Songshine is back. Audience members packed the show’s new venue, Kafe Blue, on Wrightson Road. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the open mic showcase returned with the band SeaBath, poet Sterling Henderson and a lineup of open-mic performers at its on June 2, making for an eclectic and engaging mix of entertainment.
SeaBath’s songs won over the crowd, who enthusiastically cheered them on. With Aaron Lowchewtung on bass, Dexter Banfield on percussion, Damir Ali on guitar, and Amy Li Baksh on lead vocals, they played their mix of fresh mix of indie pop, Caribbean folk and 90s nostalgia. They won many fans with their set of songs, both comforting and fresh.
Henderson, who released an EP of poems last year entitled When Soca Full Mih Mouth, had the audience eating up his every word, as he wove together humour, sexuality, darkness, and art.
Songshine producer and host Gillian Moor also performed new songs. Philip Hill and Gerard Rajkumar erstwhile members of her band Bush Tea Party, played keys and percussion, respectively.
Open mic performers included talented vocal powerhouse Alethea on keyboards, Mauby Man with a naughty piece with a mango theme; Toco Nicky, who said in her treatise on the feminine principle and poetic sensibility: “I feel therefore I can be free,”; and Andrew with sharp alt-rock compositions on guitar.
Also on guitar, Rajiv Samaroo.gave a plaintive, scaled-down rendition of Woman on The Bass. Poets Brandon O’Brien and Krys-Darcelle Dumas delivered stirring works, as did People Man and first-timer Kit Joseph.
Songshine continues in July at Kafe Blue.
