 "Photo: Siegfried leyh/Echo staff photographer")
Tucked away in the corner of Greenwood Commons, a shopping plaza, on Highway 55 is Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse, a New Orleans style Creole and Cajun restaurant, where every Wednesday night you can get great food and hear even better talent.
Papa Mojo’s is the host every Wednesday night for “Brett Chambers Open Mic Night.” If you drive to fast you may miss it.
In 1996, Chambers talked with Sam Sellers, owner of Talk of the Town in Durham, to see if his idea could become a reality.
On the first night only twelve people showed up. From Talk of the Town the open mic moved to Yancey’s and now found its home at Papa Mojo’s.
That is a long way from today, now if you are not in the door before 8pm you cannot get a seat.
Does the name sound familiar? Brett Chambers is an adjunct instructor in the English and mass communications department here at N. C. Central.
For the past 13 years “Brett Chambers Open Mic Night” has been the place to “hear music from up and coming talent” in the Triangle.
Chambers started the event to get “people to come out and try” to show what talent they had.
If they could sing, play an instrument or do spoken word Wednesday night was your stage.
I had no idea what Papa Mojo’s was all about until my Mom invited me out one night.
As soon as I walked in I know I was going to love it. The restaurant has an family atmosphere.
You can get great meal, see old friends, and celebrate your birthday.
People come in never expecting what to hear. People perform a variety of music: folk, R&B, soul and even rap.
On a given night you will even have a spoken word artist grace the mic.
Do you know where else you can have your waitress serve your dinner and sing background vocals?
The concept is simple. Anyone can perform you just sign up and perform two cuts.
"Brett Chambers Open Mic Night," came out of an idea, an idea that Chambers put into action. This is what he wants all the students to understand.
“You have to execute your ideas.”
From an idea Chambers has run his event for thirteen years and with a plan you can make your ideas possible.
So on hump day go to Papa Mojo’s and experience raw talent at its best.
This version corrects the print version.
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