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Rusty Jacobs' favorite story of 2024: Open Mic at the Blue Note Grill

Constance Prince performs during Brett's Open Mic at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC.
Matt Ramey
/
For WUNC
Constance Prince performs during Brett's Open Mic at the Blue Note Grill in Durham, NC.

I love music. And listening to — and seeing — it performed live can lift one's spirits, stir emotions, and bolster your faith in humanity.

So, when I discovered the joyful scene on Wednesday nights at The Blue Note Grill, in Durham — site of the long-running Brett Chambers' Open Mic — I knew I had to do a story on this cultural event. The joy pervading the packed room was undeniable — a robust tonic — and seemed to impel people to the dance floor. Performers of all talent levels took the stage and soared on a current of communal support, the superb backing band helping to elevate everyone who grabbed the mic.

Sound alone would not suffice in telling the story of Brett Chambers' Open Mic — Matt Ramey provided stupendous photos that caught the electric energy coursing through the room, binding the audience and performers.

Rusty Jacobs is WUNC's Voting and Election Integrity Reporter.
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