THE year’s final open mic at Warnadoone Ski Boat Club drew one of its biggest crowds and most diverse line-ups of musicians to date recently.

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Teenage band, C-Thru, returned for a second performance, to the delight of the audience, while a new group, Sic Academy, took to the stage for their first performance, and a first hip-hop act for the open mic.

Jon-Claude Stirling said it was a privilege to be a part of an event that gives new artists a platform on which to gain experience, while igniting a flame within them for performing live.

“It’s been an honour to watch artists connect with one another through the love of music and to see returning artists grow. A huge thank you to Shane Strachan and Chad Porter for their hard work throughout the year, to Chris Rogers for supplying his drum kit every month, to all the artists who make the event special, and finally, to the Warnadoone Skiboat Club for being an amazing venue,” said Stirling.

Michael John Hornsey, a newcomer to the music scene, brought the heat on stage with three original songs.

He said that it was his first time playing at the club and that it offers a great space for up-and-coming, authentic musicians.

Hornsey shared how his love for playing and making music sprouted, “One day when I was 15, my best friend said to me, ‘Hey, let’s learn how to play the guitar,’ and I never looked back. The writing always came naturally to me but it wasn’t until I started sharing it with people that I realised how powerful it is to share the most vulnerable parts of myself with other people. It’s truly the best kind of therapy and I would encourage anyone to share anything they would consider art. Even if it’s the way they arrange their desk. Art is not art until it is shared.”

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