Open mic event in Bournemouth giving artists a voice

At 21 years old Jack Townsend is already doing it all - rapping, writing, producing and running a project designed to help connect young artists - alongside best friend Yannick Manhica.

Under the OPB Studios name, the pair host an open-mic night in Bournemouth, which is running all month after its relaunch at the Helch Market venue.

The events helps connect talent in the area and have introduced a space where people "feel they can belong," says Yannick.

The pair's events attract creatives including singers, poets, dancers, designers and DJs from across Hampshire and Dorset.

Yannick, 26, got the idea for OPB, which stands for orange, pink and blue as well as opulence, passion and bravery, six years ago on his 20th birthday.

"Over the years, I've collected a lot of people that are very talented artists," he says.

"I started getting loads of people come to me directly and be like, 'I know you know lots of people, can you help me out with something?' And I was like 'oh cool - this is dope'."

After meeting Jack, he says everything changed and the pair decided to launch their first open mic together in December 2024.

They took a break from the business but in the summer of 2025 they held an the event in Bournemouth Square for 17 weeks.

This October have come back to where they started, hosting nights in the underground speakeasy bar.

Anyone is welcome - acts include singers, rappers, DJs, poets, and comedians.

Yannick says they never quite know what they are going to get on any given night and that artists just "appreciate the space" they have created.

Bartender Andre, who produces hybrid melodic-metal, hip-hop and country western music, says: "It feels like Bournemouth is coming on its way back up again.

"Music is the one thing that can bring people together. It puts things into perspective - maybe things aren't as bad as they seem."

"It's not clique-y here," says Madeleine, who premiered her original song Daddy's Attitude at the event on Wednesday.

Her and her friends, Helena Yasmin, 25, and Jenny, 26, who also write and perform their own music, moved back to Bournemouth after university.

Madeleine says they are "falling back in love" with their hometown and that they feel things may be changing for the better through the arts.

"As a teenager, I fully rejected the town," she says.

"Then coming back as an adult, it was like, 'wait, there's loads of things to do'.

"And with things like this, it's something where I can bring all my friends. It is really good vibes."

"It's not all doom and gloom," chimes in Helena.

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