John Locke
Host performer
Worthington Ohio
Playing since 1970 or there abouts.
Ashville open mic is the place to be on Thursday nights. Good music, a good laugh and good people.

Dave Rainey


Dick Plunk
I am a songwriter, singer, performer, audience member, and "apparently" the roadie! I live in the Powell area, having only been in Columbus about 3 years (originally lived in Cincinnati). I am a member of the Dayton/Cincinnati chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), a tremendous songwriting organization that has helped me develop as a songwriter.
Hi - I’m Tom Harker, also called “Ukulele Man,” an old geezer who writes songs and sings them solo, or with my pal Ty Barnes, and sometimes with my band “Ukulele Man & his Prodigal Sons.” I’m a “regular” at the Ashville Open Mic (I call it Englishman John’s Open Stage – but I’m eccentric [I’m told] ), and I’ve taken it upon myself to video-tape a lot of the shenanigans that transpire there (check out: http://www.youtube.com/Englishmanjohn ). The best thing about this musical gathering is the people, their open friendliness, consideration, and support. Whether male or female, young or old, for Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich; whether you drive like a mad man or never exceed 45MPH, whether you wear flip-flops or cowboy boots – even if you play a ukulele or an accordion - you are welcome and enthusiastically received. Heck!! I’m from Circleville, and they don’t hold that against me!!!

Mike Powers


Bill Cohen

The Ashville open mic is the best! The music, food, and comraderie (sp?) are the best. There’s always a wide variety of musical styles and voices, and the mix of serious and comedy stuff is perfect. I recommend the open mic to anyone who enjoys folk music in the broadest sense of the term, either as a performer or a listener. The support from the audience is top-notch, and that’s important too. The open mic is a great venue to try out new material, experiment with a new approach to an old song, or hone your stage presence. I’m a lifelong resident of Columbus and began strumming and singing folksongs as a teenager around 1964. I’ve never stopped. These days, my favorite project is my “spirit of the 1960’s coffeehouse.” It’s a program I perform for churches, schools, colleges, and conferences. In a candlelit atmosphere, I go year-by-year, talking about all the events of the turbulent decade and punctuate them with brief audio bites and visual slides of anti-war demonstrations, hippies, civil rights protests, urban riots, political assassinations, and other hallmarks of the sixties. Then, I sing folk songs that reflect each of the major developments. Plus, there are displays of sixties newspapers, albums, magazines, and anti-war buttons and posters. I also model the far-out sixties fashions of the time period and I quiz the audience with sixties trivia questions. For the over-50 crowd who lived through the era, it’s an emotional flash-back through a bittersweet time.

Bob and Ralph

Hi, I'm Bob Castle from Grove City, Ohio. Along with my childhood friend of more than 50 years, Ralph Denny, we play every couple of weeks at the Ashville open Mic.

I enjoy all kinds of music; Rock & Roll, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass and Country. However Ralph and I usually play 50's and 60's Rock & Roll. Plus we play some Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, James Taylor and anything else that sounds good to us. The main thing is we have fun. When were not playing, I go to the Ashville open Mic to listen. There's so much talent it's unbelieveable. Something unique every week. Come and join us and don't miss out on all the fun.

Ken Willis

Hello, folks. This is Jim Hutter, aka Jimmy Razor. I am a veteran of the Columbus original rock scene, having played with The Epicureans, Roswell Beach, The Revolvers, and currently The Moops. My Jimmy Razor persona is something of a side project. It gives me an opportunity to perform my own brand of solo acoustic rock 'n' roll, blending the simplicity of pre-psychedelia with post-punk energy and irreverence.
As a self-proclaimed "conservative rock malcontent" (but politically liberal), I have harbored a love of Rockabilly and British Invasion sounds for most of my life. Discovering punk in the 'eighties, I embraced the "Do It Yourself" mentality. I would like to think that my music is a stripped-down roots-rock Americana sound that owes as much to Buddy Holly as it does The Ramones.
My infrequent visits to the Ashville Open Mic have always been very enjoyable. Not only as an opportunity to perform before a highly appreciative audience, but a chance to appreciate other artists. There is a definite sense of community and people are absolutely wonderful at supporting one another. I only wish that my personal schedule would allow me to visit every week.
Of course, my main nighttime gig is with the Moops, where I play bass and sing the occasional song. We proudly dub ourselves "Gleefully Obnoxious Rock 'n' Roll," and try to carry on the simplistic three-chord traditions of The Rolling Stones, The Faces, AC/DC, and The Replacements. We have just released a new CD, "Smells like the Moops." It is an uninhibited effort chock full of caustic but articulate humor. For more information, please check out www.moopscrap.com.

Alex Niemiec

Songwriter
Member of the hair cells My Space Page
Akron Ohio
A very welcoming community resides at ashville open mic, no egos here,
great opportunity to practice and showcase new material.