The Grove Inn is a stubbornly traditional real-ale pub tucked away on Back Row, Leeds, and is now almost entirely hidden from view by the monstrosity that is Bridgewater Place. It’s a wonder it’s stayed open at all, and if it wasn’t for it’s loyal patrons and thriving music scene it may well have closed down long ago. The pub – which is host to one of the oldest open mic nights in Leeds, known as Open Mind – was once frequented by Dire Straits front man Mark Knopfler.
The legend goes that he used to play there before he became famous, and he later gifted some of the regulars one million pounds each! One lucky recipient apparently squandered his million on a collection of whimsical and whacky guitars, and now doesn’t have a penny left to show, though he does have an interesting array of stringed instruments, all of which sound like a bag of rusty nails in his hands. There’s a moral in there somewhere, but I’m not going to be the one to pick it out.
Whether or not these rumours are true, it’s stories such as these that give the place its unique character, and one senses a rich historical and cultural identity in the place. It’s only by going there on numerous occasions that I have been able to piece together a few titbits of its folklore and there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of official records. The stories have been passed down by word of mouth, which is in keeping with the folky atmosphere of the place.
Shut the f*** up and listen!
The room in which the open mic is held has an other-worldly vibe and feels reminiscent of an ancient cave, where musicians might have gathered to avoid the elements and share their music with sympathetic ears. Indeed, once the door is shut and the lights dimmed, it takes on a whole new ambience and guests are politely asked to “shut the f*** up” while the musicians are performing. The room is perfectly tapered towards the tiny stage, and there’s only about four or five tables for the audience to sit at. Photographs of notable guests hang on the walls, which in turn have pictures of famous musicians of yesteryear painted on them.
Some people love it, and some people hate it. I happen to like the fact that people shut up and listen to you there, whereas others see it as their right to go out, have a few pints and chat with their friends while listening to some live music. And while I respect their feelings, there’s something about the small, intimate space which makes it poorly suited for that. So if anything, I’d say the “silence while performing” rule is borne out of practicality rather than any snobbishness on the part of the organisers.
Open Mind is compèred by Leeds resident and prolific songwriter, “Arthur” (Michael) Daley and he’s the least snobbish person I know. The complete opposite in fact, and he’s not shy of dropping the F word into his welcome speech when kicking off the night. Although his name is Michael, people that know him call him Arthur, which is perhaps a reference to Arthur Daley, the English comedian and actor best known for his role in ITV’s comedy drama, Minder, which aired from 1979-1994. Arthur has been running Open Mind for the past five years after he stepped in to replace Giles Winterton, the former compère.
For those that wish to perform at Open Mind, you simply need turn up on a Wednesday night and make yourself known to Arthur, who’ll gladly add your name to his Little Book of Big Cocks. Yes, you heard it. Apparently, a phantom nob drawer also frequents the open mic night and the dirty bastard is continually drawing grotesque and vulgar penises in the guest book. No one knows quite who it is yet, but we all have a pretty good idea who it might be!
The sort of act one can see there varies quite a lot, though the only requirement that limits this is that all music must be entirely acoustic. So no loud rock bands! This suits me just fine as I’m personally not a fan of having to shout at the top of my lungs to make myself heard. Over the two years or so I have been going to Open Mind, I have seen magicians, poets, guitar players, pianists, and the handsome lads from Apollo Junction once turned up and gave us an acoustic rendition of their uplifting, urban anthems!
If you need an instrument, or don’t want to carry yours, there’s a piano and a couple of house guitars available, though I highly recommend bringing your own guitar if you have one. The type of music that people play varies a great deal and there’s some hugely talented songwriters and composers that turn up, though the lack of a sound system tends to lend itself better to those that don’t rely on backing tracks. As a result of this, the regulars tend to be a somewhat older crowd compared with say, Wapentake’s Crooner Club, which, coincidentally, is also held on on a Wednesday night*.
Some of the Open Mind regulars are familiar faces on the Leeds music scene and it’s a great place to go if you’re looking to become more active in music. The place has a genuinely open and welcoming vibe and aims to give everyone a chance to perform no matter what their level. The only things that aren’t tolerated are heckling the performers, and people who are either rude or too drunk to behave themselves. But as long as you’re a decent human being, and you turn up with a desire to perform, Arthur will be happy to put your name on the list.
Open Mind has been running continuously for around 33 years and has been host to some famous names over the years including Corrine Bailey-Rae and Jon Gomm, to name just a couple. But more importantly, it’s a supportive and creative environment for local musicians to showcase their talents. In a world that seems increasingly mundane; when people are struggling to simply exist, it’s important to keep these spaces where we can close the doors, unwind, and forget about the world outside for a while as we come together as equals, as musicians, poets, artists – as human beings.
To wrap up, here are the main details you need to know. Please don’t be shy, come along and show us what you got!
Address: The Grove Inn – Back Row, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5PL
When: Every Wednesday from around 20:30
Compère: Arthur
*Crooner Club now runs on Thursday nights