Open mics are always fun but a good open mic can be killer, bringing together an intriguing mix of musicians – both seasoned and otherwise — to swap songs, road-test new material, and just generally have fun doing what musicians do best: playing some tunes among friends both old and new.
Historically, open mics come and go. There’s a new one on the scene now, though, that promises to be something truly special. It’s at the Blaze Brewing Co. Biddeford Music Hall and Kitchen, every Thursday from 7pm–10pm, and the best part is: IT’S FREE!
The room is warm and welcoming, large but not too large, and the stage is well lit and equipped with a professional sound system. The inaugural Open Mic Night at Blaze, on Jan. 18, drew a solid roster of musicians, some you might’ve heard of, including Sparxsea, Will Bradford (TheWorst, SeepeopleS), Plague Dad, and Dave Lyden (The Station), and some you might not know yet.
It was a helluva time, and if reactions from both the audience and the musicians are anything to judge by, this thing is going to become a hot spot in no time. It was that much fun. Plus, the beer at Blaze is pretty damn good, so it’s got that goin’ for it, which is nice.
If you’re a musician and you haven’t been to an open mic, they work like this: typically, there’s a sign-up sheet at the bar, and you sign up for a spot, usually 10 or 12 minutes. It’s a first-come, first-serve basis, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. You hang out, listen to what’s going on, meet new people and if you’ve got a spot, when the time comes you do your thing.
But a good open mic is so much more than simply a chance to perform. It’s an opportunity to build community and make connections.
If you’re a musician looking to put a band together, an open mic is a great way to meet potential band members. If you’ve got a band together and you’re looking for a couple of other acts to help fill out a bill for a show you’re putting together, you may well find them at an open mic.
And if you’re a music lover, open mics are a great way to find new music.
To help kick things off, Blaze owners Matty and Evelina Haskell have rolled out a commemorative beer, just for the occasion: Open Mic IPA.
Open Mic IPA will be on a quarterly release schedule, andevery three months Blaze Brewingand Blaze Restaurant Group will donate $2,500 to the Maine Music Alliance, a local charity run by Maine music professionals and performers who are working to raise the profile of Maine’s extraordinary live music venues and help keep Maine music venues up and running.
“We had always wanted to begin hosting music at Blaze, and with The Open Mic IPA, we wanted to also do our part in keeping the Maine music scene thriving and support the hard-working musicians who perform live music and create music and art in our state,” Marty Haskell told TPS. “We view this as vital to our community and our place within it.”
In addition to the Open Mic night, Blaze has hooked up with the folks over at the ARME Group to bring a steady stream of top-shelf live acts to the stage. You can find a detailed listing of what’s happening when here.
We’ll see ya there.
ThatPortlandSound 