It wasn't so long ago that Summerville Town Square was fairly empty on Tuesday nights...empty on most nights, truth be told. But you wouldn't know it now. It's not an unusual sight to see a group of musicians gathered in front of the coffee shop, or even the law office after hours further down the street. Tonight, it's Rick Harmon and Dustin Ashenfelder with their voices and guitars ringing out from the sidewalk across to the park. Kevin Bevins on the mandolin, and John Martin joining in with his fiddle all playing a Bill Monroe or Johnny Cash tune for a couple of bystanders, and anyone fortunate to be passing by at the moment. Inside at the corner, the sign in sheet is already filled up at the Cuppa Manna Cafe. On the list is Cat Strickland, who isn't busy with one of her gigs around town tonight. There is "Miss Mary" Kunsman, a nearly 90 year old hospital volunteer who is locally famous for her a cappella performances around town...and that time she sang at Carnegie Hall...and danced with Mark Lowry, oh, and wrote that book. Okay, I'm gonna have to write an article on just her. John Scott, AKA Johnny Famous, pops in to offer a few effortless old school blues chops, and Fleming Moore stops by to play a couple of originals that are getting a lot of play on internet radio. Likewise, a couple of other local musicians with promising careers, Matthew Crissman and Josh Jarman, offer some of their own radio featured originals. At the bottom of the list is a young man with a set of bagpipes warming up to play a Celtic reel...a lot of familiar faces, and always a surprise or two.
Six years ago it was a different scene altogether. Back around early May of 2011, I stopped into the Single Smile Cafe for a cup of tea. I sat down, and looked around the place. I thought, "I would love to be able to just come out to a place like this, plug in my guitar and amp, and just play softly for the folks who come through the door." I had been missing that kind of thing since my Air Force assignment to D.C. back in '06-'07. I lived in Old Town Alexandria, VA, and went two or three nights a week to a place on King Street there called Tiffany Tavern. They had an open mic, and I quickly grew to see the other musicians as friends. I'd play a couple of songs, and listen to the others perform. Sometimes, someone from the group would get a gig at a different venue, and invite a couple of other musicians to sit in. It was warm, supportive, creative...it was community.
As I looked around the Single Smile, I thought, "This is it; this is Summerville's Tiffany Tavern." I approached the owner, Dawn Keltz, and pitched the idea. She liked it and asked me when I wanted to start. I said, "How 'bout tonight?" She said. "Oh, it's Saturday; we don't have many customers on Saturday evening." To which I replied, "All the more reason to get it started." She agreed, and I called my friend, Don Cady, and asked him what he was doing. He said, "You know me; I'm just tired and retired!" I asked him if he was up to play, and he said, "You know I'm always up for that." That evening we met, set up in front of the window, and played some tunes for each other and had a nice time. Afterward, I asked Dawn, "How does Tuesday night sound for a recurring open mic event?" I explained that most gigging professionals have weekend gigs, but a Tuesday is kind of a down day for a lot of performers. They should be free to participate. She agreed, and Tuesday night open mic was born.
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| Greg Neff performs a selection from his Best of the 60's & 70s |
The event quickly took off. Within a month, we started to build a core group of regulars. Don Cady was always there. A young phenomenal guitar player named Kirby Easler started coming. There was a hint of destiny about her. Tristina Miller, new to town from Arkansas signed in one night, and set up a Friday night regular gig at the place. Terry Dean Harder, and his larger than life presence, showed up one night crooning out some Elvis tunes that just lit up the crowd. About this time, a shy fellow came in one night with his guitar. He was a little reluctant at first, but he got up and did a couple of oldies, and just had that "it" quality for connecting with the audience. As he continued to come, he became more relaxed, and the natural in him just would not be denied. I knew what I had to do, and I asked Greg Neff one night after his performance if he wouldn't mind becoming the host for the open mic. He agreed, and open mic night began to soar. John Scott, John Martin, Philip Coulon, Fleming Moore all started to frequent the open mic. The Summerville Journal Scene did two separate articles on the growing event, and soon it became even too large for the Single Smile. Down the street, Coastal Coffee Roasters started their own open mic on Thursday, and a lot of the same faces, and a few new ones started to support the additional night of music community.
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| Josh Jarman with my Taylor 514 |
The Single Smile changed hands from Chuck and Dawn Keltz to Mike and Janice Taylor, and the cafe got a new name, The Cuppa Manna, but throughout all the changes, the open mic never missed a beat. Some in the audience have been faithful supporters since the beginning. David and Donna Badgley, and Tommy and Frances Patrick have their own seats as surely as a Wednesday night Baptist has his own pew, but newer comers have come to find their own place too.
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| Pre Maton guitar, Kirby Easler. She's now making a name for herself in Nashville! |
The Summerville music scene is vibrant. It can be found represented well at places like the Summerville Farmer's Market, The Celtic Knot, Palmetto Flats, all over Summerville, Charleston and beyond...even Nashville. I only share my little part simply because I was there to see it grow, not because I made it happen by any stretch. The local music scene is the product of everyone who has taken part, and continues to take part, in it.
I started this blog to be able to promote and further the cause of this piece of community. I hope it will be to the music scene like the Miracle Grow I apply to my azaleas, or at least a good watering. I'm proud to have a part in, and be a part of, this community. In keeping with my azaleas analogy, I look forward to featuring the most vibrant flowers in the garden.
