1709 Acoustic Guitar Club in Weltevreden Park

Squonk

A laid back, yet structured environment, in which acoustic guitar players/songwriters are encouraged and able to display their talent/s. The club operates every Wednesday evening from 8.00pm until late, at RUMOURS LOUNGE, Palm Court Shopping Centre, Weltevreden Park, cnr JG Strydom Drive and Cornelius Street

Got a tip off from XRB about this, will scout it tonight with Fingerpicker....

Conrad

Squonk wrote: A laid back, yet structured environment, in which acoustic guitar players/songwriters are encouraged and able to display their talent/s. The club operates every Wednesday evening from 8.00pm until late, at RUMOURS LOUNGE, Palm Court Shopping Centre, Weltevreden Park, cnr JG Strydom Drive and Cornelius Street

Got a tip off from XRB about this, will scout it tonight with Fingerpicker....

Is always on a school night!!!

Ray

And so far away from home.

Not that I'd be able to get there now if it was next door. But for future. Hey but if it's good we make a plan. Just have to cabin in Sqonk or Bob's garage.

deefstes

Squonk wrote: Got a tip off from XRB about this, will scout it tonight with Fingerpicker....

Do report back please. Sounds interesting.

Bob-Dubery

For the record, I got a tip-off from Fingerpicker. So this is getting sort of circular.

Squonk

This is situated at the Rumours Lounge Bar in Weltevreden Park, and that's exactly what it is A BAR, walked in to huge amounts of cigarette smoke swirling all over the place and lots of noise from excited patrons. Approached the bar counter and was accosted by an individual who says that he knows me and insisted on buying me a drink, how could I refuse?

The first couple of acts were basically cover versions of pop songs, so very different to the TJ's "Folky" vibe. And to tell the truth, if you weren't sitting in the front there was just no way you could hear them properly. This was also my first exposure to the "Bar Type Gig", where the poor musician is doing his thing and most people are involved in rather loud conversations!

During this first stage (as I will call it), a young guy(early 20's) goes on with a Resonator and does a couple of Alternate tuning Blues songs, was hugely refreshing, If only they could hear him to appreciate it! I tracked him down and we had a good chat about DADGAD and Metal and all things guitar.

I will now describe the second stage, sort of hit in at about 21:30, Conversation is a bit softer, the people are starting to notice the musicians. A couple of guys are now doing their own stuff, still very pop oriented but good stuff. People are singing along and watching, tapping feet and actually listening.
Saw a brilliant Singer Songwriter Guitarist called Justin Serrao, who completed wowed the crowd and had them hanging on to everything he did.

I put my name down to play next week, but will have to rethink my whole repertoire as I dont know if it will fit in this type of gig and I only have a week ?

Squonk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/1709-Acoustic-Guitar-Music-Club/150096838409551

The FB page, they have posted some pictures. Gives you an idea of what the club is all about.

deefstes

Squonk wrote: https://www.facebook.com/pages/1709-Acoustic-Guitar-Music-Club/150096838409551

The FB page, they have posted some pictures. Gives you an idea of what the club is all about.

Some interesting guitars featured in those pics. A very nice looking Martin with some sort of a Koa top or something, a Fender acoustic jazz guitar, even a Takamine so the Squonk will fit right in. ?

Bob-Dubery

deefstes wrote: Some interesting guitars featured in those pics. A very nice looking Martin with some sort of a Koa top or something

It's all mahogany. I'm not sure of the model number, but D.... something-or-other because it's a dreadnought.

Open mic nights can be great fun, and you might be surprised at what is received by the audience.

I remember the open mic that Keira used to run out in Sandton. One night I agreed to go on first and break the ice. So I get up there, I plug in, I look out and everybody I can see has got studs and tattoos (and most of them had mohicans). I had a little set I'd practiced, and it didn't seem to me that this audience and that set list would have much in common. So I thought "I'm going to die a death up here tonight." I announce the first song, which was "Dark As A Dungeon" by Merle Travis and they all started hollering and hooting and clapping - "Merle Travis. Yaaaay!".

That song went down OK so I stuck to my plan. The next song was from the 70s. The 1870s. "Spenser The Rover". They even took that OK, and nobody threw me with anything.