Amateurs Perform At Open Mic Night On Canarsie Pier

Clockwise (from above):Knapper Time Band played songs that energized the large crowd. The band also provided backup for other vocalists; crowd enjoys classic R&Band soul tunes from Knapper and her musicians; Debbie Knapper strums her guitar; "Mac"got up from his seat in the audience to sing the Luther Vandross hit, "Never Too Much". By Aisha Al-Muslim

A crowd of more than 200 gathered for the Canarsie Pier Open Mic Night last Thursday to groove to the sounds of a variety of music and snap their fingers to deeply moving poetry.

Canarsie Pier Park Ranger Jennifer Bethea said this was the first-ever open mic night for the Canarsie Pier Concert Series, which takes place Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. through August 28.

Bethea pointed out that none of the 19 participants won a prize nor was it a competition.

"It is an opportunity for people to perform and represent their neighborhood," she said.

The night began with Debbie Knapper and the Knapper Time Band playing soul and R&B classic hits, including "Kiss" by Prince, under the roof of the pier's Ranger Station. The band also provided the music for those who signed up to show off their singing skills.

Thomas Edison High School senior Victoria Green, 16, heard about open mic night and decided that she needed to be a part of it to get over her fear of performing in public. She performed her poem "Crystal Blue Waters" with support from her family sitting in the audience.

"It's one way to show people my type of poetry and how I see certain things," said Green, who lives in Queens.

East New York resident Emma Nurse, 42, enjoyed all the performances and is looking forward to another open mic night next year.

"I love the music and you got a lot of talent here," Nurse said.