Galway’s Little Island Open Mic: ‘A music night where everyone’s equal’

By Anne-Marie Brennan

Sitting in Massimo, a couple of hours before Little Island Open Mic began, organisers Luke Shanahan and Dylan Jennings spoke to Galway Pulse about the open mic’s early days and its role in Galway’s music scene.

Galway has forever been a home for the arts. However, recent venue closures, such as the temporary closure of Club Áras na nGael, have highlighted the lack of performing spaces for musicians.

Luke noted Galway’s abundance of creativity and how they want Little Island Open Mic to encourage the musicality found in the city.

“There’s a shortage of venues in Galway. There’s so much creativity and not enough outlet.”

“You can see it in Galway because we don’t actually have the venues,” he added.

“What we want to do as the runners of the open mic… we want to give you that baby step before your first gig.”

Dylan explained why having a comfortable space for people to explore their musicality is important, saying that when he was in college in Maynooth, “there wasn’t really any open mic or any place that you could go and just like meet people who play”.

“So, when I first got introduced to this [open mic], I was just blown away.”

He added that they want Little Island Open Mic to be a place for all levels of musicians to come and perform. One of his main goals for the open mic has been “to have a comfortable place where [people] can come and just try what they like”.

Early days

Both musicians themselves, Luke and Dylan got involved separately but now run the nights together.

Starting in Monroe’s, first ran by Kevin Donohue and Katie Foote, Luke described the early days of the open mic.

“There [was] only about 20 people showing up at this point. 15, 20, it was tiny. They had a small little busking amp and that was it.

“I showed up and I have a bunch of sound equipment, and I didn’t even know Katie, so I just said it to her. I was like, listen, I have all this stuff. Do you want me to bring it?”

Dylan joined later, invited to attend by the organisers while he was out busking one day.

“I got to the open mic… I was kind of hanging around the booth and then anytime one of them was gone, I just hopped on the mixing desk, and they [were] like, ‘oh, you know what you’re doing. Do you want to run it with us?’. And I was with them since then.”

The open mic continued in Monroe’s until Christmas of last year, when they moved to Massimos.

“We thought we thought it was the best move for the open mic going forward,” Luke explained.

“The main thing was that [the owner] promised us was that all the musicians, every single musician that played would be guaranteed to get a free drink. It was massive for us. That someone gets something from it.

“Mal, in particular, the owner [of Massimo], he’s been very responsive to Galway arts and very supportive. Both financially and everything, he pushes it really well.”

An approachable environment

Dylan and Luke spoke about how the accessibility of the open mic nights is essential in creating an open community for all lovers of music.

“This is a music night where everyone’s equal,” Luke said.

“It’s also a good nesting point where a bunch of musicians hang out, but also other people who want to get into music can find themselves in a very approachable environment where they can talk to other musicians and learn more about what’s going on, because you don’t really get that [in other bars].

“This is a place where I have found that we can create more music.”

“And that’s what has been making it work, because everyone gets to know each other,” Dylan added.

He spoke about how they organise the sign-up sheet, and how this can ease pressure off of first-time performers.

“We start our list at the start of the night. And as it goes on, people come up and add their name. So, if they’re not too sure if they want to go up yet, they still have a chance.”

Creating community

Dylan explained that the open mic is a space for all lovers of music in Galway.

“It’s a big community of musicians and people that like music.

“The amount of people I’ve met through the open mic that I see out and about in town all the time. It’s great.”

“There’s people starting bands out of this stuff,” Luke added.

Galway has long been a home for the arts, a place that fosters creativity and embraces artists. Dylan highlighted how the city’s musicians support one another.

“Every musician that you see about no matter where they’re playing or how often they’re playing will stop and will talk to other musicians. And we help each other,” he explained.

Luke echoed this saying, “Everyone wants to see everyone do well.”

“Just from being here the last year, that’s like been a main impact for me. Just how willing everyone is to help each other,” Dylan said.

Little Island Open Mic can be summarised in a number of ways; a community, a platform, a weekly ritual.

A place for anyone with an inclination for the arts to get up on stage, unless your inclination is stand-up or piano. Both of which are off limits.

The reason behind this being that, with piano “you’re guaranteed the same songs [played] every time,” Luke explained, assuring they have no real bias against the instrument.

And as for stand-up? Well, “that’s the owner’s rule,” they laughed. “Which we agree with.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about Little Island Open Mic, you can find their Instagram here.