Open Mic Night returns to the Boathouse

The Summer Term Open Mic Night returned to its spiritual home of The Michael Baker Boathouse after a two-year COVID-induced absence.

Thirty pupils took part as singers, guitarists, drummers and accompanists in a fantastic evening of pop music of various genres ranging from The Beatles and The Who through to Adele and Matt Maltese. There were debuts from younger pupils including a self-accompanied performance of Mumford and Son’s Little Lion Man given by Louis H-M and Imogen T and Kitty R performing He won’t go by Adele. The Fifth Form Band, The Checked Shirts, entertained with Robbery by Lime Cordial.

In the week leading up to the gig, a number of bands were put together for one-off performances. One highlight for many was Fifth Former Elijah B singing Billy Joel’s Just the Way you Are. A band comprising of a Lower Remove bass player, Eleanor W, an Upper Remove drummer Jack B and two Lower Sixth students, Alfred K on the Rhodes piano and Ruby K on the sax, accompanied Elijah beautifully. There were many other examples of this which included Eleanor performing on bass guitar at an Open Mic Night for the first time and Jack B who had a very busy first half playing the drums for many of the songs!

The second half was mainly comprised of  Upper Sixth performances with solos by Sam C, Sophie L and Amelia D. Jamie K and Tim M performed an excellent duet called Daughters by John Mayer before the Upper Sixth band finished the evening off with a short set of songs which began with them jamming along to Jonny B Goode with a somewhat surprising guest appearance from guitar teacher  Mr Crocker!

These termly events are very popular amongst pupils staff and parents and, whilst we say goodbye to a talented group of U6th musicians, there is plenty to look forward to with new stars emerging.

Recordings from the evening can be found on Soundcloud.