Open mic nights set for Hamilton

Mar 11 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A LANARKSHIRE singer-songwriter is asking budding musicians in the area to take part in a new open mic night in Hamilton.

Forty-year-old Davie Rollo is launching the event, to be held every Thursday at Bar West in the town’s Almada Street.

The Lesmahagow man has been involved in the music scene for years, and aims to give the chance to local musicians to perform every week.

The dad-of-two said: “Bar West has always been a bit of a music pub.

“Hopefully this night I’m planning will allow younger musicians and singers, who don’t necessarily have the opportunity to play their stuff, to get their own music out there and hone their talents.

“I suggested it to the pub’s owners and they were very happy to host it. There are a lot of students in the town and this will give them a bit of a platform.”

Davie currently runs another open mic night in Perth that has proven to be successful, and hopes he can repeat this in Hamilton.

He explained: “When you’re younger, you end up playing to no-one if you don’t have that platform.

“And if you’re not on stage, performing regularly, then you don’t get much confidence.

“So we’ll wait and see how this goes.”

Davie, who is currently self-employed as a mortgage adviser, has a long history in the local music scene.

After performing in a number of bands himself, he was the manager for indie group Grim Northern Social, who enjoyed moderate success about six years ago.

However, following a rousing performance on the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury, the group went their separate ways in 2007.

A few of the band’s members went on to form current Blantyre rock band Mr Kil.

Davie will be performing an acoustic set at Bar West tonight (Thursday) and hopes the open mic night will be popular with Hamilton’s student population.

Entry is free and the night kicks off at 9pm.

Meanwhile, at the other end of Hamilton, Mr Kil lead singer and guitarist Joe Gallagher will host an evening of musical entertainment tonight (Thursday).

The musician will perform the first of a monthly series of open mic nights at the Butterburn Bar in Gateside Street. It starts at 8pm.

Organisers have also confirmed a range of other acts to perform every Thursday, including Gary Bennett and Ewan Kerr.