The Pilton Story has moved out of its long-term office in Pilton Church Hall and has relocated its base to the nearby 51 The Rock. It is still available and enthusiastic to meet anyone with Pilton stories, documents and/or photographs to share. Although the frantic rush of the early years has slowed to a trickle, the online archive has reached some 800 items about this amazing community. Followers of the Facebook group and Piltonians everywhere are urged to continue making submissions either here or through the usual email address submissions@thepiltonstory.org, or to contact Martin Haddrill on m.haddrill@btinternet.com.
Category Archives: News
When The Voice UK came to Pilton
The Voice UK is a Saturday night television talent show which started on the BBC in 2012 and moved to ITV in 2017. The idea is that musical talent is judged simply on the voice of the contestants alone and not on what they look like. After contacting Esther Davies in The Reform Inn, on 23 April 2018 they sent Lauren and Sarah to record at the Open Mic Night which is held every Monday. This was apparently part of the research process for participants for the 2019 series of The Voice UK.
The Open Mic Nights have been running since 2001, initially by Brendon Taylor for about 10 years until he emigrated. Now, every Monday evening, Simon Darling introduces all the performers and Neil Rolfe does the ‘buttons’ – the sound desk. The photo below was taken during the evening in which 18 people auditioned, a mix of regulars and others who had applied specifically for the show.
Recording musical acts in The Reform Inn during the Open Mic Night
Said Esther Davies “It was a great event! I was contacted by phone out of the blue and asked if our Open Mic Night could be filmed! They sent me a poster to advertise the event, and that was pretty much it until the two girls, Lauren and Sarah, arrived! They enjoyed the evening as much as we did, stating that there was a lovely sense of community and support! They hope to return next year, and who knows, they may have discovered the next number one artist here in Pilton!”