Darren Stormont’s open mic nights are a great way to be seen as a musician. Stormont has been hosting open mic nights in Stillwater Oklahoma two nights a week. “All my life I’ve been in music,” Stormont recalls sitting around campfires and singing in the choir at church. Stormont has been in Stillwater since 1986, but has only been writing his own songs for about 3 years
Open mic nights at Willie’s Saloon starts at 9pm on Sundays, and goes until 12pm. Willie’s Saloon is known for being the first place legendary Garth Brooks had played at. Stormont’s open mic night is open every Sunday to anybody who wants to play, with Stormont opening and closing the event with his songs or a cover song.
Photo by Hugh Foily and Darren Stormont
“It teaches you to perform and play in front of people, and sometimes get found”
Darren Stormont
Stormont also hosts an open mic night at The Other Side Tavern on Tuesdays from 8pm to 11pm. “A lot of the same people that play at The Other Side, play at Willis’s too.” Stormont went to all of the open mic nights before he became the host.
Darren Stormont’s Open Mic Nights Begin
Photo by Hugh Foily
“My friend asked me to play at the open mic so she could do two minutes of comedy at the end of my set. So I played three songs. She did her comedy,” Stormont recalls after that he kept coming back each week, becoming hooked on performing. Furthermore, while open mic nights hold a special place in his heart, Stormont also finds joy in performing at other entertaining events. Moreover, he dedicates himself to writing his own music for ‘Song Swaps,’ exclusive events that permit only original compositions.
“I get an idea and think I need to write it.”
Darren Stormont
Stormont recalls the best moment during one of his open mic nights was looking up and seeing all of the audience singing along to his song, One More Time. One More Time is a song about grief, and when Stormont plays it, he lifts a finger up. When the crowd was singing, Stormont noted that they imitated him.
“It was pretty dadgum awesome.”
Darren Stormont
See Darren Stormont at a Song Swap
Stormont will be playing at the next ‘Song Swap,’ on March 14 at the George’s Stables in Stillwater. As Stillwater’s oldest bar, George’s Stables hosts a variety of events. From ‘Song Swaps to live shows, George’s Stables even hosts pool tournaments.
If you ever decide to visit Stillwater, make sure you check out Stormont’s infamous open mic nights. You might catch the next up and coming Garth Brooks playing there. Keep up with the Oklahoma music scene via Respect My Region.
