By MARIE GRILLO OPEN MIC NIGHT 32 MAY 2 0 1 7 EXPLORE YOUR BORO Western Queens and live music are increasingly going hand in hand as more musicians migrate to the area. If you find yourself wondering where you can catch some tunes, or if you are a closet musician who wants to dust off that keyboard or snare drum, there are several local open mic nights that could be perfect for you. (And if you’re looking for comedians, spoken word performers, musicians or hiphop artists, those are sprinkled in some of these events as well.) Here are some of the best places to watch fresh solo artists practicing their craft, hear bands in their very first gigs, or get involved in the music scene yourself: The Quays 4502 30TH AVE., ASTORIA CONTACT: [email protected] Energetic and talented singer/songwriter Kayla O’Keefe has been a recurring fixture of The Quays’ open mic night for the past five years and has now graduated to host of the weekly open mic night. O’Keefe’s infectious excitement will ensure a fun experience. This open mic night has a history of making musical connections that have led to the creation of many local bands. The Quays showcases incredible artists of all ages. You will walk in as a stranger and leave with a strong sense of community and friendship. If you want to give the night a try, sign-up is at 8:30 p.m. O’Keefe explained that since the open mic starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. — or sometimes 3 a.m. — performers are able to play three or four songs. Despite the ample hours, the time seems to fly, so get there early and sign up, or just watch the musicians play their hearts out. The Quays provides a house guitar, microphones, mic stands and a sound board with sound duties provided by the host O’Keefe herself. “I know that it’s personally where I got my start as a musician and also where I go to get constant inspiration,” O’Keefe said. “This can be a crazy world and it’s nice to have a place to go that feels like home,” O’Keefe explained. Photo by Patrick Merino 32 MAY 2017
BM052017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above