Larne talent in spotlight for session

A newly-formed group of musicians hosted a successful “open mic” event at the Linn Community Centre, recently.
Dean and Mark play "Simon and Garfunkel" at an "open mic" event held recently at Linn Community Centre. INLT 18-655-CONDean and Mark play "Simon and Garfunkel" at an "open mic" event held recently at Linn Community Centre. INLT 18-655-CON
Dean and Mark play "Simon and Garfunkel" at an "open mic" event held recently at Linn Community Centre. INLT 18-655-CON

About 40 young local and visiting musicians gathered to perform.

The event was organised by the All Saints’ Praise Band.

Leader Jane Davison began proceedings by welcoming all the guests and then the band played its opening set “Build your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective, Ed Sheeran’s “See Fire” and “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol.

These went down a storm with the assembled crowd, as did the following acts which included praise groups from Buckna and Portglenone, guitar vocalists Dean and Mark, from Ballymena, Thomas Hamilton, Larne Music Yard and Lauren Craig from Islandmagee.

The music ranged from contemporary Gospel to pop classics such as Simon and Garfunkel and chart favourites such as “Teardrop” by Newton Faulkner and George Ezra’s “Budapest”.

The programme also included a challenging spiritual message from Belfast youth worker Moore Holmes, posing the question, “Where are you with God?”

To help make his point, he got members of the audience to take part in an arm-wrestling contest.

After a closing set from talented guitar and vocals duo Dean and Mark, guitar soloist Nathan Thompson provided the finale with a cover of Guns N’ Roses classic rock anthem, “Sweet child of mine”.

Jane added: “What a brilliant night of local talent and banter. Thank you to everyone who came and took part, you were all fabulous. Such an awesome bunch of musicians and singers.”

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