OPEN STAGE
(all gigs £3 admission)

RESPECT - musicians please listen to the other performers

SETS - usually 15 minute (for most performers that's 3 songs)
HEADLINE: usually 30 - 40 minutes (10.00 - 10.30pm)

please note that our myspace site has more information, photos, audio tracks and a video of open stage nights. Click here

28 October
STOMPIN DAVE ALLEN (aka Dr Stomp - Dave will play a one hour set)
Pete Read, Frank Boyle, Cath and Paddy)

4 November
DJAMBO
The Douglas Firs, Harrison Avenue

11 November
VICTOR
Kordaze, Dave Hunt, Malcolm Bishop, Sarah Griffin

18 November TINDERBOX full gig; support Chris Simmonds + Adam Mellor

2 December
DJAMBO
The Gnostics,

23 December Christmas Party (sing-along-able songs)

30 December New Year Party (song and dance night !!)

6 January - maybe in bar ??

13 January LOU BROWN BAND full gig; support tba

27 January
AMALTHEA
(... means ' tender goddess'; and this sensational duo of tender goddesses come to us from Portsmouth - brilliant gig at Fareham + G April Festival 2007)

3 February
DJAMBO

10 February
KAT FLINT

24 February

REVIEWS

Lou Brown headlined a stunning evening at Centre Stage 23 September. Wow! What a night! Audience 140! - and CD sales unbelievable. The full six piece band were in operation. We hope to include a proper review shortly. For now suffice it to say Lou was magic.

Fantastic TINDERBOX gig Sunday 19 August!!
Once again a packed house for headline set by local favourites Tinderbox - and what a gig! Brilliant songs all written by Dan + Monique with a couple written by bassist Martyn Oakland. The duo was increased to a six piece band and they were stunning. This set was a whole dimension up from Tbox's last brilliant headline at the club - new compositions with ever improving textures of sound made this gig refreshingly special.

THANKS, Performers!!

Thanks to all performers Sunday 29 July - great headline from FARTHER and, among others, Chris Simmons + Adam Mellor (who came from Worthing and played a blinder!)

Oli n Clive - seven piece band from London - came down to headline 17 June. A cracking night. Tight, bright, quirky. An amazing with some great local performers too.

Another great night with a full house for Frankie Milner Band end of May .

Thanks Wee Blue Folk and other performers for a great night.

Lou Brown had one of the biggest-ever audiences at this folk club. Must have been over 100 in. It was standing room only!! Lou Brown was amazing!! Her songs are catchy, rhythmic, accessible, compelling. She has ... pizzaz ... on stage. And the band was magic. What a brilliant night again!! People reading this section of the website are bound to think I am easy pleased - no way, the standard is unbelievably high.
Lou Brown - you were a star tonight (April 29).

Hey, Tinderbox! You beauties! What a night 15 April - a packed house and sublime music.

A great night Sunday 11 March with Les Wild headlining! Thanks!!

Thanks, Victor and everyone who played 25 Feb - what a fantastic night!

Nice one, eveyone who performed on 11 Feb. Dave Newey played a blinder. Hope he's back soon.

up-and-coming folk and roots musicians
who are well received at Open Stage, are sometimes
offered other opportunities to perform.

Hazel and Emily Askew (from London) headlined Open Stage 1 October and returned to support Spiers and Boden in November and in March 2007 for Faustus. They went down brilliantly each time.

Megson (Middleborough via London) came to play here at Open Stage 10 September 2006. They returned 29 October to support Vin Garbutt (see 'Caught in the Act' page. On Jan 14 they had a successful paid gig - great performance and a good sized audience in!
Seen by at our club by festival organisers they have secured major gigs. In April 2007 they played main stage at Fareham & Gosport Festival to a capacity 800 crowd.

Bailey (from Exeter) played support for Eliza Carthy and Saul Rose Friday 3 November 2006 in Ferndown
He had a gig here 28 January 2007 headlining a 'Folksongwriters Special'.

James Chadwick (from East Midlands) played open stage, then did support here for Chumbawamba Acoustic on Satuday 30 September 2006 and sold a load of CDs. James had his own gig here at the club on Sunday 8 October. See 'Caught in the Act' page. He is touring nationally playing folk clubs and festivals.