What made the Amsterdam Songwriters Guild Open Mic nights so special?
The Amsterdam Songwriters Guild (ASG) was founded in 2005 by Ro Halfhide and Maarten de Mink (Reaganesk) to provide a platform for singer-songwriters at a time when such opportunities were scarce.
2005-2010 The weekly Tuesday Open Mic nights at Café Sappho became known for their focus on original material; participants could perform three of their own songs for an attentive audience. These nights were organised and hosted by the founders themselves. The guild fostered mutual interest, encouragement, and collaboration between artists.
In addition to the Open Mic sessions, Ro Halfhide organised showcases under the ASG banner. In 2008, a selection of artists performed at Noorderslag, with presentations also held at venues such as Bitterzoet and Panama. The ASG released a compilation CD and at one point had its own radio show on Amsterdam FM. The AVRO programme Opium and VPRO’s 3voor12 featured reports on the ASG Open Mic at Café Sappho on Vijzelgracht.
A street tour was also organised by Case Mayfield and Lake Montgomery, where artists performed at various locations across Amsterdam. The motto was "meters maken" (gaining experience): creating a safe environment in which artists could freely perform. Later, a second Open Mic night was introduced on Thursdays at Café 'Skek on Zeedijk. Under the ASG banner, Ro Halfhide established numerous performance spaces for singer-songwriters throughout the capital. Joanne Uijen was the owner of Café Sappho.
2011-2013 After the closure of Café Sappho and a period of relocation, including a brief stint at the Backstage Hotel bar, the Tuesday ASG Open Mic found a home at Jet Lounge in Westerpark. The concept remained unchanged: sign up on the list, perform three original songs, plug and play, no fuss, and enjoy each other’s contributions.
The weekly Open Mic nights at Jet Lounge were organised and hosted by Max Vanremmerden. Performing new material was encouraged, and making mistakes was allowed. Online challenges were introduced within the guild, such as ASG covers—where artists covered each other’s songs and shared them online—and ASG collabs, which encouraged collaboration among musicians, with recordings also being shared online.
During this period, many ASG artists released CDs, with strong mutual support to help make their projects successful. The community comprised a diverse mix of musicians: seasoned artists, beginners, self-taught musicians, students, and veteran punks. Anyone who performed on a Tuesday night, or attended regularly as a listener, felt connected to the guild. Mark Hodson was the owner of Jet Lounge.
The empty sign-up list was placed on the pool table at the start of the evening, making it essential to arrive early to secure a spot. The Open Mic ethos was upheld: listening to each other and staying for the full evening was appreciated. Newcomers received full attention, and on their next performance, they were expected to earn it. Max Vanremmerden, as host, ensured newcomers got the spotlight with the now-famous call: "Shut the fuck up and listen."
The format remained the same: three songs per artist, twelve spots on the list, tuning up before going on stage, plug and play, no complaints about the sound, and minimal chatter between songs. Above all, it was a safe space to perform, both for established artists and complete beginners. Mistakes were not a problem; you simply got another chance. Visitors valued the atmosphere, and many returned frequently. The sense of mutual interest and appreciation was immense, with respect, attention, and love for each other’s music being truly special and heartfelt.
