ON the back of the popularity of its weekly live music events, a bar in Hexham is looking to develop entertainment in the town.

Mr Ant’s, in Priestpopple, is introducing monthly open mic evenings and stand-up comedy shows to offer local people some midweek enjoyment.

The bar hosts live bands on Friday evenings, and manager Richard Davidson and owner Eileen Davidson want to expand the package they offer.

They have enlisted the help of well-known musician Shaun Fenwick to compere monthly busker nights, to be held every third Tuesday of the month.

Eileen said: “Mr Ant’s is a local, family-owned bar and these days, you have to offer loads of different events to get people to come in.

“When we bought the bar four-and-a-half years ago, we started weekly live music nights which have been very successful. People have responded to them and really enjoyed them.

“We were thinking of ways to expand this, and with Richard being a qualified sound engineer, we asked Shaun to host our evenings because we know how good he is when he’s played with bands here.

“There are other live music events in Hexham, so we want to complement them and provide some entertainment to people during the week.

“There’s a lot of talent in the Tyne Valley so we want to encourage them to come and give it a go in a friendly atmosphere and help them develop.”

There is a huge emphasis being placed on giving people the opportunity to perform in front of people, which, for many, could be for the first time.

Shaun himself has developed his music style while participating in similar events, and is an example of just how beneficial these nights can be.

He has always played and sung as part of a band, and even up until last year, he never thought he’d be able to perform solo.

However, his confidence is at an all-time high and he is constantly trying new things.

He said: “It brings you on so much, and it’s good to get out there and play in front of people.

“It’s so different to sitting in your bedroom and strumming the guitar, and it’s a great taster to crowds.

“What is so good about these events is that the people who go know what a great deal it is to get up there and perform, so there is always great support and encouragement for people.

“I know myself as I have sung in bands for so long and then got the confidence to do solo stuff after going along to busker nights.

“I went along to a few busker nights and just watched other people the first few times because I was a bit nervous to perform.

“Now, I’ve started to perform as a solo artist and not just as part of a band. These nights are good to try new stuff too, and I test some songs out to see if they work.”

In addition to the open mic night, a regular stand-up comedy evening will start on Wednesday, October 4. It is hoped it will become a monthly feature.

The line-up for the opening night is a great one, with Cal Halbert, one half of The Mimic Men, who featured on Britain’s Got Talent , scheduled to perform.

Joining Cal on the billing is Lee Kyle, a regular at Newcastle’s The Stand, and Catherine Tenney.

Eileen said: “It will be free entry, so it is a good chance for people to come along and have a laugh.

“People love stand-up comedy but there is nowhere in Hexham doing anything like this, so we hope people come along and enjoy themselves.”