Bartini's Open Mic Night Celebrates An Anniversary

Tonight marks the five-year anniversary of open mic night at Bartini Bar, and its master emcee remains as passionate about giving audiences great entertainment as he is about his own musical endeavors.

"We've been running this for five years now at Bartini and I don't expect to stop anytime soon," says Dave Drew, who was discovered by Bartini owners Joe and Jackie Montiglio five years ago while running a similiar event at  Cafe Mojo in West Islip. The Montiglios realized it'd be a great event for their Babylon Village venue.

As a musician and songwriter, it also affords Drew another stage as an artist.

"I love being able to play the music I've written for people. Getting on stage for a performance is the best feeling in the world," says Drew.

Every Monday night local artists come to Bartini, on Deer Park Avenue, to showcase musical talents in a creative and friendly atmosphere.

Drew started playing guitar as a teenager growing up in the 1970s. After playing in several bands, he pursued a career as a solo acoustic artist and recalls playing at as many local bars and pubs as possible.

When the Montiglios offered up the event hosting opportunity, Drew developed the "Monday Night Open Mic Night" where performers of all ages and experience are welcome. Drew has also organized frequent benefit concerts at Bartini Bar for a variety of causes including leukemia, breast cancer, Haiti relief and local food drives.

Last Friday night, Drew organized an acoustic set that featured Valerie Griggs, Teri Salvo Nissenbaum, Mary Roesler, Johnny Nieves, and Derek Rudolph Henig, an aspiring musician and native West Islip resident.

Singer Nissenbaum was excited to take the stage with the help from a very special guest, her son Jesse. Jesse, a member of the band "Hazmat Bay" also got his start on Long Island and now tours around the country.

"We always love coming to gigs like this," said Nissenbaum. "It's really such a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere. Everyone here has been playing music and doing what they love for years."

First-time Bartini patrons Dave Bell and Anna Miya said they  enjoyed the show and the acts.

"We were looking online for things to do in the Babylon area, especially anything music related. It's hard to get out to a lot of shows or venues because most concerts are so expensive so this was the perfect thing to do on a Friday night," said Bell. "The bar is great, all of the performers played really well and the entire night was very affordable for us."