Opportunity slots for 12 local acts
Held in the balcony bar, it was billed as a platform for local people to perform in front of a relaxed and informal audience over a drink.
Oxford actor Steve Hay was the compère and he kicked off the entertainment with two monologues, but soon gave up the spotlight to a mixture of guitarists and singers, who performed covers and some of their own songs, and comedians and poets, who delivered original material.
Highlights of the evening included comedy act Alex & Lee (20-year-old Alex Nash and 16-year-old Lee Robert) with their original rendition of the Elvis song A Little Less Conversation, with guitar accompaniment, dance moves and interaction with the audience.
While poet Ken Rich said that Alex & Lee were a hard act to follow, given their popularity with the audience, he did a very good job with his well-delivered humorous poems The Suicidal Verb, a woeful tale of the word squirble’s search for meaning, and cautionary tale of Don’t Eat Goats Cheese Before Bed.
Organiser Sarah Gregson, the venue’s learning and participation manager, said that as the night had gone down so well, she hoped to make it a regular event. The audience seemed to agree, as they stayed on to listen to James Creed’s second turn of the night, playing them out with some of his own songs.
Steve Hay said: “I thought it was a really promising start, and something that can go on to a give a platform to the great talent that is obviously on the doorstep.
The setting was fantastic, the Balcony Bar at the Corn Exchange worked really well. There was a large, enthusiastic crowd and loads of acts who made the effort to get out there. There were some really good musicians, very clever poetry, and a couple of comedians who were funny - which is handy. I’m looking forward to the next one – I just hope I get asked to come back.”