Open Mic Bath marked its first anniversary last night (1 October) with a buzzing evening of music at The Curfew Pub. What began a year ago with a handful of nervous performers playing to a small audience has quickly grown into one of the city’s most popular regular live music events, with the upstairs bar packed out for the celebration.
Hosted by Richard Perkins of Bath Guitar School and Duncan Hobday of Bath band Paper Jam, the evening offered a vibrant mix of regulars and first-timers performing everything from Springsteen and Sheryl Crow covers to some really impressive original songs. Soloists, duets and trios all took to the stage, each met with warm applause from an enthusiastic crowd.
A highlight of the night was the collaborative spirit, with host Richard Perkins often joining musicians to provide guitar accompaniment. His contribution underlined the supportive and professional atmosphere that has made Open Mic Bath such a success.
Richard explained, “The goal is to keep the spirit of live music alive and engage with the wider community through enriching outreach programmes just like this to the benefit of us all. We pride ourselves on curating a warm, friendly and encouraging environment – a safe space for musicians of all abilities to either begin their musical journey or to develop and strengthen their performance skills.”
With the anniversary event proving such a success, it’s clear Open Mic Bath has become a firm fixture in the city’s cultural calendar. The next sessions are set for 5 November and 3 December, with full details available at Open Mic Bath on Facebook.
Thank you to Katy Payne for the photos
