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  • Thursday 27th - TJ's open mic night

Want to walk the same boards that Arno, Pete M, Conrad, Sean, Deefstes, Fingerpicker, Squonk, Keira and other GFSAers have walked? Want to get up in front of people with a guitar just to see what it's like? Have ideas and are looking for an outlet?

Then come to TJ's open mic night next Thursday at Marks Park.

This is not in the big room that is used for most TJ's shows, it's in the Ladies Bar (the old Press Club Bar) which is smaller, less intimidating, cosier. The core audience are supportive and attentive.

TJ's provide a small PA with mics, leads etc. You just need to bring yourself and your guitar (or mandolin, dobro, fiddle etc etc). We can't accommodate electric bands because it takes too long to set them up, and NO BACKING TRACKS (pre-recorded, sequenced, MIDI or whatever - too much PT to set these up for individual performers).

R25 admission (playing or not). Lots of safe parking. There's a bar service and you can order meals from the Marks Park caterers.

Slots are 15 minutes. Get there early and put your name on the board for the time slot you want. Music starts at 20:00.
    8 days later
    I've decided to visit the open mic this evening. Anybody else going?
      PeteM wrote: I've decided to visit the open mic this evening. Anybody else going?
      Probably. Though I'm short on sleep and shorter on practice so I might just slump around and drink beer.
        PeteM wrote: I've decided to visit the open mic this evening. Anybody else going?
        Would have liked to
          I went. Took a guitar but we got there after the show started, I couldn't get myself an early spot, was short on sleep and so I stuck around a while, had a beer, had a brief chat with Pete. Pete was down to play late and so I missed his set. But I'd seen him play at my TJ's show not so long ago and so I know how good he is and guys, if you get the chance to see him then take it.

          Kristel Birkholtz arrived. She's a very accomplished player, does a lot of session work. She's a violinist. She bought a guitar player with her (electric ?) and they delivered a very strong set, including a Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grapelli cover. Very good. The guitarist also did a solo piece out of the American "standards" canon (was it "I Got Rhythm"?) in a style reminiscent of Martin Taylor (this is a good thing).

          There was also a guy I'd seen there before who is a bit surprising because the spends so long telling you how miserable his existence is that you expect some sort of punk/metal thrash, but he's an acoustic player and he has some good ideas. He played one piece last night that started off with a nice instrumental. Quite slow. Let the notes hang and ring a bit. Had a great atmosphere to it. Then he segued into a song of his own that was in a different time signature. He made that work well. Finished with a Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash cover. You know which song. So bleak, but very potent.

          A good night with pleasant variety.
            A very interesting evening... a small, warm and intimate room with nice acoustics. I really enjoyed Kristal on violin with her husband Rory on guitar... both accomplished musos.
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