Report and photographs by Jude Paton
Our regular columnist
Dave Whiteman has recently undergone surgery for a knee replacement and
although he is now home and starting the recovery process he will no
doubt be missing the local Open Mic scene for the next couple of weeks.
Music is one of his greatest passions, closely followed by football and
skiing and it is a well known fact that music can be a great therapy,
reducing pain and anxiety. He may miss some of the live music sessions
in and around town but it is worth remembering that there have been a
number of great cds produced over the past few years featuring some of
the local talent. John Heath was the driving force behind Now That’s
What I Call An Original CD, raising funds for Severn Hospice, which came
about following the deaths of Open Mic regulars Robbie Woolrich and Roy
Hodges over 7 years ago. Live at the Lion and Shroprock were two
further cds which were produced and many of you will know some of the
performers who included Jon Lloyd, Mark Langford, Pre Sleep Monologue,
Alan Turner, Laurence Gale, Rob Bryon, Gerald Maddox, Martyn Templeton,
Weazel Diesel, Richard Thomas, Vinyl Tap, Brakedust, Blue Tuesdays, The
Making, Near Enough, Anything Goes and many more. Many of these people
can still be heard at the Open Mic sessions here in Newport and until
Dave returns to the fold he can sit back in his own front room and
listen to some of the familiar voices featured on these discs. Not quite
the Open Mic atmosphere, I know, but a good aid to his recovery.
Dave Sanford opened
Newport’s premier music night at the Navy Club in Bellmans Yard last
Tuesday with his new white Fender and a song from
comedian-turned-actor-turned-
Rich Thomas resurrected
some old songs bringing us Abba, the Bee Gees, Mud and Nancy Sinatra’s
These Boots are made for Walking unexpectedly sung in German. As always a
good and greatly entertaining set from Mr T.
Robbie Pilgrim and Jobe
Spencer are now so much more confident on stage at the Navy Club and
can often be heard busking their set outside in Bellmans Yard
beforehand. Hours of practice has paid off enormously with these two
talented 15 year olds playing terrific instrumental versions of
Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Jake Bugg’s Lightening Bolt as well as
one of their own compositions. A great set from these two indeed.
Steve Davis, now an
Open Mic regular, held us spellbound with his unique interpretation of
some lesser known songs by David Crosby and Family as well as Neil
Young’s Old Man and finally JJ Cale’s Magnolia with Dave Sanford
accompanying him.
From two 15 year olds
earlier to a foursome whose combined age came to about 220 years, the
veterans who opened the evening, Harry, Dave, Steve and Andy brought us a
familiar but highly enjoyable blues set which, you guessed it, included
Digging my Potatoes, King Bee, St James’ Infirmary and Laudie Miss
Claudie with Harry on vocals, Andy bass, Dave with his lovely Fender and
bottleneck and Steve very competently on drums. Dave finished the set
up tempo with Clapton’s Before You Accuse Me.
Gaz and the Tones were
back again this week with guest drummer Matt Miles comfortably playing
alongside these three 24 year olds who play all original material. Twin
brothers Andy who plays an excellent solid driving bass and Tony, lead
and vocals, compliment Gaz on 12 string and lead vocals exceptionally
well and bring refreshing new material to Open Mic. Songs tonight
included Round the Sun which I especially liked, Passion, Out There and
This Too Shall Pass.
Once again an evening
of live music bringing together like minded people either to play or
just to sit back and enjoy. All this for just £1 takes place every week
at the Royal Naval Association in Bellmans Yard.
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