hours of outstanding music from 5 talented musicians in front of a "crowd" of just FOURTEEN people!

A friend of mine went to see Arthur Brown (remember the Crazy World of and the hit single "Fire"?) at the same venue to find he was one of only 2 people there. Arthur Brown said "We have 2 choices.....we can all go for a curry or we can do our set." A select audience of 2 chose the 2 hour set from Arthur Brown......a curry they could have any time but an insight in to the music of the day could have been interesting.

A week later at the Royal Naval Association in Newport there were around 60 in for the Tuesday night Open Mic Session paying just £1 for a raffle ticket and free entry. A full board by 8pm looked promising for a great evening of live music. 

Malcolm Purvis drops in 3 or 4 times a year from Leeds when he is working in the area and is a very prolific songwriter of "urban love songs".  With good use of a harmony peddle new songs included "Awkward Day" and "Devastating Friend", a sarcastic dig at a relationship going nowhere. Always good to see Malcolm back in Newport and at our Open Mic where he started out.

Steve Davis had traveled from Manchester to join us tonight and accompanied Vinyl Tap vocalist Alex Ash with an "unplugged" set which included "Road to Hell Part 2" and "Mustang Sally" both refreshingly different with Steve harmonising and on guitar. Anything by The Eagles always guarantees great harmonies and we were not to be disappointed with the addition of a harmony pedal to "Lyin' Eyes".

12 year old Jay Harris was lucky enough to  see Foo Fighters on the Broken Leg Tour at Milton Keynes Bowl so "Times Like These" was a great opener. Jay however was greatly impressed by Iggy Pop as support so set to and learned "The Passenger" giving us a great interpretation of the 1977 song from the Lust For Life album.

Girl Power........and an all girl rock band, a first at the Navy Open Mic I believe, with Emma Woodhouse and Becky Hick on guitars and vocals and Lexi Jones on drums with some driving rock songs by Alanis Morisette, Suzi Quatro, The Undertones and The Kinks. A superb set from these 3 who have only practised together twice before their appearance tonight. A very polished performance too and a departure for Emma whom we have previously seen in the folk influenced band Driftwood.

Bluesman Trevor Rowley has recently got a new band together and tonight Elmore's Dog had their first live outing and an extended set here in Newport. Trevor on guitar and vocals was joined by Mal Brown on bass, Steve Fields on lead guitar and "Johnny the Drummer". Classic blues by T-Bone Walker, Robert Johnson, Peter Green and king of country, Johnny Cash as well as one of Trevor's own compositions "Keeping the Blues Alive". A great collaboration of musicians and an enthusiastic reception from the audience.

Steve Davis was up next for a solo set and proving the point that Newport Open Mic always provides an evening of great diversity as well as exceptional musical ability not just from experienced musicians but from those who are just starting out. Steve is a veteran and tonight's set from him was one of great contrast starting with Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter", then "Every River" from the hugely popular Scottish band Runrig, finishing with a lovely interpretation of Foo Fighter's "Times Like These" which had been performed earlier in the evening by Jay Harris. People often worry about repeating something that has been done previously but both Jay and Steve interpret and sing songs in their own unique style so much so that I don't think the audience even noticed that it had been done twice!

Left hander from Telford but originally from Essex, Paul Townsend paid his first visit to Open Mic last week to "suss us out" but this week he was back to perform in the closing Scratch House Band set recruiting Andy Clarke on bass, grinning from ear to ear as usual, Trevor Rowley on lead guitar and Johnny the Drummer both from Elmore's Dog. A terrific and completely unrehearsed closing set from these four included a couple of great songs by Dr Feelgood and Leiber and Stoller's "Kansas City" originally recorded in 1952 by Little Willy Littlefield but probably better known covers by Wilbert Harrison, the Beatles and Fats Domino.

60 people paying £1 for 3 hours of live music on a Tuesday night in Newport, 14 people paying £14 each last Wednesday at the Robin in Bilston! 

Whenever and wherever there is live music these venues need your support in order to KEEP MUSIC LIVE.

Report: Jude Paton

Photographs: Matt Thomas