Moonstone Cellars
Open Mic Night
Music makes the world go round, and at Moonstone Cellars we enjoy music of all kinds. On the first and third Wednesday of (almost) every month we host Open Mic Night – for musicians and listeners to gather to play and hear some dang good musicians from Cambria, the Central Coast and beyond. The atmosphere at Moonstone Cellars Open Mic is casual and supportive. Moonstone Cellars would love to have you join us for the fun.
Our musicians’ experiences and skill levels vary. Some are beginners and intermediates who are just getting the nerve up to play in front of an audience; others are rather accomplished, and can be found playing at coffeehouses and events. A few are published on Spotify and Bandcamp.com. One musician, our friend Rusty, even wrote a tribute song to Moonstone Cellars. Check them out below.
We hold Open Mic in our Event Room just above the Moonstone Cellars Tasting Room in Cambria. To join us, either to play or to listen to our fabulous musicians, check out our events calendar.
If you’re a musician and would like to play at our Open Mic, please take a minute to continue reading about how to sign up to play and what to expect.
Who can participate? We’re open to all genres and styles of music. (However, we are not set up to be a karaoke venue.)
How do I get to play? Generally, we play for 2 or so hours, and typically 10 musicians/acts will get to perform two songs each. While it’s okay to just show up, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Even better, to greatly improve your chance of getting a musician slot, complete the form on our events calendar! On the rare chance that time doesn’t allow a musician to perform, that musician has top priority to play at the next open Mic. Please be courteous to your fellow musicians. If you sign up but ultimately can’t show up, kindly email us at info@moonstonecellars.com to let us know. We will contact those next on the waiting list to take your spot. “No shows” without prior notification might be placed on the waiting list for the next Open Mic performance. Thanks for being a cool cat! :-)
When you arrive and what to expect? We open the doors at 5:30, and start the show at 6:00. We hope that performers arrive by 5:45. When you arrive let us know that you’ve signed up, or that you’re a walk-in and would like to play. You’ll fill out a quick “Hat Sheet” with a few fun questions so that we can properly introduce you. Our sessions are moderated by the humble and loveable Oz. Oz gets to do several important things: Oz opens the night with a song or two – he’s quite good. Oz decides the order of musicians. He’ll introduce each act. He’ll probably tell a musical story or two during the evening. And then, if we’re lucky, Oz closes the show with another song or two.
How many songs can I play? Generally, each performer is allotted 8 – 10 minutes, which breaks down to two songs of 3 to 5 minutes, plus a bit of time to say a few words. On special occasions, Oz has even asked “got another?” If so, you’ve been honored.
Cost? We don’t charge for Open Mic Night. However, Open Mic Night is a fundraiser. Always for a good cause – usually something to support kids, animals, or other worthwhile causes in our community. A $5 donation is requested. Each events calendar entry on our website will tell a bit about the current fundraiser. (Thank you.)
As a listener or as a performer, we hope you join us!!
A few of our musicians:
Mae Blonski (aka Maybe in Time) is a singer and songwriter who hopes to share bits of anxiety, hope, sadness, and joy through their ukulele music. Mae feels so appreciative and honored to play and listen to music at Moonstone Cellars. You can hear more of Mae’s music at Bandcamp.com.
Rusty Shoop has been enjoying Moonstone Cellars wines for many years. He is well known and loved in our tasting room. In what seems like the distant past, Rusty would serenade us live at Open Mic night with his mellifluous voice and guitar. After much encouragement, Rusty joined us on Zoom and surprised us with an original song of his – “Moonstoned,” an homage to Moonstone Cellars. In Rusty’s song Moonstone Cellars is “a little place I know, a little place just up the road, where I can wash my worries away.” “It’s one of my favorite places, it puts a smile on all those faces, we’re all getting Moonstoned. Oh yeah.” Oh yeah.
Bev Praver says that music has sustained her through hard times. She always feels better when she sings, so she sings every day on Zoom with friends, new and old. Singing at Moonstone Cellars Open Mic (Zoom style) gives her a chance to share her joy of singing and song writing with Cambria friends now that we can’t safely meet in person.
Rick Smith is returning to music after decades away while building a career, raising a family, all of the usual distractions. Now with free time to focus on music, Open Mic nights at Moonstone Cellars are a high point in his new adventure.
Emmy Follett is an independent artist from Bangkok, Thailand who used to live in Cambria. Emmy says being able to perform by herself in front of Americans is something she couldn't imagine she could do, but she did it anyway. Emmy is glad that people enjoy her music. Emmy is now living in the Pacific Northwest and still makes songs with her friends in Thailand. You can listen to her songs on Spotify and find more information about her on Facebook.
Jeanne Haegele has been writing songs since she was 12 years old, but she only started sharing them with others once she moved to Cambria and got encouragement from all of the amazing people she met in town. She especially enjoys sharing songs at Moonstone Cellars Open Mic because the warm, positive environment makes her feel like she's playing music at home for family and friends. You can hear a few of her songs at Soundcloud.com.
Gerry Grant has been playing guitar for 45 years. Wendy Wright has been playing guitar, and covering folk tunes, for 20 years. In 2003, Wendy started the Marfa (Texas) Music Jam as a means to practice and improve while playing with other musicians. In 2019, Wendy and Gerry moved to Cambria and shortly thereafter, started the weekly Cambria Music Jam, which meets every Sunday afternoon.
Oz Barron is our host at Open Mic Night at Moonstone Cellars. He says: Hi friends, I’ve been performing for so long in so many environments it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it. It’s a pleasure to be able to host these Open Mic Nights. I’m grateful to Todd and Andy for allowing us to have some fun. I’m also very grateful to all the folks from all backgrounds and ranges of experience who join us as performers. We try and make this a fun, supportive place for people to try things and expand their comfort zone. Thanks for tuning in. Come join us as a player or a listener. Everyone is welcome!