Football !!....What football.

Who needs footie with entertainment like this? 

Words: Dave Whiteman, Pictures : Laurence Gale

It’s always a bit of a worry when football is on mainstream telly during the week. 

We are, if you haven’t noticed, becoming a nation of couch potatoes, and when the weather is cold it is often very tempting to stay in and watch the box with a hot cup of cocoa, especially when there is a big match on. The big match in question this week, was the War of the Roses battle between Lancashire’s Burnley and Yorkshire’s Barnsley, held at Turf Moor. 

There was, I understand another important match held just down the road from there at Old Trafford, where some guy named Ronaldo came back to haunt his previous employers, but neither contest stirred the passions of Newport music fans. More than 60 people turned up to the Royal Naval Association in Bellman’s Yard for the usual musical extravaganza that is the Newport Open Mic.

A big welcome back greeted regular, Dave Blue as he took to the stage with his latest venture, Old Bones Boogie Band, with new drummer Keith Johnson and bassist Paul Cooper. They have been booked for a number of gigs after their last outing at the club and it is not difficult to see why. Strong vocals, searing guitar work and a very tight rhythm section, show that when you put experienced musicians together rehearsals don’t matter too much.

Carol Cartwright is also becoming something of a regular. Her soft voice and melodic guitar suit the earlier part of the evening and her lovely renditions of Catch the Wind and Susanne, by Leonard Cohen were a lovely gentle start to a great night of music.

Olly Flavell’s voice goes from strength to strength as does his confidence, and his set included a couple of self penned songs that were very well received, as was his final number, When you Say Nothing at All, by Ronan Keating.

First scratch band up next, and Roger Clarke, Baz Webster and Dave Whiteman recruited a nervous looking Andy Clarke on bass, for an excellent short set. Crowd pleaser Stand by Me was followed by a couple of rockers, I Saw her Standing There and It’s all Over Now to leave Andy with a big smile on his face.

Ben Garrott and Remynie are guaranteed to please and after playing their favourite, I’m Not a Vampire, launched into an audience request, Freebird. Dave Blue couldn’t resist the temptation and leapt onto the stage for the guitar solo, brilliant rousing stuff.

One of the things that the Open Mic does rather well is to encourage emerging young talent. Jobe Spencer & Robbie Pilgrim, both just 14 years old looked at each other to see who would be singing, but then decided on a guitar instrumental, written by Robbie, to which the audience responded warmly. Robbie stayed on stage to accompany Jordan Clempner who sang for the first time last week, on Tracey Chapman’s Fast Car, not an easy number, but very well done.

Time once again for another Scratch band. Last week first timer Billy Biscuit, real name David White, wowed the crowd and now, with an assembled and quite different crew he did the same again. Roger Clark moved on to bass to accommodate a very busy Dave Blue, and with Baz on drums, they livened up the Navy with a blues infusion. Last song I shot the Sheriff is quite an awkward one to busk but they did a really good job of the Eric Clapton number.

One of the Open Mic’s favourite musicians, Martyn Davis, sadly passed away a while ago and has been sorely missed in the club… I can vividly remember him bringing his then 9 or 10 year old son Nathan onto the Navy stage to the delight of the crowd. What a nice surprise then, to see Nathan and his Mum Louise back in the audience on Tuesday. After a little persuasion, both Mum and son got up to sing Fifteen Years from one of Martyn’s favourite bands, The Levellers, before Nathan, now 16, led the crowd through the Oasis anthem Wonderwall…….your Dad would have been very proud of you, Nathan.

Just enough electricity in the meter for the three Daves, Blue, White and Whiteman along with Roger Clark to play out the evening with a great mix of blues, R & B and a couple of crackers from REM, before the lights came up.

So just when you think it’s going to be a quiet night the music faithful of Newport turn up to surprise you and enjoy a super night of live music at the best venue in town, The Navy. 

Don’t forget, every Tues from 8pm, play sing or just watch…it’s better than football!