An Acoustic Night At Sidewinder

Will.

Every Tuesday evening is acoustic open mic night at Sidewinder in St James’ Street, Brighton. Last week I dodged storms and went to see what the nights had to offer.

Sidewinder is a friendly, cozy pub with good food served until late and a large, comfortable, dog-friendly beer garden.

The acoustic nights are a well-established feature and the beauty of such evenings is you never know who is going to turn up – you’re guaranteed a real mix of music. Guitar, keyboards and PA system are all provided if you need them.

Robin the organiser usually opens and closes the nights and on Tuesday performed a few covers to start with, including the Eurythmics classic Here Comes The Rain Again. Like most Brightonians after the tempestuous day we’d had, the weather was on his mind.

The stage was then thrown open to the acts and up first was Will, a Dylanesque singer looking perfectly at home perched atop a stool, performing a mixture of covers (including a nice rendition of his favourite Bob Dylan piece, Visions Of Johanna) and his own songs.

Marcus.

He was followed by Marcus, a slightly nervous keyboard player with a sore finger who claimed he sings ‘Happy songs or ridiculously weird ones’. He didn’t let the finger or the pre-performance nerves get in the way and looked quite at home on the borrowed keyboard, his songs including a very passionate rendition of Radiohead’s High and Dry.

Jonathan, a rather impressive Hank Marviny guitarist, was up next and he performed several songs with great, long guitar instrumentals. He also sang a song he had written that very day, including the lyrics “you are the eye of my hurricane” – he admitted afterwards he too was somewhat influenced by the day’s weather!

Will played another couple of songs, including a cover of I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine, before the first and indeed only trio of the night took to the stage. A band that claimed to be nameless, to be christened ‘JoJo’s Cosmic Band’ by the host, they were a keyboard/guitar/percussion combo with some strong vocals and a song called Dark Road, which, so they said, was about the A24. . .

Jonathan.

The final performer of the evening was Jimbo, a young man with a guitar, who played a couple of covers – nice versions of Colin Hay’s Beautiful World and Bright Eyes’ First Day Of My Life.

Robin then rounded off the night with one of his own songs and another cover, and so another acoustic evening came to an end.

If you’re down near St James’ Street on a Tuesday I’d thoroughly recommend the open mic nights, whether you’re a musician or a music fan (musicians are welcomed and encourage to turn up and play). And I’d thoroughly recommend the Sidewinder for the giant onion rings alone.

As yet unnamed/JoJo's Cosmic Band.

 

Jimbo.