Today, entertainment exists at the push of a button. Any performance by any artist can be found by doing a simple search on the Internet. But there’s one local group that’s keeping up the tradition of folks just playing for folks, making music solely for the joy of making music — the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association.

One a month, BCTMA puts on an “open mic” show. It’s not a traditional open mic show, in which any musician can get up and play a few songs. It’s more of a variety show, where BCTMA members take turns hosting the show, each inviting a broad array of performers to take the stage. Many of these musicians are friends or family of the host. Many of them are just the average person willing to share his or her talent with an appreciative audience.

Saturday, BCTMA member, singer, songwriter and guitarist Bob Daw hosts open mic night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Turnage Theatre gallery in Washington.

The show starts with Bobby Moore and his son, Jay, playing gospel, bluegrass and old country music. Both are members of the band Stillwater, but whittling down the band to the father-son duo, for Daw, gives their performance an extra boost of tradition — that of one generation passing music down to the next.

“It has to be a special feeling to be blessed with sharing a stage with your son,” Daw said.
The next group will make the trip from Chapel Hill to play at the Turnage. LaNelle Davis and Margaret Martin are a newly formed duo, though both have been performing for decades.
“They combine forces to bring old songs into the present,” Daw said. “Don’t look for lush harmonies or ethereal voicing — their raw-edged sound is backed with a powerful dose of guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass.”

While BCTMA’s focus is on traditional music, Daw and other open mic hosts often branch out. That’s the case with longtime rock and rollers Wayne Stoeckert and Butch Adams.

“They will deliver an acoustical blend of string bending and harmony that will knock your socks off and leave you wanting more,” Daw said.

Daw will close the show with a few of his original songs.

The Turnage Theatre is located at 150 W. Main St., Washington. The open mic show is free and open to the public.