More on The Magic of Open Mic/Jam Nights
Last week, Joe Brown told the crowd that his band came together thanks to an open mic in New Bern a decade ago. On Friday night, February 6, 2026, Michael Schott was a special guest at The Crossroads Band show at The Brown Pelican, and when he took to the mic, he thanked Charlie Duzan (Open Mic Host since 2019) and Micah Grimes, owner of The Brown Pelican 2.0, for welcoming him with open arms when he walked through the doors for his first open-mic night. Since then, he has literally taken off like a shot!
Schott has traveled across the country to record and perform his music. He has performed on both big and small stages, as well as on TV and radio, and has recorded live and in several studios across the country. He plays hometown gigs and big-time festivals. After winning a talent show at his school in Swansboro, NC, when he was 12, Schott’s grandfather and manager, Mike Schott, took him to a few open-mic nights that summer. His father, Max Schott, sharpened his skills on the drums, and life has not been the same for any of them since. Now this 7th grader is home-schooled and an established country artist.
Schott won the 2025 Entertainer of the Year at the Carolina Country Music Awards. He did a quick stint in Las Vegas at the start of this year, and when I spoke with him on Friday evening, he told me he is looking forward to an upcoming show at The Junction in Benson, NC, next month. He will be there with his full band on March 7, 2026. Music plays from 8-11 pm. To give you a taste of his talent, here is a new song he hopes to record later this year.
Nuts and Bolts Man
If you have not heard this young man, whether it be solo or with his band, be sure to check him out soon. Michael Schott Music is the link to follow and to stay up to date with this soaring superstar. His live shows are full of energy and love for his family and the audience. It will be exciting to see what this young man does for country music. If I were to compare the era to another, I’d say it reminds me of the time Stevie Ray Vaughan brought the blues back to life. He generated excitement in the genre that many considered extinct. Though he was much older, he did something for the blues that no artist ever did: he revived it, solo after solo, and awakened the souls of blues players young and old.
That is all it takes, someone groundbreaking to generate excitement. Please see the short I shot below. “I’m A Fool” will be released this Spring on all streaming platforms. You’d agree that few 14-year-olds demonstrate classic songwriting skills like these. With that talent, Schott will spark a revival of this genre’s traditions. By the late 80s, however, Country music took a turn toward commercialization and lost me until Schott showed up. Mark my words, he will generate significant excitement for the old-school acts before he even graduates from high school. And it all started at an open mic night in New Bern, NC.
I’m A Fool
On my way home that evening, it occurred to me that open mic nights are the nuts and bolts of a thriving music community. These open-stage opportunities allow artists to expand their networks and connect with like-minded individuals. Oftentimes, magic happens at these events. This may be another reason why I enjoy attending them. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you get to meet a young slinger and have the privilege to live in such a time to track his story.
I met the band that Michael Schott shared the bill with on Friday night at an Open Mic Night hosted by Wally Peterson at The Doghouse Tavern in Ayden every Monday evening. The Crossroads Band is not new to the area, but this is the first time I have talked about them in my blog. My friends had mentioned them a few times, and I know they had a handful of shows at The Brown Pelican before I met singer and guitarist Scott Corey last August in Ayden. The band is made up of a fun bunch of friends who got together for music therapy to survive Covid-19 nearly six years ago.
They have been playing for the past three years and are seeking more opportunities to perform across the region. Singer Debra Tyndall and Corey perform together at Spring Garden Baptist Church and are also part of another band that features traditional picking and grinning music. Quite often, you can catch the duo taking part in the B & T Opry Picking and Grinnin’ Jam, which takes place every other Friday night. Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass music plus a great audience. This jam occurs at the Rhems firehouse, 5798 Hwy 17 in New Bern, NC, at the intersection of Tuscarora-Rhems Road. The next time they gather will be on Friday, February 20, 2026.
As for The Crossroads Band, this six-piece ensemble offers full sets of traditional country classics, seasoned with Southern rock and peppered with the blues. They are strictly a cover band that is available for private parties, weddings, festivals, and local pubs and clubs. Offering a fun mix of familiar songs that get people up dancing, The Crossroads Band also has a loyal following, which is a bonus for bar owners. Each time I have seen the band, they have had an attentive, packed house at The Brown Pelican. If you are interested in booking this Craven County Country act, reach out to them on Facebook: The Crossroads Band.
As mentioned, I met half of The Crossroads Band at open mic night at The Doghouse Tavern in Ayden, NC. The weekly jam night is hosted by Wally Peterson, whom I met in 2020 at an open-mic night in Greenville. Since 2022, Peterson has hosted a Monday Jam, but it has not always been held on the stage at The Doghouse. In fact, he took the reins from his friend, John Williams, in Greenville for the weekly Rhythm and Grooves jam at AJ McMurphy’s, which closed abruptly in the Summer of 2024. By the fall, the open mic was at Bella Greens Latin Sports Bar & Grill, until the music ended, and within hours, Peterson was offered a setup in his current Monday office. The Doghouse Tavern has a big stage, and Peterson brings the full back line.
In addition to hosting an open mic each Monday, Peterson performs solo around the region, plays drums, and provides backing vocals with the Greenville-based band 28 West. This classic rocker is familiar to the New Bern area, as he has played at most of its pubs and music venues. You can also find him sharing songs in Pitt and Beaufort Counties. For those looking to keep the beats with Wally Peterson, be sure to follow him on Facebook
Being a staunch music supporter, Peterson has also hosted Wallypalooza, a local music festival celebrating local talent. The first year, he hosted the event for one day in his backyard. That was in the Summer of 2023. In June of 2024, he hosted Wallypalooza II at High Water Social in Washington, NC. That event was a two-day, three-night event featuring nothing but local talent.
Peterson is working on Wallypalooza III. After doing it both small and large, he is more inclined to host a one-day event in the Spring or Fall. After suffering from heat exhaustion during his last event, we are fortunate that there wasn’t a medical emergency because of the sweltering heat that weekend in 2024.
The event is phenomenal for local talent. I saw so many bands there for the first time, including Morgan Hudson & Company, The Feuston Brothers, Thankfully Departed, and so many more. But events like this require significant preparation and a volunteer staff to make things come together. I would love to invite all music lovers to reach out to Wally about supporting his next event.
Peterson is also seeking sponsorship from local businesses for the next event. Those banners are advertising dollars that will support event shirts and other costs. The more banner sponsors, the better. Again, if you want to support local talent and help Wally Peterson do the same, please connect with him about this community event.
If you are a musician looking for a new jam, join Peterson on stage at The Doghouse Tavern on Second St., Ayden, NC. Open mic night is every Monday evening, and it kicks off with Wally sharing a few jams at 7 PM. All are welcome to join the fun. Bands are encouraged to attend.
You can meet up with Peterson every Monday or at a few other places in the coming weeks. This month, on Saturday, February 14, he is solo at Two Rivers Alehouse. Next Wednesday, February 18, he is taking part in a Fundraiser for Gary Ceres (running for Beaufort Co. Commissioner).
On Friday, March 6, 2026, he is at Two Rivers Alehouse; on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. He is at Uptown Brewing Co. for St. Paddy’s Day. On Friday, March 26, he is at The Doghouse Tavernand on. Looking ahead, on Friday, April 16, he is at Union Station (Washington).
He did say in our exchange, “I need more dates for March and April. If you are looking for a rocker to entertain your patrons, reach out to Peterson via his Facebook page today. Catch him with his band, 28 West, when they rock Pinky’s Pub on Friday, February 20, 2026, or at The Doghouse on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
BrUtopia
I last caught up with Wally Peterson when he was sharing his jams at BrUtopia on Friday, January 30, 2026. Are you aware that this little brewery on the other side of the bridge is celebrating a decade in business? This makes for another local business celebrating a decade of serving our community.
BrUtopia is the vision of Timothy Dryden and Bryan Conway, who opened their supply store and bottle shop a decade ago this weekend. A year later, they received approval to brew on-site. Since 2017, they have been producing their own craft beers in the warehouse behind the bar.
This Friday, they will celebrate ten years since opening their doors on Highway 70. They will commemorate this occasion with live music and a food truck. For all the years it has been open, this beer bar has offered live music every Friday night. The Joe Baes Project was the first band to play, and this Friday, they return to celebrate this journey of supporting our community with beer and live music.
Editor’s Note
In addition to attending shows and jams, I am working behind the scenes. My latest projects involve creating lists and providing references on this site. Last week, I released the first of what I believe will be many spreadsheets. That list covered open-mic nights across the state. I asked my Facebook followers to share their band information to create the next list, NC Bands and Performers. If you’d like to be added to this list, please email me your band info. I ask you to include:
Band Name:
Contact Name:
Phone:
Email:
Genre:
Notes:
In the notes section, specify the types of opportunities the band is seeking. Send your information to traceystones@ncmz.live, and I will gladly add you to the contact list.
Thank you for reading. I hope my articles encourage you to support and even share live music. This week, I celebrate 11 years of blogging about our local live music scene. It has been a wonderful journey sharing my stories, photos, and videos. I hope my work encourages more support for the bands and venues on our scene.
Some of my best memories are from supporting live music. It’s been my passion for a long time because I feel it is important work. This blog is a platform to connect music supporters with bands, bands with venues, and venues with more music supporters. In short, it’s becoming a full-service site for our state’s music community.
If you’d like to support my efforts with a donation or tip, you can do so via Venmo or PayPal. I appreciate the support and will use the funds to improve this site. Please like and share this with friends so we can all keep the beats together.
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