RISING teenage music stars are set to take their first steps onto bigger stages after shining at an open mic night at Coventry Building Society Arena.
Harrison Doyle delivered a set featuring a mix of pop and rock covers, including Beggin’ and Sweet Child O’ Mine.
Harrison Doyle, 16, from Kenilworth, and Orla Davis, 15, from Coventry, were two of the standout performers when the venue hosted its first ever Open Mic Night in The Anecdote bar.
The evening offered top talent from Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to perform live in front of a packed crowd, with the top performers winning a chance to return and perform live on a Coventry City matchday.
The venue’s initiative aims to create a pathway for emerging artists to progress from intimate settings like The Anecdote bar and hospitality spaces to the main Indoor Arena stage – and potentially even the stadium bowl.
Harrison, a Coventry City season ticket holder, delivered a set featuring a mix of pop and rock covers, including Beggin’ and Sweet Child O’ Mine.
He is also developing his craft through musical theatre and is currently performing in a production at the Albany Theatre.
Harrison said: “It was a really good opportunity to get to perform in the first place, and hopefully I can go on to do more.
“I found out about the open mic night after some friends shared it with me on social media.
“I’m glad I went for it and it would be amazing to come back again soon and perform at the stadium in some capacity, especially with it being such an incredible time for the Sky Blues.”
Orla, a soul-pop singer, has already built significant experience despite her age, performing more than 80 gigs last year alone.
She began performing publicly at just 12, initially appearing at local festivals before going on to support established acts at
Soul-pop singer Orla Davis was among the standout performers.
venues including the HMV Empire, while also building a strong following on social media.
Orla has released original music on streaming platforms, with a new track set to be released this summer.
Orla said: “I saw the opportunity online and thought it would be great to get involved.
“I’m working hard to improve all the time and have done 85 gigs in the last year, which has really helped me to grow in confidence.
“I want to go all the way – you have to aim big and look at Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter as that inspiration.”
The pair are now set to be booked to perform on Coventry City matchdays, either in bars or hospitality areas, with other opportunities to perform at events hosted throughout the year at the venue.
Paul Michael, Managing Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “We hosted this event to unearth local talent and give them an opportunity to shine.
“It’s brilliant to see young artists like Harrison and Orla taking advantage of the opportunity and making the most of it.
“We hope that the open mic night is just the beginning of their story at Coventry Building Society Arena. It’s set to be a landmark year for the stadium and we want to create clear pathways for local performers to be a part of it.”
