Ben “Frosty” Foster: Open Mic organiser

Everyone has a story. For his 26^th birthday Ben Foster – known as Frosty – celebrated by running a special Open Mic at the Steam Passage Tavern on Upper Street. Now he’d like you to join the next Open Mic session, as audience or performer, on Monday 4 July at 7pm. Interview by Nicola Baird

Frosty might seem like a forbidding name for a 6’4” tall man but Ben Foster is super-friendly – exactly the sort of person who takes the fear out of turning up at an Islington pub and performing three songs at an Open Mic evening in front of an audience.

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“The atmosphere is supportive,” says Frosty, drinking a pint of Doom Bar as part of his Open Mic preparation, “and newcomers always get a big round of applause.” It’s this welcoming environment that Frosty wanted to create when his then-Manager asked if he’d take a break from being a chef in the Steam Passage Tavern and run an Open Mic “to boost income on a Monday”.

A month later, on 22 September 2014 the first Open Mic was held on the little stage at the back of a bar boasting good mics, a PA and even a house guitar that anyone can use.

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6 places Ben “Frosty” Foster likes in Islington

1. I remember standing in Korkmaz International Food Centre, 363-365 Holloway Road – opposite Morrisons – just looking at this vast shelving unit of all these different jars and cans that I’d never seen in shops before. It was awesome! There were jars of olives as big as your head.”
2.  The Big Red Bar, 385 Holloway Road was the first place I went into for a drink on the day I moved to London. The music there always suits the mood. It’s like being in a film.
3. Slim Jim’s, 112 Upper Street is good – it’s got the same vibe as the Big Red but it’s more of a gig venue. It’s got loud music and is a bit trashy but has a good selection of drinks. After an Open Mic I might treat myself to a Kraken (rum).
4. “I really like Duncan Terrace Gardens. It’s really serene and quiet. You can sit, eat a sandwich, read a book and chill out. A good way to clear your head.
5. The Coronet on 334-338 Holloway Road is opposite where I used to live. It’s a Wetherspoons which has a reputation but it’s an amazing building. It was a theatre, then the Savoy cinema and now it is good for a pint with friends, perhaps not for a fancy drink or a date, and the beer is a good price. The history of the Coronet is displayed in the building and who’s played there.
6. One of my favourite shops is Flashback Records on 50 Essex Road. It’s a fantastic place with a great selection of new and used CDs, DVDs and vinyl on offer. They’ve got new stock in all the time, so you never quite know what you’re going to find.

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Since that first session the Open Mic has attracted 250 performers – everyone who has played has been added to the Facebook wall of fame – and a growing audience.

“It started off with me writing to every musician I’d ever met,” explains Frosty who did a Music Technology degree at Lancaster University and currently works for a record label.

“Playing your three songs gets you a free drink afterwards. You just turn up. There’s no vetting process (except don’t do anything ridiculously offensive or badmouth other performers). No one books in advance so you get more of a community feel – it encourages people to stay and chat, not just perform and go,” adds Frosty who moved from a village west of Oxford to Holloway Road after university “because my best mate, and his now fiancée, were living there and because the only place to use my Music Technology degree is London.”

By tradition Frosty, who played his first pub gig at 17, usually plays The Weight by The Band to start off or end the show. “On a busy night with 15 performers and 35 in the audience it’s a massive buzz. That’s what I love.”

The Steam Passage Tavern is known as a football pub – which is why the Open Mic takes a summer break while the Euros are on – but after that (and the refurbishment) if you fancy hearing some live music, or want to take your singer-songwriting career further, then remember to spend your Mondays at Open Mic night.

• The Steam Passage Tavern, 44 Upper Street, N1 is the pub by the Business Design Centre turning wreathed in flowers. It’s showing all the Euro games during June and then will be closed temporarily while it is done up in July. http://www.thesteampassage.co.uk/
• Facebook
  https://www.facebook.com/thesteampassagetavern and https://www.facebook.com/sptopenmic/
• The next Open Mic will be Monday 4 July, 7pm.

Over to you
If you’d like to nominate someone to be interviewed who grew up, lives or works in Islington, or suggest yourself, please let me know, via nicolabaird.green at gmail.com. Thank you.

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