Live Review: Bex & Turin's Wide Open Mic Night

The Rosemount Hotel was decked out for a more intimate vibe on Monday night, with candlelit tables and comfortable leather couches surrounding the stage for the launch of Bex & Turin's Wide Open Mic Night.

With a simple set-up of guitar and congas, roots duo Happy Daze drummed up a storm on their opening set, playing a great set of driving, foot-stomping originals plus a chilled cover of Fat Freddy's Drop's Wandering Eye.

Despite it being her first live performance, the multi-talented Jess Shanks gave a great jazz-tinged set of originals and proved just as impressive on piano as she was on guitar.

Nikki De Campe started off with a great stripped-back arrangement of The Dandy Warhol's Bohemian Like You, followed by stand-out original tracks Fake and Money, which each received strong responses from the crowd.

Likewise Danielle McDonald impressed with her sweet falsetto voice and well constructed songs, as did Tahlia Jaye, who left the crowd speechless with her impressive, theatrical vocals and captivating stage presence.

Contrasting Nic Brown's laidback sounds and cool stage demeanour was Andy Newman, who bumped up the energy levels with some blistering acoustic guitar licks and deep, bluesy vocals.

Fresh off a win at the Fringe Festival Awards was local vocal loop master Sam Perry, who finished the night off with an incredible set where he layered vocal sounds and rhythms together for an electrifying performance of originals including Halo and Only Love, capping off a great night of local music for all involved.