Rkstar Open Mic

04/02/2020

For those that stopped going to the Moon & River on Sundays after the Rkstar Open Mic ended, a new open mic sprung up in its place - The South Ferry Open Mic. And during this isolation period, you can record video performances and have them posted on the page. Check it out!

Open Mic Info at the Moon and River Cafe:)

12/29/2019

Doesn’t look like I’ll get through 2019 before the final open mic tomorrow ( !!!! ), but here are a few more sign-up sheets from 2013-2015. The first two years we regularly had 10-15 performers per week, it dropped to 5-10 for the last year, but still enough for a good time. And oh yeah, if anyone coming to the final open mic wants a specific intro song, let me know in advance and I’ll see what I can do!

12/27/2019

When you have more than 800 pages of sign-up sheets, it's difficult to choose which ones to share. Here are nine more from 2010-2012. Hopefully it's still legible on Facebook!

12/22/2019

In 2009 it was common for open mic to start late (from the set 7:30pm time) and go over and fill up all the overflow spots.

12/21/2019

The first few full years at The Moon & River went well. Well, a dozen or two open mics were held at Arthur's Market. Including New Years Eve 2016/2017, which had nine featured performers who got sets twice as long. By 2008, the open mic was starting to develop into how we know it today.

12/19/2019

Come the first Summer at The Moon and River Cafe, attendance was great, sometimes even needing to use the sign-up sheet's "overflow" section. And some students at Schenectady High School made a short documentary about the open mic and the cafe. You can watch that here - https://dangoodspeed.com/shared/15f-mics-and-one-way-streets

12/18/2019

Come January 2005, even though the sign-ups were still pretty full, Van Dyck management was pushing attendance away... instead of the 200 we were getting Summer '04, it was down to 40-50 people. Paddy stopped hosting regularly, the last two hosts at The Van Dyck were MotherJudge (RIP) and Geno K. When we showed up for open mic on February 3... the Van Dyck manager said "We couldn't find any wait staff for tonight so open mic is canceled". A group of about a dozen of us walked down the street to The Moon and River Cafe which had a struggling open mic on Sundays. The group of us decided to just move the open mic to the cafe and take over the Sunday open mics... first one- 3 days later. I didn't have much time to promote so attendance definitely fell to start.

12/17/2019

Leading up to the final open mic, a look back at some memorable moments and sign-up lists.

10/04/2019

Ok gang, I'm about to get on a plane and fly 5,000 miles away for a few weeks. Richard Genest and Tim Barker have said they'll run things for me for the two weeks (10/6 and 10/13) I'm gone, respectively. Treat them nice and have fun! See everyone soon!

01/20/2019

The roads are pretty rough out there with about two feet of snow, so open mic is off for this week, in case anyone was thinking about braving it. See everyone next week!

12/23/2018

Hey rock stars! Tonight is the annual Christmas Rkstar Open Mic. Christmas songs aren't required, but encouraged. Come bring your good cheer and play the Christmas song name-that-tune at the end of the night!

07/19/2018

Heads up for those who weren't there this past Sunday, I'll be out of town for a few weeks. Kenny will be hosting the next few open mics in my absence. No pranks allowed on the substitute.

03/12/2018

Nationally touring band (they've even been on NPR's Tiny Desk) stopped by the open mic and sang us a song. I left my good camera in the car so I only had my iPhone, but still caught the last half of the song. Some really sweet harmonies.

02/04/2018

Even though there may be a little snow and a sporting event on the tee-vee, there IS open mic tonight. I will bring CD giveaways and play a few of my own songs, and performers will get longer sets as well. See ya there!

01/07/2018

Open mic returns tonight! Hope to see a great crowd after three weeks off!

12/17/2017

Reminder that tonight is the annual Christmas open mic. Playing holiday music is encouraged. There will be holiday sheet music available as well.

09/07/2017

I was just told that the Moon & River Cafe will be closed this Sunday night, so there is no open mic this week. See everyone on September 17!

04/23/2017

Angela Bove and Jessica Jones at open mic

It's another Rkstar Open Mic day! Let's celebrate with a newly edited video... this time with Angela Bove and Jessica Jones playing BOY's song "Little Numbers" from 2014.

Angela Bove and Jessica Jones play BOY's "Little Numbers" at the Rkstar open mic on June 1, 2014.

04/16/2017

Christina playing "Kate" at open mic

I'm not sure who this fine musician who came to open mic back in 2014 in this newly edited video, but she signed up as "Christina" and did a wonderful cover of "Kate" on ukulele. And yes- we have an open mic on Easter tomorrow!

Christina stopped by the Rkstar Open Mic and played the Ben Folds Five classic "Kate".

04/09/2017

Zuri at open mic

This week's video is of a young girl named Zuri, who performed at the open mic May of 2014.

The Rkstar Open Mic was visited by Zuri to play a few songs on May 18, 2014.

04/01/2017

Harvey playing open mic May 4, 2014

Another week, another video! This week features Harvey playing "Lonesome Town". See everyone tomorrow!

A clip of Harvey playing "Lonesome Town" at open mic on May 4, 2014.

03/25/2017

Rick and Courtney play "Amie"

I'm going to try to keep posting old unpublished open mic videos once per week while I still have them and use them as a reminder to everyone to come out! Attendance has picked up significantly the past few weeks and it's always more fun playing to a crowd. This week's video is Rick and Courtney playing "Amie" back in 2014.

Rick Sacchetti and Courtney Marston play "Amie" by Pure Prairie League at The Rkstar Open Mic on May 4, 2014,

03/18/2017

One Red Martian at open mic

Open mic is tomorrow! And I just found another unpublished video from a few years ago.

One Red Martian played their song "Open Bar" at the Rkstar open mic on May 4, 2014.

02/12/2017

The snow is still coming down pretty hard, so I won't lug the keyboard out this week, but open mic is still on for tonight for those who want to brave the weather.

02/01/2017

Carl Strickland at open mic

Oh look, I just found another unposted open mic video! This time it's Carl Strickland playing "Mr Bojangles" on May 4, 2014.

Carl Strickland plays Bob Dylan's "Mr. Bojangles" at the Rkstar Open Mic in Schenectady, NY on May 4, 2014.

01/15/2017

Hey open micers (mikers?), after a few weeks overseas, I'm back and ready to host tonight. Everyone ready to come out and perform? See ya there! 7:30pm at The Moon and River Cafe!

12/25/2016

Merry Christmas everyone, for those following along at home, there's no open mic this week and the next two weeks are just smaller casual acoustic open mics, and regular open mics resume on January 15!

12/17/2016

This upcoming Sunday is the annual Christmas/holiday Rkstar open mic, where playing your favorite holiday songs is encouraged (but not required). There will be some sheet music there, and maybe a "name that tune" game. How well do you know the music of the season?

12/11/2016

Come out to the open mic tonight before the misery of the snowstorm ruins your day tomorrow! :)

11/20/2016

Hey everyone... today is Richard's (M&R Cafe's owner) birthday! So come wish him a happy one at the open mic tonight!

05/22/2016

Things are looking great for a super open mic tonight. That is all.

05/15/2016

Calling Cali at open mic March 16, 2014

It's that day again! And I just posted another video from an open mic of yore. Check out the band Calling Cali when they stopped by a few years ago!

The band Calling Cali stopped by the Rkstar Open Mic at The Moon & River Cafe in Schenectady, NY on March 16, 2014. Here are a couple clips of their performance.

04/03/2016

Open mic again tonight! You know what to do.

03/27/2016

For those wondering... yes there is Easter open mic tonight... and it's a special night as it's Heather's last night working at the Moon & River after serving hungry open mic patrons for the last four years. Hope to see a great crowd to send her off!

03/06/2016

It's another open mic day! It was successful last week so I'm going to do it again - I'm going to bring a bunch of CDs that I have duplicate copies of to open mic this week and give them out as prizes. Come play some music, hear some free music, and maybe get some free music!