Camden pub The Dark Horse launches music open mic night

True to their word they have just launched an open mic night giving grassroots hopefuls a chance to show what they can do – backed by an incredible array of vocal and musical talent.

It’s hosted by Vibe Village who have toured with everyone from Dua Lipa and Christina Aguilera to Usher, Gorillaz and Coldplay.

The open mic nights take place in the dining room of the former Victorian stables with exposed brick and ironwork and an open kitchen. (Image: The Dark Horse) Set up in the pub’s atmospheric dining room, with chefs cooking up bar snacks at the open kitchen, the band and vocalists treated the audience to a stellar opening number to get us in the mood.

The collective of sax, guitars, drums, keyboard and incredible backing singers then fell in with each performer as they stepped up for one song each.

There was no shortage of budding talent in the room, a guy with an amazing voice who has just moved to London from New York; two singer songwriters who have released their own music; and a troubadour from Colombia who sang beautifully in Spanish while accompanying herself on acoustic guitar.

The Dark Horse opened in January with the aim of being an unpretentious boozer serving good pub food and staging live music events. (Image: The Dark Horse) Each time the vocalists found the harmony – whether a cover or an original – and the band picked up the groove.

Between acts they were able to let rip with jazz-style solos as an appreciative crowd enjoyed drinks from the bar.

We sipped on Pornstar Martinis and a freshly mixed concoction of gin, mint, elderflower and prosecco that was perfect for the warm spring evening.

The Dark Horse’s co-founder Stephen Tozer is aiming for an “unpretentious boozer,” and the venue has already gained a reputation for serving Camden’s ‘best fish and chips’ so it seemed rude not to try it.

The pub has already built a reputation for its fish and chips and roasts and all the bar snacks we tried were well executed. (Image: The Dark Horse) The pared down bar snacks menu on Open Mic nights may not be reinventing the wheel, but each element was perfectly executed. The super crispy fish with minted peas and tartare with house triple cooked chunky chips lived up to its reputation.

American-style wings with a blue cheese dip, and a juicy, tasty cheeseburger – cooked pink in the middle – were also spot on, and our waitress brought us a lovely bonus – a slice of bread and butter pudding topped with fresh blood orange in a vanilla spiked custard.

The open mic night is hosted by music and vocal collective Vibe Village. (Image: Courtesy of Vibe Village) Part owned by Tarn, which has music industry connections and runs a live music venue, the pub pays tribute to local talent with pictures on the walls of The Kinks, Madness and Amy Winehouse.

Their careers were forged in North London pubs and grassroots venues so it’s good to The Dark Horse continuing the tradition of encouraging fresh talent to dream big.

It’s also great to see that Camden Town, with its legendary venues from The Roundhouse to The Jazz Cafe, KOKO to the Electric Ballroom remains a destination for fans and a vital part of the musical eco system.

The weekly Wednesday Open Mic night runs from 7pm to 10.30pm at The Dark Horse, 87/88 North Yard, Stables Market. Entry is free for the first three weeks. www.thedarkhorsecamden.com/vibe-village-open-mic