RAISE YOUR VOICE:
Open Mic event turns into a ‘battle’ for blues festival’s opening spot
While much of downtown Jackson is preparing for the upcoming 18th Annual Shannon Street Blues & Heritage Festival, local musicians at the Downtown Tavern are preparing in their own way — a way that epitomizes what the festival is all about.
More than four years ago, Matt Meyer launched an Open Mic Night at the Downtown Tavern on Liberty Street as a way to promote downtown activity, draw more interest to the Tavern and, primarily, serve as a way to boost networking and recognition for local musicians.
Each Tuesday night since then, local bands have gathered at the Tavern showing off their talent. In April, Justin Wright took over the Open Mic Night responsibilities from Meyer.
“The idea was to give people a place to play at a nice venue on an off night,” said Meyer. “It kind of comes with a built-in audience because most of the band members bring their friends, but it also gives talented musicians a chance to network with one another. Bands and friendships form, and that’s the main reason I wanted to get this started: to get musicians together and give them an opportunity.”
Last year, the Tavern partnered with the Shannon Street Blues & Heritage Festival, establishing an open mic competition. Encouraging bands to compete each Tuesday night in the month of May, the competition’s winner earns a 30-minute opening act on June 5 at the festival.
To Meyer, a musician himself, linking the Open Mic Night with Bluesfest was a natural progression.
“The Tavern is one of several good music venues downtown right now, and the Downtown Development Corporation recognizes that. We decided to partner up with them in any way we could,” Meyer said.
“We have a wonderful volunteer committee here,” said Lori Nunnery, the project director at the Downtown Development Corporation. “They decided last year that they wanted to add a different element to the Blues Festival, and since there’s so much great local talent in Jackson, they thought Open Mic Night would be a great way to plug a downtown venue into the festival.”
“We have every intention to let Open Mic Night be an annual tradition for the Blues Festival,” Wright added. “We bring in local judges to decide who would be the best opening act, and it gives the winner more exposure and opportunities to play more gigs all over town.”
The competition, which has been ongoing in May, will culminate with the finals on Tuesday.
“The idea is really all about promoting local music and the talent we have here,” Meyer said. “The Downtown Development Corporation brings in great musicians from around the country that weekend, but the Open Mic winners still give the Blues Festival a local feel.”
The act that wins doesn’t have to be over the age of 21 nor do they have to be from Jackson. For interested competitors who happen to be under 21, a chance to audition will be held this Saturday at Miss Ollie’s Piano Bar on Lafayette Street.
Also, Wright said they’ve had bands from Mississippi and Dyersburg compete this year. That’s in addition to the local musicians the Tavern has had in attendance.
“Ultimately, it is a blues festival,” Wright said, regarding the judging process. “So we’re looking for a touch of blues, and it’s nice to have local bands, but we don’t exclude people from outside of Jackson.”
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