What an end to the year!

What an end to the year! Given that it started with a large question mark hanging over us, and included a couple of months in the wilderness without a venue. It finished on a very high note with a wonderful evening of music and song in a pub that has made us very welcome and has atmosphere in abundance.

So, to the evening itself. A rather nice festive window dressing had been installed across the rear of the performance area, and the surrounding Christmas lights reflected in the glass made for a very sparkly stage setting, so we went without the usual black back-drop and presented our backs to the outside world. My opening contributions to the evening were  "Caffeine and Nicotine" and then a seasonal reflection inspired by the shop window of Ann Summers in Coventry, called "Sad St Nicholas". 'Caffeine and Nicotine' features on a CD, recorded earlier in the year at Born In A Barn Studios. The artwork has all been done, so sometime early in the new year it will be released for consumption by those that would like it.

Kristy; armed with a ukulele, and John were next up. Their first offering was The Beatles' 'Let It Be' and then the sing along, "altogether now", Christmas anthem, 'White Christmas'. In the second part of the evening they performed Adele or Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love' and then absolutely smashed John and Yoko's 'Happy Christmas (War is Over)'; a trickier song than many realise.


Steve Edgar offered a respite from the festivities with James Taylor's beautiful song 'Carolina In My Mind', and then Simply Red's 'Holding Back The Years'; which always makes me think about Del and Rodney in Only Fools and Horses.

New to The Open Music Collective were Geoff and Kelvin. Their first song has been sung by a few since Luke Kelly in 1899 including Rod Stewart and The Dubliners. They introduced it as being the product of a much more recent band, The Pogues and 'Dirty Old Town'. Their second was John Prine's 'Lonesome Friends of Science', a song about the threat of the imminent end of the world from a scientific perspective. In the second half they sang Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' and another John Prine song, 'Flashback Blues'. I hope that we'll see more of them in 2020.

Slightly Vague Brothers Ian and Richard were in full Tom Waits mode. Their first song 'Jocky Full Of Bourbon' was followed by one of my favourites 'Chocolate Jesus'. I suppose that qualifies as a seasonal offering. There was more Jesus related music in the second half when they teamed up with Steve Edgar.

It was good to see Jason from Napton again. His first song was classic Johnny Cash, 'Folsom Prison Blues' For his Christmassy number a thoughtful Chris De Burgh song 'A Spaceman Came Travelling'. In the second part of the evening Jason gave us Greenday's 'Good Riddance' and reminded us just how good Chaz and Dave really were with 'Ain't No Pleasin You'. Just a reminder that Jason runs a very gentle Open Mic night at The Victory Club in Napton on the third Tuesday of the month. It might revert back to Wednesday at the end of the Panto season when he relinquishes his 'dame duties' for another year (Oh no it won't!)

MDF, well five of them, made a fair old noise with Old Crow Medicine Show's 'Oh Cumberland River' and The Who's 'Squeeze Box' and in the second half, The Dead South's 'Achillies' and Rolling Stones' (Valantinos) 'All Over Now'. These will be in their set list for their first fund raising gig of the new year at The Two Boats, Long Itchington on Saturday 4th January.

Corbyn, in his own special style, provided a rocking Christmas medley. Among the many and varied tunes effortlessly dipped into were 'White Christmas', 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer'. More medley was on the way with a bit of The Beatles, including Day Tripper, 'When I'm 64' and 'Here Comes the Sun'. We were also treated to one of his signature pieces, 'A Stairway To Heaven'.

Mike and John were in full festive furry this evening. They began with Elmo & Patsy's Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, 'Christmas in Australia' and then ending their contribution to the evening with 'Jingle Bells'. They also slipped a little Buddy Holly's 'Every Day' in there, but I couldn't find anything Christmassy in the lyrics other than 'Every Day, its a gettin' closer' which I suppose is true.




Midnight Brothers did the turn around slot, so stayed on stage for all four songs in one go. There was Crowded House's 'What's The Weather With You?', followed by The Searchers', 'You Walk In The Room' We then had some new material from The Midnight Brothers as they keep growing their set list, Elvis, 'All Shook Up', and then one of my childhood favourites, The Beatles' 'All My Lovin'.


The evening was brought to a shattering climax by a combination of Steve Edgar and The Vague Brothers. They began with 'Ooh La La', by Rod Stewart then Depeche Mode's, 'Your Own Personal Jesus', REM's 'Losing My Religion' and finished on the

Wilson Pickett/Commitments' 'Mustang Sally'. It was a late night for Shirley and I, but once the van was packed we drove home in high spirit. It was great to end the year on such a high note and we are looking forward to getting back in to the groove in 2020.

Shirley and I have an extended rest period this year. Because there is going to be some substantial building work taking place in the pub, the next Open Music Night won't be until Friday 6th March.

However, to celebrate the opening of the new performance area there is a gig planned for Friday 21st February. More details are to follow.

It remains for me, on behalf of The Open Music Collective, to thank you for your participation, interest, support and encouragement; and to wish you a vibrant 2020 with lots of great music, merriment and laughter.

Love and best wishes
from George and Shirley