Globe Open Mic Night at Chagford

28/05/2026

#180. 27-May-26. James Goodwin hosted a busy night with 11 acts, kicking off at 8:00 with teenaged finger picker Perran followed by uke-player Niall MacLeod. First-timer here Rob Husband from Cheriton Bishop (pictured) did 3 originals, and was followed by Andy Metcalfe who did three guitar instrumentals. Into the second hour with two covers and an original from Axel Van Der Neut, with second guitar support from James, and then duo Pauper's Fortune did 3 covers. Jenny Dooley sang three of her originals, backed by Steve on cahon and James. Muzz Murray was joined by Andy on bass for his three originals. Into the third hour with another first-timer here, Adam Hartman from Meeth, who did 3 covers, as did Matt Tanner. It was left to Aaron Custance to close the show in his inimitable style with a scratch band of James on uke bass, Steve on cahon and Johnny Young on fiddle. A great night of music although not many audience.
Thanks to Jenny D for info and photo.

30/04/2026

#179. 29-Apr-26. A very busy and high quality session with a couple of welcome guests who were visiting Chagford. First of these was Dominic (pictured), from Dorset, who brought his violin and played along with opening act Jenny Dooley on her 3 originals. Andy & Charlotte did 3 numbers from the Swing era both of them singing and playing jazz guitar, and Andy switched to bass to support Muzz Murray on his three originals. Duo 'Skellum' did 3 songs from the 60s, Dominic's violin being added to great effect on 'Eleanor Rigby'. Barry Hill from San Diego (pictured) delivered 3 originals, well received - check out www.barryhillmusic.com. Dominic then did his own set mixing folk song and fiddle playing, closing with a lilting Swedish polka. Axel van der Neut gave us three of his cleverly constructed originals. We were running rather behind schedule and duo Pauper's Fortune breezed on and knocked out 3 country-tinged songs with perfect harmonies in short order to make up a bit of time. Hugh Clench commuted his set to two songs, an original and a cover, with deft fingerpicking, and Matt Tanner sang strongly on his three. Host Peter Shields, by request, sang 'Fisherman's Blues' to close the evening, with duelling fiddles support from Dominic and Johnny Young. 11 acts, 30 numbers, of which 13 were originals.

12/04/2026

Very sorry to learn of the death yesterday of Devon-based jazz legend Mike Westbrook OBE at the age of 90. He brought various line-ups to The Globe Sunday Jazz 3 times between 2017 and 2022, and a couple of his regular sidesmen have graced The Globe Open Mic, too. A local hero with a Europe-wide reputation.

https://www.facebook.com/Mike.J.D.Westbrook

Composer/Pianist/Bandleader Mike Westbrook has led and composed for a succession of big bands and sm

25/03/2026

#178. 25-Mar-26. Sometimes you get a quiet one.... Just five acts, comprising six musicians, tonight, plus an audience of a further 4-6. Everyone took two turns. 3 songs on the first time through and 2 on the second. The acts were: Peter Shields, Niall MacLeod, Jenny Dooley (with Steve on cajòn and Peter depping on guitar), Matt Tanner (debuting on piano rather than his usual guitar) and Axel Van der Neut. So 25 numbers in the space of two hours, 23 songs and two original piano pieces by Matt. We were done by just after 10:00. A quality evening!

26/02/2026

#177. 25-Feb-26. So this was actually the 17th anniversary of our starting these monthly Open Mics at The Globe in Feb-09. It was a quality session with 8 acts and an appreciative full audience. Niall MacLeod sang three with his uke, and then James Goodwin got the audience thinking about rhythms and how to clap along correctly. Having demonstrated on-beat and off-beat folk tunes with concertina and mandolin, he asked "What about Latin?" and taught the audience how to clap along to a bossa nova ("Blue Bossa", with host Peter Shields providing rhythm guitar). James was followed by first-timer here Lina Jankauskeitè (pictured) who did 3 strong covers, and duo "Skellum" included two of John Kerry's originals in their three. "Jenny & The Bets" did 3 originals, as did Axel Van der Neut. Matt Tanner did 3 powerful covers and Peter closed the evening with covers from 1940, 1927 and 1982 and was allowed an encore (from 1962), Steve Dooley joining on cajòn for the last two. In all: 8 acts and 25 songs/tunes including 8 originals.... and 17 years.

29/01/2026

#176. 28-Jan-26. The completion of 17 years of these Globe Open Mics, and it was an extra high quality session. Duo "Skellum" kicked off with 3 Scottish-authored songs to mark the recent Burns Night, and then first-timer here Charlotte Tupman with Andy Metcalfe (who played here in November) did 2 American songs and a fiddle tune with duetting guitars and vocals - see photo. Andy stayed up to play bass for Muzz Murray, in a welcome return, for 3 originals, and we had 3 more originals from trio "Jenny & The Bets". Into the 2nd hour and first-timer here Sarah-Jane Dobner (pictured) impressed with a diverse trio of covers. "Deacon Martin" delivered three covers all adapted to his unique style of pulsing electric guitar and vocal phrasing, which went down very well. Robin Bower backed by Martin Bush and Steve Dooley, included two David Bowie covers to mark 10 years since Bowie's death, and duo "Pauper's Fortune" had the room singing along to Everly Brothers numbers, faultlessly harmonised by the duo. It was by now 10:10 pm and host Peter Shields finished the evening with numbers by Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and The Waterboys and was granted an encore, choosing Dylan's "Watching The River Flow", all accompanied by Steve on cajòn. We wrapped at about 10:25. 9 acts, 28 numbers.

27/11/2025

#175. 26-Nov-25. Yes, it really was the 175th Globe Open Mic since we started the present run in 2009. We had a very varied smorgasbord of musicians, but not so many in the audience, most of whom had vacated the room by 10:00 pm. Jazzy duo Hot Club Du Square kicked things off with two instrumentals and a song and were joined by jazz guitarist Andy Metcalfe, over from Crediton on his first visit here. Roger Ash Wheeler did three seasonal Loudon Wainwright songs, joined by James on uke and guitar, and James then led on a song by Kate McGarrigle. Steve Colderick did three fingerpicked blues and Axel Van der Neut did two originals and a cover. Into the second hour, and Andy Metcalfe sang three "cowboy" ballads with a jazzy treatment, all well received. The "Skellum" guitar/bass duo did a great job on three covers, and duo Rhythm & Shoes did three, mining the 60s. Matt Tanner's three took us into the final hour and the evening was rounded off by Hugh Clench (pictured) followed by Tim Mathews and we finished at around 10:50 having enjoyed 31 numbers.
No Open Mic in December, so we'll be back in January.

30/10/2025

#174. 29-Oct-25. A nicely varied evening, with some faces we haven't seen for a while. Shaun Wilson kicked things off with a couple of covers before accompanying teenager Elijah on his three, Steve Dooley joining on cajòn. Then Steve Colderick did three bluesy finger-picked numbers on his metal-bodied resonator guitar. Jenny Dooley sang three of her own songs joined by Peter and Steve D, and guitar/bass duo "Skellum" did three sunshine-themed songs. We welcomed back duo "Hooked" (Tim and Stewart) from Mid-Devon, not seen here for 18 months, who gave us three of their originals. Matt Tanner did one on his own and was then joined by his "Badger & Mole" buddy Si Ford for two more. Visiting Royalty from Moretonhampstead were in the room in the shape of Chris and Catherine Back. Chris did two songs and an instrumental all with a looper pedal. Catherine (alto sax) joined Peter Shields who sang three numbers from their Panic Pete and the Roughbeats repertoire, Steve D adding cajòn. Then Catherine, joined by Chris and Steve D, led on three numbers from the Horseradish repertoire, a samba and two songs. Steve D stayed up to accompany Dawlish's Tim Matthews on three sing-along covers and we called it a night.
11 acts, 30 songs, 2 instrumentals.

04/09/2025

There is no Globe Open Mic
in September
due to the Film festival

29/08/2025

So many Globe Open Mic-ers performing tomorrow!
- all of 'Gruppo Chagfordo' (a Gruppo Sportivo tribute band!)
- all of Panic Pete and the Roughbeats
- Bernie Printy of 'Heat'
- Tim Bint, Gary Read, Matt Jackson & Robbie Rhodes of 'Dr Kitch'
- Johnny Fuller
- Badger & Mole (Si Ford / Matt Tanner)
- all of 'Jenny & The Bets'
- Nicky Scott
- Catherine Back of 'The Jazz Pirates'
- David Osbiston
- Barnaby Goodwin
- all of the 'Bower Bush Band'
- Chris Back