Arts & Entertainment

A Range of Concord Talent at Open Mic Night

Bring an instrument and a song or just hang and sing along.

If you’re walking down South Main Street on Wednesday nights and you hear the swirling sounds of people playing music floating down the street, that would be the open mic night at The Draft.

Mike Gallant of Strings and Things Music, a few blocks down the road, runs the open mic at the South Main Street sports bar as well as another one at the Hungry Buffalo in Loudon on Thursdays. Any level of musician can attend and perform. The only requirement is to have a desire to play.

“Anybody is free to play,” he said, “you can bring your own equipment in or you can play my guitar… tell jokes … it’s pretty much an open format. Almost anything goes, within good taste.”

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On this particularly evening, Gallant opened the show with a few covers. One of the younger players performed a couple of songs for the first time at The Draft. A duo, Kevin and Mark, were polished and popular, playing driving, emotional tunes, with acoustic guitar and electric piano. One very good performer, Joe Messineo, shared songs he had written while stationed overseas fighting the war on terror. 

While some attendees were distracted by the games playing on the big screens, others seemed to like the musical accompaniment while they enjoyed food, drinks, and getting caught up with friends and family. Everyone, regardless of the level of skills or rustiness, got a warm reception for their efforts.

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“We have some people who have been doing it for a long time,” Gallant said. “We have some people who are diamonds in the rough … they’re talented and they don’t even know it yet.”

Open mic at The Draft starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Connect with Mike via Facebook at facebook.com/mikeyg1625 to line up a slot or just stop by.


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