On the rare occasion when I have an early night there is nothing I like better than snuggling under the duvet with a good detective novel which got me thinking about how many musical references there are, made by some of my favourite crime writers.

Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne in the book Lazybones claimed that real country music is nothing at all to do with lost dogs and rhinestones and tries to convey the beauty of George Jones’s voice, the wickedness in Merle Haggard’s and the awesome rumble of Johnny Cash, the dark, daddy of them all whilst Hank Williams was a tortured genius who was undoubtedly the Kurt Cobain of his day. Music plays an important part in Tom Thorne’s life, as it does in Mark Billingham's and, in common with many modern crime writers, it has come to be seen as an important aspect of the novels with authors putting as much research in to music as in police procedures and medical matters.

I would think that at the end of a particularly grizzly day in any walk of life there would be nothing better than listening to music. Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch likes jazz as does John Harvey’s Charlie Resnick. Inspector Morse loves his classical music and progressive rock was Ian Rankin’s area of expertise. Everyone listens to music on iPods, on the way to work or on car radios. It would be hard to avoid music even if you wanted to.

Definitely no early night under the covers on a cold rainy evening in Newport  for the 45 or so who came to to play and listen to live music at the weekly Open Mic Session at the Royal Naval Association. Great to see the return of 14 year old Frankie Wakefield from Market Drayton who made her Open Mic stage debut in August this year. Under the watchful eyes of parents and guitar tutor Steve Alden, Frankie performed like a veteran but the fact that she has only being playing the guitar for a year and already is writing her own material is hard to believe. Two superb covers by Adele and Ed Shearan but her own song "You Said" had the audience in the palm of her hand and absolute hush around the room. Many of our younger performers bring fresh new material to the Open Mic stage and "Riptide" by 27 year old Australian singer/songwriter James Gabriel Keogh otherwise known as Vance Joy was a new one for me. Great to see Frankie back and hopefully it won't be long before her next visit to Newport on a Tuesday night.

Mike Collins from Perton is no stranger to the Open Mic stage but on Tuesday he was accompanied by first timer, Joan Davies, on bass which she has been playing for only a matter of weeks. The Stereophonics " Wouldn't Believe Your Radio" and "Dakota" went down particularly well but the country pop song "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood certainly blew us away with Joan's stunning lead vocals. Well done to Joan and acknowledgement was made when a friend of hers in the audience presented her with some flowers, a lovely and well earned gesture.

Kieron Cahill, originally from Plymouth and now living in South Wales, came along to Open Mic last week to see what it was all about and this week he was ready to take to the stage to perform on his own. Keiron is very obviously an accomplished singer and musician but as a war veteran and currently on a 6 week stay at Combat Stress performing in front of a room full of strangers, although great therapy, requires bravery and determination. A lovely voice and finger picking style from Keiron with songs by Plain White T's and Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child of Mine". Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" from 1964 was quite stunning however, sung by a man who has lived through the horrors and atrocities of war. Jon Newton our sound engineer and photographer  was having a busy night but was peruaded to accompany Keiron playing drums for his final song which I remember the first time round in 1966 by the Bobby Fuller Four - "I Fought the Law". Tragically Fuller was found six months after its release dead in his mother's car of asphixiation. The verdict was suicide but others believed it was murder. He was only 23. In 1979 the most famous cover version of the song was made by The Clash. A great performance from Kieron who will hopefully be back next week.

No stranger to Open Mic, having made his first appearance at the age of 18, saw Ben Garrott, 4 years on, celebrating his 22nd birthday with us in Newport. Ben is a hugely talented musician, on piano, mandolin, guitar and on Tuesday treated us to a delightful "Ronnie Scott's Experience" on tenor sax. Some arm twisting/dislocation persuaded Ben to continue with 2 self penned songs on guitar with "Whiskey and Cigarettes" going down particularly well. The second song "Me and My Guitar" elicited the best quote I have heard for a long time from Ben saying, "this was my stairway to professional musicianship which I eventually fell down". Finally from the the Man in Black, the dark daddy of them all, Ben finished a fine set with "Folsom Prison Blues".

It's been too long since Graham Dabbs last performed on stage here in Newport and what better way to end an evening of live music with Graham deciding to "give it a go" on the house acoustic guitar. "Into White" from Cat Stevens' album Tea For the Tillerman was outstanding with Graham looking relaxed and comfortable despite earlier nerves. "Hello Mary Lou" and goodbye to another Tuesday evening of live music here in Newport. Thank you Graham and everyone else for making it happen each week.

2am and  thankfully back under the duvet with Jeffrey Deaver. journalist, folksinger, attorney and writer of my current read The Burning Wire

 

......till next week KEEP IT LIVE!