Beats & Bars: The beginning of a legacy

Beats & Bars exploded into campus-consciousness this year, becoming one of the most diverse, unique and successful open-mic events to ever grace the campus. It’s open to all genres and styles, whether you’ve typed up your poetry or written it on an old pizza menu; whether you’re singing with guitars, basses and a wood-wind section, or a capella, you’re welcome at Beats & Bars.

Maybe I’ve been missing out in the past, but I’d never been to an open-mic afternoon before I went to Beats & Bars a few weeks ago. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. To my mind, the best thing about an open-mic is the sense of community in the room. Everyone is there for the same reason: to enjoy some music and some poetry, whether performing or not.

Although Beats & Bars hasn’t been running long, it’s already become a very relaxed and open environment. If you haven’t been before, I’d recommend you do. In the meantime, I have a few words to pass on from the host and organiser, Hoon Young Kim, about starting it up, what it is, and where it’s going:

{{ quote I’d like to think that the quality of music Beats and Bars hosts is something special. It’s a big rush both performing and listening and it gives me all the energy I need }}

“If there had been an established acoustic night on campus before, I probably wouldn’t have thought of starting my own show. Warwick’s great in that sense. Similar to Leamington, it may not have everything you want but it definitely has the potential. We started off in Jug and Jester, but unfortunately the venue closed shortly after our second show. Since it coincided with the beginning of a regular slot at Curiositea on campus, I lost the drive to keep it going off campus. It’s a shame because there are so many brilliant musicians, particularly in their final year, who would have performed more if we had shows in Leamington too.

“I’d like to think that the quality of music Beats & Bars hosts is something special. It’s a big rush both performing and listening and it gives me all the energy I need to keep the show running. And the most amazing thing is that I can become friends with these people. I never realised when I started how lucky it is being the host. I’m still hearing new voices, all the time. It’s very exciting. Even more exciting is when the show finds music in people who never dreamed of performing. I think that’s the one great things about the show. The fact that the host is just me, just an amateur musician in his first year, means that anyone else can gather enough courage to play. It’s very accessible.

“Warwick has an incredibly gifted creative writing force, and so the poetry really blends the show to something else. And since personally I find it hard to listen to lyrics during a performance, being too distracted by the music, I think it’s a wonderful thing to hear someone read. It’s a whole new level of performing. Rather than notes and melodies, it’s tones and attitude. It’s great.

“In the next year, I’ve got almost too much to think about in terms of developing Beats & Bars. I’m hardly a businessman so marketing is not my forte. But, next year, we’ll have a logo and a website. I’m not really sure yet what else I can do, but I have a feeling there’s a lot. Perfecting the sound of the show will always be a goal. I might make a sort of team to help set up bigger shows. But in a way, it’s nice to have it simple. There’s an open mic show in Coventry at the Tin Angel which is in all senses brilliant and so simple. The core of its brilliance is its community, so I guess that’s what I’m really aiming for with Beats & Bars.

“I’d love for people to come watch weekly to hear specific musicians, to love them and their music, to love singing back the choruses with them and to realise that we are hearing sounds that no one else in the world is hearing. I have big hopes for next year, I almost can’t wait.”

He adds, “If there’s anything you’d like to share, we’d love to listen and get a chance to meet you. And for those who aren’t performers, but who love music just the same, it really is a special thing to hear from people your own age. I’m sure you will enjoy it and maybe you’d realise that you’ve got a performer in you as well. I hope to see you all very soon.”