Sing Under the Stars at the Great Wide Open Mic

Before organized religion, before politics, we had the great outdoors and music. It’s hard to say what these ancient peoples were singing about under the stars, but “I imagine it was celebrating the joys and lamenting the sorrows of life,” says Martin Murray, founder of the Great Wide Open Mic. “That’s the large unifier of humanity.” Through an outdoor, solar-powered, traveling open mic, Murray hopes to harken back to those traditions and bridge our divides, if only just for one night. 

This isn’t just any open mic. Murray has pre-booked 10 local artists, ranging from skilled performers to some who have only played a couple other open mics. Murray loves working with both ends of the spectrum, helping people who are nervous to get on stage feel comfortable but also nurturing the confidence that years of experience have already formed. There will also be a few open slots, so anyone who comes ready to play will have the chance. As for who that will be, Murray is “letting the fates decide.”

In a past life, Murray composed environmental assemblies for elementary school children, writing songs about topics such as recycling and water conservation under Martin and the Green Guitar. With a degree in Environmental Studies and a background in music, he “combined all of his passions into one.” His two loves will stay married with the Great Wide Open Mic, via a solar-powered PA system, so he can “play shows where we don’t need outlets.” Specifically, he dreams of playing at the top of Mission Peak in his hometown of Fremont, California, “which has never been done in the history of the world.” 

Murray benefits from the Great Wide Open Mic by combining his passions, but he’s mostly concerned with benefiting the artists he features. “The value we provide a songwriter is shouting them from the rooftops, paying them for their work and giving them professional audio and video recordings to help them get more gigs,” he explains. Even if an artist has no platform yet, they’ll leave a little bit more established.

If you’re local to Utah, don’t miss your chance to catch this special event at the beautiful Glen Canyon Park Amphitheatre in Provo, because you’ll likely have to travel a lot farther to catch the next one. There will be one show per season, and each will be in a new state. “It’s seasonal because that gives me the chance to really learn the scene and create a diverse blend that embodies the music of that area,” Murray says.

While the cool temperatures of fall and winter might lead Murray south, the artists are the deciding factor. “I want this to be community-driven,” he claims. “I want to go where the artists want me to go.” If you’re not local to Utah and want an opportunity like this, make your voice heard — Murray will listen.

To get as many eyes and ears on this project as possible, Murray is attacking it from every medium he can. Podcast episodes can be found on the Great Wide Open Mic YouTube channel, where you can get to know the artists before seeing them play. After the event, all recordings will be released on Spotify under the Great Wide Open Mic Presents. “We’re going to hand over all the files so the artists can also put them on streaming services,” he clarifies. “We don’t intend to ever profit off of or own their art. I just want to use their beautiful songs to promote our project.” 

We’ve covered what Murray and the performers get out of this, but you, prospective concertgoer, are being looked out for, too. Murray has built a big enough community to entice sponsors to fund the project, to make it more accessible. “Concerts are so expensive, so I wanted to make it so that anyone who wanted to come could come and wouldn’t be limited by funds. I want this to be a normal music festival, but it’s for everyone and uplifts unsigned, local artists rather than the major acts.” Follow @greatwideopenmic on Instagram for more details about the open mic on Aug. 29 and others in the future. 

Read about other open mics through SLUG:
Sean Baker’s Open Mic Manifesto
Not a Safe Space But a Brave Space: Greenhouse Effect Open Mic

To help SLUG continue its support of community-driven events like The Great Wide Open Mic, consider joining our community of donors!