Every Monday night in downtown Princeton, Mercer Street comes alive with the resonating sounds from Open Mic Night at The Room Upstairs. The trip downtown is definitely worth it if you want to relax and become inspired by the soulful energy of a multiplicity of musicians and artists. If you consider yourself to be a music aficionado, you will not be disappointed; the venue provides such diversity. While I do not consider myself to be a musical expert by any means, I did grow up in an environment that encouraged music appreciation— from listening to my mother’s classical piano playing; to my father’s radio favorites: bluegrass and country; to my older sisters’ teen-age roller coaster of emotional deluges from The Beatles, to James Brown, to Bob Dylan, to Led Zeppelin; to my own adolescent fascinations with Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Pink Floyd, and James Taylor, just to name a few.
When I go to the RiffRaff’s Open Mic Night, I always find myself thinking such thoughts as, I can’t believe we have such talented musicians in the area, or We are so lucky, here in the Princeton area, to have such gifted, dedicated artists. Members of The RiffRaff Arts Collective ground each open-mic night with an array of able, professional musicians. A voice as lucid and healing as Option 22’s Lori McKinney-Blankenship’s is sure to uplift any listener’s spirit. Kathleen Coffee’s moving folksy sound is extraordinary, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, with a new edge. Albert Perrone’s “Big Fat Lip” and “I’m So Happy” lure you in and then transcend your expectations.
Yet Open Mic Night represents even so much more to our community. It is a night providing anyone the opportunity to get up on stage and present his/her song or poetry, to begin to fulfill his/her dream. It is a gem, a real treasure to our community. Co-founders Lori and Robert Blankenship do everything in their power to make artists feel welcome and at ease. They nurture the creative spirit, and as I said before, I am always amazed at how much talent lies within and around our small West Virginia community; each time I go to Open Mic Night I hear another great musician, band, or poet who is increasing his/her confidence and broadening his/her horizons.
The RiffRaff Open Mic Night. Eclectic. Diverse. Welcoming. Nurturing. It is the stuff that dreams are made of.
For more information about Open Mic Night at The Room Upstairs, visit The RiffRaff Arts Collective.
You are so right! The RiffRaff is amazing!
It is really happening at the Riff Raff and The Room Upstairs. It’s one of our primary arts venues in the area, and often, most always, your finer local talent comes out on wonderful Monday evenings, to sing, play, and read. Poetry and song are abundant and beautiful on the open stage evenings.
The Riff Raff is a wonderful family friendly venue that provides a relaxing atmosphere where one can enjoy a flavorfull mix of local talent. There are live performances of music, poetry, art and philosophy. I have found it to be a wonderful place to share my poetry and life experiences with others of like mind.
Bobb Marly the poet